Landscape Architecture Portfolio | Jace Armstrong

Jace Armstrong

Landscape Architecture Portfolio

BLA with Highest Distinction University of Nebraska-Lincoln ‘23

JACE ARMSTRONG

CONTACT

Email 2000jacearmstrong@gmail.com

Phone (402) 619-1812

LinkedIn

https://linkedin.com/in/jace-armstrong-larc

Portfolio

www.issuu.com/jacearmstrong

SKILLS AND STRENGTHS

Technical

Photoshop // Illustrator // InDesign

Rhino // Grasshopper Sketchup

Lumion // Enscape // Twinmotion

AutoCAD // Civil3D ArcGIS // QGIS

Personal Philomath Optimist

Problem Solver Analyst Peacemaker

EDUCATION

University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2023

Bachelor in Landscape Architecture with Highest Distinction

GPA: 3.88

Minors in Architecture, Urban Forestry, and Community and Regional Planning

Member of Alpha Rho Chi (APX), American Society of Landscape Architects-UNL, College of Architecture Student Advisory Board (‘20-’21)

Leadership roles include Teaching Assistant, Resident Assistant, and Worthy Scribe (APX)

EXPERIENCE

Landscape Designer // Carson Enterprises Aug 2023 - current

Develop initial concepts, drawings, plans, and renderings for client review

Communicate with clients and team members to ensure clear understanding of projects goals, budgets, and timelines

Landscape Architecture Intern // OLIN May - Aug 2022

Participated in OLIN Lab’s Conservation @Scale research project

Developed planting regimes with emphasis on native desert typologies and low water usage

Teaching Assistant // University of Nebraska-Lincoln Aug 2021 - May 2023

Two-time teaching assistant for LARC 210 & 211 (four semesters)

Assisted faculty in preparing course material

Reviewed coursework and offered constructive criticism

ACHIEVEMENTS

Peer-Reviewed Publication 2023

Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture // Parametric Planting Design: Algorithmic Methods for Resilient Communities

Student ASLA Merit Award

Nebraska/Dakotas ASLA // Plant Pattern Guide for Affordable Housing

ASLA Student Honor Award

Recipient upon graduation

Olmsted Scholar

Recognized 2023 Olmsted Scholar by UNL Landscape Architecture faculty

College of Architecture Friends Association Outstanding Student Award

Recipient upon graduation

Norman Ochsner Scholarship 2022

Recipient of academic scholarship

Student ASLA Excellence Award

Nebraska/Dakotas ASLA // Trail Guide to a Hybrid Landscape

Nebraska/Dakotas ASLA Scholarship 2021

Recipient of academic scholarship

Regents Scholar 2019

References available on request

Recipient of academic scholarship

PROJECTS

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Subterranea

20 ac

The Nursery Trail

175 ac

Towards a New Urban Frontage

25 ac

Plant Pattern Guide for Affordable Housing

2 - 10 ac

Carson Enterprises

Elkhorn

3 ac

Westside

0.75 ac

01 Subterranea Site Design

Industrial Reuse

Instructor:

Brian Kelly

Location: Seward, Nebraska, USA

Collaborators:

Daniel Pinto (architecture)

Xanthe Steffen (interior design)

Trent Weatherwax (architecture)

An unassuming field holds a subterranean complex leftover from the Cold War. Hidden below the surface is an Altas-F missile silo, one of five in the state, sitting decrepit and decaying. While the facility’s mechanical accessories are corroded and fractured, the concrete walls are intact and capable of supporting a new purpose. Researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have turned to this piece of military infrastructure as inspiration for a research facility for Antarctic ice drill testing. This collaborative studio investigates the history of the Atlas-F missile program and explores potential redevelopments of the silo in rural Nebraska. Our proposal re-excavates the site, shedding light on dark corners and long-forgotten histories.

Sequence of silo degradation. Axonometric.

[Existing Conditions]

The studio utilized a 3D LiDAR scan to evaluate the internal conditions of the silo, as its current state includes extensive mold growth. A 3D model was built in Rhino utilizing historical construction documents and matched to the scan, allowing us to view discrepancies between documents and final structure. A layer of water covers the silo floor, obstructing the full scan and hides the true extent of material lying at the bottom.

[1] Original structure

[3] Some structure removed

[2] Silo intaking water

[4] Main structure detaches

Subterranean view of LiDAR scan. Perspective.

Site LiDAR scan . Plan.

[Moments]

As the terraces wind down and the silo rises up, a new platform focuses attention on the concrete shell’s discolored exterior. Our vision for this exposed boundary includes projections for interacting with historical moments and paths for first-hand exploration. A museum building cuts across the open excavation, affording visitors the liberty to make their own experience through the Launch Control Center and repurposed silo. An education wing is tucked under a green roof, while the ice drilling research wing covers the silo opening.

