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SiteWorks Annette Wilkus and Andrew Lavallee featured at ASLA National Meeting

Annette and Andrew were featured at a special session at the ASLA National meeting in Los Angles in October entitled “In the Studio with SiteWorks”.  The event was hosted by Laura Solano, principal at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.  Annette and Andrew discuss the history and philosophy of the firm as a specialty landscape architectural practice focused on design implementation, cost planning, pre-construction services and stewardship strategies.  Their talk emphasized how the profession needs to think more broadly about how projects are conceived and executed to deliver higher performing landscapes over the long-term.

SiteWorks on Team to Oversee Restoration of Irish Hunger Memorial Renovation

In October, SiteWorks as a member of the CTA Architects project team, oversaw the completion of the Irish Hunger Restoration project at Battery Park City in lower Manhattan.  The half-acre Memorial is a 0.5 acre commissioned work of art that includes an undulating landscape over a sloped and cantilevered concrete roof structure.  The landscape was conceived as a depiction of an Irish Famine Era cottage situated among abandoned agricultural fields. 

Originally built in 2002, rapid deterioration of the rooftop structure demanded a full scale renovation that included the full-depth removal of the roof’s structures, soils, and plants to provide an extensive replacement of the building’s waterproofing. In 2012, SiteWorks was engaged to complete a re-design of the memorial’s landscape and provided construction administration oversight for the repair of the building roof. Rigorous photo documentation, consultation with the memorial’s original design team and a carefully sequenced removals plan was developed to ensure that the original design intent was preserved. The design of replacement plants, soils, paving, irrigation and other site features were prepared for reconstruction. SiteWorks altered the original design of the soils to improve plant vigor, and at the same time altered the surface and sub-surface grading of soils to improve internal drainage and promote swift removal of excess storm water from the roof structure. Replacement plants were contract grown in Oregon and air-freighted to the job site. SiteWorks staff directed the layout and installation of more than 46 species and 12,000 plants.

SiteWorks Partner Andrew Lavallee leads discussion at ‘Valuing Urban Parks’ forum

SiteWorks Partner Andrew Lavallee, FASLA joined Frances Halsband, FAIA of Kliment and Halsband Architects, Elissa Hoagland of HR&A Advisors, Signe Nielsen, FASLA of Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architect and NYC Parks Commissioner Silver at the Urban Design Forum’s “Valuing Urban Parks” to lead a discussion on new strategies about how to rethink design, revenue generation and public financing to better serve routine maintenance costs for New York City’s public neighborhood parks.

New York City’s newest signature parks are largely funded through a mixture of philanthropy, corporate sponsorships and captured value from adjacent real estate. While these strategies have proven to be effective, they are not viable for existing parks in low- and middle-income neighborhoods. The discussion included a review of smarter design strategies, concession agreements, as well as budgetary and tax restructuring approaches to bottom-line routine maintenance costs for these important open spaces.  Andrew’s contribution to the discussion, developed in collaboration with Jamie Maslyn Larson, RLA Partner at Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architects, included a review of current maintenance costs associated with a variety of park typologies as well as strategic approaches to design and O+M that include careful programming, fiscal modeling and open space plans that enable effective open space maintenance management on a park by park basis.

SiteWorks Founder Annette Wilkus honored as ‘Top Women in Real Estate 2017′

Annette Wilkus, FASLA, RLA was honored by Sokol Media in its 16th annual ‘Top Women in Real Estate 2017’ Special Edition published in September. The goal of the special edition is to advance the acknowledgement of women in Real Estate and Construction in New York.

The five-page cover story highlights Annette’s accomplishments as Founding Partner of SiteWorks, a specialty landscape architecture firm, as well as a number of our notable projects including The High Line, Brooklyn Botanical Garden Native Flora Garden Extension, Queens Plaza Bicycle & Pedestrian Improvements, and Governor’s Island.

SiteWorks staffers Julia Gold (l) and Cristina Cordero (r) both enjoyed the celebration honoring Annette.

SiteWorks Staff Takes New Jersey Nursery Tours

In September the SiteWorks staff enjoyed a full day of Nursery tours. The entire office went to central New Jersey and visited 3 Nurseries; Pinelands Nursery, Pleasant Run Nursery and Fernbrook Nursery. The day tour is sponsored by the 3 nurseries every other year.

