project portfolio
INSTITUTIONAL
J O NAT HA N ALDERSON
landscape architects, inc.
w w w. j o n a t h a n a l d e r s o n . c o m POST OFFICE BOX 661 WAYNE PA 19087 phone fax
610.341.9925 610.341.9926
image credit: Daniel Traub Photography
jonathan alderson landscape architects
FIRM PROFILE
Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. is a design practice located in Wayne, Pennsylvania and focused passionately on innovative approaches to shaping land. Founded by Jonathan Alderson in 1998, our firm’s aim is to create environments that are indicative of client needs and goals, while providing attractive places to live, work and visit. We are committed to protecting the environment and are striving to produce the best of sustainable designs through storm water management, resource conservation, and habitat creation. We believe that the use of sustainable plantings and appropriate materials combined with a strong regard for site and ecology can lead to the creation of places that inspire exploration. As a firm, we prefer to see each project through from concept to completion in order to capitalize on our relationships with nurseries, craftspeople, and suppliers. Many of our designs develop out of an interpretation of local vernacular which comes from an intimate understanding of the region, its landscape, and its history. Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. carries professional liability insurance for two million dollars for each claim; two million aggregate (New Hampshire Insurance Company).
JONATHAN ALDERSON
landscape architects, inc.
PROJECT MGMT & SUSTAINABILITY
As a small firm, we are able to work intimately with one another, capitalizing on each other’s experience, to develop designs from conception to completion. Because we work so closely together, we have a deeper understanding of the time required by our team to produce concepts and details. Our communal approach allows us to develop more accurate budgets and to control costs more effectively. Having worked on projects at a variety of scales, from large public gardens to small residential projects, Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. embraces a multidisciplinary design process. We work to develop meaningful designs and are excited to work with clients, other design professionals, and contractors in the process. Through the process of collaboration with experts, we are able to ensure quality in our designs. Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. is commited to developing designs that are environmentally sensitive through the interpretation of layered inventory and analysis. We strive to incorporate a largely native plant palette as well as appropriate materials to create sustainable spaces. We have explored stormwater managment through the use of porous paths at Chanticleer Garden, rain gardens at the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Center and the Lenfest Center, and green roofs at the Reading Health System Expansion. We have also expanded upon existing habitats, most notably at Longwood Gardens’ Meadow Garden. Finally, we have worked to remediate disturbed sites, like at the Lenfest Center. Each of these projects and their contribution to sustainability are further reviewed in this document.
REFERENCES Paul Redman Director of Longwood Gardens P.O. Box 501 Kennett Square, PA 19348-0501 Tel: (610) 388 - 5443 Email: predman@longwoodgardens.org
Joseph Donaldson Lancaster General Hospital 609 North Cherry STreet Lancaster, PA 17604-3555 Tel: (717) 544 - 5484 Email: JMDonald@LancasterGeneral.org
image credit: Daniel Traub Photography
jonathan alderson landscape architects
PROJECT STAFFING Jonathan Alderson, CLARB, RLA, Principal
Mr. Alderson, the founder and Principal of the firm, is the design leader. He will be involved from conceptual development to construction documentation and will help to incorporate the clients’ goals and expectations throughout the whole design process. Mr. Alderson brings a wealth of design and construction experience to the team. Project experience includes: the creation of an 85 Acre Meadow Garden for Longwood Gardens including bridges, boardwalks and pavilions; the design of an elevated ADA walk way for Chanticleer Gardens; the design of bike corrals for the University of Pennsylvania; and the design a Healing Garden and Landscape for Lancaster General Health. Mr. Alderson has won several significant design competitions including Reimagine Broad Street, the Avenue of the Arts, Philadelphia. Mr. Alderson has a BA from the University of Reading, United Kingdom, and holds a Master of Landscape Architecture with Certificate in Urban Design from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Alderson, who has taught at Temple University, is a registered Landscape Architect in Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia and is a member of the Council of Landscape Architecture Registration Boards. Billing Rate: $150.00/Hour | Length of Current Role: 16 Years
Jesse Forrester, RLA
Mr. Forrester is responsible for development of design concepts and production of drawing sets, as well as project coordination with outside consultants. He brings a diverse background to the team in art, construction, and agriculture. Mr. Forrester holds a BS in Landscape Architecture from Temple University. Working with the Olin Partnership, he documented the Bethel Performing Arts Center in Bethel, NY, helped develop and manage the master planning and permitting of the Mill River Park and Greenway in Stamford Connecticut, and coordinated design development and documentation for the Brooklyn Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn, NY. He has worked at Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. for six years and is a registered Landscape Architect in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Billing Rate: $115.00/Hour | Length of Current Role: 7 Years
