News

November 13, 2019 - GGN is participating in four education sessions at the 2019 ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture in San Diego, CA, November 15-18, 2019.

On Friday, Lauren Schmidt is presenting Zero to One: Open Your Practice to the World of BIM with Xue (Phyllis) Zhou of AECOM and Aiden Ackerman of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. This workshop is addressing the challenges and solutions landscape teams face when starting to use BIM. Lessons from project cases are being shared, with broad research of how numerous landscape firms are scaling up BIM use. Participants will get hands-on practice on modeling a sample landscape project and evaluating workflow among different software.

Also on Friday, David Malda is speaking on the topic of Drawing Matters: Exploring the Value of Drawing in Landscape Architecture with Michale Batts of STEWART and Kona Gray of EDSA. Rather than the familiar debate over digital versus hand graphics, this session considers the value of drawing as a process connected to seeing, thinking, and engaging throughout design.

On Saturday, Kathryn Gustafson is speaking to Finding Design: Case Studies in the Creative Process with Walter Hood of Hood Design Studio and Susan Cohen. This session reviews ways in which an active imagination and a creative spirit fuels the design process in landscape architecture.

On Sunday, Kara Weaver is speaking about Integrating Security into Site Design: Evolving Strategies for Protecting Public Spaces with Margaret Plumb of Design Workshop and Len Hopper of Weintraub Diaz Landscape Architecture. This session examines how landscape architects are protecting urban public spaces by integrating innovative security features into a site while creating vibrant public spaces.

October 22, 2019 - Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Trust for the National Mall, in partnership with the National Park Service, announced the five landscape architecture firms participating in the Tidal Basin Ideas Lab. GGN, DLANDstudio, Hood Design Studio, James Corner Field Operations, and Reed Hilderbrand are working in concert to address the challenges and opportunities facing the National Mall Tidal Basin.

"The Tidal Basin is a unique landscape with important historical and environmental significance for Washington, DC,” said Kathryn Gustafson. “How we approach, think, and act on the Tidal Basin will be a great learning process that will evolve. The Idea Lab is timely, as similar challenges to important historic sites need to be addressed in many other places around the world."

Unlike a Design Competition, which typically selects a winner with a conclusive master plan, the Ideas Lab is a platform for the exchange of approaches and solutions between designers, stakeholders, and the public. Concepts will be provocative and challenging, presenting cultural landscape opportunities in a new light, in order to take on fundamental issues in a comprehensive and respectful way. Results of the Ideas Lab will be on view at a curated exhibition in Washington, D.C. in spring 2020 and available widely online. The results will showcase creative collaboration and design opportunities relevant for the Tidal Basin today and for generations to come.

The forum is presented by American Express, with Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) serving as civic partner to the initiative. More information is available on the Save the Tidal Basin [Ideas Lab] website.

June 10, 2019 - GGN is pleased to announce the promotions of Kara Weaver to Senior Associate, Laurel Li to Associate, Alex McCay to Associate, Hannah Vondrak to Associate, and Joanie Walbert to Associate.

Kara Weaver, ASLA, PLA, LEED AP BD+C, has nearly 15 years of experience designing and documenting public projects ranging from conceptual and interpretive master plans to precise detailing and tight grading over structure. Kara shines on projects that pose complex challenges, require intensive coordination between disciplines, and provide opportunities for innovative and elegant problem solving. She is currently the project manager for the Civic Park at Hemisfair in San Antonio, TX, the Master Plan for John Treviño Jr. Metropolitan Park in Austin TX, and the Health Sciences Education Building at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.

Since joining GGN in 2015, Laurel Li has contributed her great artistry and sensibility for landscape to many of GGN’s projects. Laurel’s commitment to her project work and her teammates is an inspiration to all at GGN. Through her design leadership and collaboration, Laurel smoothly moves projects forward. She has worked on Umekita 2 in Osaka, Japan, Oceanwide in San Francisco, CA, and Cedar Town Center Master Plan in Woodinville, WA.

Alex McCay’s background in business provides a unique understanding of the complex interplay of urban systems. Alex displays structure and discipline in his work that translates into strong ideas and the ability to develop those ideas into buildable landscapes. His design work at GGN has included Hazelwood Green Plaza in Pittsburgh, PA, the Civic Park at Hemisfair in San Antonio, TX, and Rainier Square in Seattle, WA.

Hannah Vondrak bases her elegant design solutions in rigorous technical skill. In addition to her strong verbal and illustrative communication skills, Hannah has the unique ability to meld thoughtful design intent into true experiences. Since joining GGN in 2016, she has worked on the Athens Chancery Major Rehabilitation at the American Embassy in Athens, Greece, 900 New York in Washington, DC, and the REI Headquarters in Bellevue, WA.

Since joining GGN in 2015, Joanie Walbert, ASLA, PLA, has developed into a strong and versatile landscape architect who successfully navigated the path to licensure in 2018. Joanie’s wide range of design and communication skills have benefitted several of GGN projects from public parks to private campuses, including Smith Cove Park in Seattle, WA, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Campus in Seattle, WA, and Long Beach Civic Center in Long Beach, CA.