stewardship of the land

stewardship of the landplanning for a sustainable relationship with nature

JONATHAN ALDERSONlandscape architects, inc.

POST OFFICE BOX 661 WAYNE PA 19087phone 610.341.9925fax 610.341.9926

w w w . j o n a t h a n a l d e r s o n . c o m


Firm ProfileJonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. is a design practice focused passionately on innovative approaches to shaping land. Founded by Jonathan Alderson in 1998, our firm’s aim is to create environments that are indicative of client needs and goals, while providing attractive places to live, work and visit. We are committed to protecting the environment and are striving to produce the best of sustainable designs whether storm water management, resource conservation, or habitat creation. We believe that the use of sustainable plantings and appropriate materials combined with a strong regard for site and ecology can lead to the creation of extraordinary places.

As a firm, we prefer to see each project through from concept to completion (especially when working locally). In doing so we can capitalize on our relationships with nurseries, craftspeople and suppliers and guarantee our practice’s highest standards and attention to detail. We are local and have an intimate understanding of the region, its landscape and history.

Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. carries professional liability insurance for two million dollars for each claim; two million aggregate (New Hampshire Insurance Company).

Jonathan Alderson, CLARB, PrincipalMr. Alderson, the founder and Principal of the firm, is the design leader. He will be involved from conceptual development to construction documentation and will help to incorporate the clients’ goals and expectations throughout the whole design process. Mr. Alderson brings a wealth of design and construction experience to the team. Project experience includes: the design of the Top of the Hill Park, Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, and the design of a meditation garden for the Wellness Community in Wilmington, Delaware. As a project Landscape Architect at Skidmore Owings & Merrill, Mr. Alderson directed the design development and implementation of a $1.5 million landscape project (including prairie restoration and roof gardens) for the Spiegel World Corporate Headquarters.

Mr. Alderson is a member of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, the U.S. Green Building Council and has been an active member of the Building and Site Committee for West Philadelphia Habitat for Humanity. Mr. Alderson has a BA from the University of Reading, United Kingdom, and holds a Master of Landscape Architecture with Certificate in Urban Design from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Alderson, who has taught at Temple University, is a registered Landscape Architect in Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia and a member of the Council of Landscape Architecture Registration Boards.

Jesse Forrester, RLAMr. Forrester is responsible for development of design concepts and production of drawing sets, as well as project coordination with outside consultants. He brings a diverse background to the team in art, construction, and agriculture. Mr. Forrester holds a BS in Landscape Architecture from Temple University. Working with the Olin Partnership, he documented the Bethel Performing Arts Center in Bethel, NY, helped develop and manage the master planning and permitting of the Mill River Park and Greenway in Stamford Connecticut, and coordinated design development and documentation for the Brooklyn Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn, NY. Mr. Forrester is a registered Landscape Architect in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

jonathan alderson landscape architects | firm profile

Chris Pugliese, ASLAMr. Pugliese is responsible for the day to day project management including design development, construction details, presentation drawings, construction specifications and preliminary cost estimates, coordination and correspondence to clients and contractors, selection and purchase of landscape and hardscape materials.

Mr. Pugliese brings a wealth of design build experience to the project team, having worked for six years for a landscape design build firm. While at the design build firm Mr. Pugliese participated in several significant projects at the Morris Arboretum including the restoration of the historic Spring House and master planning for the Fernery. Mr. Pugliese received a BA from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to his efforts to share his experience and expertise as an adjunct faculty member at Temple University Mr. Pugliese has been an active volunteer designer/ project leader with the Community Design Collaborative. Since 1998 Mr. Pugliese has worked on significant public and non-profit projects throughout the region.

Kwatee Stamm, Landscape DesignerMr. Stamm is responsible for producing drawings sets, graphic presentations and computer generated 3d models, as well as assisting in the design process from conceptual master planning through construction details. Other duties include installation coordination, construction supervision and post installation monitoring. His previous work experience includes nine years of landscape construction, installation and production management. Mr. Stamm holds a BS in Landscape Architecture from Temple University.

Grace Herman, Landscape DesignerMs. Herman contributes to the development of design concepts, graphic presentations, and construction documents. She holds a Bachelor in Landscape Architecture from Philadelphia University as well as a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Texas at Arlington, where she attended under an Enhanced Graduate Teaching Assistant Scholarship. In the past, she has worked as an intern for the Philadelphia Streets Department updating the City’s GIS files and the West Ward Neighborhood Partnership, a not for profit organization where she gained experience working directly with a community.