Chris Pugliese, ASLA, Senior Landscape Designer
Mr. Pugliese brings a wealth of design build experience to the project team, having worked for six years for a landscape design build firm and fifteen years at Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. While at the design build firm Mr. Pugliese participated in several significant projects at the Morris Arboretum including the restoration of the historic Spring House and master planning for the Fernery. Mr. Pugliese received a BA from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. He also received a Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Horticulture from Longwood Gardens. In addition to his efforts to share his experience and expertise as an adjunct faculty member at Temple University Mr. Pugliese has been an active volunteer designer/ project leader with the Community Design Collaborative. Since 1998 Mr. Pugliese has worked on significant public and non-profit projects throughout the region.
JONATHAN ALDERSON
landscape architects, inc.
Mr. Pugliese is responsible for the day to day project management including design development, construction details, presentation drawings, construction specifications and preliminary cost estimates, coordination and correspondence to clients and contractors, selection and purchase of landscape and hardscape materials. Billing Rate: $115.00/Hour | Length of Current Role: 15 Years
Grace Herman, Landscape Designer
Ms. Herman contributes to the development of design concepts, graphic presentations, and construction documents. She holds a Bachelor in Landscape Architecture from Philadelphia University as well as a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Texas at Arlington, where she attended under an Enhanced Graduate Teaching Assistant Scholarship. In the past, she has worked as an intern for the Philadelphia Streets Department updating the City’s GIS files and the West Ward Neighborhood Partnership, where she gained experience working directly with a community. She has worked at Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. for two years. Billing Rate: $80.00/Hour | Length of Current Role: 3 Years
Matthew Nelson, Landscape Designer
Mr. Nelson specializes in 3D digital modeling and presentation graphics. Matt is also responsible for developing design concepts, drawing sets, and construction details. He started as an intern while finishing his BS in Landscape Architecture from Temple University and became a full time designer upon graduating. His previous work experience includes a teaching role for the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture at Temple University where he worked as a Teacher’s Assistant in addition to being the technology liaison for the Landscape Design Studios. Matt has a background in plants, working two years for a retail nursery and as part of the Arboretum staff at Temple University’s Ambler campus. Billing Rate: $80.00/Hour | Length of Current Role: 2.5 Years
Sara Gray, Landscape Designer
Ms. Gray is a recent graduate of the Pennsylvania State University where she holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and a BA in Geography. Joining the firm in June 2014, Sara is responsible for assisting in the development of graphic presentations and construction documents. While in school, Saraworked as an intern forPennTerra Engineeringwhere she gained experience preparing CAD base files for new projects, editing technical and presentation drawings, and performing site inventory. In addition, she was an Outdoor School Counselor at the Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center where she helped to engage children in a safe and positive outdoor learning experience. Billing Rate: $50.00/Hour | Length of Current Role: 3 Months
image credit: Daniel Traub Photography
jonathan alderson landscape architects
PROJECT EXPERIENCE project name client location date completed budget consultants relevance size compensation selection process contract project name client location date completed budget consultants
The Meadow Garden Longwood Gardens Kennett Square PA Summer 2014 Withheld at Owner’s Request Meliora - Civil Engineer; Gecko Group - Interpretive Designers; John Milner Architects - Architect Creation of meadow garden, connection to the gardens, trails, landscape shelters, bridges, and boardwalks. Creation of regionally significant warm season grass meadow. 86 Acres Fixed Fee RFQ, Interview, Proposal Prime Designer, Formal Proposal Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute Lancaster General Health Lancaster County 2013 3.6 Million Site; 44 Million Total Ballinger - Architect
relevance New drives and parking lots, rain gardens, and bio-swales. Creation of meadow landscape and gardens, healing garden, and water features. size 40 Acre compensation Fixed Fee selection process RFQ, Interview, Proposal contract Subconsultant to Ballinger, AIA Contract project name client location date completed budget consultants relevance size compensation selection process contract
JONATHAN ALDERSON
landscape architects, inc.
