Studio Outside has five new faces in the office! We are pleased to announce our latest Outsiders: Reid Lynn, our Project Leader specializing in construction observation and document detailing; our two newest Landscape Designers, Sahana Ashwathanarayana and Holden McCullough, with a strong eye for design and the desire to make a lasting impact, and Interns Emily Moore and Chenyan Zhu join us while they pursue their degree in landscape architecture. We're very excited to have them join our team! Be sure to click on their image to find out more.

reid lynn

1. Who is your favorite designer or person you admire?

I admire my late grandfather Reginald Lynn. He pushed the envelope in the design and development of the structures he built on his estate. My enthusiasm for construction began at the early age of 5 when I tried to use his skill saw without his permission! But, it was his talent and perseverance that inspired me to go into the construction profession.

2. What is your favorite landscape architecture project?

Granite Park in Plano, Texas. It combines a commercial work environment with fun and entertainment to create an engaging and dynamic atmosphere.

3. What are your career aspirations?

I aspire to learn more about the sustainability of plants and trees. I would like to grow my knowledge of flowers and how certain species function to create a harmonious environment for them to live. Pun intended.

4. What/who inspires you in regard to design and the profession?

I’m driven to design and build projects with a balance of functionality and beauty.

FUN FACTS:

Where are you from: Portland, Oregon
Which university did you attend/what is your alma mater: Portland Community College
First impression of Dallas: There’s sunshine and warm weather - a drastic change from the Pacific Northwest!
Favorite plant: Lavender is one of my favorite plants, not just for its soothing aroma. It can help with stress and sleep disorders, has antibacterial properties, and has many more benefits. Also, I think it’s a beautiful plant to admire.
Favorite movie: Stand by Me
Hidden talent: I enjoy cooking; I often don’t measure the ingredients but go with my inner sense of taste and smell. I sometimes make a meal that needs fine-tuning, but I love good food and strive to perfect some dishes from scratch.

Sahana ashwathanarayana

1. Who is your favorite designer or person you admire?

Designers like Kate Orff, Mia Lehrer, and Gina Ford. They are incredible women that have been redefining what it means to be a landscape architect.

2. What is your favorite landscape architecture project?

Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. It was also the place where I fully resolved to become a landscape architect.

3. What are your career aspirations?

I want to do so much – including write a book and participate in a lake revitalization effort in Bangalore, but I’ll start with seeing a project through from start to finish.

4. What/who inspires you in regard to design and the profession?

People like Danielle Alexander – and the folks at Studio Outside - who continue to approach the profession of landscape architecture not just as a business but from a place of deep love and respect for the earth and all its habitants and who continue to explore multiple platforms (traveling, writing, teaching) to practice landscape architecture.

FUN FACTS:

Where are you from: Bangalore, India
Which university did you attend/what is your alma mater: University of Virginia!
First impression of Dallas: It’s super spread out and flat but has the most beautiful sunsets and evening skies!
Favorite plant: Monstera! I love how utterly beautiful the leaves get, whether growing in a tropical ecosystem or in a pot at home.
Favorite movie: The 2005 adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice.” It’s got the best score, color palettes, cinematography, and makes me want to go to Stourhead.
Hidden Talent: I can sing/rap the full 2 hours and 23 minutes of the Hamilton soundtrack.

holden mccullough

1. Who is your favorite designer or person you admire?

Walter Hood. He has a brilliant mind but importantly respects the people and the identity of a place.

2. What is your favorite landscape architecture project?

My favorite project to date is the whole of Milan, Italy. It is not one project but a collection of initiatives and guidelines the city has created to promote green spaces and corridors.

3. What are your career aspirations?

For me, I just want to believe in the work I am doing and be proud of the work I have done.

4. What/who inspires you in regard to design and the profession?

I am inspired by connecting with people and bringing their ideas to fruition. That could be as large as understanding an entire population group to promote cultural longevity and quality of life…or as small as helping a single client realize a dream they can’t yet put into words.