Aerial view. Perspective.

Outdoor projector concept. Perspective.

[Entry Sequence + Wayfinding]

The experience begins as a winding path “submerges” visitors into the site, gradually separating them from the surface. Signage regarding the history of the site shows context, and eventually the path opens up to an inner court before first entry into the building. Concrete and rammed earth make up the walls while corrugated steel and wood accents juxtapose the heavy materials, softening the vine-covered wall and central fountain. Further installation pieces are dotted throughout the broader landscape, bringing relics from the silo’s primary function, such as radios and other machinery, to light.

Entry descent. Chain section.

Wayfinding accents for major topics. Axonometric.

Site diagram. Axonometric.

02

The Nursery Trail

Trail Planning Story Telling

Instructor: Salvador Lindquist

Location: Halsey, Nebraska, USA

Collaborators: Dennis States

Alyssa Winkelman

Nestled in the eastern edge of the Nebraska Sandhills exists a 20,000 acre conifer forest, remnant from a 1906 experiment on afforesting the Great Plains. Through the years it has benefited from management via the Civilian Conservation Corps, Nebraska Forest Service, and the US Forest Service. Today the forest reels from a devastating wildfire and underutilization, which can be remedied by developing more trails through the hybrid landscape. This studio investigates the complex and interwoven history of the forest, understands the current ecological makeup, and identifies multiple trail paths to expand the recreation possibilities. This project received a Student Award of Excellence from the Nebraska-Dakotas ASLA chapter.

[History of the Forest]

To account for the various indigenous tribes, cultures, and jurisdictions that have occupied the land the forest now covers, a timeline shows the breakdown of the who, what, and when. The story is partitioned into four epochs: Origin, Disruption, Production, and Recognition. These categories denote major themes found through analysis of major events and recognize that the land the forest sits on was unjustly taken by force from its original inhabitants, underwent massive change through afforestation, and now exists as an artificial landscape within the Sandhills.

Land use history. Timeline.

pox epidemics and what some experts label genocide. Colonists recognized individual land ownership, while indigenous tribes viewed land as collective.

-

have a long and profound

Public lands in the US, specifically National

not

the mainstream agenda until 1864 with the establishment of Yellowstone as a National Park. The growth of public lands for recreation and production only grew from there, and today there are over 150 national forests and 63 national parks. The preservation aspect of this land ensures that future generations will be able to enjoy the wild outdoors, and creates habitat for existing wildlife.

As it stands now, the Bessey Ranger District hosts the largest hand planted forest in the United States. This comes with the realization that fires are a natural part of many ecosystems, and the removal of that natural element causes the buildup of flam mable materials, which may be part of the increasingly strong fires in the Western United States. Letting wildfires burn natu rally removes kindling and fuel from wooded areas, regenerates ecological successions, and the fires can always be managed when there is threat to human life or property.

A growing interest in the adverse effects of pesticides to hu mans and the natural environment is coming to light in the US. The proliferation of chemicals is not limited to the household, but to agricultural fields as well. The majority of crop fields a coated with aerosolized chemicals intending to target pests, insects, and weeds, but these chemicals contain mixtures that may also impact humans. Short term exposure to pesticides commonly causes skin, eye, and throat irritation, up to severe and painful internal pains. The riskier long term background exposure to pesticides may include cancers and abdominal dis eases. Chemicals in agriculture also have potential to harm the forest itself, as herbicides can travel up to half a kilometer from where they are sprayed. Effects on forest health affect all tro levels, from microbial life in the soil to the ability of trees to be able to photosynthesize. The anthropogenic origin of the forest exposes it to certain weaknesses, and herbicidal damages will need to be considered when planning for the future.

Forests,

history. Protect

ed land in the US did

really hit

Expanded research into epochs

[The Nursery Loop]

An active nursery sits embedded between a hill and the Middle Loup River, producing 2+ million trees per year in a former grassland. Our trail offers three distinct experiences including a river walk, arboretum tour, and hillside overlook of the nursery, all wrapped up in one mile of trail with an optional half mile loop through the original 1906 nursery buildings, which are on the National Register of Historic Places. The overlook has three tiers, focusing on each of the experiences, and allows hikers an unobstructed view of the nursery, river, and natural Sandhills landscape beyond.

Distinct trail moments. Concept sections.

Arboretum stroll Hillside trek

Riparian walk

Central overlook embedded in the hillside. Section perspective.

Trail path through active nursery. Plan.

