News

August 1, 2024 – On Friday, August 9, Shannon Nichol is speaking at the 2024 AIA Tennessee Conference on Architecture in Knoxville, Tennessee. The 3-day conference runs from August 7 through August 9. Through the theme of Grounding, the conference will explore both architecture’s physical relationship to material flows and resources within ecological systems as well as architecture’s intangible relationship to history, memory, and lesser-acknowledged cultural contexts. 

In her talk, Seeing the Ground – Considering the rich design that comes from sharing and learning about the ground beneath our feet, Shannon will share examples of design-driven efforts to visualize the real ground of each place. GGN’s work is often closely collaborative with architects and clients, so that the process of designing the site is also one of collective learning about the ground itself and its hidden truth and stories.

AIA Tennessee conducted a thoughtful Q&A with each of their upcoming speakers, including Kiel Moe, FAIA, FAAR, Professor of Practice, Auburn University and Visiting Professor, MIT; Eric Höweler, FAIA, LEED AP and J. Meejin Yoon, AIA FAAR, Co-Founders and Partners, Höweler and Yoon; Gabriela Carrillo, Founding Partner, Taller Gabriela Carrillo + Colectivo; Saundra Little, FAIA, LEED AP, NOMA, Quinn Evans. Principal, Director of Diversity & Inclusion; and Sharon Johnston, FAIA, Founder, Partner, Johnston Marklee.

Learn more at the Speaker Spotlight for Shannon Nichol.

July 19, 2024 – This coming Tuesday, July 23, Shannon Nichol will participate in Planting Forward: Conversations on New Naturalism with Global Designers and Gardeners. Shannon’s virtual presentation will focus on GGN’s distinct approach to design and collaboration, including the newly launched Meadowshop Initiative in the Pacific Northwest.

The Planting Forward series is hosted by Kelly D. Norris, who founded the Public Horticultural Company and its New Naturalism Academy. One of the leading horticulturists of his generation, Kelly explores the intersections of people, plants, and place through ecological, site-specific design and art. An award-winning author and plantsman, Kelly’s work in gardens has been featured in The New York Times, Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart Living, Fine Gardening, Garden Design, and numerous television, radio, and digital media appearances. His latest book Your Natural Garden from Cool Springs Press launches in late 2024.

Planting Forward features designers and creatives presenting work at the intersections of horticulture, ecology, design, and curation. Each conversation showcases working professionals and their methods and practices with the hopes of inspiring other professionals or gardeners to approach design and management differently. The session includes:

• 90-minute sessions that feel less like webinars and more like spirited talk show conversations

• Opportunities for attendees to ask questions

• Access to the recording for up to 6 months following the live broadcast

Shannon’s session will be held remotely on July 23 from 4:00-5:30pm Pacific. Registration is open through July 22. Visit the series’ website to purchase tickets.

April 18, 2024 – Rodrigo Abela is participating as a Resource Team Member in the 4th Annual Mayors’ Institute on City Design (MICD) Just City Mayoral Fellowship program. The program is in partnership with the Just City Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Over a semester-long program, the Lab’s Just City Index frames dynamic presentations and dialogues with experts in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, art activism, housing, and public policy. Throughout the Fellowship, mayors and their staff identify how injustices manifest in the social, economic, and physical infrastructures of their cities and develop manifestos of action for their communities, applying the language and tactics of racial justice to the neighborhood’s future.

The 2024 MICD Just City Mayoral Fellows are: Allentown, PA Mayor Matthew Tuerk; Dearborn, MI Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud; Lima, OH Mayor Sharetta Smith; Long Beach, CA Mayor Rex Richardson; McMinnville, OR Mayor Remy Drabkin; Racine, WI Mayor Cory Mason; and San Rafael, CA Mayor Kate Colin.

The Mayors’ Institute on City Design (MICD) is a leadership initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in Partnership with the United States Conference of Mayors. Since 1986, the Mayors’ Institute has helped transform communities through design by preparing mayors to be the chief urban designers of their cities.

Rodrigo also participated as an MICD Resource Team Member in 2012 and 2018.

Learn more on the MICD's website.

November 24, 2021 – GGN is pleased to announce that Ana Cristina Garcia, Lama Hasan, Luke Booth, and Wolfgang Umana have all been promoted to Associates at GGN.