Fun Facts

Where are you from: Columbia, South Carolina
Which university did you attend/what is your alma mater: Clemson University
First impression of Dallas: I grew up visiting Dallas during Christmas time and was amazed at the seasonal light displays
Favorite plant: Aspen tree. No other tree’s seasonal color is quite the same, and the way the leaves shutter in the wind is wonderful.
Favorite movie: Dan in Real Life with Steve Carrell.
Hidden talent: A hidden talent that I possess is being able to make a variety of interesting noises. I know…so talented.

Emily moore

1. Who is your favorite designer or person you admire?

I had the pleasure of meeting David Rubin, and we had a great conversation about community engagement in landscape architecture. The level of involvement community members and stakeholders have had in the design process and decision making was impactful and something I admire.

2. What is your favorite landscape architecture project?

Crosswinds Marsh Wetland Interpretive Preserve by Smithgroup. They restored over 1,000 acres of agricultural land to historical wetlands and created a public educational and recreational park.

3. What are your career aspirations?

In my career, I hope to be able to explore many different aspects of landscape architecture. I don’t think there is just one route I would like to take. I would love to work on everything from ecological restoration to cultural and historical, urban parks, educational, or community-centered projects. However, no matter what route I take, I aspire to be a part of making a positive impact on people’s lives and preserving/restoring ecosystems.

4. What/who inspires you in regard to design and the profession?

At my school, we have professionals speak to us about their careers, and, collectively, these people have been inspiring to me because of their creativity, inventiveness, and unique expertise. We’ve had historical landscape architects discuss their work in the NPS, to planners using creative community engagement methods to install bike lanes, to landscape architects utilizing Digital Twin Cities. Everyone we spoke to seemed passionate and enjoyed the work they were doing.

FUN FACTS:

Where are you from: Overland Park, Kansas
Which university did you attend/what is your alma mater: Kansas State University
First impression of Dallas: Overwhelmed by Dallas’ size and crazy driving.
Favorite plant: Hard to pick just one! Hoya carnosa is my favorite houseplant that I own.
Favorite movie: Steel Magnolias is a classic.
Hidden Talent: Well, I found out that not everyone can move their eyebrows individually and I can do that!

Chenyan zhu

1. Who is your favorite designer or person you admire?

Frederick Law Olmsted. I admire him because his work helped to establish the discipline as a recognized profession. He was also one of the first to view landscape design to improve the quality of life for urban dwellers and to address the social and environmental impacts of urbanization.

2. What is your favorite landscape architecture project?

My favorite landscape project is Gardens by the Bay, Singapore, designed by Grant Associates. The project features a unique and innovative concept that combines nature with cutting-edge technology, creating a one-of-a-kind horticultural experience.

3. What are your career aspirations?

I hope to make a lasting influence on communities and the environment by working in this dynamic and challenging field that combines the arts and science to create functional and beautiful outdoor spaces.

4. What/who inspires you in regard to design and the profession?

Nature

FUN FACTS:

Where are you from: Shanghai, China
Which university did you attend/what is your alma mater: Louisiana State University
First impression of Dallas: Winding freeways and five decker interchanges are crazy, wide roads, lots and lots of neighborhoods, everyone with a Texas plate drives so fast. Cool architecture and city planning...
Favorite plant: Sweet Olive
Favorite movie: Mulan
Hidden talent: I participate in Muay Thai

At Studio Outside, we take pride and joy in being good stewards of our city not just through designing landscapes, but also through maintaining them. Over the past year and a half, we’ve had the opportunity to assist in the maintenance of two of our built projects in addition to starting an annual cleanup in our office’s neighborhood. Everyone deserves well-designed and maintained landscapes, but they can be challenging to come across in Dallas' beautiful yet underinvested southern half, where all of these efforts took place.

