Voices of Women in Landscape Architecture, Part 11

Left to right: Jaime Zwiener, Peixuan Wu, Associate ASLA, and Amy Rampy, ASLA

ASLA's Women in Landscape Architecture Professional Practice Network (WILA PPN) is sharing the next set of profiles of women in the profession (see the previous installment right here). If you'd like to be featured, the PPN's call for submissions will remain open, with profiles being shared on an ongoing basis.

Submit a WILA profile!

These profiles will appear on the PPN's LinkedIn group, Facebook group, and here on The Field. This post includes Amy Rampy, ASLA, Peixuan Wu, Associate ASLA, and Jaime Zwiener.

Amy Rampy, ASLA

What inspired you to pursue a career in landscape architecture?

When I was an undeclared major at Mississippi State University, I noticed our School of Architecture had a collaborative partnership with the Rural Studio at Auburn University, led by Samuel Mockbee. I knew immediately that was the type of work I wanted to do. However, the scope of architecture seemed too limited for making a lasting impact in the community, so I explored landscape architecture.

Who are the female role models who have influenced your career?

Right out of college, I moved to New York City and worked for the astoundingly creative and passionate entrepreneur Dylan Lauren. She found ways to realize dreams without listening to the noise of naysayers. I respected her drive and ability to think big.

What advice do you have for other women pursuing a career in landscape architecture?

Explore the many avenues within landscape architecture early on. Focus on areas that utilize your natural gifts and support the dreams you have for yourself. Don't spend too much time or energy on pursuits that don't align with your strengths and goals.

Can you share with us a project you are particularly proud of and why?

A project I’m particularly proud of is Idea Lab, an internal research program I have led for the past few years at TBG Partners. Designed to spark creativity and empower our teams, Idea Lab fosters a collaborative environment for idea generation, accelerating professional growth and elevating TBG's thought leadership. We've tackled diverse topics, from reimagining design processes and championing sustainability to exploring technological innovations and advocating for social justice. Seeing our team's enthusiasm transform into groundbreaking ideas has been incredibly rewarding. This project has been instrumental in driving our firm forward.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Believe in yourself. It’s advice I give my older self, too.

Peixuan Wu, Associate ASLA

What inspired you to pursue a career in landscape architecture?

My parents worked in the railway industry, and as a child, I often traveled with them by train across the country. These journeys allowed me to witness the beauty of diverse landscapes, cities, and villages, while experiencing the unique interplay between social culture and natural surroundings in each region. This ever-changing panorama deeply inspired me, sparking a desire to contribute to placemaking, preserve landscapes with untapped potential, and improve those in urgent need. I aspire to create spaces that evoke a sense of joy, peace, and connection for those who experience them, just as I was fortunate to feel during my childhood travels.

Who are the female role models who have influenced your career?

From school to internships and into full-time work, I’ve been fortunate to be inspired by many outstanding female landscape designers. My first full-time role after graduation was at SCAPE, a female-owned company led by Kate Orff, FASLA, RLA. At SCAPE, a talented team with a majority of women, all dedicated to supporting an inclusive working environment, works tirelessly to design and advocate for the future of ecological restoration and social engagement across landscapes.

During my time here, Kate has been the principal on most of my projects. Beyond SCAPE, she is a remarkable professor, speaker, and writer. Within the company, she demonstrates a unique ability to oversee the big picture while meticulously managing project details and fostering humanistic care in all aspects of work. Kate’s resilience and determination consistently inspire me as she pushes the boundaries of landscape design, never constrained by clichés or dilemmas, but always striving to do what is right.

My incredible colleagues at SCAPE have also been my role models—Laura Marett, ASLA, Alaleh Rouhi, Kate Hayes, Grace Dials, ASLA, among others. They generously shared their experiences as female designers, encouraging me to speak up confidently and demonstrating the limitless possibilities for women in design through their own actions.

[Kate Orff, FASLA, and Laura Marett, ASLA, along with several others from SCAPE, will be speaking at the ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture this October 6-9 in Washington, DC!]

What advice do you have for other women pursuing a career in landscape architecture?

For me, I find it helpful to connect with mentors who inspire me, whether they’re inside or outside the field, as their guidance and experiences will help me grow. And be resilient, as the path won’t always be easy—challenges are part of the journey, and learning from setbacks will make you stronger. I would also emphasize staying curious and being committed to learning, especially as landscape architecture evolves with new ideas about sustainability and climate. Lastly, support diversity by advocating for yourself and others, creating a more inclusive and dynamic profession that reflects the richness of the world around us.

Can you share with us a project you are particularly proud of and why?

