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Since relocating to Southwest Florida after graduating from LSU in 2006, Scott has been immersed in the landscape of the region. Scott has had the privilege of working in both multidisciplinary firms and with private practice landscape architecture firms. Among Scott’s time in Southwest Florida, he has also had the unique opportunity to bring his perspective as a landscape architect to local landscape contractors during his tenure as a construction estimator. Through these experiences, Scott has gained insight into what makes landscape architecture projects successful. It is through this experience that Scott is able lead Juniper’s team of landscape architects and project estimators to bridge the gap between design and implementation.

Christopher Crawley Friedrichs, a landscape architect, was born May 19, 1932, and passed away on Friday, July 31, 2015, at the age of 83. A native of New Orleans, Friedrichs studied landscape architecture at LSU, earning a Master of Science degree in 1958, making him one of the earliest graduates of what is now the Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture. He practiced in New Orleans and surrounding regions north of Lake Pontchartrain.

From 1960 to 1966 he was in partnership with Albert S. Bergen (1926–2007); Bergen and Friedrichs was one of the first professional landscape architecture offices in New Orleans. In the 1970s Friedrichs worked at the Parks and Parkways Commission of the City of New Orleans as the city’s first landscape architect. While in this position, he supervised the design and construction of numerous new municipal parks, such as Joe Brown and Brechtel Park, as well as the renovation of historic parks like Washington Square, Coliseum Square, and Lafayette Square. His work represented the first significant expenditure of municipal funds for public parks in New Orleans. He also envisioned how the city’s park inventory might expand, suggesting in the mid-1970s what is now being developed along the former Carondelet Canal as the Lafitte Corridor Greenway. Together, Friedrich and the late Mildred Fossier, the irascible director of the Parks and Parkways Commission, raised awareness among elected officials and the general public about the value of parks, neighborhood open spaces, and street trees. More than once they instigated—behind the scenes—public protests over proposals by commercial interests to remove trees from public rights-of-way, and they often fought passionately with elected officials and other city agencies that viewed trees as civic inconveniences. More often than not they lost these battles to save street trees, but in retrospect, their actions contributed significantly to raising awareness among the public about the benefits of public green spaces and the value of urban trees. After leaving the Parks and Parkways Commission in the early 1980s, Friedrichs practiced through a one-man office doing consulting and residential work.

Friedrichs knew people from every strata of New Orleans society and was equally adept at working with all, regardless of background. He was a local pioneer in working with historic landscapes, and he was an early advocate of using native plants and preserving local traditions in plant selection and planting design. His designs drew heavily on his extensive knowledge of the New Orleans community, its history, lifestyles, and traditions. Friedrichs eschewed the rigor and formality of office practice in favor of taking on jobs that interested him, working with clients he liked and mentoring younger professionals, all of whom become lifelong friends.

Read Friedrichs’ obituary at obits.nola.com.

—Written by Associate Professor Lake Douglas

Mark Smith, BLA 1980, is a vice president and practicing landscape architect at RVi in Austin, Texas. His responsibilities include concept development, firm-wide design oversight, site planning and master planning, hardscape and landscape design, strategic marketing, and firm operations. A lifelong resident of the Gulf Coast region of the U.S., Mark has lived in Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia and understands the subtle nuances of Southern living and design. Mark has practiced in over 30 states and internationally.

William Roberts graduated with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the LSU Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture in 2004. After graduation, he gained four years of professional experience at MESA Design Group in Dallas as a project designer. He continued to gain international experience at MESA’s Madrid office, where he served as managing associate in charge of design, project management, and construction documentation for two years before the office downsized in the wake of the 2008 economic crisis. In Madrid he met his wife and future business partner, Laura Santín, an agricultural engineer and landscape architect. They worked together on several projects at MESA, including “Ferrari Experience” and Nakheel Headquarters in Abu Dhabi and the Blue Cross Blue Shield campus in Richardson, Texas.

William returned to MESA’s Dallas office, working for a couple of months on a project in Dubai before deciding to take a seven-month sabbatical to roam the planet and explore the interesting transect of culture and landscape. He and Laura started out in the U.S., headed to Russia, crossing Siberia, and went on to Vietnam and Australia. Along the way, they came up with the inception for Nomad Studio. He and his wife cofounded Nomad Landscape Architecture and Planning in 2009. In collaboration with different studios and individuals across the globe, Nomad works on commissions, design competitions, and art and design installations—all with the goal of fostering a connection between people and nature.

Read more about William Roberts in the July 2015 Alumni Spotlight.

William’s Portfolio

As co-founder, Rebecca’s relentless desire to create finds a rewarding existence in Cadence. She seeks to listen to her clients, offer open-minded solutions, render attention to details and provide an energetic vibe to keep innovation afloat. Watching an idea become a reality for her clients is the ultimate goal. She finds inspiration in her travel experiences, for exposure to different places and cultures provides a great base for understanding and respect – an invaluable tool for design and development.

Rebecca believes if it is a better quality of life she is trying to provide with the environments she designs, the quality of life she lives will serve as her commitment to that value. On a day to day basis, she can be found maneuvering between roles of business owner, designer and project manager. Finding fun in any circumstance is a trait she is not afraid to hide. She is wife to John and mother to Cadence resident interns Percy, Grits and Rex. She enjoys spending her free time out on the water or savoring a delicious meal with family and friends.

Rebecca received a BLA from Louisiana State University and attended a semester long study abroad program at the Edinburgh College of Artin Scotland. Rebecca spent nine years with EDSA in their headquarter office located in Fort Lauderdale, FL prior to Cadence.