03 Towards a New Urban Frontage Urban Planning

Sustainability

Instructor: Yujia Wang

Location: Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Collaborators: Olivia Berck Jake Essink

The historic Benson neighborhood comprises many small shops, bars, and music venues located between major roads in the heart of Omaha. As the city continues to grow around it, this studio envisions a major densification of the neighborhood. Multiple futures are considered including a work-from-home or back-to-office push, increases or reductions in traffic, and integration of public transit and sustainable technologies. Benson’s connection to surrounding communities is maintained through permeable edges that invite people in and situate the historic neighborhood in place, while a diversified program is influenced by–and expands beyond–Benson’s current culture.

[Context]

Benson sits at the crossroads of Central and North Omaha, and as such comprises many demographics regarding age, race, income, and mobility. Further, the area is home to a variety of small businesses and venues that are celebrated within the community. To account for the many needs of a diverse population, a strong pedestrian circulation network is implemented through “permeable” openings between buildings, and limited vehicular paths through the site itself. Implementing accessible paths allows for the surrounding neighborhood to contribute to this development’s success, and brings benefits beyond the site boundaries.

Masterplan for Benson revitalization. Plan.

[Concept]

Our concept utilizes a pedestrian corridor that enters through three distinct–yet connected–zones of program. The journey starts on the eastern edge with a cultural plaza that brings in visitors from outside the development, including spaces for public art, children’s play, cuisine, and music performance. Visitors make their way to the middle section, which is transitory in nature and home to a residential block as well as existing small business space. The redevelopment is capped off at the west end with a large urban park flanked by office buildings. The entire urban plan is accessible and pedestrian-friendly, with two crossings made available for bicycle and utility vehicle traffic.

[Concept Modeling]

While the idea of landscape architecture students developing building massings sounds absurd, the practice works to better the understanding of circulation systems in urban environments. This photo illustrates our strategy of lowering building heights on the southern half of a project, thereby allowing more natural light to enter and illuminate the corridor and residential block. Seeing a model from different perspectives also allows us to consider viewsheds and skylines, creating a more thoughtful interface with the surrounding communities. Once the physical model was finalized, we traced building footprints and measured heights to begin modeling the buildings in Rhino.

Scale model of foam building forms. Photograph.

[Goals and Objectives]

As a response to an ever growing lack of quality urban amenities and infrastructures, we identified a series of goals and objectives to achieve and situate our project to address. This includes physical interventions such as walkable paths and corridors, alternative transportation modes such as sheltered bus stops and bike lanes, and infrastructural additions such as green and solar roofs. The plan for Benson also includes a variety of programming that centers on residents’ daily needs while accounting for higher pedestrian circulation from surrounding neighborhoods.

Renewable, independent energy.

Project goals as they relate to future needs. Axonometric.

Accommodating public transit

Comfortable pedestrian circulation

Site program diagram. Axonometric.

Central nodes expanded upon from the overall site. Axonometric.

[Residential + Retail Nodes]

Each group member received one third of the project to develop further, with my section being the residential and retail blocks. The retail section identified a “reinvigoration of the back alley,” with multiple small entrances off of the main pedestrian corridor splitting off to enter a secluded shopping space with numerous planter-benches and overhead umbrella canopy. Across the main divider lies the residential sector, which includes lawn and first floor commercial space. The corridor both divides and unites these nodes by utilizing horizontal strips of canopy trees and perpendicular gradient paving to break up the expanse into human-scale spaces. Small side areas provide rest areas away from the main thoroughfare.

Retail node from the catwalk. Perspective.

Pedestrian corridor containing shade and nooks. Perspective.

04 Plant Pattern Guide for Affordable Housing Undergraduate Research

Instructor: Salvador Lindquist

Location: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Collaborators: Sarah Cope

Low-income housing and neighboring areas are disproportionately affected by lack of urban green infrastructure and vegetation. This can lead to higher energy bills from less tree cover, health issues due to a lack of green spaces, and a decrease in biodiversity from monoculture lawns. By studying how plants interact with each other, people, and the wider urban environment, plant communities can be established and thrive. Through environmental assessments of these communities, both plant and human, we can gain insights into their beneficial interactions. By developing a guide for designing resilient plant communities, aimed for use by NeighborWorks Lincoln, a local affordable housing developer, we aim to lower costs and enhance environmental conditions for marginalized communities. Recognizing the importance of easily manageable, well-designed landscapes, this project aims to explore sustainable planting design for affordable housing communities.

[Organization]

The Guide is organized into sections that start with basic information regarding Nebraska’s climate and ecosystems, and covering design, installation, and basic maintenance. Images were captured of ongoing projects and used to understand how NeighborWorks redefines locations with rehabilitated or new homes. NeighborWorks Lincoln develops upwards of 70 projects per year, highlighting their experience in architectural design and finance, and as such we needed to structure our response to their knowledge base, while keeping the major ideas clear for other audiences.

