Remembering Peter

Peter’s dedication, generosity, integrity, and kindness were evident in everything he touched, and he held himself – and the profession – to the highest ideals. He was a master of his craft; a leader, a visionary, and a giant within our profession. But, most importantly, Peter was a loving husband, a proud father, and a wonderful friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Janet, his children Elaine and Elliot, and his entire family.

Born in La Grange and raised in Villa Park, Peter was trained first as an architect, receiving a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in 1982 and a master’s degree in landscape architecture from Harvard University in 1984. After 15 years as a Design Principal at his own firm, Peter Lindsay Schaudt Landscape Architecture, he joined forces with Douglas Hoerr in 2008 to form Hoerr Schaudt.

As a protégé of esteemed modernist Vermont landscape architect Dan Kiley, Peter’s career was marked by a focus on the “art of design,” professional stewardship, and social responsibility. With principles of restraint, elegance, and simplicity, Peter strove to achieve a timeless design quality for each of his projects. Spanning the globe, Peter’s work included the addition of 17 acres of green space to Chicago’s lakefront, the renovation of Chicago’s Daley Plaza in 1996, landscapes at the North Carolina Panther’s Stadium in Charlotte, Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, the Shanghai Natural History Museum, Chicago’s Trump Tower, and numerous other projects.

Peter’s nearly three-decade long career was filled with accolades, accomplishments, and successes. Highlighted among his numerous design awards and honors is the AIA Collaborative Achievement award and a Fellowship with the American Society of Landscape Architects. Deeply inspired by his travels, Peter loved to capture landscapes in his watercolors and drawings. He was a recipient of the coveted Rome Prize Fellowship in Landscape Architecture, a pivotal experience full of lessons that fueled his entire career.

Volunteering his time generously, Peter served on two Chicago mayoral design committees and lent his experience to the U.S. General Services Administration as a National Peer and the Council of Fellows Jury for the National ASLA. His service also included terms as the landscape architect representative on the Design Review Board for the Universities of North Carolina and Wisconsin.

Peter’s legacy will continue to live on through his work here in Chicago, around the world, and within the firm he leaves behind.

Finding the words to express what Peter meant to all of us has been difficult at best. Conor O’Shea, Mark Hough, and Blair Kamin have done so with eloquence and grace, and we thank them for their beautiful tributes.

Hundreds of students, clients, colleagues, mentors and friends have shared their thoughts, feelings and memories about Peter. They have all been touched by his compassion, creativity and gentle soul. View some of these messages or share your own in the comments section below.