Employee Spotlight: RVi Principal Jack Caldwell, PLA on how a passion for golf led to landscape architecture, creating places that shape lasting memories, and taking on the next challenge.
Based in RVi’s Orlando office, Principal Jack Caldwell, PLA, was recently promoted to Principal, marking the latest chapter in a career that began with an interest in golf course design. With more than 16 years of experience in landscape architecture, Jack’s work spans residential communities, institutional campuses, commercial development, streetscapes, and golf-focused projects.
His work has taken him from master planning and site design through detailed design and construction, including projects such as the Florida Gulf Coast University Great Lawn, Esplanade communities across the Southeast, and Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club.
In this Employee Spotlight, Jack shares what continues to challenge and inspire him, the project that helped shape him as a landscape architect, how golf continues to influence his work, and what happens when a landscape architect decides to take on American Ninja Warrior.
What inspired you to pursue a career in landscape architecture?
My interest in landscape architecture began in high school, when I dreamed of becoming a golf course architect. As I explored that path, I learned that landscape architecture was the foundation for designing golf courses. That discovery introduced me to the broader possibilities of the profession and set me on the career path I’ve followed ever since.
Team Caldwell at the ballpark! ⚾ Jack with his wife, Kaleigh, daughter Capri, and son Sawyer, enjoying some family time at a Braves game.
You were recently promoted to Principal. What does reaching this point in your career mean to you, and how do you see your role changing?
If you had asked me three, five, or even 10 years ago if I would be capable of filling a Principal role at a firm like RVi, I probably would have doubted it. Reaching this point is a testament to the mentors I’ve had throughout my career and the opportunities I’ve had to grow.
It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of a firm that creates a path for an ambitious, competitive person like me to achieve those career goals and recognize the hard work that goes into them. I’ve had mentors at RVi who have stuck with me through both failure and success. It hasn’t been a perfect path, and I’m certainly not perfect, but I think that’s part of the story. We learn from our failures and our successes, and we become who we are through that process.
Looking ahead, I see my role shifting to focus more on strategically building teams, improving our systems and services, strengthening our client network, and taking greater ownership of the health of the business. I’m excited about the challenges ahead.
You originally dreamed of becoming a golf course architect. How does that early passion for golf still influence the way you think about landscape architecture today?
Golf was really the thing that connected me to the outdoors. It became a retreat from the stress of life as a young person—my escape and a place where I could connect with the outdoors in all kinds of environments.
I grew up in Sebring, Florida, where we had lakes and golf courses everywhere, so golf became a big part of my life. I was a high school All-American and a scratch golfer. It was pretty consuming.
As I got older, I realized I was ready for another chapter, but the passion for golf and design never completely went away. Today, I have the opportunity to design master-planned communities with golf courses, help plan the courses, and work alongside golf course architects through design and implementation. In that sense, it has really come full circle.
It took 13 to 15 years before I started having the opportunity to play a key role in golf course planning and routing, and now I’m doing it pretty regularly. So, the dream didn’t completely go away.
And for those wondering: Jack says his current golf handicap is about a 12.
Jack and daughter, Capri conquered the 2025 Spartan race together—obstacles, grit, and all—and came home with hard-earned medals!
What has been your favorite or most challenging design project?
The Great Lawn at Florida Gulf Coast University has been my favorite project so far. As an Associate Project Manager at the time, I learned more from this project than any other about the full design and implementation process—from stakeholder collaboration, client communication, and teamwork to contracts, scheduling, construction details, and execution.
The project became a tangible expression of everything I was learning as I pursued my professional landscape architecture license, and it played a significant role in preparing me for and helping me pass the licensure exams.
Most rewarding of all was seeing how the design influenced campus life—how people moved through the space, gathered there, and made it part of their daily experience.
The Great Lawn at Florida Gulf Coast University
Is there another project that has particular significance to you?
Esplanade at St. Marys in St. Marys, Georgia, stands out for a different reason. It was the first project where I really played a key role in the design. I was able to be involved up front in planning and design and then stay involved through execution alongside the golf course architect.
Being able to help bring the course to life from start to finish made it especially meaningful. There are a lot of projects I could point to, but some become sentimental because they represent pivotal moments in your career.
You compete in American Ninja Warrior competitions. How did this start?
My daughter was five years old, and we loved watching the show together. She would just light up every time it came on, so I started looking for a gym where we could try it.
We found one about a mile from our house. It had no air conditioning and there was a dumpster out front. It was basically a small industrial warehouse, but it gave us a place to learn and train. She absolutely fell in love with it, and I wanted to be alongside her on that journey, so I started training and competing with her.
She’s now 13 and has been ranked in the top 10 in the world for the past four years. So, it’s become a really big part of our story.
For me, it’s also a way to stay connected with her. Those moments become harder to find as kids get older, so I’m still trying to be the old guy who can keep up. I have a rip on my hand right now because of it, so it’s not always easy, but it’s worth it.
I’ll be competing in Tampa soon, and my daughter is going to be my coach.
Like father, like daughter. Jack and Capri celebrate their UNAA medals after competing together in one of their favorite shared adventures.Jack and family enjoying the great outdoors.
By Geoff Roehll, ASLA, CLARB, Director of Healthcare and Senior Living at RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture
The environments we inhabit shape our health in countless ways. Air quality, access to nature, opportunities for physical activity, noise, stress, and even the views outside our windows all influence our physical and mental well-being.
While many health factors lie beyond our control, our surroundings play a significant role in determining how we feel, how we recover, and how we thrive. It follows, then, that the environments where we receive care should be designed to support healing.
This isn’t just conjecture; decades of research have reinforced this connection. In a landmark 1984 study, environmental psychologist Dr. Roger Ulrich found that patients recovering from surgery who had views of nature experienced shorter hospital stays, fewer minor postoperative complications, and required fewer doses of strong pain medication than patients whose windows overlooked a brick wall.
Simply having a view of nature through the window can measurably influence recovery.
Since that groundbreaking study, a growing body of evidence has continued to demonstrate the relationship between nature, the built environment, and patient outcomes. And isn’t it something we all feel intuitively? As our understanding has evolved, so has the way hospitals approach planning and design. Healthcare campuses are increasingly viewed as holistic healing environments where landscapes, gardens, circulation and wayfinding, outdoor spaces, and everyday interactions with nature all contribute to treatment and recovery.
So, what does that look like in practice? How can a garden heal? Why do decisions about parking, circulation, or wayfinding matter? And how do these investments create value for healthcare organizations? It all begins with understanding how thoughtful design can reduce stress and support healing at every step of the healthcare journey.
