Highlighted Projects

Winner of Healthy Street of the Year 2019, Winner of CIHT Creating Better Places Award 2018, Winner of Transport Practitioners Urban Design Award 2018. David led the design of this secondary retail street as a pedestrian priority street whilst with IBI Group. Mott MacDonald led the project, the scheme is one of the first shared spaces in the UK that has active support from the blind and partially sighted community. Completed March 2017 for £1.7M, it has won a number of awards. In a recent reference the CWaC Access Officer said “IBI’s attitude and relationship with the Council and with stakeholders was exemplary…IBI listened and understood my concerns about the (shared space) concept. They were very knowledgeable about the concept, national concerns, and examples of shared space schemes both national and international”

Short-listed in the Landscape Institute Awards 2019 and International Making Cities Liveable Design Awards 2019. David led design of a new square outside of the Town Hall and Market Hall whilst at IBI Group, also researching, sourcing the content and designing the layout of twelve interpretive artwork panels, incorporated into bespoke benches, celebrating the history of the town. Smiling Wolf designed diagrams and layouts. The Regeneration Manager client recently wrote in a reference “It’s been a privilege working with David Mckenna and Danny Marsh of IBI …. They really care about their projects and clients and get to know about the town they are working in. They are generous and gracious in sharing their knowledge and expertise…multiple, complex and varied stakeholders – IBI handled it all very well… We got there in the end and the product is fantastic.”

David led the redesign of World Heritage Site square, the social and commercial heart of Caernarfon, whilst working at IBI Group. The project is a case study of the Design Commission for Wales and has been recognised with a number of awards. Operating successfully since 2008, it was one of the first major shared space schemes in the UK. 

Whilst with IBI Group, leading the design of a new town square, retail street public realm and artwork design relating to the old history of Kidderminster with the Penny Black Stamp, and the more modern, Led Zeppelin link through Robert Plant, which helped form the basis of the Town's music heritage trail.