Employee Spotlight: Emma Petersen

What is your favorite part of working in landscape architecture?
We get to work on so many different projects, and it keeps you on your toes. Every day is a new adventure with new problems, so it never gets boring. It makes me happy to not always sit at my desk and work on the same thing, day in and day out.

What motivates you?
Making spaces beautiful. It’s really important for everyone to have access to beautiful spaces, to see beautiful plants. I want to help people feel comfortable where they’re living, where they are. So everyone can have more appreciation for beauty in their everyday life.

What inspired you to pursue a career in landscape architecture?
I grew up on a vineyard in a rural area. There was so much access to nature: I was always going to end up doing something geared towards the environment. My parents were also influential because we were outside all the time. I had a lot of access to nature in school and it was very much supported.

Landscape architecture is so broad that I gravitate towards it. I can’t choose just one thing. In this field, you can design something, and other days you can get into construction details or pick out plants, or talk to people and meet someone new. It’s so interactive, with all the aspects of science and design without having to choose.

What's something you're excited to be working on?
Mid-century modern houses are my favorite, and we currently have one as a project. I love the challenge of working with something with such a strong architectural point of view, and translating the mid-century style to the landscape.

Who would play you in the movie of your life?
Natalie Portman. She’s really great and plays a wide range of roles, like me. We also have the same face mole.