Rhodeside & Harwell

12/05/2024

Embracing the season of sharing, we recently had an inspiring internal pin-up session where urban planners/designers Sukirti and Dom shared insights from the Fredericksburg Area 8 Small Area Plan project they’re working on. Their presentation sparked a lively discussion on preserving housing affordability and bringing public art to life in neighborhoods.
This project is all about collaboration—working together to create more inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant communities in the heart of Fredericksburg. We're so grateful for the dedication, creativity, and innovative ideas our team continues to bring to the table as we shape the future of this exciting initiative.

11/22/2024

Let's celebrate National Education Week!

We’re excited to highlight our collaboration with the architect team at Page Southerland Page on the Katherine G. Johnson Hall (Bull Run) Life Sciences and Engineering Building at George Mason University in Manassas, VA. This innovative 200,000 GSF instructional building will support cutting-edge STEM-H programs in fields like kinesiology, bioengineering, forensic science, materials science, and mechanical engineering.

At RHI, we’re focused on creating an inspiring environment that extends beyond the classroom. Our landscape design integrates sustainable, low-impact features—including native plantings, heat island-reducing pavements, and an accessible outdoor classroom, and Design Competition Plaza—offering students, faculty a dynamic outdoor space that fosters learning and collaboration.

With construction wrapping up, this exciting project will welcome students in January 2025, providing a forward-thinking space that empowers the next generation of innovators!

11/19/2024

Our work on the Waycroft, a mixed use-residential development in Arlington VA, was featured in a recent issue of Landscape Architect and Specifier News (LASN). The article details the collaboration with project team members as well a local artist to realize a vision for a streetscape that harmonious blends classical architecture with modern needs and functionality. You can read the full article below.

https://landscapearchitect.com/landscape-articles/safe-and-sound

11/15/2024

'Tis the season of giving! At RHI, we’re kicking off Thanksgiving with purpose! This year, we’re proud to support the Capitol Area Food Bank with an office-wide food drive, helping to spread some holiday cheer to those in need. We also came together for our monthly office meeting, where we shared a festive Thanksgiving meal, celebrating gratitude and community. What's your favorite dish for this festive occasion? 🦃 🍗 🍁

11/11/2024

On this Veteran’s Day, we honor the brave men and women who have given everything in service to our country. We’re proud to be part of an important project that will expand Arlington National Cemetery, ensuring that generations of service members will have a final resting place befitting their sacrifices.

As a subconsultant to HNTB, RHI is working alongside Arlington National Cemetery, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other partners to design the landscape for the cemetery’s southern expansion. This project will provide additional burial space, including columbaria arranged around a central courtyard, supporting ceremonies with full honors.

Improvements also include a committal service area, expanded circulation for both vehicles and pedestrians, and space for cemetery vehicles and family members. We’re grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission to bring this vision to life.

Today, and every day, we remember and honor the sacrifices of those who served. 🇺🇸

*DISCLAIMER: Publication of this image(s) does not imply any endorsement of the company by the U.S. Department of Defense

09/27/2024

🌍 Happy World Tourism Day! At RHI, we've had the incredible opportunity to explore diverse cultures and stunning landscapes around the globe. Today, we want to celebrate the amazing countries our team has visited! Share your travel experiences with us—what destinations have left a mark on your heart? Comment below! ✈️

09/25/2024

Construction is underway at the new Ashburn Recreation Center in Loudoun County, Virginia! In collaboration with architects Page/MJMA, RHI is transforming the landscape to promote play for everyone. RHI's design for the central courtyard features an inclusive outdoor water/spray play area, accessible to the community center and open to the public.
A recent site visit gave our team the opportunity to see how the stunning sculptural cantilever water feature is coming along!
You can find out more about the project by visiting the county’s page below:

https://www.loudoun.gov/5261/Ashburn-Recreation-Community-Center

09/22/2024

Today marks the Autum Equinox! Aside from it being Pumpkin Spice season, it's also the time of year we get to enjoy the lovely fall leaves. Here are some photos from the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area chronicles the American Civil War and spans from Pennsylvania to Virginia. 🍂 🍁 🎃

09/12/2024

With August marking her 12th anniversary at RHI, we’re taking a moment to celebrate principal and landscape architect Rebecca (Becky) May. Becky’s design philosophy has shaped countless projects across her time here; she aims to improve the physical world and people’s experience of it – to create places that are functional, comfortable, beautiful, and delightful, preserving and telling the story of both natural and human histories.

Some of Becky’s favorite work has been on diplomatic facilities around the world, bringing with it opportunities for integrating local materials, culture, design practices, and plant communities from diverse regions. While she can’t usually share details about these sensitive projects, a current highlight is a facility in Europe where the team had access to historic photographs and maps of the site, allowing her to develop a design that incorporates “existing physical remnants of the site’s past along with reinterpretations of the prior landform.”