Each nursery offered a different learning objective:
– Pinelands Nursey showed the group the complete production system and various varieties of potted shrubs and perennials.
– Pleasant Run showed us their new containerized fields expanding their inventory from quart size to larger container shrubs.
– Fernbrook guided us through their growing fields and showed difficult containers. While half the group went to the fields, the other half of the group received a beneficial soils primer course.

SiteWorks Staff Reviews Progress of Hunter’s Point South Project

In May, SiteWorks visited Hunter’s Point South Phase 2 in Long Island City, NY, one of our projects in construction. The staff walked the site with Senior Project Manager James Dudley and observed the status of the construction as well as the different types of plantings. James explained some of the issues that have been dealt with and the reasons for specific tree and plant species selection.

Annette Wilkus and Andrew Lavallee, Partners, frequently arrange staff site visits, noting the tremendous teaching value for the office. They are dedicated to growing the staff and insuring a broad understanding of all SiteWorks projects, not just their own project.

Annette Wilkus Featured on Building Parks 2017 Panel

On May 23, 2017 Annette Wilkus, FASLA, RLA, Partner, was on the second panel of Building Parks 2017 Professional Women in Construction Parks Panel. The keynote speaker was Therese Braddick, Deputy Commissioner NYC Parks and Recreation. The first panel was ‘Perspectives from the Public Realm’, while the second was ‘Perspectives from the Designers’.

Joining her on the panel was Molly Burne from MNLA, Lisa Tziona Switkin from James Corner Field Operations, Donna Walcavage from Stantec and Moderator Susan Chin from the Design Trust for Public Space.

Annette presented our work as support to designers offering technical, operations and maintenance documents and eyes and ears on construction sites. As Landscape Architects, our firm promotes better implementation of innovative designs.

Blair Guppy Joins SiteWorks as Senior Landscape Architect

We are pleased to welcome Blair Guppy to SiteWorks as a Senior Landscape Architect. He joins the firm with over 15 years of experience in award winning and innovative projects. He possess both international  project management skills and technical expertise allowing him to creatively resolve issues and complete projects on time and within budget.

Blair is skilled at writing technical documents and procedures in a clear and concise style. His management style is motivating and flexible. We are all looking forward to working with him.

Andrew Lavallee Leads Two Green Infrastructure Panels

In April, Andrew Lavallee, FASLA, RLA, Partner, lead two green infrastructure panel discussions at the Rising Urbanists: Green Infrastructure for the 22nd Century Conference hosted by the New York ASLA and the Student ASLA Chapter from City College.  The first panel entitled “How Can We Design Green Infrastructure with Greater Impact?” included guest speakers Rebecca Hill from RAFT Landscape Architects, David Seiter from Future Green Studio, Eric Rothstein from E-Design Dynamics and Thomas Reeves from FXFOWLE. The second panel entitled “How Can Green Infrastructure Engage More People and Places?” included guest speakers Shaun O’Rourke, Green Infrastructure Director with The Trust for Public Land, Jason Smith, Biodiversity Ecologist with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, Lindsay Campbell with the USDA Forest Service, NYC Urban Field Station and Thomas Rainer, Co-author of Planting in a Post-Wild World.

Andrew will be leading a green infrastructure panel discussion at the ASLA Annual Meeting in Los Angles in October entitled “Overcoming Barriers to Scalable Green Infrastructure.”

Andrew Lavallee Is Now a Partner at SiteWorks

Annette P. Wilkus and SiteWorks are pleased to announce effective January 1, 2017, Andrew R. Lavallee has joined her as a Partner in SiteWorks Landscape Architecture.

Andrew joined SiteWorks in January 2015 as the Director of Strategic Planning. His broad experience with high profile, interdisciplinary landscape projects has enhanced our specialized construction management and design practice. Andrew has expanded our portfolio to include site operations and maintenance planning services assisting our clients with strategies to improve the full life-cycle performance of their landscape facilities.

Andrew’s experience as a teacher at City College’s Landscape Architecture program has proven invaluable in the mentoring of new and junior staff.  Andrew has been challenging our staff to achieve new and higher levels of accomplishment.

