Consulting

About Edg

Transforming Landscape Design

Our group works with design professionals such as landscape architects and civil engineers on integrated design teams and directly with clients on master planning projects. Our experience in scientific research, environmental design practice and professional and university education positions our group at the forefront of environmental issues and provides the foundation for our fee-based consulting services.

Our consulting projects reflect best practices based on guidelines from the Sustainable Sites Initiative™ (SITES™), a program created by a partnership of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the United States Botanic Garden and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. SITES has developed comprehensive guidelines and performance benchmarks for a voluntary national rating system for sustainable landscapes, similar to the LEED® rating system for green buildings. Dr. Mark Simmons, director of the Ecosystem Design Group, participated in the development of the SITES rating system since its inception.

As an organized research unit of The University of Texas at Austin, we have contributed to scientific knowledge of fire ecology, green roofs, native turfgrass and the use of landscapes to reduce carbon footprint. We also bring extensive and diverse experience from our work on high-impact projects for public and private clients, including national and regional parks, corporate headquarters, urban developments, institutional campuses, river restoration, state highways and botanic gardens. Our experienced team includes members trained in landscape architecture, ecology, planning and sustainable design.