Reading Health System Expansion Reading Hospital Reading, PA 2014 Withheld at Client Request Ballinger - Architects; Roof Meadow - Green Roof Design; SSM Group - Civil Engineer Extensive and intensive green roofs that include raised Cor-Ten steel planting beds, walking paths, a pergola, water features, and healing gardens. 1 Acre Extensive Green Roof, 1 Acre Intensive Green Roof, 1 Acre Traditional Landscape Fixed Fee RFQ, Interview, Proposal Subconsultants to Ballinger, AIA Contract
Blockley Hall University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 2013 $300,000 Meliora Design, LLC - Civil Engineer Bike corral plaza for students and staff of Blockley Hall and the adjoining Southeastern quadrant of the School of Medicine. Includes seating, plantings, porous paving, lighting, security cameras, and rain gardens. The plaza is located on an inactive construction site and serves to organize a growing number of arbitratily located bicycle racks congresting the nearby building entrances
project name client location date completed budget consultants relevance
The Elevated Walk Chanticleer Garden Wayne PA Opening Spring 2015 1.25 Million Total CVM - Structural Engineers; Momenee Associates - Civil Engineers Creation of a fully accessible garden walk experience in an area formerly difficult to traverse for visitors 2/3 Acre Fixed Fee RFQ, Interview, Proposal Prime Designer, Formal Proposal
project name client location date completed budget consultants relevance
Lenfest Center Natural Lands Trust Chester County 2013 4.5 Million Archer Buchanan Architecture - Architect; SITE Engineering Concepts - Civil Engineer Environmental education visitor center that explores the reuse and recycling of existing on-site materials 19 Acre Gray Field Site Fixed Fee RFQ, Interview, Proposal Subconsultant to Archer Buchanan, AIA Contract
project name client location date completed budget consultants relevance
size compensation selection process contract
size compensation selection process contract
On the Boards: Villanova University Pavilion Corporate Services Company Headquarters Haverford College Campus Improvements Swarthmore College Scott Arboretum
image credit: Daniel Traub Photography
longwood gardens
MEADOW GARDEN Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
The Meadow Garden, an 86 acre garden at Longwood Gardens, opened to the public in June of 2014. The project is built upon Jens Jensen’s notion that “a garden, to be a work of art, must have the soul of the native landscape in it.” The design enhances and restores a vast meadow, a landscape with its own history, ecologies, and wildlife habitats. The Meadow Garden now serves as regionally important oasis for migratory birds, important pollinators, and other native wildlife. Winding pathways invite visitors through varied habitats, where a series of spaces and follies call attention to the beauty of a meadow. Visitors become immersed in fields of ever changing color and texture; great swathes of intensive plug plantings take their cues from the species that thrive in upland meadow, wetland, stream bank or woodland edge. Bridges bring focus to the details of different habitats. The Meadow Bridge floats amongst the Joe Pye Weed and Blazing Star of the wet meadow, serving as a space for gathering and teaching. Guests watch wildlife in the lake from the Hourglass Bridge. The Earth Bridge carries the meadow over a small stream. Downstream a boardwalk crosses the stream amongst a mature Beech Oak woods. Several rustic pavilions, feature local building materials and methods, highlight great views. Seated amidst enhanced plantings the guests’ attention is directed toward the dynamics of the woodland edge, the birds that inhabit the meadow, or the pollinators that buzz around them. By its very design the Meadow Garden is temporal, ever-changing, and constantly evolving. This will never be a static space and reflects “the soul of the native landscape”.