SiteWorks Adds Ford Foundation Headquarters Project to Roster

SiteWorks is proud to announce we are working with Raymond Jungles, Inc. (RJI) and the Gensler Architecture team on the renovation of the Ford Foundation’s interior atrium garden. In December 2015, the Ford Foundation announced that it is embarking on a $190 million mission-driven renovation of its landmark New York City headquarters, creating a global center for philanthropy and civil society. As part of the project, the atrium plantings and fountain will be fully restored to the spirit of the original Dan Kiley design, an innovative atrium public space designed in 1964.

SiteWorks is working closely with the RJI team providing technical consulting for the interior planting environment, landscape cost estimating, constructability reviews, plant procurement and resident landscape architecture services during construction. The anticipated project completion date is summer 2018.

SiteWorks to Provide Ongoing Facilities & Construction Management Services to Governors Island Park Project

SiteWorks with LiRo, is proud to have been chosen by The Trust for Governors Island to provide Facilities Management and Construction Management Services. This 5 year project’s charge is to manage, maintain, make improvements to and increase the efficiency of operations on the 172 acres Island.

As the visitor attendance continues to grow and the landscape matures, the Maintenance and Operations of the Island’s open space will require adjustments. This demands a team with diverse capabilities and the ability to quickly adapt to what needs arise as Governors Island evolves. SiteWorks has been working on Governors Island since 2012 and has seen and understands the realities of the Island and has been successful in adapting to unforeseen needs.

SiteWorks will start this process by evaluating the current needs and anticipate the Park’s future requirements including staffing costs and equipment. An inventory of current and new facilities, equipment and vehicles as well as mapping the as built will set the base and allow for a predictive approach and planning.

Sustainability initiatives will be included in the Maintenance and Operations plan to improve long-term efficiencies, environmental performance and educational opportunities.

SiteWorks goal is to help The Trust for Governors Island move towards increased operational predictability, sustainability, and accountability as the facilities continue to mature and expand over the term of the contract.

ASLA Merit Award Given for New York Playground Program Design at P.S.111

At the ASLANY 2016 Design Awards, SiteWorks received a Merit Award for Collaborative Design for P.S. 111M, New York, NY: Run On, Run Off; A Green Infrastructure Playground and Community Park. The project needed a versatile, multi-purpose green infrastructure system capable of managing and infiltrating a five year storm event, while simultaneously providing an inclusive and durable playground for students and the neighborhood as well. The three month participatory design curriculum, a collaborative effort between SiteWorks, the Trust for Public Land and approximately one hundred dedicated and insightful students.

The SiteWorks design team, led by Project Manager Josh Price and former Principal Melissa Potter Ix, incorporated elements of waterways and their flora and fauna, as the theme for the new park. In addition to the active recreational components, which included a running track, multi-purpose field, basketball shooting stations, play equipment and ping pong, the park features a green roof gazebo, an outdoor classroom, stage, extensive student color seal art, multiple garden areas, and a woodland walk with native plants.

Annette Wilkus is Juror for Young Professionals Grant Competition

Annette Wilkus is serving as a juror on the inaugural grant competition, sponsored by Anova Furnishings, to sponsor 21 young professionals to attend ASLA’s Annual Meeting in New Orleans.  The grant competition is designed to accelerate individuals’ careers in Landscape Architecture.  Eric Gilbert, CEO of Anova, believes education and sharing ideas drives personal growth and develops the idea.  By attending the ASLA Annual Meeting young professionals are exposed to new ideas and networking.  The Jury consisting of Annette, David Hill and Ellen Stewart, helped to develop the competition’s submission criteria and are currently jurying the over 105 submissions. Individuals submitted a napkin sketch –critical to communicate during meetings and brain storming-, a 500 word explanation of an idea central to the individual’s region and a short summary of their regionally based idea.

Andrew Lavallee Appointed to NY State Board of Landscape Architects

Andrew Lavallee, FASLA, RLA, Director of Strategic Planning, has been appointed to a five year term on the New York State Board of Landscape Architects.  As a member of the board, Andrew will be helping to regulate the licensure and registration of landscape architects. He will also be assisting with the promulgation of qualifications for a landscape architect license and making recommendations regarding the granting, revocation or suspension of a license and registration to practice landscape architecture.

Andrew and the SiteWorks team also participated in a technical peer review of the NYC DEC’s upcoming revised Stormwater Design Manual chapter on planting design for green infrastructure.

