Matt Leavell

As a licensed architect and urban planner, Matt applies the principles of design thinking across a wide variety of projects throughout Alabama. Through the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development, Matt has acted as the Director of Design and Planning for the Gulf State Park Enhancement Project, a $143 million effort to redevelop Gulf State Park into an international benchmark for economic and environmental sustainability that demonstrates best practices for outdoor recreation, education, and hospitality. This six-year project included a 350-room hotel, an Interpretive Center seeking Living Building certification, a Learning Campus, dune restoration, and a 16-mile trail network expansion. He is one of the founding members of the Cahaba Blueway and the board chair for Your Town Alabama, a leadership workshop dedicated to inspiring and educating leaders about the ability of design and planning to assist them in improving their communities.