Robert Acuña-Pilgrim

Biography: Robert Acuña Pilgrim brings more than 35 years of multidisciplinary expertise to his role as Principal and Managing Director of Planning at TBG Partners. Based in the Dallas office, Robert leads the firm’s Urban Design + Planning team, a specialized, firmwide group that, while rooted in Texas, delivers transformative work from coast to coast and across international borders. A Mississippi native, Robert’s unique design perspective is informed by dual degrees in Architecture and Landscape Architecture from Mississippi State University. This foundational breadth allows him to approach every assignment with a keen design sensibility, shaping environments that are as functional and enduring as they are beautiful. Under his leadership, he manages a diverse, world-class team of professionals from across the Americas and Asia. This collective expertise spans a wide array of disciplines, including urban design, sustainable and environmental design, suburban and town planning, and traditional architecture. Robert describes himself as a compassionate dreamer, storyteller, and teacher. He is deeply dedicated to the art of "crafting communities of connection," driven by a personal mission to design spaces where no one feels alone. His practice is grounded in a profound empathy for clients, collaborators, and the diverse populations who will ultimately live, work, and gather in the places he helps create. Beyond his work at TBG, Robert is an active leader in professional and civic organizations. He is a frequent contributor to critical discussions surrounding housing policy, urban design, and environmental stewardship, always seeking to advance the social, environmental, and economic well-being of the diverse communities his work touches. By carefully aligning client goals with broader societal needs, he has earned a reputation as a trusted partner, a dedicated community builder, and an invaluable leader within the industry.