Matthew Nelson, Landscape DesignerMr. Nelson is the newest addition to the firm. Specializing in 3D digital modeling and presentation graphics, Mr. Nelson is also responsible for developing design concepts, drawing sets, and construction details. He started as an intern while finishing his BS in Landscape Architecture from Temple University and became a full time designer upon graduating. His previous work experience includes a teaching role for the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture at Temple University where he worked as a Teacher’s Assistant in addition to being the technology liaison for the Landscape Design Studios. Mr. Nelson has a background in plants, working two years for a retail nursery and as part of the Arboretum staff at Temple University’s Ambler campus.



jonathan alderson landscape architects | projects

PROJECT NAME CLIENT LOCATION DATE COMPLETED BUDGET PROJECT TEAM

RELEVANCE

OUTCOMES

LONGWOOD GARDENSLONGWOOD GARDENSKennett Square, PA To be Completed by 2014Withheld at owner’s requestJonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. – Landscape Architect, Meliora - Civil Engineer, Gecko Group - Interpretive Designers, John Milner Architects, Inc. - ArchitectsCreation of meadow landscape, Connections to the gardens, Trails, Landscape Shelters, Bridges, and Boardwalks.Creation of regional significant 87 acre Warm Season Grass Meadow.


RELEVANCE

READING HEALTH SYSTEM EXPANSIONREADING HOSPITALReading, PA 2014Withheld at client requestJonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. – Landscape Architect, Ballinger – Architects, Roof Meadow - Green Roof Design, SSM Group, Inc. - Civil Engineer. Extensive and intensive green roofs. Over an acre of intensive green roofs that include raised Cor-Ten steel planting beds, walking paths, a pergola, water features, and healing gardens.

VAN SCIVER SCHOOL RAIN GARDEN, SADDLER’S WOODS DELAWARE RIVER KEEPER Haddon Township, NJ 2012 Withheld at Owner’s Request Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. - Landscape Archi-tect. Rain garden design to offset stormwater runoff from the Van Sciver Elementary School’s parking lots in an effort to mitigate damage to Saddler’s Run Stream. The rain garden also serves as an educational element for the school and community.

PENNSYLVANIA FARMWITHHELDCoatesville, PA TBDWithheldJonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. – Landscape Architect, Peter Zimmerman Architects - Architects.Creation of management plan, master plan, trail plan.

PROJECT NAME CLIENT LOCATION DATE COMPLETED BUDGET PROJECT TEAM RELEVANCE



CHESTER COUNTY FARMBERWIND CORP.Chester County2011Withheld at owner’s requestJohn Milner Architects, Inc. – Architect, Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. – Landscape Architect, Momenee - Civil EngineerNew drives and realignments of existing drives, Creation of Meadow Landscape and Gardens, Water FeaturesPublished in Philadelphia Magazine

MAIN LINE HOME GARDENWITHHELD AT OWNER’S REQUESTWayne, Pa 2013 Withheld at Owner’s Request Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. - Landscape Archi-tect, Momenee & Associates, Inc. - Civil Engineer. Extensive planting design with dense native vegetation, rain gardens, meadows, and green roof in addition to a pergola.

ROSS RESIDENCE - THE SUSTAINABLE HOUSEREPRESENTATIVE CHRIS ROSSChester County 2007Withheld at owner’s requestMoger Mehrhof Architects – Architect, Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. – Landscape Architect, Regester - Civil EngineerNew drive, Rain gardens and Bioswales, Creation of Meadow Gardens, and Green RoofPublished Garden Design Magazine, ASLA Award PA & DE



RELEVANCE

OUTCOMES


RELEVANCE

OUTCOMES


RELEVANCE

LENFEST CENTERNATURAL LANDS TRUSTChester County20134.5 MillionArcher Buchanan Architecture, Ltd. – Architect, Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. – Landscape Architect, SITE Engineering Concepts, LLC - Civil Engineer.Environmental educational visitor center that explores the reuse and recycling of existing on-site materials.


