SCAPE Landscape Architecture

SCAPE Landscape Architecture
Name	SCAPE Landscape Architecture
Type	Private
Founded	2003
Headquarters	New York City
Services	Landscape architecture, urban design, master planning

SCAPE Landscape Architecture is a New York–based landscape architecture and urban design firm known for resilience-focused projects, waterfront reconnection, and ecological urbanism. The firm operates at the intersection of climate adaptation, public space design, and community advocacy, engaging with municipal agencies, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions on multi-scalar interventions. SCAPE's work spans parks, waterfronts, ecological restoration, and policy programs that address sea-level rise, storm surge, and urban habitat.

History

SCAPE was established in the early 21st century amid growing awareness of climate change and post-industrial waterfront redevelopment, responding to events such as Hurricane Sandy, the Katrina disaster public discourse, and international policy shifts like the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement. The firm emerged in the context of contemporary practices exemplified by firms and figures associated with Diller Scofidio + Renfro, James Corner Field Operations, Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, and offices influenced by ideas circulating at institutions such as Columbia University, Harvard University Graduate School of Design, and the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design. Early projects intersected with municipal planning efforts led by agencies including the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the New York City Economic Development Corporation, and regional entities such as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Philosophy and Design Approach

SCAPE's approach synthesizes ecological science, landscape performance metrics, and public realm programming, drawing on precedents including Olmsted Brothers landscapes, Frederick Law Olmsted, and contemporary resilience frameworks promoted by organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme and the Rockefeller Foundation. The firm emphasizes multi-functional green infrastructure, habitat restoration, and community resilience in dialogue with stakeholders such as the New York City Mayor's Office of Recovery and Resiliency, American Society of Landscape Architects, and local community boards. Methodologically, SCAPE integrates tools and scholarship from centers like the Earth Institute, the Urban Design Group, and research initiatives associated with MIT Senseable City Lab, employing performance-based design akin to practices at the Landscape Architecture Foundation and standards referenced by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Notable Projects

SCAPE's portfolio includes large-scale waterfront and resilience projects that engage agencies and partners such as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the National Park Service, and municipal parks departments in cities analogous to Boston, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Signature projects relate to post-disaster reconstruction discussions sparked by Superstorm Sandy and have been exhibited in venues like the Museum of Modern Art, the Cooper Hewitt, and the Venice Biennale. Collaborative efforts have involved design-build contractors, engineering firms such as Arup, AECOM, and WSP Global, and academic collaborators from Princeton University, Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, and research centers like the Center for Architecture.

Awards and Recognition

The firm and its principals have been recognized by professional bodies including the American Society of Landscape Architects awards, honors from the National Academy of Design, and prizes associated with the Architectural League of New York. Peer recognition has also come through fellowships and grants from institutions such as the MacArthur Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Projects have been featured in media outlets and journals including The New York Times, The Guardian, Architectural Record, and the Journal of Landscape Architecture.

Publications and Research

SCAPE engages in publishing design research and policy proposals, contributing to discourse alongside scholars and practitioners associated with publications from Routledge, Princeton Architectural Press, and university presses at Yale University and MIT Press. Their work is cited in academic and professional venues linked to programs at Columbia GSAPP, Harvard GSD, and the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design, and participates in conferences hosted by organizations like the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture and the International Federation of Landscape Architects.

Community Engagement and Advocacy

Community-driven initiatives undertaken by SCAPE have partnered with neighborhood associations, local elected officials such as members of the New York City Council, and advocacy groups including the Trust for Public Land, American Rivers, and the Surfrider Foundation. The firm’s participatory processes draw on best practices advanced by civic design movements exhibited in projects with municipal programs like PlaNYC and regional resilience efforts coordinated with the Hudson River Park Trust and the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation.

Category:Landscape architecture firms Category:Companies based in New York City