Beyond aesthetics, every detail of a healing garden is meticulously crafted to support resident needs at Tabor Hills, a senior living community in Naperville, Illinois.
Healing gardens and the theory of supportive design
Understanding how a garden can heal requires understanding the role that stress plays in the healing process. Elevated stress can increase blood pressure, raise cortisol levels, interfere with immune function, heighten the perception of pain, and make recovery more difficult. Patients aren’t the only ones affected. Families coping with uncertainty and clinicians working long shifts experience many of the same physiological responses.
That’s what makes healing gardens so much more than attractive outdoor amenities. They’re carefully designed therapeutic environments intended to buffer against stress and create the conditions that allow healing to happen.
The foundation of Dr. Ulrich’s Theory of Supportive Gardens suggests four key ways by which gardens reduce stress: by helping patients regain a sense of control, fostering social support, encouraging movement, and providing positive distractions through nature. These four principles lay the groundwork for evidence-based healing garden design.
When we design healing gardens, we create opportunities for patients to regain a sense of agency in an environment where so much of their experience is prescribed. That might mean providing multiple destinations instead of a single path, offering choices between sun and shade, or creating quiet spaces where patients and families can spend time together away from the clinical setting.
We’re also thinking about the programming of the space, how the landscape supports care beyond passive enjoyment. The Integrative Medicine Garden at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, Illinois, illustrates this principle. Designed to complement the hospital’s integrative medicine program, the garden extends care beyond the building itself, creating positive distractions and spaces for yoga, counseling, quiet reflection, walking, and social support that directly support the services offered inside the adjacent treatment center.
Movement is another critical consideration. Gently looping pathways encourage walking without creating dead ends or confusing circulation. Accessible routes, comfortable grades, and intuitive navigation allow people of varying abilities to move confidently through the space while supporting rehabilitation and light physical activity.
Finally, every sensory experience matters. The sound of moving water can soften the mechanical noise of a hospital campus. Native plantings, seasonal color, birds, butterflies, and shifting light provide positive natural distractions that gently draw attention away from pain, anxiety, or uncertainty. Together, these seemingly small interventions help restore a sense of calm—and ultimately support the healing process.
Soft lighting, lush plantings, and the illuminated water wall transform the garden into a peaceful retreat that supports reflection and relaxation throughout the day and into the evening.
The healthcare campus as a healing journey
While healing gardens are one of the most recognizable expressions of this philosophy, they aren’t the only environments that influence patient outcomes. The same principles that guide the design of a therapeutic landscape can—and should—inform every aspect of a healthcare campus.
Throughout the master planning process, we evaluate every decision through the perspective of the people using the campus every day—patients, families, visitors, clinicians, and staff. From the moment someone arrives, each interaction with the environment has the potential to either increase stress or alleviate it.
Healing begins long before a patient enters an exam room. Before treatment even begins, the arrival experience shapes how people feel about a healthcare campus. Finding parking, navigating unfamiliar surroundings, and locating the right entrance may seem like operational concerns, but they have meaningful human impacts. Every unnecessary detour or confusing decision point adds cognitive and emotional burden during an already difficult moment.
Accessibility is equally important. For hospitals and especially senior living communities, thoughtful planning minimizes walking distances, reduces grade changes, provides frequent opportunities to rest, and creates routes that feel safe, comfortable, and intuitive for people of all ages and abilities. These decisions may appear small in isolation, but together they help reduce stress, improve confidence, and create a more supportive experience for everyone who uses the campus.
That same philosophy extends to staff. Outdoor courtyards, rooftop gardens, walking paths, and other spaces for respite give clinicians opportunities to decompress during demanding shifts. Supporting the well-being of caregivers ultimately supports better care for patients, reinforcing the idea that a healing environment serves everyone—not just those receiving treatment.
That philosophy takes many forms depending on the needs of a campus. At the Lynn and Jerry Flaherty Family Respite Garden at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, for instance, we transformed an underutilized rooftop into a restorative retreat for patients, families, and healthcare staff. Inspired by a journey through the woods, the garden weaves together intimate seating areas, gathering spaces, water features, and views of the Illinois River. While the space serves those who can access it directly, it also provides restorative views from surrounding patient rooms, reinforcing the idea that healing can occur through both experience and observation.
The Lynn and Jerry Flaherty Family Respite Garden at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center transforms an underutilized rooftop into functional green space that provides access to and views of nature.
The business case for healing environments
The value of healing gardens and thoughtfully planned healthcare campuses is more than just added amenities. Shorter hospital stays, improved treatment responses, and lower rates of complications can contribute to more efficient care delivery. Intuitive campus circulation can improve patient satisfaction and strengthen community perception, helping organizations to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive landscape.
The benefits extend to the people delivering care as well. Physicians, nurses, and hospital staff work in environments defined by long hours, emotional demands, and high rates of burnout. Access to outdoor respite areas and restorative landscapes can contribute to greater job satisfaction and support employee retention.
Taken together, these benefits reinforce an important reality: investing in healing environments isn’t just about creating beautiful places. It’s about creating healthcare campuses that function better for everyone who depends on them—patients, families, clinicians, staff, and the organizations that serve them. The same evidence-based principles that improve the human experience also support stronger operational outcomes
The Wings of Hope Angel Garden at Edward Hospital in Naperville offers moments of respite for staff as well as patients.
The role we play
Everything discussed—from healing gardens and intuitive circulation to evidence-based campus planning—requires collaboration across disciplines. As planners and landscape architects, we don’t design healthcare facilities in isolation. We work alongside architects, engineers, clinicians, administrators, and operations teams to understand how people use a campus today and how it can better support care tomorrow.
Our role is to translate research into places that work. That means balancing clinical needs with human experience, coordinating complex site constraints, and identifying opportunities where the landscape can improve outcomes. Whether we’re developing a campus master plan, designing a healing garden, or reimagining outdoor spaces, every decision is guided by the same question: How can this environment better support the people who rely on it?
Because healing doesn’t happen in just one room, and great healthcare doesn’t begin or end at the front door. It happens throughout the entire journey. And if something as simple as a view through a window can influence recovery, imagine what’s possible when nature becomes an integrative part of the healing process.
Author Bio: As RVi’s Director of Healthcare and Senior Living, Geoff Roehll has led the planning and design of healthcare and senior living landscapes for more than three decades. Coming from a family of healthcare professionals, Geoff has long been passionate about creating environments that support healing through thoughtful planning and evidence-based landscape architecture. In addition to his work with RVi, Geoff was an instructor at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Therapeutic Garden Certificate Program and regularly shares his expertise at regional and national healthcare conferences.