JONATHAN ALDERSON
landscape architects, inc.
image credit: Daniel Traub Photography
longwood gardens
MEADOW GARDEN Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
view from hourglass lake pavilion of meadow
hourglass lake bridge
woodland boardwalk
meadow bridge
view of meadow bridge ‘floating’ in meadow
lancaster general health
ANN B BARSHINGER CANCER INSTITUTE Lancaster, Pennsylvania
At the master plan level, the design creates a logical framework for the hospital’s campus while demonstrating itself as a model system for stewardship and sustainability. By using contrasting elements of native meadow, water, and simple landforms, the plan allows for a natural sense of way-finding with minimal signage. Best management practices are used in the parking lots with rain gardens and native meadow, collecting runoff from the paving before reaching the detention basin. The healing garden occupies the central courtyard and creates varied spaces for meditation while maintaining ADA accessibility. A glass curtain wall surrounds the garden and blurs the line between interior and exterior spaces, while views out through the building create a connection with the larger landscape beyond. Throughout the landscape water is woven as an element of continuity and demonstration of sustainability. The 28,000 square foot roof’s water runoff is captured and conveyed into courtyard water features before entering underground cisterns, to be used for irrigation, or bypassing into the larger pond and wet meadows beyond. Specific plant species were chosen to make the healing garden a sensory experience for patients and visitors alike.
JONATHAN ALDERSON
landscape architects, inc.
lancaster general health
ANN B BARSHINGER CANCER INSTITUTE Lancaster, Pennsylvania
healing garden perennial beds
parking area rain gardens
river stone bed catches roof runoff from gutters
interior meditation space . views to reflection pool and healing garden
reflection pool post construction
reading hospital
READING HEALTH SYSTEM EXPANSION Reading, Pennsylvania
Working in tandem with Ballinger Architects and green roof pioneers Roofmeadow, Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects developed a network of conventional and roof top gardens spanning a range of extensive and intensive planting conditions for the Reading Hospital’s recent expansion project. The largest green roof elements include a healing garden and warm season meadow. Totaling over one acre, the healing garden and meadow combine to provide a series of rich experiences for the hospital staff, patients and the public. The roof garden circulation is defined by curving weathering steel planter walls which provide a variety of spaces including intimate nooks for reflection. Key elements like the oval lawn, water feature and pergola combine with larger spaces to define public spaces.
JONATHAN ALDERSON
landscape architects, inc.
reading hospital
READING HEALTH SYSTEM EXPANSION Reading, Pennsylvania
rendering - intensive green roof
rendering - intensive green roof and healing garden
rendering - intensive green roof meadow
rendering - recovery waiting room with garden space
university of pennsylvania
BLOCKLEY HALL Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects was selected by the University of Pennsylvania to reconfigure and improve bicycle parking within the campus southeastern quadrant. Previous bicycle parking had been distributed ad hoc around building entrances and a variety of bicycle rack types lacked organization and inhibited pedestrian circulation. Bicycle theft had also become an issue as many racks were situated beyond the range of existing security cameras. Utilizing a former construction trailer site along Currie Boulevard, the centrally located bicycle corral provides secure parking for over two hundred bicycles. In keeping with the University’s self-imposed sustainability requirements, the new corral design features permeable paving, rain gardens and native plantings, all of which help to improve drainage and eliminate flooding and muddy areas. Benches within the plantings provide an interlude from the busy street. Circulation was organized to balance the need for maximum capacity with high volume traffic while careful consideration was given to security camera placement providing the site with complete video coverage.
