UT School of Landscape Architecture

LAR 554/LAR 556: “Farming Toward Multispecies Coexistence” Instructor(s): Sarah Bolivar For their mid review presentations, students in the Farming Toward Multispecies Coexistence studio took cues from the complex spatial structuring and performance of biologically derived patterns, or biopatterns, to analyze their research sites. Building from a biopattern of their choice, they speculated how this pattern might be deployed spatially and topographically onsite to accentuate and/or disrupt existing site relationships. Building on their patterns of dispersal drawings, they considered how these relationships can be exaggerated, disrupted, or reimagined through physical modeling and grading iterations.?

LAR 552: "Novel Publics" Instructor/s: Andrew Madl First year students in the Novel Publics studio recently completed the mid review pin up of their projects. Students are speculating on the potential futures of sites around the world and have researched specific site parameters to begin to dictate the future alteration of their space. For these drawings, they utilized the simple plane geometry of a “nonsite” to test their proposed landscape interventions. The simplicity of the base model was intended to aid in experimenting with form and organization without going too “deep into the weeds” regarding the full constraints of the original space. The intent of this study was to explore spatial options that stem from the original space while adding new performances and elements that embody the new publics being generated.

Kaitlyn Knight: Kaitlyn grew up in the small town of Dandridge which is located on the French Broad River in the mountains of East Tennessee. Growing up she enjoyed spending days on the water and hiking through the woods as well as reading in cozy indoor environments. Kaitlyn’s interest in landscape architecture stemmed from a curious and creative mind, an enjoyment of nature, and a want to build up her community. In her practice, she is particularly compelled to explore the integration of human and non-human systems and habitat and how modern software and technology might help us better understand and graphically represent these complex and dynamic relationships. Margaret Marando: Margaret is a 5th year University of Tennessee student pursuing a 5+1 dual degree in architecture and landscape architecture. With a strong background in art and mathematics, she chose to pursue landscape architecture as she was drawn to the idea of creating beautiful and ecologically-minded designs to engage the community. After 12 years, she recently retired from the sport of swimming, having competed as a Lady Vol for four years, and is now a swim coach for the local club team. Margaret supports the Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Plant Science programs at UTK as a teaching assistant, research assistant, and co-teacher. She participated in an architectural and research-based internship last summer with DLR Group and recently just completed an externship this past January with MNLA in New York. Jonah Alexander: Jonah Alexander is a second year student in the MLA program, expected to graduate in May of 2026. He returned to school in 2022 after graduating from the University of Colorado with a Bachelors in Environmental Design and a minor in Geologic Sciences in 2019. Jonah worked in a small high end residential design build practice in Denver, CO for 3 years out of Undergrad, gaining hands-on experience and knowledge of how landscapes go from design to construction. During his time in Knoxville, Jonah has worked part-time doing residential design in Maryville and working for the school's fabrication lab, specializing in the wood shop and helping assist students & faculty with their own projects. Cole Thornton: Cole is a third-year Master of Landscape architecture candidate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Raised in the creeks and forests of middle Tennessee, he developed an intimate relationship with the natural landscapes of the South from an early age. An art history major in college, Cole studied Italian Renaissance painting in Florence and completed a thesis on subjectivity in contemporary self-portraiture. As he considered life after undergrad, landscape architecture presented itself as an exciting intersection of his interests in public art, collective memory, and experiential engagement with nature.

Third year Ashlea Marcha is our next featured winter extern. - What firm/organization did you have an externship with and where is it located? RANA in Carmel, California, just south of the Bay area. - What types of projects do they work on? Rana is a design/build firm with an added nursery component. They do a mix of projects from residential design and construction, living systems design, seed harvesting and propagation, and ecologic restoration. - What sort of projects have you had the opportunity to work on? I was able to help with a mix of work throughout the office. One day I might be helping the construction manager initiate construction bid takeoffs for a design Rana was trying to win, or helping UT Alumni Bridget Ash in irrigation design calculations for complex residential designs in the Los Angeles area. I was also able to assist in endangered species research and drafting content for educational information signage that will be on the coast line. My favorite task though was getting to assist Paul Kephart in editing a restoration plan for one of their projects on the coast. It included descriptions of the tedious landscape management requirements in dealing with delicate ecosystems along the rocky bluffs, and the valuable species that live there. - What do you like most about the work you did? I think the best thing about working with Rana was just being around a depth of knowledge of both the ecosystem and local context. Everyone there was really passionate about their jobs and was eager to learn, despite the relatively fast pace of their stacked portfolio. The office found small moments to celebrate. It really felt like an all hands-on deck team. I appreciate their effort in bringing me in and letting me play a role, and I look forward to staying in touch.

Gus Rightmyer is our next featured winter extern. - What firm/organization did you have an externship with and where is it located? Surfacedesign, Inc. in San Francisco, California - What types of projects do they work on? They do both public and private work from parks, plazas, and waterfronts to private gardens. - What sort of projects have you had the opportunity to work on? I was included on a project with three other designers at the firm working primarily with Senior Designer Brandon Yip, but also with Senior Associate Tyler Chandler and Principal Michal Kapitulnik. The project was a pass-through pocket park in the historic Presidio neighborhood. The park was tied to the historic D line, a terminal and trolley line that once passed through the area that is now the park. The nature of the project prioritized the reuse of materials including local timber, San Francisco cobblestone and bricks, and metal rail lines. I was involved in plant selection and attended several internal group meetings and one client meeting. - What do you like most about the work you're doing? I really enjoyed my work at the firm and felt very welcomed and involved in the process. I liked how personal the work that the firm was doing felt, especially at the schematic stage when things are getting printed out, pens are moving, and ideas are evolving with multiple passionate voices. It was nice to participate in multiple phases of the process. The physical location on pier 33 was also really stunning. The culture was healthy, the coffee was frequent, and the meals were plenty. Really enjoyed my time with the Surface team.