2015 SiteWorks 10th Anniversary Event

On October 8, 2015 SiteWorks celebrated its 10^th anniversary with a spectacular event at Pier A in Battery Park. Staff, friends, clients and business associates enjoyed an evening filled with music, good food, laughter and many walks down memory lane.  A photo journal was projected on multiple screens documenting SiteWorks project history.  Annette Wilkus, founding Principal, and Melissa Potter Ix, Principal, both gave heart felt speeches thanking clients, families, friends and staff for their hard work and support throughout the years.

In preparation of the event the office participated in a friendly competition to create a signature cocktail. The SiteWorker debuted during the celebration.

2015 Design Trust for Public Space 20th Anniversary Celebration

In October, The Design Trust for Open Public Space celebrated its 20^th Anniversary. The Design Trust was founded in 1995 to unlock the potential of New York City’s shared spaces. Their unique project model brings together government agencies, community groups and private-sector experts to transform and evolve the city’s landscape.

Andrew Lavallee, our Director of Strategic Planning and a Design Trust Fellow, joined in the celebration. He is pictured on the far left with his fellow co-authors of the Trust’s “High Performance Landscape Guidelines: Parks for the 21st Century”.

New York City Playground Program New Projects

SiteWorks recently started work on 2 new schools for the New York City Playground Program, PS 189 Flushing International School in Queens, NY and PS 154 in Harlem, NY. SiteWorks has begun the 3 month participatory phase, working closely with the Trust for Public Land team. The process is an integral part in the success of the project as it allows all parties to be active participants in the design of their new playground and playground stewards once the projects are completed.

ASLA Annual Meeting – Chicago

Will Johnson, Associate, was a panel member at the ASLA annual conference in Chicago in early November.  The panel, titled ‘The Owner, the Designer the Construction Manager-Three landscape architects shape Governors Island’ showcased three separate paths the panel members have chosen for their career and the collaboration they worked toward to achieve the realization of the design.  The scale of the project, the historic significance of the island; its location in the middle of New York Harbor and the unavoidable impact of climate change and anticipated rising sea levels, all of these have combined to make this project a test case for new ways to approach planning, design, construction management and land stewardship. The panel members discussed their separate roles as they participated in this multi-year project.  Will’s knowledge of being on the island for the past three years and his innate ability to collaborate was well received and appreciated.

New York City Playground Program PS 161 Q Completed

PS 161 Q, the Arthur Ashe School, located in Queens, NY, opened in November with a celebration that included musicians and musical and dance numbers by the students. The community and fund raisers were on hand along with SiteWorks, Trust for Public Land, NYC Environmental Protection, the School Construction Authority, and the Department Education, all part of an innovative partnership, facilitating the New York City Playground Program.

PS 161Q celebrates community and history in homage to the school’s name sake, Arthur Ashe, with a tennis court designed to encourage the students to stay physically active. The new playground also boasts a running track, basketball shooting stations, planted garden beds and an outdoor classroom. The turf field, which can be used for soccer and football, captures and manages most of the playgrounds stormwater— continuing the mission to alleviate the stress on the combined sewer system on all the newly designed playgrounds.

Hudson Park, Boulevard and Streetscapes Improvement Opening

The first phase of this 6 block open space designed by MVVA opened in October in conjunction with the completion of the No. 7 Subway Extension. As part of the construction management team, SiteWorks fostered the landscape architectural elements through construction. Extending from West 33rd to West 39th Street this 6 block open space is lined with boulevards on the east and west. The first phase from West 33rd to West 36th accommodates two entrances to MTA’s new No. 7 Subway Extension. The first block (33rd to 34th) is a respite from traffic and holds one of the new MTA entrances. Block two (34th to 35th) will cool and soothe pedestrians with the fountains winding through the block and second MTA entrance. The third block (35th to 36th) holds an innovative playground and cafe. The park will be connected to the High Line by the new Hudson Yard development once that is completed.

PS111 Re-purposed Schoolyard Opens

The PS 111M Hell’s Kitchen schoolyard opened in June to great accolades from the community and the project funders. This project is part of an innovative partnership between the Trust for Public Land, NYC Environmental Protection, the School Construction Authority, the Department of Education, school students, and the community to construct Green Infrastructure Playgrounds from asphalt lots.