Based in RVi’s Austin, Texas office, Principal Bryan Warne, PLA, brings a broad perspective shaped by more than two decades in landscape architecture, with particular expertise in healthcare and wellness. In this Employee Spotlight, Bryan shares his unconventional path to the profession, his approach to designing places that support well-being, and why the work of landscape architects matters more than many realize.
Finding your path
Your career has taken you through city planning, boutique design, construction, running your own firm, and leading landscape architecture for a healthcare and senior living practice. How has each chapter shaped the way you approach design today?
Separately, each of those chapters have shaped how I approach design, certainly. But I think it’s more what they’ve done for my approach collectively that matters. I try not to design in a vacuum, and it’s not like I can just turn up one knob and turn down another anyway. I hope those combined experiences have given me a well-rounded and thoughtful perspective on every project, with every client. To see as many of the angles as I can, to answer as many design questions as practical, to provide a solution that makes sense, and ultimately leaves us (RVi), the client, and the end user feeling like we all won.
How did you find your way to landscape architecture, and what led you to focus on healthcare and wellness design?
I wasn’t necessarily drawn to landscape architecture; I sort of stumbled into it. When I was young, I wanted to be a Marine Corps pilot. I wanted to serve my country, make a difference, design planes, fly into space, and explore the galaxy as an astronaut. I was also an athlete and sports fan who happened to be born in Michigan. Putting all of that together, my plan was to attend the University of Michigan’s Naval ROTC program, play soccer, and graduate as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps with a degree in aerospace engineering. But things don’t always go as planned.
Reality punch number one: I didn’t receive a scholarship to Michigan, so I enrolled at Texas A&M, which also has a highly ranked aerospace program. Reality punch number two: I wasn’t mature or prepared enough to succeed in aerospace engineering and risked failing out during my first year. One afternoon, I sat in my dorm room with a few barely interested friends and tried to figure out what I was going to do. We went through the course catalog major by major as I tried to picture myself in each one.
I eventually settled on landscape architecture. My love of the outdoors, working with my hands, being active, and giving back all seemed to align. Reality punch number three: aerospace didn’t want to let me out, and landscape architecture didn’t want to let me in. I argued my case with both programs, and eventually they agreed to give me a probationary year to prove myself. I buckled down and got it done. I said goodbye to flying spaceships and hello to endless questions about mowing lawns.
I didn’t focus specifically on healthcare and wellness until later in my career. Although I believe every project inherently provides some level of wellness to its users, it wasn’t a primary focus until I began working for an architecture firm specializing in healthcare and senior living. It was a direct pipeline to making a difference in people’s lives. Every project, decision, and stroke of the marker or pencil had the potential to affect someone’s life in a profound and meaningful way. That was 12 years ago, and I’ve been passionate about it ever since.
A courtyard at a senior living community provides a peaceful and quiet space to enjoy nature.
Looking back over more than two decades in the profession, what has kept you passionate about the work?
Realizing that we make a difference with what we do. Truly. I often say we’re not firemen, police officers, or doctors in terms of maintaining perspective when dealing with clients and our level of professional stress. But the reality is, we do have a major impact on people’s lives. How they experience the world around them. How they interact with one another. How they grow and mature from young kids feeling bare grass under their feet for the first time to being surrounded by loved ones as they leave this Earth.
We touch almost every moment of that journey, intentionally or not. There’s a shared experience of being human, regardless of who you are, where you live, and what your story is. What’s more human than breathing fresh air, feeling the warmth of the sun or seeing the light of the moon on your skin, seeing and hearing the abundance of life around you, knowing you’re a part of it all, and sharing those moments with your people. We help shape those experiences and environments. All of them. I mean, how can you not be passionate about that?
Designing for healing & wellness
We often hear about evidence-based design in healthcare. How can thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces influence healing, wellness, and quality of life?
I sometimes think we put too much emphasis on terms like “evidence-based design” or “biophilic design” when our connection to nature is something we understand instinctively. We know how it feels to chase a friend through the grass, sit quietly in the warmth of the sun or cool of the shade, stroll through a park, or roll down the car window and feel the breeze. These are simple, universal experiences that remind us how naturally we respond to the outdoors.
We all experience those things throughout our lives. When it comes to landscape architecture, if we need a term to validate a design decision, I think it should be called experience-based design—our own primordial, instinctual human experience.
The actual science is exhaustive and extremely compelling, especially for medical or design nerds. But the short version is that thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces can support:
Physical well-being by encouraging movement, activity, healthy habits, better sleep, and reduced stress.
Emotional well-being by providing opportunities for autonomy, stress relief, escapism, reflection, and time outdoors.
Intellectual well-being by encouraging creativity, problem-solving, learning, and new ways of engaging the brain.
Social well-being by creating spaces that bring people together, encourage interaction, strengthen relationships, and foster a sense of belonging.
Spiritual well-being by providing places for privacy, self-reflection, meditation, fellowship, gratitude, and compassion.
Occupational wellness by allowing people to share their talents, develop new skills, contribute to others, and find purpose.
Environmental wellness by nurturing our relationship with the Earth, encouraging stewardship, and promoting pride in the places we share.
Ultimately, outdoor spaces influence healing, wellness, and quality of life because they support the many ways people need to move, think, connect, reflect, and find meaning.
This month’s editorial theme is Campuses. Whether it’s a healthcare campus, senior living community, or corporate environment, what role should outdoor spaces play in supporting the people who use them every day?
It’s a slightly different approach for each, but ultimately, there are objectives that are shared and translated across typologies. One role outdoor spaces play is supporting intuitive and appropriate wayfinding. This doesn’t just mean signs. We can use design features that objectively and subconsciously move people in a certain direction or compel them to want to “be” in one particular place or another.
Another common role should be providing spaces for each user group to use distinctly from one another, while also providing flexibility. This requires thoughtfully considering the unique needs and wants of those separate groups and how they ultimately interact. You must consider everyone—from CEOs and employees to patients or residents and families, doctors and caregivers, students and staff, and visitors and vendors.
Circulation is also an important role, both pedestrian and vehicular. As designers, we sometimes have a myopic view of the spaces and projects we’re dealing with, and our clients almost always do as well. It is our job to think about the bigger picture and understand how the entire fabric comes together, particularly on larger campus spaces or in urban environments.
