PORT Urbanism

The project transforms an incomplete highway into a continuous civic and ecological gateway that reconnects downtown Knoxville to its expansive Urban Wilderness through landscape infrastructure, multimodal access, and public programming. In the early 1980s, the Tennessee Department of Transportation halted construction of the James White Parkway, leaving behind a fragmented 2.2-mile roadway extending south from […]

The Plot Project, created for Exhibit Columbus 2022-23, reimagines public space at the intersection of landscape design, biodiversity, and community engagement. Awarded the J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize for its innovative approach to civic and ecological design, the project was conceived in response to that year’s chosen theme: “Public by Design.” As part […]

The Cobbs Creek Playground demonstrates how community voices and environmental stewardship can come together to create something extraordinary. The Cobbs Creek Nature Playground is a vibrant and inclusive nature-based play environment located in West Philadelphia. Located in a historically underinvested site at the edge of Philadelphia’s municipal boundary, this transformative project creates a keystone of […]

Overview Augusta Quarry transforms a former limestone quarry into an accessible, ecologically rich public swimming venue that celebrates dramatic topography, history, and community use. The project elevates a beloved but precarious swimming site into a resilient, inclusive destination, setting a benchmark for reclamation-led landscape architecture. Located within Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness, the design formalizes safety and […]

Aspire Park redefines public gathering and open space in a rural community in East Tennessee, transforming a 180-acre site at the bend of the Clinch River into a dynamic destination for recreation, ecology, and cultural engagement. A widely popular site in the region, the park brings together a wide range of people looking to engage […]