Currently under construction, Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects is developing an expansion of the 87 acre warm season grass meadow. With an emphasis on improving the organizational layout of the circulation throughout the grounds, the design team focused on the meadow’s connections to gardens and existing trails, while maintaining ADA accessibility. The refined path system meanders through the woodland and meadow, from boardwalk to mown grass and creates a model system of connecting spaces. Strategically sited pavilions and bridges serve as rest areas and places of public assembly. The three distinct pavilion types, each built with reclaimed wood and rustic materials, acknowledge the agricultural history of the site. Several unique bridges were designed in the same vernacular including the “earth bridge;” a subtle masonry arch capped with soil supporting the meadow as it traverses a stream. Most importantly, Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects has developed a regionally significant warm season grass meadow that serves as a prime location for botanical expression. A phased adaptive management plan was developed, with assiatance from Natural Lands Trust, to prepare the site for the plantings. The plant palette spans a range of conditions including wetlands, sunny uplands, successional forest edge and a full shade woodland.

longwood gardens | kennett square pennsylvania

longwood gardens



examples of the adaptive management plan: meadow preparation and seedingfall 2012

longwood gardens


examples of the adaptive management plan: meadow preparation and seedingspring 2013


meadow overlook in the sunny upland meadow

meadow walk adjacent to rustic pavilion

longwood gardens


entry garden to the meadow


Working in tandem with Ballinger Architects and green roof pioneers Roofmeadow, Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects developed a network of conventional and roof top gardens spanning a range of extensive and intensive planting conditions for the Reading Hospital’s recent expansion project. The largest green roof elements include a healing garden and warm season meadow. Totaling over one acre, the healing garden and meadow combine to provide a series of rich experiences for the hospital staff, patients and the public. The roof garden circulation is defined by curving weathering steel planter walls which provide a variety of spaces including intimate nooks for reflection. Key elements like the oval lawn, water feature and pergola combine with larger spaces to define public spaces.

reading hospital | reading, pennsylvania


reading hospital


proposed changes, rendering created by spine 3d, llc


reading hospital

van sciver school rain garden | saddler’s woods

Saddler’s Woods is a 25.8 acre fragment of old growth forest in Haddon Township, New Jersey. Providing a local example of what the landscape looked like when European settlers arrived, it is home to over a thousand visitors each year for volunteering opportunities, recreation, and tours. With its land protected, the Woods are still subject to flooding and erosion as a result of storm-water runoff from adjacent buildings and parking lots. This runoff directly impacts Saddler’s Run, the stream that flows through Saddler’s Woods.

Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects designed a rain garden and meadow at the adjacent Van Sciver Elementary School. Located on the periphery of Saddler’s Woods, the runoff from the Van Sciver School’s parking lots caused significant damage to Saddler’s Run. Down cutting of 10-20 feet in some areas of the stream has lowered the groundwater table in the woods. This has adversely affected the old growth trees that are accustomed to a higher groundwater table. To mitigate this damage, the team chose native and adaptive plant species to increase on-site infiltration while adding an educational element for the Elementary School and visitors to Saddler’s Woods. To foster a bio-diverse environment, several species of trees, hundreds of native shrubs, thousands of grass plugs, and hundreds of perennials were planted to mimic the way natural systems manage storm-water. The rain garden holds 6” of rainwater that slowly infiltrates over two days.


existing trees

rain gardens with native plantings

trench drain

add native plantings to provide connection to new rain garden

grass path through native plantings

educational signage (typical)

pooling feature

trench drain . drains parking lot into

raingardenmeadow infill zone

van sciver school

proposed evergreen

existing shade

existing evergreen

proposed shade

proposed flowering

proposed shrub


rain garden in early spring

rain garden in winter


* Photography courtesy of John Nystedt of Delaware River Keeper

rain garden in summer

van sciver school



The Pennsylvania Farm, a 500 acre farm, offers unique opportunities to design and manage the landscape to provide improved habitats for flora and fauna. By establishing new principles of land management that study the flows of energy, nutrients, and species across habitat boundaries, ecosystems and watersheds will be protected. Following a series of site visits, a management plan and master plan for the property is being prepared. Each plan will address two landscape types: the Pastoral Landscape and the Garden Landscape. The Pastoral Landscape is a reference to a rolling Chester County countryside that can be experienced through a trail system marked with follies. Existing cornfields are being converted to meadows of warm-season and cool-season grasses, and woodlands are being reestablished to include understory species. In addition to the trail and management plans, the Pastoral Landscape will include horse arenas and racehorse gallops. The Garden Landscape focuses on the area surrounding the residence to create places for the family to spend time outdoors.

pennsylvania farm | coatesville pennsylvania

pennsylvania farm


rendered site plan


hill shade study

slope study

height study

solar aspect study

aerial with topography

pennsylvania farm


Part of the program for the project is to develop a trail system with which to experience the property. Designers devised a plan and then walked it while using GPS to record the route. The registerd points were then imported into Google Earth and revised in Microstation to improve legibility. Imagery taken during the trail walk was then georeferenced into a three dimensional model and overlaid onto the proposed trail. These images can be selected and expanded to include additional information.


