Meet Lisa Roberts, ASLA NC’s featured member of the month! Lisa received her Masters in Landscape Architecture at University of Arizona, then worked for one of the first women-owned landscape architecture firms in Tucson, designing a variety of Streetscape, park and roadway projects with a large portion focused on master planning and designing downtown Tucson’s revitalization. She then started her own small LA firm, only to then join forces with her original company in a merger to become one of the main LA design firms in the state. She is excited to now begin a new role as Senior Landscape Architect with Pond & Company as they build the Charlotte office! In her free time, Lisa competes as a professional triathlete and has traveled the globe extensively.
What inspired you to start a career in landscape architecture?
I believe I was destined to become a landscape architect based on how I grew up. My grandfather was a master gardener and artist, my father a cartographer and my mother a teacher, so I grew up tinkering in the garden, yard and learning how to present and teach information. I was always redesigning my bedroom and doing minor renovations in our house and did so by drawing a set of plans and putting together a schedule and budget. Ha!
But my ultimate inspiration came from my love and fascination of plants and the environment and how we can affect people's emotions, reactions, comfort, safety, health and wellbeing by how we design a space.
What is a project you are most proud of and why?
I am most proud of a design-build streetscape project in Tucson where I was the landscape architect project manager and LA of record. The Scott Avenue streetscape project was designed and built in 13 months. While the street narrowing to create more pedestrian space, planting, water harvesting and public art opportunities is what you experience, it was the collaboration among the design team and the business owners and stakeholders that made it possible. I am proud that it was so highly regarded it set a new bar and became the new standard for streetscape design in the city.
What is something you enjoy to do in your freetime?
I enjoy running extremely long distances on many different types of trails. And when I say long, I'm talking 50-60 miles long! Running has always been a passion of mine as it gives me reasons to travel and takes me to places many don't see. This is also where I get most of my thinking done and solve many design issues too!
What is your most favorite place you have traveled and why?
That is a very difficult question to answer, as I have been extremely fortunate to have travelled to many places and spend quite a bit of time entrenched in a variety of cultures. They all hold a special place in my heart for various reasons. For now I will say the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Isère department in southeastern France. I have spent many months there cycling through the mountains and villages. I like it for it's raw natural beauty with the mountains, glacial lakes and quaint villages. They value a person's time spent recreating and enjoying the outdoors. Ask me this question again and I'll probably tell you of another wonderful area of the world I have been able to spend time!
What advice would you give new and emerging professionals?
Remember this is called a PRACTICE of Landscape Architecture. We will constantly be learning, growing and honing our skills and while we may work a standard work week with our colleagues, many times it is what we explore, do and learn outside of it that moves us ever forward as a profession.
What do you enjoy about being a member of ASLA?
I enjoy being a member of ASLA because it keeps us connected in ways we would not be able to achieve otherwise. The opportunities to meet other professionals and learn makes being part of ASLA a great experience.