News

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.

February 28, 2019 - Today Shannon Nichol presented "Re-grounding the Modern Northwest: Bringing Regionalism Home with Historically Informed Design" at the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association 42nd Annual Provincial Parks and Grounds Spring Training in Langley, BC.

This photo of Shannon by Rachel Ormiston of the New Burke Museum captures the delivery of native plants from Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center to the New Burke.

February 6, 2019 - Tess Schiavone is a panelist at this evening's Learning Landscapes discussion sponsored by AIA Seattle at the Center for Architecture & Design.

Brought to you by AIA Commitee on Architecture for Education, the panel discussion is moderated by Kas Kinkead of Cascade Design Collaborative with Peter Donaldson, Sustainability Ambassador Program; Vinita Sidhu, Site Workshop; and Mark Tilbe, Murase.

(Photo of Mercer Court & UW Farm by Catherine Tighe).

January 30, 2019 - Today Shannon Nichol will present at the iLandscape Conference in Schaumburg, IL. In her lecture, Designing Grounded Respites in the Global and Virtual Age, Shannon will share proven methods in designing landscapes such as the Lurie Garden at Millennium Park, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the National Museum of African American History & Culture.

The focus of the presentation will be on the importance for landscape designers to find and express the often-hidden and overlooked local-landscape characteristics and cultural stories. Local plants, building traditions, and landscape patterns will be discussed incorporating seemingly regular, vernacular context into designed landscapes. 

Sponsored by the Millennium Park Foundation.

November 30, 2018 - Six talented individuals have joined the staff of landscape architecture firm GGN (Gustafson Guthrie Nichol).

Jean Ni joins GGN as a Designer. Jean received her Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Washington in 2018 and BA in Sociology from University of California at San Diego. Her recent work through the Urban@UW Homelessness Research Initiative advanced research projects that range from studying housing and food insecurity to developing community-based models that destigmatize homelessness and serve youth needs. Jean is co-founder of Design Justice Seattle, a student-led organization centered around design activism.

Joining GGN as a Designer, Ana Cristina Garcia received her Master of Landscape Architecture 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, where her honors thesis explored the application of landscape architecture as a tool for placemaking in a post-industrial small city.

Bessy Barahona joins GGN as a Design Intern. Bessy received her Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona. Bessy has had the opportunity to study abroad in Italy and travel throughout Europe, and experiencing different landscapes and cultures has broadened her perspective about urban spaces – especially the interaction between landscape and people.

Joining GGN as a Designer, Jing Zeng received her Master of Landscape Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design, where she successfully blended artistic expression and scientific Investigation. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design from Sichuan University, and she worked as an urban designer in Shanghai, China. The experience of working in large scale planning and urban design projects strengthened her understanding in urban forms and systems, and her current design work reveals and celebrates the beauty of ecological processes in urban life.

Daisy Hoyt joins GGN’s Washington, DC workspace as a Designer. She received her Master of Landscape Architecture from Cornell University, where she participated in research on flood risk perception. Prior to attending Cornell, she worked at a waterfront park in New York City during the Hurricane Sandy storm surge, which inspired her focus on resiliency. Daisy also holds a BA in Studio Arts from Clark University, with a focus on drawing and fiber arts.

Malaika O’Rourke joins GGN as an Accountant. Malaika has extensive experience in public accounting, focusing on individual and corporate clients, as well as in the tax department of a retail company. She attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison and the University of Southern California, and she has lived in Seattle for over a decade.  

September 10, 2018 – Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura has confirmed that the team led by Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. (MEC) will design the Umekita Second Development Zone, considered the last prime real estate in Osaka. Osaka is the second-largest metropolitan area in Japan, and the 59-acre (24 ha) Umekita site is located in front of the Osaka rail station, part of a five-station major transit hub, adjacent to the internationally known Umeda Sky Building by Hiroshi Hara. The team, led by MEC, is composed of nine developers and six design and operation firms, including Gustafson Guthrie Nichol (GGN). The team was selected after a six-month long competition run by the Urban Renaissance Agency with a jury that included Tadao Ando.