One of the single most important roles to me, and one that can drive many others, is appropriate programming. How are these spaces actually going to be used? I’m not sure how any design takes shape without first considering programming—from large-scale planning, where the programming may be very broad, to hyper-specific user groups and prescribed activities. In every case, the programming must be considered simultaneously with the building’s use and internal programming. One cannot act alone; each must support the other.
The design process
Your colleagues describe you as a “big picture thinker” who also pays close attention to the details. How do you balance long-term vision with the practical realities of a project?
Start at 30,000 feet, land the target. I think the secret for me is having a strong grasp of the project’s realities from the get-go. I want to understand as much as possible about every part of the project from the very beginning; the site, owner requirements, codes, user needs, goals, and parameters. I go down that rabbit hole because it gives me context and helps me see the goal in the distance.
I keep all of that in mind and work my way down from the top. I jump out of the plane and from that moment till I land on the ground I’m aiming for a very small spot that’s a very long way away. But I must start at 30,000 feet and work the process. I can’t – and I don’t want – to get there too quickly or I’ll be unhappy with the results.
I keep my eyes on where I’m supposed to land, learning more and adjusting to the wind along the way. I continually reanalyze new realities, reprocess the information, and apply it to the solution to make sure I hit the tar
Thoughtful programming connects indoor and outdoor spaces, ensuring each supports how people live, gather, and experience a place.
Leadership
You’ve presented nationally on wellness design and published articles on creating healthier environments. What ideas are you most passionate about sharing with clients and emerging professionals, and what advice would you offer young designers—particularly those interested in healthcare or campus planning—as you mentor them and help them grow?
What I’m most passionate about sharing is the importance of what we do, the impact it has on people, and honestly, how simple it can be when the support to accomplish it is there.
That’s the same advice I’d give any young landscape architect, regardless of their specialty: The details matter, and so does the process. Check your ego at the door and focus on the solution, not the problem.
As a principal, what I enjoy most about mentoring is seeing someone “get it,” whatever “it” may be in that moment. Watching the light switch turn on and then seeing them do more with that understanding than I could, is remarkably satisfying. It’s gratifying to watch people succeed and know that I helped in some way.
Judy Waxman Memorial Garden at the Campus of Shalom Austin, the Jewish Community Center in Austin.
Personal perspective
Is there a project in your career that you’re especially proud of—not necessarily because it was the biggest, but because of the impact it had on people’s lives?
There are several—nearly every senior living project I’ve worked on. Any small thing I can do to bring dignity, comfort, compassion, joy, and purpose to someone who may have lost hope or the desire for those things is incredibly meaningful.
Most recently, I worked on the Judy Waxman Memorial Garden at the Campus of Shalom Austin, the Jewish Community Center in Austin. After Mrs. Waxman’s passing, her family commissioned the garden to honor her memory and legacy of philanthropy. They wanted to create a place for members and visitors to find reflection and peace while continuing their good work.
I’m proud of how happy her family was and how our team gave them the garden they had envisioned. I’ll always remember that project and that family.
This beautiful garden honors Judy Waxman’s memory and legacy of philanthropy, creating a peaceful place for reflection for members and visitors.
Outside of work, where do you go to recharge? Is there a favorite outdoor place or landscape that inspires you?
Not any single one, no. Just generally being able to escape somewhere quiet and remote. Somewhere with trees and water and sun, temps in the 40’s-70’s, and a campfire.
Bryan enjoys what he values most about the outdoors – time to recharge, explore, and connect with family.
Looking ahead
Healthcare design continues to evolve. What trends are you most excited about, particularly when it comes to outdoor environments and campus planning?
Big picture, I’m focused on the continued push to validate landscape architecture, and the role landscape architects play in the design process. We’re not fully there yet, but it’s a great time to be a landscape architect.
Closer to home, I’ve been exploring a new concept that could shift the paradigm around healthcare and community. It would provide essential services to underserved communities while simultaneously addressing some of the funding challenges that keep great and necessary projects from ever getting off the ground.
Quick takes
Favorite place to visit in Texas? Tough question. At the moment, I’m going with Pedernales Falls State Park.
One book that has influenced your thinking? The Tao of Poo
A landscape or garden you’ve visited that left a lasting impression? My paternal grandparents farm in Michigan.
Healing through design: How an integrative medicine garden supports whole-person healing
Healing doesn’t begin and end with clinical care. Every stage of a patient’s journey is shaped by experiences that support the mind, body, and spirit. At Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, that holistic philosophy extends beyond the treatments provided inside the hospital to the environments where patients, families, and caregivers spend their time, including the outdoor spaces.
Designed as an extension of the Center for Health and Integrative Medicine, the Integrative Medicine Garden reflects decades of research demonstrating the value of thoughtfully designed outdoor environments in healthcare. Studies have associated these environments with reduced stress, greater emotional restoration, and, in some cases, measurable improvements in patient recovery.
“Nature has proven to have a notable impact on patient outcomes,” says Geoff Roehll, Director of Healthcare and Senior Living at RVi. “Patients who have access to nature may require less pain medication, recover more quickly, and experience lower stress levels. That’s why hospitals increasingly incorporate healing gardens and restorative outdoor spaces as part of the overall patient experience.”
How intentional design supports the patient journey
Inscribed across the garden’s primary water feature are the words “journey through a garden.” The phrase reflects the project’s guiding philosophy that for patients and families, the path through treatment and healing is just that—a journey—and every path, gathering space, and moment of respite was intentionally designed to support them along the way.
While aesthetics played a major role in the garden’s sensory experiences, ultimately, its form followed its function. RVi worked closely with hospital staff to understand how the space could extend and enhance the hospital’s integrative approach to care, developing a program centered around the core tenets of mind, body, and spirit.
That program is reflected in the way the garden unfolds. A wall of windows creates a visual connection to the landscape, while direct access from the interior flexible yoga space extends wellness activities outdoors. An outdoor yoga lawn and patio transition into meandering pathways that encourage gentle movement and connect a series of spaces for counseling, meditation, and quiet reflection. A low seating wall and evergreen plantings define the garden’s edge, creating a sense of enclosure while buffering the space from the surrounding hospital campus and parking areas.
Each space feels distinct yet remains seamlessly connected through circulation, weaving through flower gardens, water features, benches, and shaded areas. That sense of connection also creates flexibility and a greater sense of autonomy in an otherwise prescribed setting.