Inspired by the native streams and wetlands that once occupied this area of Manhattan, as well as the school’s current proximity to the Hudson River, the SiteWorks participatory design team, led by Principal Melissa Potter Ix and Project Manager Josh Price, incorporated elements of waterways and their flora and fauna, as the theme for the new park. In addition to the active recreational components, which included a running track, multi-purpose field, basketball shooting stations, play equipment and ping pong, the park features a green roof gazebo, an outdoor classroom, stage, extensive student color seal art, multiple garden areas, and a woodland walk with native plants.

PS 111M not only celebrates the Hudson River through its design, but it helps to keep it clean by incorporating green infrastructure initiatives. The first 1” of stormwater that falls on the site is absorbed naturally into the ground, as rain gardens and sub-surface gravel infiltration beds prevent runoff from entering New York’s combined storm-sewer system.

‘Art in the Landscape’ Panel Discussion

Annette Wilkus was a member of a panel discussing ‘Art in the Landscape’ on Sunday June 14 at the National Arts Club. Annette presented construction sequencing photos of several areas of The High Line’s Section II. Included in the panel was Melanie Sifton, VP of Horticulture at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and Nancy Buivid of Battery Park City Parks Conservancy. The common thread through the discussion included all projects SiteWorks has been a part of. Melanie touched on Brooklyn Botanic Garden Native Flora Garden Extension- which SiteWorks designed in collaboration with Darrel Morrison, as well as Teardrop Park and The High Line which are two of SiteWorks’ construction management projects.

SiteWorks Honored By ASLA NY

SiteWorks is proud to announce our receipt of the 2015 New York ASLA Merit Award for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden New Native Flora Garden Extension, Brooklyn, NY.

Annette Wilkus, Founding Principal, accepted the award from Jennifer Nitzky, President ASLA NY with the collaborating designer, Darrell Morrison and Scot Medbury, President Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Annette Wilkus, Principal, Honored at Built By Women Awards

The Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation received grants from the New York Council for Humanities and the New York Building Foundation to identify 100 outstanding structures and built environments in New York City, contemporary or historic, designed and/or constructed by women. The structure or built must have a woman who was directly responsible for leading the design (architectural, engineering or landscape) or who led the construction, either from the development or construction management team.

SiteWorks is proud to announce Annette Wilkus received a Built By Women Award in the Landscape category for her work on Governors Island.

Over the next year, walking tours, interactive maps and other educational materials will be developed to highlight women’s contributions to the built environment and the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation will host local events to publicize the spaces.

SiteWorks Staff Updates

SiteWorks Landscape Architecture, a landscape architecture and construction management firm located in New York City, is pleased to announce the addition of Andrew Lavallee FASLA to our team.

Andrew Lavallee is a professional with over 25 years’ experience in all technical aspects of our profession. As the Director of Strategic Planning, Andrew’s broad experience with high profile, interdisciplinary landscape projects will enhance our specialized site operations and maintenance planning services, assisting our clients with strategies to improve the full life-cycle performance of their landscape. As a recognized leader in the application of innovative green infrastructure strategies for cities Andrew co-authored the award-winning High Performance Landscape Guidelines: 21st Century Parks for New York City (2011). Andrew is a frequent speaker at landscape architecture conferences and has authored numerous articles on a variety of technical subjects ranging from sports facility design to the development of economically sustainable parks.

In addition to our new team members, SiteWorks is pleased to announce James Dudley ASLA recently completed his arborist exam and is ISA certified and Josh Price ASLA successfully completed the LARE and is now a registered landscape architect.

SiteWorks Principals head to Colorado for the American Society of Landscape Architects National Convention

Annette Wilkus and Melissa Potter Ix, attended the ASLA convention’s many interesting and informative workshops. Annette also presented as a panel member of Soil Biology: Make It Integral to Your Living Landscape, which was received with much enthusiasm. This was also the year Annette stepped down as Vice President of Professional Practice, passing the baton to Hunter Beckham.

Highlights of the annual meeting included honoring The Trust for Public Land for their unparalleled service to the Landscape Architectural profession as they celebrated William Rogers, Honorary ASLA being awarded the La Gasse Medal, Adrian Benepe being awarded the Olmsted Medal and Mary Alice Lee becoming an Honorary ASLA member.