Ana Cristina Garcia is a firm believer that the way we design and build our cities, neighborhoods, and streets can beautifully and positively define our experiences of the places we call home. Ana’s passion is in designing spaces that serve as a catalyst for positive change in their communities. In her current role as project manager of the Bellevue 600 projects, she is focused on administering a project that aims to weave a biodiverse native garden into the fabric of downtown Bellevue. Ana is also working on several institutional projects in the Pacific Northwest region, including projects in the University District in Seattle, WA. She has also worked on projects such as Dongtan Park in Seoul, South Korea and Umekita in Osaka, Japan. In addition to practice, Ana serves on the City of Seattle Design Review Board for the Central Area. Ana received her MLA from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts dual-degree in Architectural Studies and Latin American Studies from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Lama Hasan comes to landscape architecture with a love of cities, cultural heritage, and storytelling. Lama’s career has included working on cultural and historic projects in Washington, DC, including designing universal accessibility for national museums and integrating educational programming into built landscapes. At GGN, Lama’s work has included contributing to Embassies in Lagos, Nigeria and Chiang Mai, Thailand, the Inova Landmark Hospital project in Alexandria, Virginia, and the Montgomery County Justice Center and Historic Hancock Square Park in Norristown, Pennsylvania. She is also the project manager to the Friends of the Falls Project, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, an Indigenous-centered design and engagement process. Lama is interested in how design can heal and empower communities, and is an active member in the Social Justice and Spatial Equity Committee at GGN. Lama received a degree in Urban Planning and completed her graduate studies in Landscape Architecture at Virginia Tech.

Luke Booth’s experience with computational tools and digital fabrication is useful in distilling elegant solutions from the intricacy of a site’s history and context. His continual research into new design methods allows him to understand and shape the built landscape. Luke is currently working as a documentation manager on the United States Consulate General Lagos, Nigeria, Long Beach Civic Center in California, and Art Gallery New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Luke received his MLA from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, his BLA from the University of Florida, and his professional Landscape Architecture licensure in Florida.

Wolfgang Umana's experience in social media, communications, outreach, and technical services provides a valuable resource to GGN. He is inspired to bridge the distance between GGN’s Seattle studio with its DC studio by advancing GGN’s technology infrastructure with cutting-edge hardware and software; bringing the two offices together seamlessly. By beta testing and integrating the latest advancements in IT, Wolfgang explores the best ways to increase efficiency and efficacy for all of GGN’s needs. Wolfgang’s attention to detail and organizational skills are utilized in a variety of ways, including coordinating the licensure and continuing education needs of GGN’s leadership group. In his role as the DC Office Manager, his familiarity with the DC metropolitan area makes him a knowledgeable and familiar face.

November 24, 2021 – Six talented individuals have joined the staff of landscape architecture firm GGN.

Kristin V Lindenmuth, CFO+, brings deep and broad experience working in finance and business management for architecture, property management, construction, and legal firms to her role of CFO+ with GGN. Kristin is known for her straight-forward and communicative approach to management, and for her dedication to developing teams and streamlining internal processes. Kristin shares GGN’s core belief that we can make the world a better place through better design and communication. She strives to thoroughly research and plan while remaining flexible, speedily adjusting to a constantly changing economic environment. Sustainability and appropriate use of new technologies are paramount.

A champion of both the natural world and technology, Patrick Keegan, Associate, actively explores the connections between ecological and manufactured systems. He began his studies at the University of Washington in bioengineering, but his passion for design led him to pursue Landscape Architecture. Working in this field allows him to apply his understanding of how things work to create simple and refined solutions in the built environment. With roots in both the Pacific Northwest and Coastal California, Patrick deeply appreciates the complexities of these two diverse regions and continuously explores how to leverage their resilience to help meet a changing world.

Ayami Akagawa, Designer, arrived at landscape architecture after extensive study in engineering and human rights. She has grown her passion for placemaking through researching and engaging in reconstruction efforts from natural disasters around the world. She also became keenly aware of critical design necessities for climate adaptation by studying informal coastal communities in the Philippines. Her fieldwork in Switzerland, Nepal, and Japan strengthened her belief that landscape architecture is essential to the survival of humankind, both culturally and ecologically. She is well-versed in the complex interplay of policies, infrastructure systems, and socio-economic dynamics incurred by environmental changes. Ayami received her MLA from Harvard Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from The University of Tokyo, Japan.

Benjamin Nardi, Designer, joins GGN with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, where he found a passion for working with communities to design equitable green spaces. A native of Maryland, Benjamin Nardi discovered the natural beauty all around us when he would go on his many adventures. He would often be seen with camera and sketchbook in hand recording and documenting his experiences. This passion for the natural world led him to study Landscape Architecture, where he saw the opportunity to design places for people and wildlife to come together. Ben was a 2020 ASLA National Student Honor Award recipient in the general design category for his “Finding Beauty in the Commonplace” project.

Christine Chung, Designer, has a background in the humanities and environmental design. Her interest is in the potential of collaborative landscape projects to facilitate existing social, ecological and policy calls for change. She continues to explore the relationships between the historic, cultural, and material processes of landscapes in working towards more equitable and experientially resonant built environments. Christine holds an MLA from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of British Columbia.

Before embarking on a career as an administrator in the architectural industry four years ago, Jayme Bowen established a career as a concierge. Helming the front desk at the Rainier Club, a rock n’ roll hotel, and an elite Bitterroot Valley country club provided her with invaluable opportunities to engage with diverse members and guests. She thrives in a professional environment of knowledge-sharing and mutual respect. Jayme earned a Fibers BFA from the University of Washington.