“When so much of a patient’s treatment journey may feel out of their control, the landscape gives them choices about how they engage with their surroundings,” says Roehll. Visitors can seek out sun or shade, conversation or solitude, movement or quiet reflection, depending on what they need in the moment.
Those moments of choice were intentionally crafted—driven by programming, aligned with healthcare outcomes, and influenced by countless design decisions that support every detail of the landscape.
Pergolas and seating areas throughout the garden offer visitors a choice of sun or shade, creating comfortable spaces for quiet reflection, conversation, or respite.
Every detail has a purpose
In a healing garden, details that might appear purely aesthetic often serve a much deeper purpose. At the Integrative Medicine Garden, every material, planting, and hardscaping element was selected for the role it plays in creating a comfortable, restorative experience.
The garden’s central water wall serves as both a visual focal point and an acoustic feature. The sound of cascading water creates a calming atmosphere while providing subtle white noise that enhances privacy for conversations and serves as a backdrop for meditative reflection. Additional pondless water features throughout the garden extend the aquatic sensory benefits, without the maintenance or safety concerns associated with standing water.
Comfort guided many of the garden’s material selections as well. Darker paving minimizes glare and reflects sunlight that can be uncomfortable for patients with heightened light sensitivity, while shade structures and strategically placed seating create welcoming places to rest. Flexible gathering spaces accommodate everything from organized counseling sessions to informal conversations between families and caregivers.
Planting design also serves multiple purposes. A diverse mix of trees, shrubs, and flowering plants introduces seasonal color, texture, and fragrance that enrich the sensory experience, while evergreen plantings establish a year-round buffer from surrounding parking areas and hospital activity. Together with low seat walls, they create a sense of enclosure that allows visitors to feel immersed in the landscape rather than the campus beyond.
Even the infrastructure contributes to the garden’s long-term performance. Rainwater is absorbed through permeable pavers to help manage stormwater naturally, while low lighting features extend the garden’s presence into the evening, ensuring the space remains welcoming throughout the day.
“When people experience a healing garden, they notice how it makes them feel, not why,” Roehll says. “Our job is to make sure every detail works together to build that experience.”
Soft lighting, lush plantings, and the illuminated water wall transform the garden into a peaceful retreat that supports reflection and relaxation throughout the day and into the evening.
Healing beyond the garden
While the Integrative Medicine Garden serves as one example of an integrated, restorative landscape, it reflects Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital’s broader commitment to treating the whole person across the entire journey. Rather than viewing healing as something that happens only within clinical spaces, the hospital has embraced an evidence-based approach that considers how every interaction with the natural and built environment can influence the user experience, from patients to families, staff to clinicians, and everyone in between.
“We’re looking at everything through the lens of the patient, the hospital staff, or the family visiting. For many, the minute you arrive at a hospital, stress starts to rise,” says Roehll. “Anything we can do to reduce that is going to help.”
That philosophy extends well beyond the garden itself. From intuitive circulation and clear wayfinding to rooftop green space and staff courtyards for respite during shifts, RVi’s hospital campus planning throughout Advocate Good Shepherd has helped to position each element as an opportunity to reduce stress and create a greater sense of comfort for everyone involved. Every pathway, outdoor space, and connection is considered through the lens of how people move, feel, and interact with their surroundings. In this way, the Garden becomes one expression of a much larger healing landscape.
“You have the intimate space of the garden at the micro-scale, and when we plan and design hospitals, we’re looking at the macro ‘healing garden’, which is the entire campus,” adds Roehll.
Ultimately, the Integrative Medicine Garden demonstrates that healing is influenced not only by the care people receive, but by the places where that care occurs. Through thoughtful planning and a shared commitment to whole-person wellness, Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital has created a landscape that helps transform moments of waiting, reflection, and recovery into meaningful parts of the healing journey.
June 9, 2026 (Austin, TX) – RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture (RVi) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ryan Binkowski as President. Binkowski, who served as Senior Vice President of Operations, has assumed the role following the retirement of longtime President Chris Crawford.
Binkowski brings extensive operational leadership experience and a deep understanding of RVi’s business, culture, and clients. Since joining the company, he has played a key role in driving operational excellence, strengthening team performance, and supporting strategic growth initiatives.
“Ryan’s leadership, vision, and commitment to our people and clients make him the right choice to lead RVi into its next chapter as the best outdoor experience design studio in the country,” said Crawford. “His track record of delivering results and fostering collaboration positions the company for continued success.”
Binkowski said he is honored to step into the role. “I’m excited to build on the strong foundation that Chris and our team have established to ‘Design a Better World’.” RVi has an exceptional group of professionals, and I look forward to working together to continue delivering outstanding service to our clients and partners.”
Over the course of his 40-year career, Crawford has been instrumental in RVi’s growth and success. His leadership and dedication have helped shape the firm’s culture, strengthen its reputation, and guide its continued evolution.
RVi remains committed to delivering innovative solutions and exceptional service as it enters this new leadership chapter.
At RVi, we advocate for nature, inspire creativity, tell captivating stories, and forge strong relationships to create places with staying power. Through creative strategy and design, we lead integrated teams to envision the world’s next great communities, public places, campuses, and hospitality experiences. RVi is a part of the Atwell Family of Companies.
After decades of leadership and lasting impact, Chris Crawford is stepping into retirement and closing an extraordinary chapter at RVi. Over the course of his career, Chris has helped shape not only the firm’s growth, but also the culture and relationships that define it today. We sat down with him to reflect on his journey, the moments that mattered most, and the perspective he’s gained along the way.
How did you start working at RVi?
I joined RVi as a new college graduate in May 1986. The firm actually taught my senior design class at Texas A&M, and I was hired through that connection while I was still in school. I graduated on a Friday and started the following Monday. I still remember my first-day outfit: a mauve shirt and matching mauve pants.
Early on, I had the opportunity to work closely with the firm’s founder, Bob Richardson, and build a strong relationship with him. He became a mentor to me. After some time, I left RVi to gain experience at another firm, but seven years later, I returned. I’ve now spent the last 32 years here.
It’s a good reminder of how important relationships are. You never know when your paths might cross again or where those connections might lead.
What moments from your time at RVi stand out most to you?
Leaving RVi is not easy. This place has shaped my life in ways I will always carry with me.
I met my wife here, which makes this chapter even more meaningful, and even harder to step away from. But what I will remember most are the people. The relationships built here have defined my career and made it truly special.
Many clients and colleagues have become lifelong friends. Some of those friendships go back to when I started my career 40 years ago, and even now, we can pick up right where we left off. Even if we haven’t spoken in a long time, the moment we reconnect, it feels like no time has passed.
