The Kleinfelder Blog

During World Landscape Architecture Month, we’re proud to celebrate how landscape architects are shaping our environment to create a better future. Kleinfelder South Division Principal Landscape Architect Veronica Westendorff (Charlotte, NC), for example, stands out for her contributions to green infrastructure design. With over 20 years of experience in landscape and hardscape design, Veronica helps our clients preserve ecosystem values while addressing urban and climatic change.

Veronica shares the various aspects of landscape architecture for which Kleinfelder provides solutions to help create more resilient communities below.

Green Infrastructure Design: Enhancing Urban Environments

Integrating natural systems into urban settings to provide environmental benefits and enhance quality of life for community members is a cornerstone of Kleinfelder’s approach to creating sustainable urban environments. Veronica says that this approach leads to innovative solutions that not only beautify urban spaces but also mitigate the impacts of climate change. Examples include replacing turf and mulches with native plant species, using strategically placed planting to manage stormwater and improve water and air quality, adding habitat, and maximizing passive cooling techniques.

Addressing Climate Change Through Resilient Design

Kleinfelder’s multidisciplinary climate resilience and adaptation team works with our  clients to provide services such as vulnerability assessments, adaptation planning, and resilient design to ensure that urban environments can withstand the challenges posed by extreme weather events and sea level rise. Examples include using advanced climate models to predict future climate scenarios and assessing risks to develop comprehensive disaster response plans.

Practical Applications and Community Impact

Veronica says one of the key aspects of her work is translating research into practical applications that benefit communities. For example, her studies on urban heat islands have led to the development of strategies that cities like Charlotte, NC can use to mitigate heat and improve sustainability. Examples include the use of trees and greenspaces to cool urban areas, reduce energy costs, and improve human living conditions; creating green roofs; and enhancing streetscapes with the appropriate vegetation to reduce maintenance and long-term costs.

Celebrating Landscape Architecture

Landscape architects play a vital role in creating sustainable, resilient, and beautiful communities.

Kleinfelder is proud to celebrate our landscape architects like Veronica and highlight our projects, such as Piers Park 2 Design and Construction Phase Services, Inman Square Pedestrian Plaza and Traffic/Bicycle Safety Improvements, Complete Streets Redevelopment of US 1 from College Avenue to MD 193, PL6 Stormwater Storage Tank Tunnel, and countless others that showcase the effectiveness of green infrastructure in mitigating heat, flooding, and pollution.

By engaging stakeholders and using advanced tools like GIS and virtual reality for communication, we can help ensure that communities are well-informed and actively involved in resilience planning.  Our comprehensive approach not only addresses immediate climate challenges, but also fosters long-term sustainability and community resilience.