JONATHAN ALDERSON
landscape architects, inc.
university of pennsylvania
BLOCKLEY HALL Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
permeable paving and rain gardens
bike plaza during construction
bike racks accommodate over 200 bikes
bike corral section
chanticleer
E L E VA T E D W A L K Wayne, Pennsylvania
An acclaimed, “pleasure garden” – Chanticleer is one of the great public gardens in the world. Chanticleer is “planted to perfection,” according to writer, Robin Lane Fox of the London Times and, “is up there in the same high class among the famous gardens in England.” Once a private country estate dating back to the early 20th century, Chanticleer opened to the public in 1993 and offers a diverse variety of garden spaces that appeal to all of the senses. They pride themselves in the garden experience and allow visitors to explore and discover all of the grounds – nothing is off limits. With that mantra, they approached Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. with the goal of making a portion of the garden more accessible. With steps and steep slopes, the garden path coming down from the main house terrace is difficult for visitors to traverse. The solution is to replace the path with a fully accessible elevated walkway that will weave its way in and out of the established woodland with places to stop and sit along the way. The ramp’s surface will be porous while the footings are designed to have the least impact on the hillside and existing woodland. The walkway will ramp down and help visitors traverse over 30 feet of vertical elevation. The current lawn hillside will be replaced with warm-season grasses and multi-stem flowering trees. The woodland will remain intact and allow visitors to walk amongst the trees at various heights from the ground (18” to 6’). Established garden relics are to remain and be incorporated into the design as well. The structure of the walkway will be exposed and celebrated, working in concert with the encompassing landscape. Currently in the design development phase, the elevated walk is set to open in the spring of 2015.
JONATHAN ALDERSON
landscape architects, inc.
chanticleer
E L E VA T E D W A L K Wayne, Pennsylvania
entrance to elevated walk at highest point
an existing relic from the garden, the ‘apple house’ marks the halfway point
bird’s eye perspective . the walk meanders in and out of the existing woodland
perspective from bottom of walkway
natural lands trust
LENFEST CENTER Chester County, Pennsylvania
The Lenfest Center enhances Cheslen’s unique sense of place, enriching the visitor and staff experience, while celebrating the diversity of the Chester County landscape. Surrounded by a pristine twelve hundred acre preserve, the nineteen acre canary site was a highly disturbed site prior to the construction of the Lenfest Center. The landscape design intent was to ‘heal’ this landscape through the construction of the building, allowing it to blend in with its bucolic surrounds. The landscape improvements associated with the Lenfest Center demonstrate that sustainable landscapes are not only beautiful but also provide important habitat for wildlife, promote plant species diversity, respect the hydrologic cycle and eliminate waste and need for expensive, resource-dependent maintenance regimes and chemical applications. Within this landscape, traditional waste materials (the quarter acre concrete pad from the cannery, for example) were creatively reused and celebrated as paving, steps and retaining walls. Demonstration gardens and meadows show how storm water should be valued as a resource (rather than considered as a nuisance,) how to regenerate degraded soils, how to provide habitat for pollination and how to restore woodland edges. Looking over the old cannery, where once there was paving and agricultural waste, a rolling meadow of warm season grass now draws the visitor and staff into the larger preserve - truly a landscape healed.
JONATHAN ALDERSON
landscape architects, inc.
natural lands trust
LENFEST CENTER Chester County, Pennsylvania
perennial beds in summer
perennial beds in summer
before - debris cluttered concrete service yard
after - land regraded and amended - materials repurposed on site
current projects...