December 16, 2020 – GGN is pleased to announce the promotions of Chihiro Shinohara Donovan to Senior Associate, Azzurra Cox to Associate, Rikerrious Geter to Associate, and Wolfgang Umana to Office Manager.

Chihiro Shinohara Donovan's design enthusiasm is for exploring elegant, functional solutions for complex urban sites, reflecting her background in architecture, landscape architecture and environmental design. She has worked on the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, Dongtan Park in Seoul, South Korea, and Spring District Parks in Bellevue, WA. Currently, Chihiro is the Project Designer on India Basin Shoreline Park in San Francisco, CA.

Azzurra Cox comes to landscape architecture by way of her love of cities and her commitment to public space. An interest in social theory and the humanities informs her approach to the discipline, and in the power of landscape to shape and reflect collective social narratives. Azzurra is on the design team and leading the public engagement for the India Basin Shoreline Park project in San Francisco, CA. In addition to practice, she serves as Urban Design Commissioner on the Seattle Design Commission, reviewing all city capital improvement projects, and served one term on the inaugural Central Area Design Review Board.

Rikerrious Geter examines and promotes how public space can best serve impoverished areas to encourage equitable, healthy and sustainable communities. He recently participated in engaging the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco to help them visualize their India Basin Shoreline Park. His current projects include West Main in Bellevue, WA and Mercer Blocks in Seattle, WA where he brings an emphasis to sustainability. In addition to practice, Rikerrious serves on the Washington Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (WASLA) – Student and Emerging Professional Committee, and formerly on the Seattle Design Commission as a voting commissioner for all city capital improvement projects.

Wolfgang Umana's experience in social media, communications, outreach, and technical services provides a valuable resource to GGN. He recently transformed the Washington, DC Office space to accommodate a growing number of designers and continually advances GGN’s technology infrastructure with cutting-edge hardware and software. By beta testing and integrating the latest advancements in IT, Wolfgang explores the best ways to increase efficiency and efficacy wherever possible. In his role as the DC Office Manager, his familiarity with the DC metropolitan area makes him a knowledgeable and familiar face.

November 20, 2020 - GGN will be working with the Sydney Modern Project architect, SANAA, and landscape architect, McGregor Coxall, on the expansion project known as the Sydney Modern Project, which aims to double the existing exhibition space and create seamless connections between indoor and outdoor spaces.

The new building is designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Tokyo-based architects Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa/ SANAA, with Architectus serving as executive architect.

“It’s an honor to work on the Sydney Modern Project – the expansion of one of Australia’s and Sydney’s most prominent art destinations,” said Kathryn Gustafson. “Public open spaces are, by definition inclusive and diverse and it’s exciting to create welcoming and unique experiences for all visitors to connect with the environment both natural and cultural.”

The landscape design will create a unified art museum campus connecting the existing and newbuildings, unfolding as a sequence of experiences for visitors across open spaces and gardensthat are free and accessible to all, 24 hours a day.

The design complements the architecture of the Gallery’s new building as well as maximizing open space and public amenity. There will be 381 trees across the campus when the expansion is completed in 2022, an increase of more than 70% on the number of trees before construction.

Learn more in the Australian Publication: Architecture & Design.

October 28, 2020 - Katherine Liss and Hannah Vondrak will speak at the Course Grain Beach Symposium via Zoom on November 13, 2020 from 3-5pm Pacific. Registration is free and open to all ages.

The Exploratorium in San Francisco and State Coastal Conservancy are hosting this virtual symposium on Coarse Grain Beaches as a natural intervention for shoreline resilience. Throughout the San Francisco Bay area, environmental planners, agencies, and local landowners are confronting the rapid change and erosion of the shoreline, a coastal hazard exacerbated by the effects of climate change including sea level rise and increased storms. One potential adaptation to help address the problem is the restoration of coarse grain (e.g., gravel and cobble) beaches that can act as ‘living shorelines’ and replace or be used in combination with traditional “hard” solutions such as riprap or stabilized levees. Beaches were historically present in San Francisco Bay and can offer a habitat for a variety of wildlife as well as shoreline protection that helps reduce wave energy and erosion.

The purpose of the symposium will be to discuss the emerging need for coarse beaches, the environmental and physical benefits that they have the potential to provide, and the challenges and opportunities associated with their design and implementation. Speakers include Brett Milligan, a professor of Landscape Architecture at UC Davis and founding member of Dredge Research Collaborative; Julie Beagle, a Senior Scientist at the San Francisco Estuary Institute; Tim Clark, a Senior Designer at SCAPE/Landscape Architecture; Eddie Divita, a civil engineer at Environmental Science Associates; Katherine Liss, an Associate at GGN; Hannah Vondrak, an Associate at GGN; and Blake Jopling is a Project Manager at Rana Creek.

Learn more and register at Eventbrite