That sense of connection is what makes RVi different, and it is what I will carry forward.
What was your favorite or most memorable project?
I’ve had the chance to travel widely and work on a variety of meaningful projects. I’m proud of what we’ve created. Our work influences how people live, gather, and play, and I’ve been able to visit these places and see that impact firsthand. What we design becomes part of people’s everyday lives and some of their most meaningful moments. Our communities are the backdrop for first birthdays, graduations, and countless everyday experiences.
We’re not just designing projects; we’re helping shape communities in lasting ways. That’s what made every new project something to look forward to.
Looking back on your time as President, what is one thing you are most proud of?
I’m incredibly proud of how much RVi has grown. Not long ago, we were a firm of about 25 people. Today, we’re nearly 200 strong. Along the way, we’ve expanded our geographic reach and built meaningful relationships with clients and communities across the country.
What matters most is how we’ve grown. We’ve stayed true to who we are. Our creativity, our vision, and our genuine desire to shape the world around us remain at the core of everything we do. As we’ve grown, we’ve stayed grounded in the values that defined us early on, and that balance is something I’m especially proud of.
What excites you most about the future of RVi?
What excites me most is the depth of talent we’ve built, especially as we’ve brought several great firms into the fold. The people who have joined us bring new perspectives, fresh ideas, and a level of creativity that continues to push us forward.
We’re in a position now where we’re not only expanding geographically, but also expanding what we’re capable of as a firm. We’re continuing to lean into innovation, explore new ideas, and take on projects in areas we haven’t worked in before. That combination of experience and new energy is incredibly exciting, and it opens the door to possibilities we’ve never had before.
What is your advice to those just starting out their career in landscape architecture?
Focus on building relationships. Your career is about much more than good work and design. It’s about getting to know your clients, understanding what matters to them, and developing genuine, lasting connections. Those relationships are often the most meaningful part of what we do, and they shape not only the success of a project but the experience of working on it.
What do you plan on doing with your time now that you are retiring?
I’m looking forward to spending more time with my wife, children, and grandchildren. I’m also excited to enjoy some of the things I love, including traveling, fishing, painting, and spending time on our ranch.
Across cities of every size, there is a growing recognition that some of the most valuable opportunities aren’t found on blank canvases; they exist in the overlooked, the underperforming, and the in-between. Vacant lots, aging plazas, and leftover parcels are increasingly being reimagined as meaningful public places that support daily life, strengthen the city’s identity, and create lasting value and memories.
This shift we’re seeing reflects a broader evolution in how urban spaces are understood and designed. Unlocking that value is not about starting from scratch. It is about recognizing the potential in what already exists and designing with intention, flexibility, and a clear understanding of how people actually use space.
“The best urban spaces aren’t defined by what they were—they’re defined by what they can become when you understand the community around them,” says RVi’s Joel Baldin, ASLA, Director of Urban Design.
From civic plazas in Chicago to adaptive reuse destinations like The Exchange in Fort Collins, we’ve seen how constraints, context, and willingness to see things differently can create something entirely new and impactful.
Seeing opportunity where others see contraints
The foundation of reimagining underutilized urban space starts with a shift in perspective. What may appear to be a limitation, an awkward parcel, aging infrastructure, or financial constraints, often becomes the catalyst for more inventive, more resilient design solutions.
Baldin emphasizes that this process begins with listening: “Every site has a story, even the ones that feel overlooked. Our role is to uncover that story and translate it into a space that feels intentional and relevant to the people who use it.”
Rather than imposing a predetermined design language, the approach should focus on context, community input and engagement, and flexibility. Urban plazas, for example, are no longer treated as static spaces, but as adaptable environments where “cool things happen,” from performances and markets to everyday informal use.
In projects like Monroe Landing Plaza in La Porte, Indiana, we’re helping transform existing parking and part of a street into a flexible community space designed for everyday use and events. The goal is to unlock new value by aligning the space with how people actually live, gather, and connect.
This approach reframes constraints as opportunities. Budget limitations, site challenges, and existing conditions are not barriers; they are design drivers that push teams toward more creative, efficient, and ultimately more authentic solutions.
Ogden Plaza Park, City of Chicago
Designing for flexibility, everyday use, and human experience
A key characteristic of successful reimagined urban spaces is flexibility, both in design and in how people experience and define the space over time.
The Exchange in Fort Collins is a clear example of this shift. What began as a deteriorating parking lot and city block evolved into a vibrant, container-based destination that supports a wide range of uses throughout the day and across seasons.
As RVi’s Paul Mills, Regional Vice President and Principal on this project explains, “We were not trying to program every space to be something—we let it be open and let people choose their adventure.”
That philosophy reflects a broader trend in urban design. Civic open spaces are being designed to accommodate variability—movable seating, open lawns, layered gathering areas, and edges that support both activity and pause. These elements allow people to shape their own experience, whether that’s a family gathering, a casual lunch, or a community event.
Baldin reinforces this idea from an urban design perspective, “The goal isn’t to control how a space is used—it’s to create the conditions for it to be used in many different ways, over time.”
This balance between structure and openness is critical. At Logan Square Plaza in Chicago, for example, layered seating, improved pedestrian connections, and flexible open areas were designed to support both daily use and small-scale gatherings, creating a space that feels active without being overdesigned.
Ultimately, we know that flexibility ensures longevity and improves performance. Spaces that can evolve alongside community needs are more resilient, more inclusive, and more likely to remain relevant over time. They also attract foot traffic, support local businesses, and increase the overall value of the surrounding area.
Designing space for flexibility is not just a design decision. It is a strategic one.
The Exchange, Fort Collins, CO
Identity through contrast, adaptation, and storytelling
We believe that reimagined urban spaces should be expressive, not just functional. They create identity, often by embracing contrast and leaning into what makes a place unique.
This idea of contrast as a design tool is becoming more prevalent. It allows projects to acknowledge their context while also signaling something new, something contemporary, dynamic, and forward-looking.
At The Exchange, that identity is shaped through adaptive reuse. Repurposed shipping containers form the edges of the site, creating intimate, people-oriented environments while framing a more open central green. Rather than blending into the historic red-brick context of Old Town Fort Collins, the project intentionally stands apart.
As Mills noted, “It’s intentionally contrasting… a surprising element.”
Baldin sees contrast and placemaking as part of a larger storytelling approach: “Placemaking is storytelling on a grand scale. Every design decision contributes to how people understand and connect with a place.”
