Employee Spotlight: Gretchen Whittier

How has your career grown since entering the landscape architecture field?
I found landscape architecture after bouncing around in other industries for years: architecture, product design, marketing, accounting... Once I finally discovered landscape architecture I was fully in. My first job in a landscape architecture firm was with Arterra when I was still in school and I am now a partner. So long answer short, my career has grown quite a lot!

What motivates you?

• Good design challenges!

• Clients who say they "Couldn’t imagine it any other way" at the end of a project

• Mentoring

What inspired you to pursue a career in landscape architecture?
I had no idea this career existed when I found my first drafting class (yes, hand-drafting), but grew up under the umbrella of an avid gardener and talented mason.

My childhood was spent in the garden spaces created by mom and visiting and working at jobsites with my dad. I call my career choice a regression. I really just wanted to get back into my dad's drafting table, now that I better understood what the tools were used for, and help my mom plan their orchard.

I am also inspired by the female designers and entrepreneurs of the mid-century: Vera Neumann, Eva Zeisel, Armi Maria Ratia of Marimekko, Ray Eames

What is the way in which you hope your work most impacts your clients?
We really love the collaboration with our clients and we hope that when we are done, they truly feel that they played a huge part in the creation of their space.

If you could travel anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?
I love to travel to new cities that allow for walking and discovery — and have good food and great architecture.

Right now, Lisbon and Mexico City are at the top of the list.

Or a quick trip to the East Coast to go fishing at Gramp Camp with my niece and nephews.