In this episode, Gina Ford discusses her former role as a Principal of Sasaki Associates, an internationally recognized planning and design firm in Boston, MA. We explore the idea of designing for locals and visitors simultaneously, the reasons why people resist public landscape projects and how to justify investing in the built environment. Gina is now Principal and co-founder of the award-winning firm Agency Landscape + Planning, which is based in Cambridge, MA.

Glossary of terms used in this episode:

“The GSD” - the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, which offers degrees in Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Urban Planning and other design study programs.

“CAD Skills” - this refers to proficiency in a design software program called AutoCAD, or Computer-Aided Design.

“Circulation” - a term used by planners and designers referring to roads and/or pathways for pedestrians, cyclists, cars, and other modes of travel.

“Bascule Bridge” - more often called a drawbridge.

“Field Ops” and “MVVA” - two different NYC-based landscape architecture firms: James Corner Field Operations and Michael Van Valkenburgh, respectively.