2021 40 Under 40: Addison Jones

Addison Jones, 26, is reimagining Springfield’s landscape and architecture, but it’s not just for aesthetic purposes. With his design work at Dake Wells Architecture and enhancing public spaces through founding Better Block SGF, he makes the city more accessible for all residents. His goals are to improve transportation options, sustainable development patterns and neglected neighborhoods.

He also advocates for the success of other groups with similar interests. This past fall, he showed support for SGF Yields. The organization proposed a bill to City Council to revise the traffic law ordinance codes to enhance pedestrian safety at crosswalks. Jones shared his concern with the council of the overarching city design. The bill passed unanimously, and he has begun promoting the new requirements in the greater Springfield area.

What about your job would shock people? Every once in a while, we will lick a battery to see if it is charged. That tends to shock people.

What did you learn the hard way? If you try to do it all, you will likely fail and let people down, which I have done, multiple times. It’s far better to understand your limits and do a few things really well.

Theme song? “Easy” by The Commodores. I’m not sure why, but that song moves my soul.

Favorite hobby or pastime? Few things are more life giving to me than camping and hiking with my wife.