Abonmarche is lucky to have some of the industry’s most talented and experienced landscape architects. In celebration of Landscape Architecture Month, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Senior Landscape Architect and Project Manager Tom Runkle to talk about his journey and experiences in the field.
Tom told us his story of finding his calling in landscape architecture.
“As a teen, I had a natural inclination towards drawing and design. In high school, I took various drafting and architecture classes that only fueled my passion further. Upon graduating high school, I enrolled in college – intending to major in architecture. However, during my first year, I took an introductory class in landscape architecture and worked on a few studio projects that involved designing outdoor spaces.”
“That’s when it hit me – landscape architecture was a better fit for me. I was drawn to the idea of creating beautiful, functional outdoor spaces that could positively impact people’s lives. Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to pursue a career in landscape architecture and have never looked back.”
In his work at Abonmarche, Tom emphasizes his focus on working closely with clients to listen, and to understand their needs and their vision.
“Collaboration is essential to the success of any project, and it’s our job as landscape architects to educate our clients on what landscape architecture is and what is possible for their landscape. My approach is grounded in the balance of client needs, creative design solutions, budgets, and constructability based on the circumstances of each respective project.”
Tom’s recent work on community-driven built projects across West Michigan and Northern Indiana include the brand new New Buffalo Dune Walk in New Buffalo, Michigan; the St. Joseph Water Taxi Station 3 in Benton Harbor, Michigan; traffic safety improvements at Mishawaka High School; New Buffalo’s Waterfront Master Plan; and St. Joseph Sports Park in St. Joseph, Michigan.
As a company, we are proud to have landscape architects like Tom on our team, who are dedicated to creating beautiful, sustainable outdoor spaces that enhance people’s lives.
Contact Us today to learn more about our landscape architecture practice.