Tour guide in Fort Lauderdale Randall R.

Discover South Florida with the Historian and Planner Who Helped Shape ItNo one knows or loves the physical environment of South Florida more than I do. Armed with a landscape architecture degree from Cornell, I dedicated my early career to architectural history and preservation. I coined the term "Miami Modern" (MiMo), co-wrote the definitive books Miami Modern Revealed and Miami Architecture, and helped establish the historic districts protecting these iconic landmarks. To truly understand Fort Lauderdale, you must know Miami. Born of the Gilded Age, they are sibling cities sharing an exclusive membership in the American subtropical landscape. While Miami evolved into a global hub, Fort Lauderdale grew as a uniquely American reaction to it—a fascinating "secondary city" mirroring the dynamic between Philadelphia and New York. This lifetime of expertise culminated in my twelve-year tenure as the Lead Planner for the City of Fort Lauderdale, where I personally guided the development of our modern skyline. I DON'T JUST KNOW MIAMI AND FORT LAUDERDALE, I HELPED SHAPE THEM.