What Sets Our Landscape Architecture Team Apart
Well-designed landscapes and outdoor spaces do more than enhance aesthetics. They shape how people move, gather, interact with, and experience their environments. The landscape architecture team at raSmith understands what it takes to develop a site that meets the needs, goals, and budgets of a wide variety of project types, clients, and market sectors. Our passionate, licensed landscape architects and site planners have extensive experience in creating thoughtful, functional, and engaging outdoor spaces for both public and private sector clients.
We specialize in “placemaking for people” by designing dynamic outdoor spaces and sites from senior living and residential communities to urban streetscapes, nature centers, parks, plazas, camps, and commercial developments.
What sets raSmith apart is our integrated approach, with licensed landscape architects and site planners working alongside in-house civil engineers, surveyors, ecologists, and other technical specialists to align site design with stormwater management, permitting, accessibility, and constructability. This collaborative approach brings the client’s vision to life while supporting long-term value, functionality, and character for the surrounding community.
With a strong track record of award-winning work and deep roots across Wisconsin, including Milwaukee, Brookfield, Appleton, Madison, and beyond, raSmith creates outdoor environments that leave a lasting impact. Our team serves clients throughout Wisconsin and the greater Chicagoland area, including Naperville, delivering integrated landscape architecture and site design solutions that reflect the unique character, goals, and context of each project.
Landscape Architecture Services
raSmith provides landscape architecture and site design services for public and private projects across Wisconsin and the greater Chicagoland area. Our team helps clients plan, design, and enhance outdoor environments that are functional, accessible, and integrated with the surrounding site.
Our landscape architects work closely with clients, developers, and design teams to align site planning, layout, grading, stormwater integration, and user experience, ensuring outdoor spaces are both practical and reflective of the project vision.
- Site planning and site design services
- Master planning
- Green infrastructure and stormwater integration
- Plazas, memorials, and public spaces
- Native landscape and restoration plans
- Entry features and custom site amenities
- Streetscapes and corridor design
- Vegetation inventory, evaluation, and analysis
Project Types
From community-focused spaces to complex developments and campus environments, raSmith’s landscape architecture team designs outdoor environments across a wide range of public, private, and institutional settings.
Parks & Community Spaces
- Parks and recreational facilities
- Streetscapes and downtown environments
- Nature centers and botanical gardens
- Beaches, waterfronts, and trail systems
- Fairgrounds and community event spaces
- Inclusive and accessible playgrounds
Private Development & Placemaking
- Mixed-use and multi-family developments
- Apartment and condominium communities
- Courtyards and outdoor amenity spaces
- Hospitality and entertainment venues, including hotels and restaurants
- Retail, office, and corporate campuses
- Regional malls and commercial developments
Institutional & Civic Environments
- Health care and hospital campuses
- Senior living communities
- Schools and educational environments
- Museums and cultural institutions
- Religious campuses and churches
- Government and public agency facilities (local, state, and federal, including VA)
Community & Destination Spaces
- Community gathering and event environments
- Campus and headquarters settings
- Destination and tourism-focused developments
- Athletic and recreational amenities, including pickleball courts and similar facilities
Our Landscape Architecture Planning & Design Process
raSmith follows a clear, step-by-step approach to landscape architecture and site design, helping guide projects from early understanding through final implementation.
Step 1: Understand the Site, Goals, and Stakeholders
We start by understanding the project vision, site conditions, user needs, and stakeholder priorities. Early involvement helps establish direction before key decisions are made.
Step 2: Develop Site-Specific Design Solutions
Our team evaluates opportunities and constraints to develop design concepts that respond to site conditions, project goals, and intended use of the space.
Step 3: Coordinate Across the Project Team
We coordinate with project partners to align the landscape architecture design with grading, infrastructure, stormwater management, and permitting requirements.
Step 4: Support Implementation and Project Delivery
We provide ongoing support through design development and construction, helping maintain project continuity and ensuring the design is carried through to completion.
Why Partner with raSmith for Landscape Architecture & Site Design?
raSmith brings together landscape architecture, site planning, civil engineering, surveying, and ecological expertise to help clients move projects from early vision through implementation. Our integrated approach supports outdoor environments that are creative, buildable, maintainable, and responsive to real-world site conditions.
- Designs rooted in real-world site conditions: Our team considers grading, utilities, stormwater management, access, circulation, vegetation, and long-term maintenance from the beginning, ensuring solutions are practical, coordinated, and ready for implementation.
- A smoother path from planning to construction: Early coordination across landscape architecture, site planning, civil engineering, and related disciplines helps reduce gaps between concept development, permitting, construction documents, and project delivery.
- Integrated and practical solutions: By working across disciplines, we align design decisions with site constraints, infrastructure, and project goals to support efficient, buildable outcomes.
- Collaborative project delivery: We work closely with project teams to align goals, streamline communication, and support efficient coordination from early planning through implementation.
- Spaces that support community identity: From parks and plazas to campuses and mixed-use developments, our designs reflect how people use and experience each place, enhancing its long-term identity and value.
Local, Award-Winning Work Across Wisconsin
raSmith’s landscape architecture team has delivered impactful, award-winning projects throughout Wisconsin, with a strong presence in Milwaukee, Brookfield, Madison, and Appleton.
- Hidden Lake Greenway Trail, Brookfield
- Bradford Beach All-Inclusive Access, Milwaukee
- Northwestern Mutual Community Park at Summerfest, Milwaukee
- Joan of Arc Chapel, Marquette University, Milwaukee
Landscape Architecture FAQs
What Does a Landscape Architecture Firm Do?
A landscape architecture firm plans and designs outdoor environments that are functional, accessible, and integrated with the surrounding site. This work often includes parks, plazas, streetscapes, trails, campuses, mixed-use and commercial developments, and public spaces. Projects are often delivered in collaboration with architects, developers, project owners, and municipalities.
When Should a Project Team Involve a Landscape Architect?
Landscape architects are most effective when engaged early in a project. Early involvement supports coordination across disciplines, alignment with project goals, and informed decision-making before key design decisions are finalized for commercial, institutional, and public-sector projects.
Does raSmith Provide Landscape Architecture for Public and Private Projects?
Yes. raSmith provides landscape architecture and site design services for municipalities, developers, architects, institutions, commercial clients, and other public- and private-sector project teams.
How Does Landscape Architecture Support Site Design?
Landscape architecture helps connect the built and natural environments as part of the overall site design process. raSmith’s landscape architects consider circulation, grading, stormwater management, vegetation, accessibility, amenities, user experience, and long-term maintenance across the commercial, institutional, and public-sector projects.
Does raSmith Integrate Landscape Architecture with Civil Engineering?
Yes. raSmith’s landscape architecture team works with in-house civil engineers, surveyors, ecologists, and other technical specialists to coordinate site design with stormwater management, grading, permitting, infrastructure, and constructability for complex commercial, institutional, and public-sector projects.