Our next featured winter extern is Amlan Dey. - What firm/organization did you extern with and where is it located? I completed my externship with SCAPE Landscape Architecture DPC at their New Orleans office. - What types of projects do they work on? SCAPE works on a wide range of projects centered on ecologically restorative and socially-engaging landscapes. Their work spans built landscapes, planning, visioning, and research. Their notable projects include coastal resilience, urban public spaces, green infrastructure, and ecological restoration, all integrating natural systems with climate adaptation strategies and community-driven design. - What sort of projects have you had the opportunity to work on? I worked on a project located in Chattanooga, which includes ecological restoration and public engagement and education. The project reimagines a historic nature preserve as a dynamic landscape that enhances biodiversity and creates immersive educational outdoor experiences. I helped in the concept development phase with sketches and schematic drawings and participated in client collaboration meetings. Additionally, I worked on an RFP project, assisting the team with Rhino modeling. - What did you like most about the work you were doing? I really enjoyed the hand sketching part in my work, using tracing paper and pencils to explore ideas freely. It was refreshing to spend ample time brainstorming rather than focusing solely on polished digital drafting. I also loved experiencing the vibrant energy of New Orleans each day and commuting to and from the office, especially on the streetcar. The team was also incredibly welcoming, and I deeply appreciated the friendly atmosphere during lunch, coffee breaks, or casual conversations.

LAR 525: "Landscapes of Absurdity: Visual Narratives of Contemporary Landscape" Instructor/s: Andrew Madl During Fall semester 2024, students in the Landscapes of Absurdity seminar investigated the registration of and response to emergent climate conditions and environmental technologies to provide frameworks for scripting fictional future spatial scenarios. The generated landscapes and consequential worlds provided a medium for embodying discourse on the geopolitical, social, and ecological entanglements that are produced by the pressures of climate change. Novel economies, cultures, and geographies storyboarded the spatialization of landscape occupation and performance. Case studies referencing working strategies in the allied discipline of cinematography were explored to inform a design process that privileges narrative through worldbuilding. The work of the course intended to navigate contemporary issues in the design fields by deploying future thinking while promoting visual narrative through film and animation to convey design research. Highlights of student animations were compiled to create this trailer.

- What firm/organization did you extern with, and where is it located? I had the opportunity to extern with STIMSON in Boston, working primarily at their Cambridge office while also visiting their Princeton office and nursery. - What types of projects do they work on? Stimson Studio engages in a wide range of landscape projects, including institutional, collegiate, and contemporary restoration work. However, their expertise lies in agrarian residential design, which has been central to their practice since the beginning. Their hands-on approach, both in the office and at Charbrook Farm nursery, allows them to refine on-site design details with exceptional craftsmanship. - What projects did you work on? I worked on a variety of projects, including residential designs and historic village restorations. One notable project involved hand-sketching a planting plan along a long driveway—showcasing how sketching is an integral part of Stimson’s design process. I also assisted with detail work for a historic village recreation and participated in meetings that exposed me to different project types at various design stages. - What did you enjoy most about your work? The collaborative environment was the highlight of my experience. My colleagues were always willing to share their knowledge, making this an invaluable learning opportunity, especially as my first experience in a landscape architecture office. I also appreciated the studio’s passion for their work and the way sketching played a fundamental role in both conceptualization and design development.

LAR 554/556: "Farming Toward Multispecies Coexistence" Instructor: Sarah Bolivar Thank you to Ethan Parker and Jacob Lay, who welcomed our students to the East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center Holston Unit, just a few miles away from?campus. This semester, the Farming Toward Multispecies Coexistence studio will explore how agricultural lands can foster greater community engagement and diverse ecosystems to mutually benefit humans and more-than-humans. From the Tennessee River's shoreline to steep, wooded lots amongst the grassy and varied terrain, this landscape has a host of incredible conditions they were fortunate to explore in rain and sunshine.

Our next featured extern is first year, Kayla Tenison. - What firm/organization did you extern with and where is it located? I had the opportunity to work with PLAN(t) Studio at?Brooks Scarpa?in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. - What types of projects do they work on? They work on campus and institutional projects, gardens and residential spaces, public art, parks and plazas, planning and urbanism, coastal planning, and streetscapes. - What sort of projects have you had the opportunity to work on? I worked on diagrams that will be included in a book about missing middle housing. I also had the chance to visit multiple project sites and attend meetings, which gave me insight into the business side of running a firm. -What did you like most about the work you were doing? I appreciate that they engage in a wide range of project types and are truly passionate about their work. The principal who manages the Florida office (Jeff Huber) is also a professor at Florida Atlantic University, which brings a strong teaching element into the firm’s environment and culture. Photo 2: Model at PLAN(t) Studio office. Photo 3: PLAN(t) project site. Photo 4: Perez Art Museum. Photo 5&6: Soundscape Park. Photo 7: Local plant nursery. Photo 8: Everglades National Park.