Public art, materiality, planting, and spatial organization all play a role in shaping that story. Whether it’s restoring visibility and safety to an underperforming plaza or introducing new layers of programming and identity, the goal remains the same: create spaces that feel authentic to their community while offering something unexpected.
Reimagined spaces can shift how those in-between places work and what they become over time.
City of Fort Collins alleyway enhancements
A new way forward: Reimagining what’s already there
Looking at overlooked or underperforming urban spaces in a new way reflects a broader change in how cities evolve, respond to new needs, and think about the role of public space.
We believe that “leftover spaces” are opportunities to create connections, support local economies, and enhance everyday life. Through a combination of thoughtful design, community engagement, and a willingness to embrace constraints, these sites are being transformed into places with purpose and staying power.
As Baldin puts it, “When you approach a project with curiosity instead of assumption, you open the door to solutions that are more creative, and more meaningful.”
From Chicago to Fort Collins and in other regions of the country, the takeaway is clear: the future of urban design is about seeing what’s already there and reimagining it into something better.
April is World Landscape Architecture Month, which is centered on Landscape Architecture in Action – through design, practice, learning, and impact. To bring that theme to life, we connected with three RVi leaders to hear their insights and perspectives.
Brett Anderson, PLA, ASLA – Landscape Architecture in Action through design
Out in the field where ideas take shape. Brett Anderson out on a recent hike taking in the landscape, finding inspiration in every line, slope, and horizon.
We asked Vice President, Brett Anderson to share one design decision he made that had a big impact on a project. “It is hard to point to one decision that made a big impact,” he stated. “It is more a series of small decisions that cumulate into overall project success.” That mindset shapes how he approaches every project, with a clear personal standard: “This has to be the best project I have ever done.”
Rather than seeing constraints as limitations, Brett leans into them as part of the creative process. “Take all of the parameters, restrictions, budgets – things that you could look at as roadblocks – and incorporate them into a creative solution without sacrificing the overall outcome,” he says. “Project restrictions should not be deal-breakers, but challenges to be more creative in our solutions.” It’s a perspective that turns problem-solving into design opportunity and keeps the work both grounded and innovative.
For Brett, a project becomes tangible in the earliest moments of design. “I love to draw and sketch. Design is the language that I use to get out my ideas and thoughts.” That act of sketching is where ideas begin to take shape, where abstract concepts start becoming real places.
Inspiration is “everywhere, constant, and all around,” says Brett. As a keen observer of public spaces, he studies how people move through and interact with their environments—how circulation, materials, and the natural context influence behavior and define the character of a place. He’s especially drawn to the energy and complexity of cities like San Francisco, New York City, and Chicago, where design is constantly on display in how people gather, connect, and experience the built environment.
Andy Howard, PLA, CPSI – Landscape Architecture in Action through practice and learning
Standing small beneath something timeless. Andy Howard and family taking in the scale, perspective, and quiet inspiration only a place like this can offer.
For Andy Howard, Senior Landscape Architect, the most important parts of a project are often the ones no one ever sees.
“People rarely see the depth of the design process,” says Andy. “The rough sketches, iterative concepts, and team discussions all shape a project long before anything is built. What they experience is the final space, but behind it are layers of ideas, testing, and refinement.”
That process is anything but linear. Using Bellaboo’s Imagination Garden as an example, Andy describes the work as an “onion” of design thinking, where ideas are built up, tested, and sometimes intentionally peeled back to create a stronger outcome. Ongoing collaboration plays a key role, especially with play equipment vendors and manufacturers. Through shared sketches and multiple rounds of iteration, concepts evolve into something both imaginative and buildable.
Early in a project, success comes down to alignment. “Strong collaboration with clients, stakeholders, and the community is critical,” Andy explains. “Establishing a clear vision and continually reminding ourselves of the end user helps ground each design decision in purpose from the start.”
But some of the most meaningful lessons come after a space is in use. Watching how families and communities actually engage with parks and play environments has shifted how Andy approaches design. “You can’t fully predict the creative and unexpected ways children play and learn,” he says. “Seeing those interactions firsthand reinforces the importance of designing flexible, layered environments that invite discovery.”
That perspective is shaped by experiences beyond the office, too. Travel and time in nature—whether backpacking through Europe or hiking with family in state and national parks—continue to influence his work. “Nature offers endless inspiration. Its forms, systems, and sense of wonder all inform how I approach creating meaningful, people-centered spaces.”
At the core of it all is a belief that design should bring people together. As Andy puts it, “Families and friends that play together, stay together.”
Joemy Buschur, Sites AP, LEED Green Associate – Landscape Architecture in Action through impact
Joemy Buschur exploring Chinati Foundation in Marfa, TX and how simple forms and big landscapes come together.
For Joemy Buschur, Associate Project Manager, landscape architecture is rooted in growth—expanding how we think about design and understanding its long-term impact. Her perspective has evolved alongside the challenges shaping today’s built environment.
“The acceleration of climate change and the increased need for resiliency have changed the implications and responsibilities of design and construction,” she explains. With a background in adaptive reuse, Joemy approaches projects with a systems-based mindset—looking beyond individual elements to understand how landscapes, infrastructure, and communities work together. “It gives me the tools to take a broader view, analyze existing systems, and work collaboratively to address immediate challenges in both the urban environment and natural systems.”
That approach is grounded in continuous learning, often found outside the office. Time spent observing native plant communities has been especially influential in shaping how she thinks about design. “Spending time in natural settings has deepened my understanding of plant design,” she says. “Mimicking natural plant groupings in designed landscapes creates a true sense of place and a plant palette that’s made to thrive.”
For Joemy, impact isn’t defined by a finished project; it’s revealed over time. “I know a project is successful when I see it evolve with use,” she shares. “Adoption and adaptation by communities is the mark of a project infused with life.”
Through Joemy’s lens, Landscape Architecture in Action is both a learning process and a lasting commitment—one that connects people, ecology, and places in ways that continue to unfold over time. “I see my work as a framework for co-creation with communities for many years to come.”
From process to place
At its core, Landscape Architecture in Action is a continuous process shaped by people, perspective, and purpose. From Brett’s iterative decision-making to Andy’s behind-the-scenes collaboration and learning, to Joemy’s long-term view of impact, a common thread emerges; meaningful design evolves, adapts, and ultimately belongs to the communities who use it.
Every community has a story; it’s shaped by how people gather, how they move, and how they connect to the land around them. The most meaningful places don’t happen by accident. They are shaped through listening closely, asking thoughtful questions, and designing with intention.