the lenfest center | natural lands trust


The Lenfest Center enhances Cheslen’s unique sense of place, enriching the visitor and staff experience, while celebrating the diversity of the Chester County landscape. Surrounded by a pristine twelve hundred acre preserve, the nineteen acre canary site was highly disturbed site prior to the construction of the Lenfest Center. The landscape design intent was to ‘heal’ this landscape through the construction of the building, allowing it to blend in with its bucolic surrounds. The landscape improvements associated with the Lenfest Center demonstrate that sustainable landscapes are not only beautiful but also provide important habitat for wildlife, promote plant species diversity, respect the hydrologic cycle and eliminate waste and need for expensive, resource-dependent maintenance regimes and chemical applications.

Within this landscape, traditional waste materials (the quarter acre concrete pad from the Canary, for example) were creatively reused and celebrated as paving, steps and retaining walls. Demonstration gardens and meadows show how storm water should be valued as a resource (rather than considered as a nuisance,) how to regenerate degraded soils, how to provide habitat for pollination and how to restore woodland edges. Looking over the old Canary, where once there was paving and agricultural waste, a rolling meadow of warm season grass now draws the visitor and staff into the larger preserve - truly a landscape healed.

the lenfest center


views into the lenfest center terrace


lenfest center terrace | major view to meadow

before . debris cluttered concrete service yard

after . land regraded and amended . materials repurposed on site

the lenfest center



Rain gardens, meadows, and green roof design are all critical parts of this complex site. Given a large building program within a relatively small site, much of the structure is below grade, requiring part of the lawn and gardens to occur over a green roof system. These plantings blend seamlessly with the adjacent terra-firma landscape and conceal the fact that a structure lies below. Rain gardens capture and cleanse runoff from the building and paved areas and are integrated into a larger meadow in front of the building. This meadow provides a lush, layered foreground that buffers the building from the road. Dense plantings and outbuilding structures such as the pergola create a sense of enclosure and provide privacy from nearby neighboring homes. All of these elements are designed using native vegetation and regional materials to make the building feel as though it has always been part of the surrounding historic town.

main line home garden | pennsylvania


planting beds

lawn

asphalt

proposed transplant

existing evergreen trees

existing deciduous trees

proposed evergreen trees

proposed flowering trees

proposed shade trees

proposed shrubs

hardscape

meadow

rain garden

main line home garden


shade garden close to house

greenroof lawn built over structure


main line home garden

flowering vines on weathering trellis wood piers

Respecting the spirit of the site, the plantings help restore the land while creating a harmonious transition into the larger landscape. A full, naturalistic palette of grasses and perennials echo the natural landscape while the use of simple indigenous materials such as dry-laid stone walls evokes the local character of Chester County. Groupings of deciduous trees to the south of the house facilitate passive solar insulation. Finely tapered earthen ramps, evocative of the natural slopes to the north of the house designed by Moger Mehrhof Architects, provide insulation. Water features in the garden area are tied into the storm water system to minimize changes to the hydrology of the site. Every effort was made throughout the project to specify local material and to minimize the use of finite resources.

the sustainable house | chester county, pennsylvania


the sustainable house


layers of native plantings create dynamic views across the landscape


front entrance . stepping stones through groundcover texture plantings


the sustainable house

plantings frame the house


The Landscape Master Plan for a 54-acre farm included native hedgerows, wildlife areas, meadows and gardens. Working with native plantings and appropriate materials combined with a strong regard for site and ecology, Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc. successfully connected a new farm cottage and barn complex to the natural landscape. The landscape plan features a “ruined barnyard” garden, farm cart tracks, intricate water features and a system of trails. The firm has be intimately involved with the evolution of this landscape since 1993.

chester county farm | pennsylvania


chester county farm


photo real rendering of proposed plantings

post installation project

crushed stone cart tracks . pastoral landscape beyond


water features on axis . view through various garden “rooms”


chester county farm

perennial planting against a stone wall “ruin”


POST OFFICE BOX 661 WAYNE PA 19087phone 610.341.9925fax 610.341.9926

w w w . j o n a t h a n a l d e r s o n . c o m

http://issuu.com/jonathanalderson/docs/jala_portfolio_public_and_privated i g i t a l v e r s i o n a v a i l a b l e o n l i n e :

stewardship of the land

Documents

landscape project

design development

project landscape architect

urban design

design practice

wealth of design

design process

design leader