South Oak Cliff Renaissance Park

Studio Outside recently worked with The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and The Nature Conservancy to design South Oak Cliff Renaissance Park, the first park within the Five Mile Creek Greenbelt Master Plan. Now open, it is located along the Alice Branch Creek and connects South Oak Cliff High School to the newly opened Honey Springs-Cedar Crest Trail. After TPL purchased the land, Studio Outside transformed the space from an illegal dumping site into a park that now serves as a community space, playground, and place to immerse oneself in nature.

Among the South Oak Cliff (SOC) community, Alice Branch Creek has been considered a nuisance for years. Due to a lack of care and maintenance, the waterway has a reputation for harboring trash and stench. However, SOC Renaissance Park is beginning to transform the creek into a neighborhood asset. Shortly before the park's opening, Studio Outside conducted a day of invasive plant removal. With several hand saws, a chainsaw, and a lot of sweat, we cut down and hauled away hundreds of invasive trees and shrubs that were blocking sunlight from reaching the forest floor. Their removal set the stage for a successful seeding of native understory grass and wildflower species along the creek’s banks and floodplain. The forest’s now regenerated understory will help filter rainwater, improving the creek’s water quality downstream.

South Oak Cliff High School

On average, Dallas’ public school campuses have only 7% tree canopy coverage. The Cool Schools initiative, led by Texas Trees Foundation, addresses this lack of trees by increasing future canopy coverage to 30% at selected campuses. Studio Outside partnered with the Texas Tree Foundation to provide landscape plans tailored to the specific needs of each campus, including new playgrounds, outdoor classrooms, and loop trails that promote the health and well-being of students.

Getting hands-on in this effort, Outsiders spent a day in November of 2021 helping students at South Oak Cliff High School plant 70 trees. SOC High is one of the campuses within the Cool Schools Initiative and happens to be across the street from SOC Renaissance Park. Texas Trees Foundation will water these trees until established, and within a few years, the trees will shade the campus. Over the years, students and Outsiders alike will get to look back and see the difference they helped make.

Exposition Park Neighborhood Clean Up

Studio Outside's office is located in Exposition Park, a neighborhood of hundred-year-old, former industrial brick buildings nestled between Deep Ellum and Fair Park. The fabric of the neighborhood is cut in half by Interstate 30, an infamous divider in Dallas. Each year while the State Fair is in session, Exposition Avenue comes to life with a steady stream of pedestrians on their way to the fair, but many of them must travel under the Interstate 30 overpass - a domain of litter, tall chain link fences, and overgrown hackberry trees obstructing the sidewalk. No governmental body maintains this area, so Studio Outside decided to conduct an annual clean up before The Fair begins to create a more welcoming environment not just for the fairgoers but also everyone who lives and works in Exposition Park.

Continuing Efforts

The Studio Outside team is no stranger to the Twelve Hills Nature Preserve in North Oak Cliff, with many Outsiders serving on the board and doing design work there over the years. Our office is participating in a volunteer effort to adopt a ‘prairie ring’ of about 20 feet in diameter and transform it into a Blackland Prairie inspired garden. Blackland Prairies once covered all of Dallas, but only .03% of the original Blackland Prairie remains, making every bit left significant. Within the ring, Studio Outside is going to remove invasive species, and plant grasses and wildflowers that likely thrived on the same plot of land 200 years ago. Over time, the various rings will grow and connect into a larger prairie habitat.

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Studio Outside cherishes volunteer activities like these to give back to the community and educate individuals about the importance of maintaining green spaces. We are excited to see what other opportunities 2023 presents us.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/texas/

https://www.tpl.org/blog/plans-new-parks-south-dallas

https://artandseek.org/2021/11/16/in-oak-cliff-a-dump-site-becomes-the-first-of-many-parks-coming-to-southern-dallas/

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/commentary/2021/11/19/still-we-rise-how-south-oak-cliff-turned-an-illegal-dump-into-a-state-of-the-art-25m-park/