This month we sat down with Principal Mark W. Smith to talk about park planning. Since 2003, Mark has been leading RVi's park planning efforts with the City of Buda, Texas. In this interview, Mark discusses the complexities that cities and developers face in choosing a site, resolving stakeholder conflict and tackling concerns related to public health, safety and welfare. Additionally, Mark touches on RVi and the Landscape Architect's role in park planning. Read more
RVi spearheaded the planning on the Reserve at Lake Travis for Hal Jones Development, LLC. The 300 acre project features 3.5 miles of shoreline along Lake Travis, just west of Austin, Texas. The rolling hill country terrain features 120 single family home sites ranging from one to four acres in size and an additional 30 cottage sites along the shore. The road system proved a special challenge for the RVi team - working to design a circulation network that would have minimal impact on the natural terrain and vegetation, RVi was able to provide site lines to the lake, ease of access to the marina / restaurant, and to maximize views for homeowners. Amenities were also nestled into the land to take advantage of the site's unique physical features. The equestrian center is located on the site's only level, open pasture area, while the parks offer residents water access, views, and gathering points for everyone.
While others were eating and napping away their holidays, RVi Principal and Director of Landscape Architecture, Paul Smith, was busy prepping for the US Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation exam. Paul's successful completion of the exam makes him RVi's newest LEED accredited professional. As Paul notes, "we've always designed with sustainable principles of energy and resource conservation in mind, but studying for and passing the LEED NC exam was a great way to brush up on the many aspects and disciplines involved in the process of achieving great projects." Congratulations, Paul!