In speaking to the media, Mayor Yoshimura noted, “This site has been described as the last prime real estate at the center of Osaka and the Kansai region. The Umekita Second Phase Development is an extremely important project for City of Osaka.”

Shannon Nichol, a founding principal of GGN, said:

“We are honored to have the opportunity to work on such an important site for the City of Osaka and Japan – and with an exceptionally talented team of collaborators and clients. The Osaka Midori Life concept inspires us to imagine a new kind of park and vibrant neighborhood, where life is centered around an immersion in nature while also benefiting from the cultural energy of the exceptional passenger-rail systems that converge within this central site.

“Osaka – as both an innovative, world-leading city and a place distinguished with important history, creative culture, and style – is an exciting place to be designing within and to be designing for.

Kathryn Gustafson, a founding principal of GGN added:

“We took inspiration from the history of the Japanese garden, the history of Osaka, and the natural environment. We’re impressed by the decision to put this large open space at the very hub of the city – this is key to this space contributing to a healthy, urban environment for the future.

“We are creating a range of unique landscape spaces within the site. Some will be very tranquil, reflective, and contemplative – while others will be very active, interactive, and social. An open east-west spine will be the connector between the two neighborhoods with different vendors who will offer daily amenities. We will also design the adjacent streets with characteristics that will further brings the landscape park into the neighborhoods to create a large environmental impact throughout the area.”

August 24, 2018 - GGN received the General Design Presidential Award for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture from the Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. GGN also received a General Design Honor Award for The Park at CityCenter. Both projects are located in Washington, DC. Rodrigo Abela accepted the awards at the VA ASLA Annual Conference in Natural Bridge State Park.

June 15, 2018 - River Cities, City Rivers edited by Dr. Thaisa Way, is the latest volume in the Dumbarton Oaks Colloquia on the History of Landscape Architecture published by Harvard Press. David Malda contributed the essay “Landscape Narratives and the San Antonio River,” based on the research and design process for GGN’s Civic Park at Hemisfair. The essay explores the value of a landscape narrative in shaping and communicating an alternative way to see a well-known place.

April 11, 2018 – Today, the proposed new design for the Miramar Santa Monica was revealed to the public.  The project will create a bold landmark for Downtown Santa Monica, with stunning contemporary architecture and magnificent new open spaces that both respect and celebrate the Miramar’s two local landmarks: the historic Palisades Building and the spectacular Moreton Bay Fig Tree. The new design embraces the historic tree, making it the true focal point of the project.

“We looked at elements of the Miramar such as its natural and cultural history and how it has changed over time to get the soul of the site. Our goal is that when you walk into it, you feel it is real and stable; that the landscape emerges from the site itself,” said Kathryn Gustafson, Founding Principal at GGN. 

Following an international design competition, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects was selected to lead the design of the project. GGN joined the design team along with historic preservation consultant Chattel Inc. “The Miramar hotel has been a beloved part of the Santa Monica community for nearly 100 years.  This new plan allows us to honor the hotel’s past while moving it towards the future,” said Ellis O’Connor of MSD Hospitality.  “We are excited to be working with a brilliant design team, including world-class architects, landscape architects and historic preservation consultants, to rejuvenate this extraordinary community asset consistent with the values of Santa Monica.”

“Some of the most compelling features of the new design are the stunning new open spaces,” said Dustin Peterson of the Athens Group, the Owner’s Representative. “When the Miramar Hotel originally opened in 1920, guests were drawn to its breathtaking gardens and open spaces.  Over time, the gardens and public space became greatly restricted, with building additions and tall walls surrounding the property.  The new Miramar Santa Monica seeks to restore and enhance the garden identity to the property.”

Image Credit: PCPA, Atchain, GGN