Category Archives: Urban Greening
World Food Prize Hall of Laureates Garden Blooms
It’s Spring in Des Moines, Iowa. Last autumn, Nick Fobes posted a bit on what it took to complete the World Food Prize garden. Last weekend, we sent a photographer back to capture what it looks like in a new season. photo Jack Coyier The… Read More >
When Designing Planters, Remember the Plants
Every now and then in our travels we get a kick out of finding design solutions that are at the opposite pole of how we approach something. So as a firm that prioritizes horticulture in the public realm – and by the way, Lynden Miller’s book called Parks, Plants,… Read More >
A Green Roof Threesome
We’re excited that the Illinois Chapter of the ASLA just awarded its highest honor for our design of three green roofs at one of the largest mixed-use complexes on Michigan Avenue. Green roofs in Chicago are hardly a new phenomenon. The city has been at the forefront… Read More >
Uptown Normal Wins Smart Growth Achievement Award from U.S. EPA
We are very pleased to announce that our firm’s project, Uptown Normal Circle, has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with a Smart Growth Achievement award, which identifies the Uptown Normal project as a national model for urban development that respects the environment, fosters economic vitality, and… Read More >
Green Transportation
No, I’m not talking about sustainable infrastructure, green alleys, hybrid cars or anything else like it. Inhabitat posted about UIC Art and Design graduate Joe Baldwin’s contribution to this year’s Art on Track festival. Ideally, he’d like to create a mobile garden that is pulled by a Chicago ‘el’ train.… Read More >
News: World Food Prize Foundation Garden Opens to Public
News: World Food Prize Foundation Garden Opens to Public This weekend, the World Food Prize Foundation opens the doors of the Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Hall of Laureates and its two-acre formal garden to the public. The former Des Moines, IA public library is the new home of… Read More >
Through the Eyes of a Landscape Architect: Seattle’s Best
Over time, I’ve gradually learned to perfect my summer travels – meaning A LOT of walking, experiencing a city to the fullest by compiling a list of the best local neighborhoods and parks ahead of time, seeing as much as possible while I’m there and did I mention… Read More >
New Designs and Landscape Emphasis for Buckhead Atlanta Development
Several weeks ago we posted about what makes a great urban street. This week, partner Douglas Hoerr had the chance to show some of these ideas to press gathered to hear about designs for the new six-block, eight-acre luxury mixed-use project located in the heart of Atlanta’s upscale Buckhead… Read More >
Vertical Greening in Cities: Patrick Blanc Lectures in Chicago
The renowned botanist and designer Patrick Blanc’s work seemingly defies logic; entire gardens grow vertically without soil, and stand out dramatically against the traditional facades of the city. Blanc though, has been defying logic his entire life. As a child, he was fascinated by plants, yet his favorites were… Read More >
Don’t Park Here: It’s Park(ing) Day
Did you see anyone participating in Park(ing) Day today, the annual event where participants take over a metered parking space to create a mini-park (or something like it) for a day? It began in San Francisco in 2005 and quickly spread nationwide. By Parking Day 2010 there were 850… Read More >
Designing an Urban Garden for Kids
It’s no secret that as Landscape Architects we are always looking for new ways to engage people in landscapes. Many of the projects we do focus on getting people involved in their environment in a new way. In the early spring of 2010, Hoerr Schaudters David Gianneschi, Brett Weidl,… Read More >
Civic Landscapes: Places for People
Last week, the city of Toronto mourned the death of a prominent and beloved political figure, Jack Layton. The expression of that sorrow transformed Nathan Phillips Square, the vast, modernist, public plaza adjacent to City Hall into a civic ‘living room’ of grief. Rick Reineke of our office forwarded… Read More >
What Makes a Great Urban Street?
We recently had the opportunity to think about what makes a streetscape feel or be urban. As part of the exercise, several people from our office collected images of what they thought were landscape characteristics of a vibrant urban street and we started developing an ever evolving list: bold… Read More >
Michigan Avenue Medians: Decepticon-proof
If you can sit through it, you’ll get some great views of the Michigan Avenue planters during the final fight scene of the movie at the end of Transformers 3 (okay, so maybe we’re the only ones that would go to this movie just to see that…), which turned… Read More >
Green City Market: Blending A Park and a Farmer’s Market
Chicago’s Green City Market, located at the south end of Lincoln Park just steps from the zoo, brings local, sustainably grown food to city residents every Wednesday and Saturday throughout the year. After 12 years of operation the market has blossomed from a handful of farmers to nearly sixty… Read More >