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April 30 2024

Landscape Architecture Team Spotlight

Hilary Mulford

What Inspired You to Become a Landscape Designer?

My pursuit of a career in landscape architecture stems directly from growing up in Saugerties, NY - a town situated beautifully in the foothills of the Catskill mountains and on the banks of the Hudson River. Raised by a family of environmental stewards, I couldn’t help but develop a strong connection to and feeling of responsibility for the natural world. It is through my desire to connect others with nature, restore and preserve our precious natural resources, and to shed light on the complex histories of our land that I was inspired to enter this field. I hope that throughout my career I will be able to positively impact communities across the globe in these ways.

Do You Have a Favorite Project that You Have Worked On?

Having the opportunity to be a part of the Randall’s Island Salt Marsh Restoration has been my favorite project so far. In my junior and senior year studios with professor Josh Cerra at Cornell, I became completely enthralled with the ecology of Hudson River salt marshes. Having grown up in the area learning about the importance of salt marsh for species like the Great Blue Heron and Atlantic Sturgeon, and dedicating a portion of my education to the study, it felt full circle to put my knowledge into practice by preparing renderings to visualize the restoration process.

What Is Your Favorite Part of The Job?

My favorite part of this job is the variety. I moved out to San Diego from New York to work with Great Ecology so that I could immerse myself in a new kind of ecosystem. It is incredible that depending on the day, I have opportunities to work on projects in the desert landscapes of the Imperial Valley, the high Sierras of California, alpine mining towns in Colorado, mangrove stands on the Gulf of Mexico, and salt marsh habitat in my home of the Hudson Valley. I am grateful to be able to have an impact on so many sensitive habitats across the country.

Julie Johnstone, PLA, MRP

What Inspired You to Become a Landscape Architect?

I’ve always been interested in creative pursuits like drawing, music, writing, and space design. I’ve also always been super curious about people: what motivates us, how we grow and develop and how we engage with people and places. I ended up majoring in Psychology and minoring in English at UCSB. I didn’t find my current path in Landscape Architecture and Planning until I was living in Chile. The stark, intermittently colorful Atacama desert, the steep Andes mountains encircling Santiago and the dynamic lake and volcano region inspired me. I began to explore and engage with unique outdoor places and spaces, meanwhile reading some design books to help with my Spanish. I found that Landscape Architecture and Planning allowed me to create spaces for people while, ideally, also having a positive environmental impact. I had an enriching graduate experience, leaving with a double master’s in Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning and a minor in Latin American Studies.

Do You Have a Favorite Project that You Have Worked On?

I worked on a K-12 educational campus from early master planning through permitting. The 55-acre site had been a psychiatric hospital but had been abandoned for many years, allowing native trees and understory to flourish. We were able to preserve many heritage Oak, Bay and California Sycamore trees, which ultimately helped articulate the campus design concept and layout. I focused on collaboratively designing elementary, middle and high school outdoor spaces with the architectural and interior design teams. We imagined students seamlessly passing between educational spaces for play, nature exploration and connection with peers & mentors. We created distinct landscape identities for each campus through dedicated color schemes, repeating forms and unique planting palettes based on California ecotypes. I was especially pleased with how the design team collaborated to ensure the campus accommodates students changing educational, socio-emotional, and physical needs while also providing a stimulating, thoughtful backdrop. The project has won several design awards, including AIA Silicon Valley Merit Award (2023) and CASH/AIACC Leroy F. Greene Design Honor Award.

What Is Your Favorite Part of The Job?

My favorite part of working at Great Ecology is the team. We have a really talented and engaged design group that consistently prioritizes excellence and collaboration. I also enjoy thoughtful teamwork with GE’s equally gifted ecologists. When the groups work together on a project, I am constantly impressed with the insightful and progressive solutions they develop. That we can provide integrated ecological design at GE is purely a result of talented folks who are truly a pleasure to work with!

Katie Haas, PLA

What Inspired You to Become a Landscape Architect?

Since I was young, I have had a passion for being in wild outdoor spaces. I fell in love with the native landscapes of Canada and the Northeastern United States. In my free time when I wasn’t exploring the outdoors I found myself sketching and following a creative path in fine art. As I grew older, I started to combine the two, and in 2009 decided to test my skills in landscape architecture at the University of Massachusetts. Through the program I learned how our outdoor environment is built and how to use best design and management practices. When you start to see the world through new lenses you get excited when you see good design and motivated to do better by poor quality work.

Do You Have a Favorite Project that You Have Worked On?

My favorite project was the concept design through construction of the Greenwich Academy Campus in Greenwich, CT. The primary objects of the project were to improve the school’s outdoor learning environment and create connections across campus. A part of this project included the redevelopment of the school’s playground and ecological features such as a pond and watercourse. Both ecological features were revitalized to improve habitat and exploration by the students. This project won a 2022 CTASLA Merrit Award.

What Is Your Favorite Part of The Job?

My favorite part of my role as an Associate Landscape Architect at Great Ecology is working with such a collaborative design team. We all come from different backgrounds yet are passionate about connecting people with outdoor space in a way that enhances the human experience and improves habitats for wildlife. Our team is great at communicating design intent and seeing projects through to fruition, all while skillfully navigating challenges as they arise. I look forward to seeing what our team can accomplish as we grow together as designers!

William Stratton, MLA

What Inspired You to Become a Landscape Designer?

I’ve always loved using my imagination and being creative, and I’ve always found solace and inspiration in wild places and gardens. I discovered landscape architecture when I read about Jens Jenson and the Prairie School as part of a cultural geography class. I geeked out on design that referenced prairie landscapes, and I found my place in a profession that blends design, culture, and environmental science.

Do You Have a Favorite Project that You Have Worked On?

It's hard to pinpoint a specific project, I love the variety of work I get to do. Each project is unique, which makes it difficult to choose a favorite.

What Is Your Favorite Part of The Job?

I love working alongside scientists, and I love that every day is different and unpredictable.