Podcast
Pragmatic Visions
Hosted by LandDesign · EN
At LandDesign, we pride ourselves on benign storytellers. We believe that every place has a unique story to tell and we work to uncover innovative and creative solutions that create value for our clients and community. When our people share these stories, their thought leadership shines through. Pragmatic Visions gives our audience a behind-the-scenes look at our projects—the parts you don’t see in the final product. We will share moments of uncommon collaboration, innovation in the work, and design details that add value to our client’s projects.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Charlotte’s Next Great Master Planned Community
Jul 16, 202400:35:23Tap to summarizeWhat does it take to transform a 1,400-acre greenfield site into a fully functional community? A forward-thinking approach to infrastructure planning. On this episode of Pragmatic Visions, LandDesign Partner Dale Stewart discusses the forward-thinking approach to land planning at The River District that ensured every planning and design decision supported the Crescent Communities vision for the community. Listen to learn more about our flexible approach to infrastructure planning at The River District.
Transcribe →Envisioning a Greener DowntownDC
May 28, 202400:37:19Tap to summarizeThe pandemic was a catalyst for the DowntownDC Business Improvement District to evaluate the function of its public parks and open spaces in strengthening its urban fabric. On this episode of Pragmatic Visions, we sit down with LandDesign's Susan England to explore the intricacies of the planning process, the team's approach to inclusive community and stakeholder engagement, and their approach to envisioning a public realm that evolves alongside the district.
Transcribe →Laying the Foundation for Kannapolis’ Future
Mar 29, 202400:35:41Tap to summarizeSince the 1980s, LandDesign has been a trusted partner to the City of Kannapolis as they transformed from a mill town to a thriving community-of-choice. Tune in to Pragmatic Visions as LandDesign Partners Ray Waugh and Nate Doolittle share the visionary partnerships, forward-thinking infrastructure solutions, and multi-generational approach to the project that resulted in a new standard for small town revitalization efforts.
Transcribe →Creating a Green Heart for the City of Salisbury (Bell Tower Green)
Sep 18, 202300:49:34Tap to summarize“We didn’t realize how much we needed a downtown park until we had one, and now we can’t imagine our city without Bell Tower Green.” – Mary Heather Steinman, Salisbury Community Member A vibrant open space, years in the making, Bell Tower Green has forever changed the fabric of Salisbury. From private businesses to long-time residents, the entire community came together to create Bell Tower Green, the heart of Salisbury’s downtown. On this episode of the Pragmatic Visions Podcast, Allison Merriman and Jeff Mis join us to take a deeper look into the community-wide effort that brought Bell Tower Green to life.
Transcribe →Fostering a Culture of Innovation (MatterLab)
Aug 14, 202300:34:51Tap to summarizeFueling our culture of innovation, LandDesign’s MatterLab program empowers employees, regardless of their role, to explore ideas, discover new things, and learn throughout the process. Tune into this month’s episode of Pragmatic Visions, where we sit down with Richard Petersheim, one of the pioneers behind LandDesign’s internal micro-grant program, to talk about the origin of this unique initiative and some of the creative ideas LandDesigners have explored as a result.
Transcribe →The Greatest Public Amenity on the Potomac Waterfront
Jul 21, 202301:03:42Tap to summarizeNational Harbor is a testament to LandDesign’s commitment to realizing our client’s vision. This two-decade long journey led to the transformation of the Potomac River Waterfront into a family-oriented destination in our nation’s capital. On this episode of Pragmatic Visions, we sit down with LandDesign’s Peter Crowley and Gabriela Cañamar Clark to talk about the implementation of National Harbor and its profound legacy on the region and our firm.
Transcribe →A Season of Stories
Jul 5, 202300:01:01Tap to summarizeLandDesign’s award-winning podcast, Pragmatic Visions, is returning for a second season! Join hosts Ashley Clark and Alyson Beacham as they speak with the firm’s designers and thought leaders to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the inspiring places created through our unique process. Tune in as we share stories of uncommon collaboration, thoughtful solutions, and candid moments that make our projects matter.
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Discovering Ballantyne Reimagined (Part 2)
Dec 16, 202100:36:46Tap to summarizeWhen repositioning a suburban office park and expansive golf course into an urban mixed-use development, there are a few things you must consider. How will the infrastructure support the long-term growth of the community? How will the roadways and open spaces connect to commercial experiences? LandDesign’s multidisciplinary team is working with Northwood Office to answer these questions for Ballantyne Reimagined. On this episode of Pragmatic Visions, we sat down with members of our design team, Adam McGuire, Lori Milam, and Matt Weschler, to understand how the inspiring vision for Ballantyne Reimagined will be implemented. Listen to Discovering Ballantyne Reimagined Part 1 to learn more about the bold vision for this project.
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Discovering Ballantyne Reimagined (Part 1)
Dec 10, 202100:32:33Tap to summarizeBallantyne is a nationally recognized community that has catalyzed growth in South Charlotte. Today, Ballantyne is undergoing an exciting transformation to reposition its 535-acre corporate park and golf course into an urban, mixed-use destination. For the next two episodes of Pragmatic Visions, we will discuss the journey we have embarked on with Northwood Office to implement their bold vision for Ballantyne Reimagined. On this episode, we sat down with LandDesign’s Dale Stewart, who was part of the initial planning of the community in the 90s, and current members of the project team, Rhett Crocker and Nathan Doolittle, to discuss the early planning efforts that set the stage for the development occurring today and the long-term plans for Ballantyne Reimagined.
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Measuring the Impact of a Landscape
Nov 4, 202100:36:52Tap to summarizeHow do we measure the positive impact of the places we create? LandDesign’s Alison Peckett and Stephanie Roa were inspired to answer this very question and for the last several years have been digging into data and metrics as measurements for project performance. In 2020, the duo took their research to the next level by partnering with the Landscape Architecture Foundation for their Case Study Investigation Program that brings together leading design firms, academia, and funding to analyze landscape performance. Over the last year, Allison and Stephanie worked with George Mason University to quantify the social, environmental, and economic impact of the Potomac Science Center. On this episode of Pragmatic Visions, we sat down with Allison and LAF’s Megan Barnes to discuss key findings from the study, valuable lessons learned, and the importance of performance metrics in guiding the future of design. Read the full Potomac Science Center Landscape Performance case study, here: https://www.landscapeperformance.org/case-study-briefs/potomac-science-center
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