Don Cooper is a founding principal of Cooper Johnson Smith Peterson Architects and Town Planners. Early involvement in Seaside led to commissions for 30 houses there and then work in the other new urban communities of Rosemary Beach, Celebration and Watercolor. The work expanded to include many other building types that make up the traditional city - schools, civic buildings, mixed - use buildings, multifamily, hotels and restaurants, always exploring the themes of tropical architecture and urbanism. 

Town Planning work includes Point-Marie Village in Baton Rouge, Sanctuary in Salado, TX, Wakari in Eleuthera Bahamas, Broadwater in Biloxi, MS. and Bradenton Village, in Bradenton, FL. Campus planning includes Jesuit High and St. Johns’ Episcopal in Tampa, FL. Resort work includes Ritz Carlton’s Abaco Club, Abaco, Bahamas, Marriott Summit Watch in Park City Utah and Sporting Club at Ambergis Cay, Turks and Caicos.

The firm has received  awards from The Institute of Classical Architecture, Florida and National,  American Institute of Architecture Florida and Tampa Bay, an Aurora Award and a Southern Living home award.

Mr. Cooper graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and following graduation worked with Philip Johnson and John Burgee in New York City. He founded Cooper Partnership with his architect wife in Ventnor, N.J. The firm moved to Tampa in 1986 where it is now Cooper Johnson Smith Peterson Architects and Town Planners.