Native Nebraska ecologies with typical landscape structure. Collage.

Table of contents spread

[Communication]

Graphics are extensively used to capture the essence of ideas, while concise descriptions efficiently explain some of the more complex topics. The shaky style of simple drawings is inspired by Nike designer Ruohan Wang, while a palette of bright colors pop off the page and keep the messages engaging. The same style is extended to more technical diagrams where trees and plants receive distinctive colors to clearly reveal patterns, and tables where colors denote plant typology and highlight information such as bloom time, height/width range, and more.

Maintenance graphics for visual comprehension

Table.

[Real World Application]

To maximize the potential value of this research, sample designs were developed for NeighborWorks’ most used designs. In this example, a duplex is designed in a modern prairie style, slotting native plants in and around the property, providing shade and creating distinctive zones in the yard for each tenant. A highly informative plant schedule was developed from a list of native and naturalized plants sold in eastern Nebraska nurseries, highlighting plants that thrive in our climate and are available for purchase. NeighborWorks Lincoln is interested in developing partnerships with local nurseries to secure plant donations or nonprofit discounts.

Graphic plant schedule for effective communication.

Sample plant design page for duplex. Plan.

Social and ecological wellbeing in Lancaster County from GIS. Plan.

[Impact Analysis]

Lincoln’s urban social and ecological wellbeing can be analyzed through the combination of rasterized maps pertaining to factors such as poverty status, proximity to public transportation, biodiversity, canopy cover, and more. NeighborWorks can use this map to identify areas of Lincoln that would benefit most from enhanced urban greenspace, and plan future projects in areas lacking most in these areas. Further, this method of overlaying data can be applied to any municipality, allowing for developers to create more impactful and sustainable projects.

Individual GIS datasets overlaid to create the composite map. Plan.

English proficiency

Landscape Diversity

High school diploma

05 Work Samples

Residential Design

$300,000 - $2,000,000+

Supervisor: Jake Foutch (Carson Enterprises)

Location: Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Through my experience at a local landscape designbuild company, I have played a major role designing and documenting mid- to high-end residential projects. With knowledge in conceptualization, project management, and an eye for sustainability, I have partaken in delivering highquality designs that exceed client expectations. AutoCAD, Sketchup, and Lumion are used daily to translate ideas into visually stunning and environmentally conscious landscapes. This section showcases two designs that highlight my experience in creating quality landscape designs.

[Elkhorn Moments]

We crafted settings for each of the spaces in this yard, allowing each one to thrive in passive and active recreation. The side entrance for guests is engrossed in lush planting, while stepping out of the house starts at an existing patio and extends down to a formal garden terrace. A grassy prairie setting surrounds an upper fire pit, while a children’s trampoline pad is embedded into the hillside and shaded by an existing forest. Through each of these scenes, we create idyllic moments that contribute to the larger movement of the backyard.

Coordinated with an engineering firm to design a retaining wall. Perspective.

Graphic showing the level of backfill needed, cut through the center of the house. Section.

Side entrance to the backyard. Perspective.

Pool house view. Perspective.

View up from the kids’ trampoline pad. Perspective.

The yard is planned to maximize usage and split between passive and active. Rendered plan.

[Elkhorn

Spatial Layout]

The layout of this 3-acre hillside property allows for an illustrious transition between front and back, and also a large retaining wall to turn more yard area into usable space. The guest entrance walks down and offers visitors a path towards the upper patio or pool deck. The existing upper patio walks out into the native prairie fire pit and extends down to a junction, offering a dropoff at either the lawn or pool deck. A children’s trampoline area leads to a path towards the neighboring in-law’s lot.

[Westside]

Nestled on a busy corner lot, this yard becomes an idyllic retreat for relaxation. At the heart of this design lies a standard pool embraced by a visually intriguing Graphix retaining wall. An outdoor kitchen offers an inviting space for culinary indulgence and guest entertainment, while around the corner is a private patio boasting a hot tub, fireplace, and outdoor shower. Above the wall includes a volleyball net and borders of columnar sweetgums and grasses, rising above the patio to further enclose and seclude. The proximity of the wall to the pool required intense constraints, and warranted the creation of wall details to ensure a sound structure.

Glimpses into each designated area of the yard. Rendered axonometric.

View of the kitchen. Perspective.

Section showing underlying structure of the wall. Detail.

Linework drawing of backyard. Plan.

Jace Armstrong Landscape Architecture Portfolio 05.04.2024