At RVi, engagement – ranging from stakeholder collaboration to community input – is a part of how we approach every project. Whether shaping fast-growing master planned communities or park, recreation, and open space systems, the goal is the same: to create places that feel authentic, connected, and built to last.
While community engagement is often associated with public work, stakeholder engagement plays an equally important role in shaping private development and mixed-use environments.
Across our work, we’re seeing a few consistent themes emerge in how engagement continues to shape planning and design outcomes. These insights reflect how engagement is evolving as a practice and how it adapts across different regions of the country, responding to growth, culture, and community priorities.
Rather than a single approach, these themes show up in different ways across regions and project types, but consistently influence how places are envisioned, designed, and experienced.
From feedback to vision: engagement as an early design driver
Engagement is increasingly happening before a clear vision is defined. In fast-growing markets, this shifts its role from gathering feedback to helping shape what a place could become. Rather than reacting to plans, stakeholders, residents, and future users are influencing foundational decisions – how a community connects, where people gather, and what daily life looks like.
Engagement is part of the process from early planning through design, helping ensure that outcome reflects the needs and priorities of the people they serve.
In growth states like Arizona, Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas, this often means engaging early to help define what a community could be. RVi’s work on master-planned communities such as Eastmark (Mesa, AZ) and Meridiana (Brazoria County, TX) reflects this shift. Residents and stakeholders aren’t just reacting to plans; they are helping shape them. Conversations around walkability, access to nature, and everyday gathering spaces translate directly into the framework of parks, trails, and mixed-use environments.
EastVillage (Austin, TX)illustrates how early and ongoing engagement informs not just layout, but experience, blending residential, commercial, and open space into a cohesive, people-first environment.
In more established regions like the Midwest and cities like Denver, engagement often takes on a more iterative, consensus-driven role. Projects like Garfield Park Conservatory Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden (Chicago, IL) and Central Park Playground (Denver, CO) reflect the layered nature of engagement, where park districts, residents, and stakeholders shape outcomes through multiple rounds of input, helping to ensure the final design reflects long-term community priorities
Across all regions, the most successful places are shaped by engagement from start to finish.
Meridiana Master Planned Community, Brazoria County, Texas
Designing for real use: how engagement shapes experience
Across both public and private work, engagement is becoming less about collecting input and more about understanding behavior. How people want to gather, move, and spend time is directly shaping design decisions – from amenity programming in master planned communities to the activation of public spaces and mixed-use environments.
At its core, engagement is about understanding what brings people together and designing places that make those connections easier and more natural.
In rapidly growing sun belt communities, this often shows up as highly programmed, amenity-rich environments. At Meridiana, for example, community identity is built around shared experiences, from learning-focused amenities to outdoor gathering spaces, creating opportunities for interaction from day one. Similarly, Eastmark uses a network of parks, event spaces, and trails to foster connection across neighborhoods.
Places like The Exchange (Fort Collins, CO) highlight how mixed-use environments can become social anchors, blending retail, dining, and open space into a cohesive destination that encourages both planned and spontaneous interaction.
In more established regions, particularly across the Midwest, the focus often shifts toward strengthening existing community ties. Naperville’s Riverwalk (Naperville, IL) demonstrates how revitalized public spaces can reconnect communities to their surroundings while supporting both daily use and large-scale events.
Across all regions, our goal is the same, to create places where people feel a sense of belonging. The most successful places support everyday use while strengthening connections across the community.
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Integrative Medicine Garden, Barrington, IL
Nature as common ground across communities
One of the most consistent patterns across regions is the role of nature as common ground. Regardless of project type, access to open space, trails, and natural systems creates shared experiences that bring people together. Engagement efforts often reveal a strong desire for these elements – not just as amenities, but as essential parts of daily life.
Projects like Oso Bay Nature Preserve (Corpus Christi, TX)demonstrate how natural systems, water, native landscapes, and trail networks, can anchor development and create shared experiences. These environments invite people outside, encouraging everyday interaction with both nature and one another.
Our work across park systems and open space, such as Mueller Greenways (Austin, TX) and various community trail networks reinforces the idea that accessible, well-designed landscapes can support recreation, ecological awareness, and long-term stewardship.
Across geographies, nature serves as common ground. It transcends demographics, invites participation, and creates opportunities for connection that feel both universal and deeply personal.
The Southeast Greenway at Mueller in Austin, Texas.
Community and stakeholder engagement is no longer a one-size-fits-all process, and that’s exactly what makes it powerful. The most successful approaches recognize that every community is different, shaped by growth patterns, cultural expectations, and local priorities.
From master planned communities to public places to campuses and hospitality environments, our work shows that while approaches may vary by region, the core principles remain the same: listen early, engage often, and design with people at the center.
Whether building new communities in fast-growing regions or reinvesting in established ones, thoughtful engagement leads to places that feel authentic, resilient, and connected. We see stronger, more lasting results when we work with designers, developers, and municipalities to align engagement with community priorities.
Bringing a university campus project to life often means bridging two very different worlds. In Part 1 of his Landscape Architect & Specifier News (LASN) series “Bridging the Gap,” our Principal – Campus Sector Tony Catchot shares lessons learned from working both as a consultant and within a university planning department. He describes how consultants are used to structured contracts, clear deliverables, and fast-moving timelines, while campus planners must juggle shifting priorities, institutional politics, and the realities of academic calendars. It’s no surprise that these differences can create friction. But, as Tony points out, they also open the door for better collaboration.
When consultants approach projects with flexibility and a willingness to understand university culture, and when planners prioritize transparency and empower strong project leaders, both sides can align more effectively, keeping projects on track and true to the institution’s mission. Read Part I of Bridging the Gap: Understanding the Divide Between University Planning Departments and Design Consultants on LASN.
In Part II of the series, Tony shifts the focus from processes to people, unpacking the relational challenges that often get in the way of strong partnerships. University planners are frequently overwhelmed with generic marketing pitches and constrained by rigid procurement rules, while consultants invest significant time and effort trying to build relationships that may or may not lead to projects. The key, Tony argues, lies in empathy and authenticity. Universities can set the stage for success by being upfront about their needs and constraints, while consultants stand out when they’ve done their homework and approach each engagement as a genuine partnership rather than a transaction.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about delivering a plan. It’s about building trust, creating shared understanding, and setting the foundation for more thoughtful, enduring campus growth. Read Part 2 of Bridging the Gap: Improving Collaboration Between Campus Planners and Consultants.
