Jason Pfeifer - Landscape Architect

After graduation, what was the first position you had? How did that shape where you are now as a Landscape Architect?

The first design role I had (in the built environment) was as a Designer / Technologist with Azurean Architecture in Vancouver. Starting from architecture and gaining experience in another discipline helped me see beyond boundaries that different professions tend to box themselves into. Learning the standards of another discipline, with the ability to speak the language provided the capability of advocating for better integration and outcomes on design projects.

What is something that surprised you at the start of your career? or What is something that surprises you about being a Landscape Architect?

Have to be blunt: my first industry exposure to landscape architecture was seeing the work an LA was doing in a firm largely limited to planting parking lots and land development. Coming from design school, It was a rude awakening compared to university and the values I wanted to bring. That was my first impression, and I thought it represented most LA roles in industry. It pushed me to pursue architecture, despite leanings toward landscape architecture in university.

With more industry experience and after joining EDA, I was surprised again to see the diversity, range and large scale and tangible impact that landscape architecture has on cities, communities, and in people's day-to-day quality of life. Landscape architecture can have a scale of impact like no other profession, but in many ways we are responsible for advocating and communicating possibilities, and building a case for our work often as the project is already happening. Many projects are tendered with predefined scope primarily weighted to engineers, architects, or planners, that don't always have landscape architecture perspectives from the start. Other disciplines and the general public don't always see the possibilities we do, and I've found it our responsibility to make a case for qualitative enhancements that don't always register well in spreadsheets. I've learned to walk a fine line in advocating to do more than follow standard approaches on infrastructure projects; in order to achieve impactful, meaningful, well integrated results for people.

I've since learned many firms have to take on the "meat and potatoes" work to run a successful business, and one must work extra hard to maintain a passion and drive for the most meaningful and impactful work.

What are you passionate about as a Landscape Architect?

As a landscape architect I am passionate about urban design, public space and the public realm, and advocating for increased quality, spatial equity, and resilience in cities and places. When I was younger I had the privilege of traveling and living abroad, and my return to Canada was a reverse culture shock that shaped my perspective on how wasteful we can be with space in North American cities developed around the automobile. Landscape architecture and urban design has been most rewarding when given the chance to reshape cities for better quality, accessibility, equity, and enjoyment at the human scale.

Tell us about some of the exciting projects you have been a part of.

I've felt very fortunate to contribute to a lot of city and community scale improvements on a number of urban renewal projects, concentrated in Edmonton. These include streetscape redevelopment projects such as Jasper Avenue New Vision and the 109 Street Corridor, and many neighbourhood renewal projects including Strathcona, Garneau, Pleasantview, Boyle Street & McCauley, and Wîhkwêntôwin (Oliver). These project have included improvements to streetscapes, parks and public spaces, the addition of bike lanes, pedestrian and accessibility improvements, and low impact development to increase resiliency and improve biodiversity. Getting involved in writing and editing for publications, and design advocacy has also been rewarding.

What advice would you give a new Landscape Architect?

Understand why you chose landscape architecture and keep your passion for it as you develop your experience. Keep learning and developing your expertise, and don't stay in your box. Don't be afraid to be curious: question and learn the rationale and technical details other professions rely on. This will help you learn what others do, how they think, question their assumptions, and equip you with tools to pitch unique approaches that are better coordinated and integrated for the benefit of everyone.

What are your future goals?

To build a small, local, service-oriented boutique design agency with strong creative and sustainable values, that is collaborative and enjoyable to work at. To do great work for great clients for the benefit of people and ecology.