IN THE STUDIO Archives - Page 4 of 16

Celebrating a Career of Heart, Passion and Creativity

According to Mayer/Reed’s extraordinary senior landscape designer and project manager, Teresa Chenney, FASLA, “It’s time for me to wander over to another trail. I am leaving my usual professional life behind and looking towards new adventures and endeavors in 2023.” For Teresa, this means endless artistic pursuits, time with friends, family and community and activities that make the world a better place.

Teresa first came to Portland in 1995 from New York City where she had worked for a well-known landscape architecture firm, Quennell Rothschild and Associates. Mayer/Reed seized the opportunity the following year to hire her to design and oversee the firm’s award-winning landscape architecture work on the Nike World Headquarters North Campus Expansion. Spanning a 15-year period, she ensured that design solutions at all scales were sophisticated, creative and well-informed by the architecture, natural resources and site context. The Nike projects resulted in a world-class campus that reflected the aesthetic, ecological and innovation aspirations of the company and its workforce.

Beyond Nike, Teresa’s numerous Pacific Northwest projects feature outstanding public spaces, sustainable practices and urban design. Her notable body of work during her tenure at Mayer/Reed includes: The Rain Garden at the Oregon Convention Center, Director Park (in collaboration with ZGF Architects and OLIN), the Walk of the Heroines at Portland State University, Providence Portland Medical Center Expansion, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) Master Plan, the Mark Building at the Portland Art Museum, several projects at Portland International Airport and the south end of the Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade.

In 2017, Teresa became a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects in the category of Completed Works. Quoting from her nomination, “…her professionalism is characterized by maturity, patience, humor and active engagement with associated design and planning professionals, along with a deep understanding of the needs of communities and clients…Examples of her work in the Portland metropolitan area all derive their planning and design heart from Teresa’s deeply held personal values and design principles…She synthesizes art and science, seamlessly weaving the social, the aesthetic and the practical.” Teresa inspires her colleagues and clients alike as she advances social and environmental good. She remains a strong mentor for younger design professionals and leads by example by volunteering for non-profit organizations.

We at Mayer/Reed greatly value and admire Teresa’s enduring passion for her chosen path of landscape architecture; her contributions to the firm are lasting and deep. “It is a bittersweet departure for me, and I sincerely thank you all for your genuine thoughtfulness, collaboration and teachings you have so generously given to our important work…I will always treasure the many stories, visions and lessons that I’ve acquired along the way.”

What can we say? Surely, we’ll see you on many more trails ahead.

Mayer/Reed thanks you, Teresa!

Happy New Year

Explore new patterns. Embrace iteration. Wishing you a joyous 2023 filled with creative endeavors that click into place.

Happy New Year from Mayer/Reed!

Growing Leadership: Shannon Simms Named Associate Principal

We’re delighted to announce the promotion of Shannon Simms, ASLA to associate principal and shareholder. With her expertise as a landscape architect and urban designer, Shannon leads planning and design of complex, urban environments for recreation and active transportation. Her recent projects include the Green Loop Concepts (Portland, OR), Southwest Corridor Light Rail Urban Design (Portland to Tualatin, OR), Ebey Waterfront Trail, Master Plan & Phase 1 (Marysville, WA) and St. Helens Riverfront Park (St. Helens, OR).

Shannon holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from Harvard University Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Boston University. She is a past vice president of member services for Oregon ASLA and has mentored design students as an adjunct instructor for urban design and landscape programs at the University of Oregon.

Mayer/Reed Leadership Looks to the Future

Mayer/Reed is marking the next chapter of our interdisciplinary design leadership—honoring a legacy of design excellence and promoting from within.

Kathy Fry, SEGD and Jeramie Shane, ASLA lead the visual communications and landscape architecture groups respectively and continue to work side-by-side to evolve Mayer/Reed’s collaborative approach to forward-thinking design. Together with Shannon Simms, ASLA, who was recently promoted to associate principal and shareholder, they see a future filled with possibilities where the studio’s integrated disciplines thrive through curiosity and cross-pollination.

“We’re designing for an ever-changing world,” says Jeramie, “and we’re cultivating a studio that encourages pressing beyond what we know to what might be revealed through a creative process. Listening, collaboration and making space for tinkering and iteration is a mindset.”

“As we navigate evolving technologies, new social patterns and climate change with our clients, we’re guided by our long-standing core values,” adds Kathy. “We’re talking about enduring, resilient and adaptive design—key for the health and well-being of our communities and environment.”

Founding partner Carol Mayer-Reed, FASLA remains focused on client relations, projects and design mentorship. “I’m reflecting on the people who inspired me and encouraged me to find my voice in design. In turn, I’m continuing to express my passion for the profession as a mentor and encouraging women to lead with their strong design sensibilities.”

“Carol has been an inspiration to so many people including me,” notes Shannon. “Her influence is far reaching. I’m honored to be a part of the firm’s ongoing success as a women-owned business.”