I am deeply moved and proud of a recent project I worked on: Johnstown Main Street. The City of Johnstown aims to drive economic growth, enhance social resilience, and look to the future through this community-driven redesign of Main Street and Central Park. This project marks my first experience from concept through to construction documentation. Designing a vibrant urban space by engaging in public processes and resilience planning with the community has given me a profound understanding of the collaborative and consensus-building aspects of landscape architecture. It has also clarified the landscape architect's responsibility to society. I often reflect on the passionate speeches from stakeholders during public engagement and the imaginative drawings by children envisioning an ideal Johnstown. [This project is also the focus of an upcoming education session at the ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture, MON-C09: Great Street, Great City: How Public Realm Investment Is Revitalizing Downtown Johnstown.]

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would advise my younger self to broaden her vision and curiosity beyond landscape architecture by exploring a wide range of interdisciplinary knowledge. It's important to build connections between these fields and landscape studies, drawing inspiration from them to enrich landscape design. Additionally, I would emphasize the importance of maintaining self-awareness and staying true to what she believes is 'right' as a designer and decision-maker. This approach can coexist with humility, and expanding self-awareness can be enhanced by learning from the exceptional individuals around her.

Jaime Zwiener

What inspired you to pursue a career in landscape architecture?

I kind of stumbled into finding the profession, and I’m so happy that I did. I knew I wanted to do something that would create an impact in the world, and back at the ripe age of 17, I thought that was going to be through pursuing marine biology to save the endangered species of the ocean. But my first year at LSU, I was intrigued when I saw a class option called “Landscape Architecture.” I had never heard of it before but decided to sign up for the class. I was fascinated by the impact that early pioneer landscape architects had on our world. Seeing the crafting of places and connecting the human experience to the natural beauty that surrounds us was inspiring. After learning more through the semester, I knew that this was the right space for me…a space where my creativity that I always fostered as a child could come together with my desire to leave a small impact on the world. I like to remind myself that our sustainability practices we use as landscape architects are playing a vital role in keeping our waterways clean as well, so I feel I’m still doing my part to aid in saving the endangered species of the ocean that 17-year-old Jaime was so determined to help one day!

Who are the female role models who have influenced your career?

My number one female role model is my mom. She’s not a landscape architect, and in fact she does not have a college degree to show off. She is, however, the most hard-working female that I know. She taught me the meaning of hard work, that life isn’t always fair and many times you’re going to have to grind to get where you want to be, but that if we keep those most important people in our lives close to us, that we can get through anything. She was always our cheerleader as well, putting the dreams of her kids above her own, and cheering us on every step of the way. This has influenced me both professionally and personally in so many ways. A career in landscape architecture is not always the easiest…it is a lot of hard work, but when you surround yourself with the right team and cheer each other on, magic can happen!

What advice do you have for other women pursuing a career in landscape architecture?

My advice would be to lean in and figure out where personal passions, interests, and your own life experiences can intersect with your career in landscape architecture to make the world a better place. By doing that, and finding these opportunities, your work will be more meaningful, and you’ll be equipped to impact more lives because you’re doing something you truly believe in. For me, that’s been leaning into the fact that I’m a mom of three girls, one that was born with special needs and disabilities. Because of this, I became an advocate for my daughter, and for all those with special needs. Being a landscape architect, I find myself in a unique position to directly influence and make the world a better and more inclusive place for people like my daughter and families like my own. I have been able to lean into this personal experience that is now a professional passion and work on a number of inclusive parks. I’ve had the opportunity to speak at multiple national conventions to educate other landscape architects, developers, and municipalities on the importance of designing for inclusion and what that truly means when it comes to design.

Can you share with us a project you are particularly proud of and why?

There are many, but one in particular is called The Parish School. It’s a school in Houston, Texas for late language learners that empower children with learning differences and communication delays to thrive through whole-child education, innovative therapies and access to nature through play. I led a team that had the honor to design their outdoor nature play spaces. This isn’t the largest budget project or one that has graced the cover of Landscape Architecture Magazine, but it’s been one of the most impactful projects of my career to date. Our team of designers were able to create a truly inclusive and nature immersed play environment for the students. The therapeutic and developmental benefits that the children are reaping from what started as a vision, is now a reality and I am proud to have played a small role in such an impactful project.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to be open to new opportunities as they come. Dive in and grab hold of them! Although I’ve been with the same firm for over 19 years and counting, that doesn’t mean I haven’t grasped new opportunities. I’ve gone from production staff to project manager, to studio leader, to leading business development opportunities for our region. Each role comes with its own challenges, but also immense rewards.

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2024 WILA Profiles:

Voices of Women in Landscape Architecture, Part 1