Pragmatic Visions

What does it take to transform a 1,400-acre greenfield site into a fully functional community? A forward-thinking approach to infrastructure planning. On this episode of Pragmatic Visions, LandDesign Partner  Dale Stewart  discusses the forward-thinking approach to land planning at  The River District  that ensured every planning and design decision supported the Crescent Communities vision for th...

The pandemic was a catalyst for the DowntownDC Business Improvement District to evaluate the function of its public parks and open spaces in strengthening its urban fabric. On this episode of Pragmatic Visions, we sit down with LandDesign's Susan England to explore the intricacies of the planning process, the team's approach to inclusive community and stakeholder engagement, and their appr...

Since the 1980s, LandDesign has been a trusted partner to the City of Kannapolis as they transformed from a mill town to a thriving community-of-choice. Tune in to Pragmatic Visions as LandDesign Partners Ray Waugh and Nate Doolittle share the visionary partnerships, forward-thinking infrastructure solutions, and multi-generational approach to the project that resulted in a new standard for small...

“We didn’t realize how much we needed a downtown park until we had one, and now we can’t imagine our city without Bell Tower Green.” – Mary Heather Steinman, Salisbury Community Member A vibrant open space, years in the making,  Bell Tower Green  has forever changed the fabric of Salisbury. From private businesses to long-time residents, the entire community came together to create Bell Tower Gree...

Fueling our culture of innovation, LandDesign’s MatterLab program empowers employees, regardless of their role, to explore ideas, discover new things, and learn throughout the process.   Tune into this month’s episode of Pragmatic Visions, where we sit down with Richard Petersheim, one of the pioneers behind LandDesign’s internal micro-grant program, to talk about the origin of this unique initiat...

National Harbor  is a testament to LandDesign’s commitment to realizing our client’s vision. This two-decade long journey led to the transformation of the Potomac River Waterfront into a family-oriented destination in our nation’s capital. On this episode of Pragmatic Visions, we sit down with LandDesign’s  Peter Crowley  and  Gabriela Cañamar Clark  to talk about the implementation of National Ha...

LandDesign’s award-winning podcast, Pragmatic Visions, is returning for a second season! Join hosts Ashley Clark and Alyson Beacham as they speak with the firm’s designers and thought leaders to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the inspiring places created through our unique process. Tune in as we share stories of uncommon collaboration, thoughtful solutions, and candid moments that make our pr...

When repositioning a suburban office park and expansive golf course into an urban mixed-use development, there are a few things you must consider. How will the infrastructure support the long-term growth of the community? How will the roadways and open spaces connect to commercial experiences? LandDesign’s multidisciplinary team is working with Northwood Office to answer these questions for Ballan...

Ballantyne is a nationally recognized community that has catalyzed growth in South Charlotte. Today, Ballantyne is undergoing an exciting transformation to reposition its 535-acre corporate park and golf course into an urban, mixed-use destination. For the next two episodes of Pragmatic Visions, we will discuss the journey we have embarked on with Northwood Office to implement their bold vision fo...

How do we measure the positive impact of the places we create? LandDesign’s  Alison Peckett  and  Stephanie Roa  were inspired to answer this very question and for the last several years have been digging into data and metrics as measurements for project performance. In 2020, the duo took their research to the next level by partnering with the Landscape Architecture Foundation for their  Case Stud...

The land planning phase of a project can often work like a jigsaw puzzle. The big picture vision is there, but the process of assembling the pieces, entitlements and rezoning, can be nuanced and complex. Pairing engineering with zoning and entitlements are two integral parts of the land planning puzzle, and for LandDesign that’s Director of Engineering,  Jim Scanlon , and Land Use Attorney,  Tony...

As designers and engineers, we see endless possibilities within every project we work on, however, there are limitations and constraints we must work with—one being the landscape. But what if there was a way to physically alter the landscape and incorporate movement, such as adjustable seating, moveable trees, and plazas that form to the users needs? LandDesign’s  MatterLab  grant recipient, and t...

The rapid growth of micro-modal transportation is challenging cities across the U.S. to integrate infrastructure, such as cycletracks, multi-use paths, and bicycle lanes, to make it easier for micro-modal users to travel within their community. These facilities are crucial to the success of multi-modal networks, however, they tend to be infrequent, inadequate, and rarely address the importance of...

Has the influence of technology on our everyday lives trickled into the way we experience the public realm? This very question spurred an academic partnership between LandDesign and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Master of Urban Design program. A group of designers and students banded together for a semester-long exploration, analyzing the impact of technology on the way we intera...

In this time of constant change, we understand that the needs of our employees, clients, and collaborative partners are evolving.  Heth Kendrick, PLA  believes that in order to be the best leader we can be, we must first listen and then adapt. He is a champion for embracing change, regardless of how challenging it may seem at first, and that change will ultimately increase innovation in our practi...

The impact of design reaches far beyond the built environment, deeply affecting the emotional and physical well-being of communities, especially those that have experienced discrimination and disinvestment.  Stephanie Pankiewicz, PLA  believes it is the responsibility of designers to educate themselves on policy and development patterns that have embedded inequality in our communities. Following t...

There’s immense value in understanding what has been done in the past to make better design decisions for the future.  Jason Granado  and Paula Narvaez are brainstorming a way to capture projects, from LandDesign’s portfolio and projects nationally, to create a database that would allow designers to search for precedent projects or get deep into the design details. Listen in as Jason and Paula sha...

Increased demand for multi-family development in urban settings is challenging designers to push the envelope of amenity design. With resort-style pools and dog parks setting the standard,  Nataliya Gurina  believes there is a way to better connect residents with their natural environment and researched the value of community gardens in urban multi-family developments. Listen in as Nataliya shares...

Resiliency has quickly become an industry buzzword, even more so since the start of COVID-19, challenging designers to take a close look at the impact of the places we create. Motivated by her dedication to resilient design,  Megan Schultz  turned her passion into practice by creating an accessible resource library for LandDesigners looking to learn about resiliency and sustainability. Listen in a...

There are no limits to what can be explored when given the right tools.  Jeff Lape  took a momentary pause from his day-to-day practice as a landscape designer to research sustainable agriculture practices. Throughout MatterLab, Jeff explored the role of landscape architects in the future of farming and the sustainable and resilient approach that could result in lasting, positive impact. Listen in...

Since her time as an LAF Olmsted Scholar,  Lauren Delbridge  has leveraged her skills as a landscape designer to identify opportunities for the practice to positively impact the most unlikely landscape—wastescapes. For over five years, she has researched coal ash ponds–their negative impact on the environment and the ways we can transform them into usable public space. Lauren’s continued explorati...

We envisioned our innovation grant program, MatterLab, to provide a platform where LandDesigners could explore their passions with no limitations. It was no surprise when  Haley Dugger  blew us away with Pet Rescue Resources, an online platform that educates animal rescues on how to leverage social media marketing to increase adoption rates. Listen in as Haley shares her MatterLab experience and w...

What do you get when you combine the perspectives of a landscape architect and a civil engineer? One well-rounded MatterLab project!  Jeromy Wegryzn  and  Matt Weschler, PE  combined their skill sets and passion for cycling to create the firm’s first-ever comprehensive Bike/Ped Design Guide. Listen in as Jeromy and Matt share their MatterLab experience and how their guide has become the starting p...