Taking Root

Langan’s Landscape Architecture Practice Grows and Grows and Grows

Ask a landscape architect: “When’s the best time to plant a tree?” And the perennial right answer is: “20 years ago.”

That’s exactly what Langan did in 2001, when Michael Szura embarked on a bold experiment: Grow a design-focused and integrated Landscape Architecture + Planning (LA+P) practice within an engineering firm. Today, after two decades of growth, the practice has blossomed into sturdy branch studios in 10 Langan offices with 30 staff around the country.

“We are proud to mark our 20^th anniversary offering landscape architecture and planning services at Langan,” said Szura, Principal and Practice Leader. “We’ve proved that LA+P integrates well with engineering when executed correctly. Most important, the beneficiaries are Langan clients who appreciate well-coordinated projects with designs that are constructible and maintainable while also inspirational, enhancing every project we touch.”

Langan’s LA+P studio runs the gamut when it comes to assignments. From high-end place-making and urban design, hospital healing gardens, waterfronts, sustainable stormwater design, and green roofs, to athletic facilities, college and embassy campus plans, parks, and playgrounds, Szura’s team properly mixes the aspirational and the practical. 

Speaking of mixing, LA+P has always collaborated well with architectural teams and other landscape firms. LA+P frequently assumes the landscape architect of record role on projects with great success, working to support other designers in securing the necessary permits and project approvals and then developing project construction documents. In other words, LA+P’s approach has always been about what is best for client relationships, the projects, and ultimately … the planet.