The spaces where people live, work, and gather deserve more than functional design. They deserve places that feel right — that reflect community identity, invite connection, and hold up over time. DLZ’s landscape architecture practice brings that standard to public and civic projects of every scale, with award-winning design experience, deep public-sector expertise, and the multidisciplinary capabilities to take projects from concept through construction.
Great landscape architecture balances competing demands: creativity and constructability, client vision and budget reality, aesthetic ambition, and long-term maintenance. DLZ brings that balance to a wide range of project types, including parks and recreation facilities, streetscapes, civic and educational campuses, justice and public safety facilities, and utility projects. We work in both lead and support roles, integrating seamlessly with DLZ’s multidisciplinary teams or alongside outside consultants to shape outcomes that serve clients and communities well.
Understanding the full arc of a project, from early planning through construction, is what allows DLZ to deliver designs that are both inspired and buildable. We use 3-D renderings and visualization tools to help clients see what’s possible before a shovel hits the ground. And because we’ve navigated the full project process many times over, we know how to anticipate challenges, phase improvements strategically, and keep the final outcome aligned with the original vision.
Good planning sets the stage for everything that follows. DLZ leads site master planning and feasibility studies that build consensus, establish realistic budgets, and create a clear framework for phased development.
Streetscapes and urban spaces do more than move people — they shape how a community feels. DLZ designs downtown corridors, plazas, and gathering spaces that balance function, safety, and a strong sense of place.
Every great project starts with the ground it stands on. DLZ’s site development practice brings award-winning, multi-scale, multidisciplinary experience to public- and private-sector projects alike, with decades of history creating spaces that bring people together.
First impressions matter. DLZ creates context-sensitive aesthetic enhancements — gateways, wayfinding systems, custom masonry, memorials, and bridge beautification — that give communities a distinctive, lasting identity.
Planting design is more than aesthetics. DLZ develops long-term landscape solutions that account for site conditions, sustainability, maintenance needs, and the surrounding environment — from street trees to ecological restoration.
Landscape-architecture-led park design and planning, from single-site master plans to five-year systemwide plans.
Site, landscape, and campus design for schools, libraries, and universities that supports safety, circulation, and modern learning environments.
Site and landscape design for outdoor athletic fields, courts, and complete athletic complexes, from concept through construction
Site and landscape design for courthouses, correctional facilities, and sheriff’s offices that balances security, access, and civic function.
Site and landscape design for fire stations, police stations, and public safety answering points, built around secure, efficient, and welcoming civic space.
Site and landscape design for water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, lift stations, and water towers that keeps essential utilities running safely.
Site and landscape design for city halls, public works facilities, and community centers that serves the public and holds up to municipal budgets.
Site and landscape design for transit centers, DOT facilities, fleet maintenance, and inland port facilities that keeps people and vehicles moving safely.
Site and landscape design for federal buildings, USPS, U.S. Army Corps, and FBI facilities, built to meet federal standards for resiliency and security.
Accessible environments ensure that all individuals can fully engage with public spaces and services.
City Center Monon Greenway | Carmel, Indiana
Jonathan
Mooney, PLA, LEED AP
Project Manager
Indiana
Ben
Baker, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP
Project Manager
Michigan
Jeff
Hirsch, PLA, LEED AP
Department Manager
Indiana
DLZ’s landscape architecture work spans parks and recreation facilities, streetscapes, civic and educational campuses, justice and public safety facilities, utility sites, and more. We serve primarily public-sector clients and work in both lead and support roles depending on project needs.
A site master plan gives your organization a planning and visioning tool that builds stakeholder consensus, supports funding procurement, and establishes a realistic framework for phased improvements. It ensures that long-term development decisions are made strategically rather than reactively — with a clear understanding of budget and priorities from the start.
We tailor the process to your needs and budget. A typical project moves through master planning, schematic design, design development, construction documents, permitting, bidding, and construction phase services. Because DLZ routinely takes projects from concept through construction, we understand how early decisions affect later outcomes — and we design accordingly.
DLZ brings extensive public-sector experience across many project types, deep familiarity with the full design and construction process, and the ability to work integrally with DLZ’s engineering and architecture disciplines. That combination allows us to deliver solutions that are creative, constructable, and realistically budgeted — not just visually compelling.