As she looks to the future, she’s excited about the growing dialogue around climate resiliency, biodiversity, and sustainable design. While the concepts aren’t new to the discipline, “there’s now more access to case studies, webinars, and other data to guide decision making.”

Congratulations Becky on this milestone and many more to come!

09/04/2024

Today, on National Wildlife Day, we’re excited to highlight the transformative journey of the Tar River, a vital trade route that gave birth to the City of Greenville, NC.

In partnership with City staff, stakeholders, and citizens, RHI crafted a visionary Master Plan for the Tar River’s seven miles of urban riverfront through the city. The plan not only honors the river’s ecology, habitats, and dynamic history but also protects and preserves the rich, and environmentally sensitive lands by establishing character areas for different active and passive uses. The Tar River Legacy Plan successfully balances habitat restoration and conservation while creating a public amenity for locals and visitors alike.

Join us in celebrating the Tar River’s incredible potential and the positive impact of thoughtful, community-driven planning on this National Wildlife Day. Let’s continue to cherish and protect our natural treasures while envisioning a brighter future for our urban waterways!

08/07/2024

Looking for a fun way to cool off during these hot summer days? We’ve got the place! Reservoir Park Recreation Center, opened in June, is Washington, D.C.’s newest city park, complete with an indoor pool, playground, a restored fountain, and splash pads!

Reservoir Park is an exceptional example of the creative reuse of municipal infrastructure. The development of this community amenity involved the complex transformation of the early 20th-century McMillan Sand Filtration Site, a historic public works landmark. The facility filtered Potomac River water for D.C. households until 1986, when operations ceased. Preservationists fought to save the site as open space and a community park. After years of discussion and planning, the 6.2-acre park now welcomes the community as a recreational space while honoring the site’s industrial heritage.

We are proud to have contributed to the landscape architectural design and construction of this unique public space, collaborating with Gilbane Building Company and Quinn Evans to realize the Master Plan and concept design developed by Perkins Eastman DC and Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects. Visitors to the park can cool off at the multiple splash pads, picnic, swim, and enjoy the amenities, all while learning about the history of the former filtration site. The park preserves the iconic silos, and views into the original sand bins, filtration cells, and other structures have been retained. Future development surrounding the park will include new housing and retail. Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser praised the new park: “For the first time in decades, this site is not only back to productive use, but open to the public. Today, we are celebrating the transformation of underutilized land into a beautiful new recreation center and play space for the community.”

07/30/2024

Congratulations! ¡Felicitaciones! Complimenti! RHI Principal Kevin Fisher, who has completed projects in more than 35 countries, is celebrating 25 years with our firm this July! Kevin’s global portfolio includes the design of urban parks, historic sites, secure environments, and campus settings, including many diplomatic facilities worldwide. Among his favorites? U.S. federal buildings which feature strong design, local materials and craftsmanship; and the award-winning Weinberg Park at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year! Throughout his career, Kevin has combined his love of nature and art with an appreciation for contextualism and sustainability in landscape architecture. He designs public landscapes that are memorable and enduring, and we are pleased to celebrate his remarkable career!

-harwell

07/26/2024

RHI was delighted to collaborate with two other Old Town Alexandria landscape architecture firms, LandDesign Inc. and Michael Vergason Landscape Architects (MLVS) for the Potomac Chapter ASLA firm crawl. We loved hosting local practitioners in our office to exchange ideas, passions, and showcase our latest projects. It's incredibly inspiring to hear about their unique approaches and how they’re contributing to shaping our shared spaces.

07/24/2024

We're excited to announce the opening of Taylor Farm Park in Henrico County VA. Our team worked with project partners Timmons Group on developing the master plan which was then developed and built into what is sure to become an amazing amenity for the surrounding community. Congratulations to all who were involved!

07/10/2024

Our Directors Deana and Elliot, and staff Jules, Ben, Rachel and Jake were delighted to have the opportunity to host participants in the Virginia Tech 'Inside Design' summer program at our offices this June. High School students attending the program at the Alexandria WAAC campus visited the office and got to learn about making places through Planning, Urban Design, and Landscape Architecture.

06/27/2024

05/22/2024

Drawing on three years of research, RHI landscape designer Keenan Porter is leading an upcoming webinar on May 30th for integrating long-term performance and management into the design process though an in-depth look at heemparks - public parks designed with native Dutch species. Check out the link below for more information and registration.

https://landscapewebinars.org/landscape-webinars/webinar/naturalistic-landscape-management-translating-research-into-practice

03/13/2024

Recently featured in Landscape Architecture Foundation Perspective series, RHI landscape architect Yoshihiko Kubota shares the experiences that have shaped his approach and vision of the practice towards what he calls the 'essence of nature'. A link to the full article below!

https://www.lafoundation.org/news/2024/02/perspectives-yoshihiko-kubota?utm_source=Landscape+Architecture+Foundation+Subscribers&utm_campaign=de2302a3d9-laf-newsletter-24-02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7166f23a2e-de2302a3d9-200568648