Centennial Plaza x Larry Bell
Raleigh, North Carolina | 2020-Present
Executive landscape architect working with artist Larry Bell and the Centennial Art Plaza Committee at NC State University.
Generated locational studies for the art
Configured plaza design with Thomas Skolniki and the artist Larry Bell
Oversee concept during implementation with Design Workshop Raleigh
“Although we tend to think of glass as a window, it’s a solid-liquid that has at once three distinctive qualities: it reflects light, it absorbs light, and it transmits light all at the same time.“
Bell, Larry as quoted in Surface Magazine (2021). Inside Open Architecture’s Boulder-Like Chapel of Sound, and Other News.
Gardens
Gardens connect people to the particular place where they live. To the environment, historical, and cultural experience of that place. The best landscape architecture is always architectural, sculptural and painterly as well. For landscape architecture is not only a matter of form giving, but also a matter of bringing content and meaning to form, of making places habitable, and of connecting human experience through time and space.
“Gardens must be places of delight… of gayety, of fantasy, of illusion, of adventure.”
Eckbo, Garrett as quoted in Treib, Marc. (2005). The Donnell and Eckbo Gardens (p. 103). San Francisco: William Stout Publishers.
New Mexico State Fairground Central Avenue Entry Reconfiguration
Albuquerque, New Mexico - 1987
Project manager, Royston Hanamoto Alley & Abey
The project provided stacking lanes to remove traffic from Central Avenue and alleviate traffic jams. A bus stop and pedestrian walkway led to the fee gate interior to parking lots. The tower was reinvigorated with paint and neon lighting.
Las Vegas Valley Water District
LAS VEGAS, 1992–2001
In 1992 I was asked to assist the Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) to redesign the Desert Demonstration Garden. At the time, Las Vegas was growing by 5,000 people per month. After initial research, my team suggested the need for an interpretive center that imparted a sense of place and taught newcomers how to live more sustainably in the Mojave Desert. Over the following years we provided the intellectual leadership that led to the implementation of the Springs Preserve, a 180 acre facility on the original “vegas” or springs that have served as the source of life for over 10,000 years.
$680,000 funded research.
Generated over $10 mil. in private sector fees.
Defined the problem: water shortage, 65% of water use allocated to landscape irrigation, transitory city needing a sense of identity and understanding of sustainability in the Mojave Desert.
Generated the concept of a center interpreting the history and geography of Las Vegas and exhibiting sustainability concepts for living in the Mojave Desert.
Conducted case study research on ethnobotanical gardens, public gardens, interpretive planning including peer institution data on mission, facilities, operations, and costs.
Assisted the LVVWD and Southern Nevada Water Authority to conduct archaeology and field biology studies that identified artifacts dating back 10,000 years as well as threatened and endangered species on LVVWD property near downtown Las Vegas.
Developed conceptual master plans on the original Desert Demonstration Garden site and North Well Field site (now the Springs Preserve).
Assisted LVVWD to prepare scopes of work and selection of private sector design and planning consultants. Assist LVVWD negotiate contracts.
Led design and planning teams through conceptual design, programming, cost estimating and visitation studies.
Assisted LVVWD outreach and public education.
Elements of a Linear Park
Albuquerque, New Mexico - 1987
Truly great cities are connected by systems of linear open spaces containing activity nodes and pedestrian and bike paths. The linear park might also contain sculpture, seating areas, and location identifiers. This is a series of projects created for Albuquerque, New Mexico where existing arroyos form a framework which will one day become a linear park system. Many of these projects incorporate judicious use of water, a precious commodity here, as well as the existing high desert flora.
Building Design
SKETCHBOOKS
Field Analysis
Various pages of field notes for projects.
Plant Studies
Field notes, sketchbooks, greeting cards.