ON THE BOARDS The Pavilion Renovation Villanova University Villanova PA Crawford Architecture - Architect; Creation of a new entry sequence to the Pavilion to accomodate a new entrance on the second level. Introducing native meadow grasses on graded embankments. Reinforcing buffer planting and existing rain gardens. compensation Fixed Fee selection process RFQ, Interview, Proposal contract Subconsultant to Crawford, Formal Proposal project name client location consultants relevance
Campus Improvements Haverford College Haverford, PA Haverford College Facilities Staff Analysis and conceptual plans for various pedestrian walkways and outdoor classrooms. Proposed designs aim to improve circulation, marry hardscape materials, enhance planting, and create outdoor spaces for seating, group gatherings, and classes. compensation Fixed Fee selection process Interview, Proposal contract Prime Designer, Formal Proposal project name client location consultants relevance
JONATHAN ALDERSON
landscape architects, inc.
Headquarters Master Plan Withheld at Owner’s Request Environetics - Architect; Landmark - Civil Engineer Developing a phased master plan for the new campus. Visualizing detailed designs for courtyards and walking paths that utilize native plants and integrate stormwater management. Fixed Fee Interview,, Proposal Subconsultant to Environetics, Formal Proposal
project name client consultants relevance
The Scott Arboretum Swarthmore College Swarthmore PA Revisiting former landscape masterplan for the Wister Green House; replacing existing asphalt paths with flagstone. Locating fence and gate for parking. Fixed Fee Interview, Proposal Prime Designer, Formal Proposal
project name client location relevance
compensation selection process contract
compensation selection process contract
villanova university
T H E P AV I L I O N R E N O VA T I O N Villanova, Pennsylvania
PROJECT GOALS • Connect the Pavilion with Ithan Avenue by creating a Campus Green for entry to the main concourse level. • Entry sequence to ramp up to 2nd level ticket window and main entry. • Proposed path’s to be porous paving. • Campus Green to be re-graded to create a buffer of native grasses on embankments separating pedestrian space from vehicular circulation. • Create stratified planting edge to reinforce existing buffer. • Parking stall medians to be rain gardens to aid in stormwater management.
JONATHAN ALDERSON
landscape architects, inc.
villanova university
T H E P AV I L I O N R E N O VA T I O N Villanova, Pennsylvania
VIP entrance planting
bird’s eye render
main concourse entry sequence
site plan
haverford college
CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS Haverford, Pennsylvania
PROJECT GOALS • The design team is currently working with Haverford College to develop creative design solutions to disjointed and outdated nodes around the campus. • Concepts focus on creating spaces that improve the overall circulation, provide outdoor classrooms, add seating, and promote native planting. • The team is currently producing hardscape plans for the class of 1904 lamp post intersection.
JONATHAN ALDERSON
landscape architects, inc.
haverford college
CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS Haverford, Pennsylvania
class of 1904 lamp post intersection
sharpless hall courtyard
HEADQUARTERS MASTER PLAN Wilmington, Delaware
PROJECT GOALS • Develop a phased master plan for the future campus • Create a flexible courtyard space which serves a variety group sizes and activities • Expand on existing walking trails to create a loop to be used by employees and surrounding community • Develop planting palette that uses local native species to create iconic landscape • Provide memorable features that act as way finding elements • Integrate stormwater management systems into design
JONATHAN ALDERSON
landscape architects, inc.
HEADQUARTERS MASTER PLAN Wilmington, Delaware
schematic courtyard studies
courtyard concept plan
schematic security study
swarthmore college
SCOTT ARBORETUM Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
PROJECT GOALS • Landscape design for the Wister Education Center as part of the Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College. • Emphasis of the design is to create a sustainable landscape model while providing a teaching laboratory environment. • Native plantings and rain gardens incorporate informative signage describing their environmental benefits. • Elements such as permeable paving and reflective surfacing contribute to improved stormwater management and reduced heat island effect.
JONATHAN ALDERSON
landscape architects, inc.
swarthmore college
SCOTT ARBORETUM Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
schematic improvements plan
J O NAT HA N ALDERSON
landscape architects, inc.
w w w. j o n a t h a n a l d e r s o n . c o m POST OFFICE BOX 661 WAYNE PA 19087 phone 610.341.9925 fax 610.341.9926