Pedersen Associates

Pedersen Associates has provided comprehensive land planning and award-winning design services for estate, residential and commercial clients since 1983. Working primarily in Northern California allows Pedersen Associates the opportunity to work on a wide variety of sites, spanning multiple topographies, ecosystems and microclimates. As a Bay Friendly certified firm, our work is based on the most recent concepts in sustainability and green building, ensuring the highest environmental standards in landscape architecture.

Pedersen Associate's philosophy is built on two main tenets: collaboration and environmental responsibility. The firm's founder and principal, Pete Pedersen, views landscape design as a process in which the client, landscape architect and design team collaborate on solutions. He believes that an ongoing dialogue is critical to success and ultimately results in the most rewarding projects.

Pedersen Associates partnered with JRP Architects in Oakland, CA to transform this commercial site from a bland office park into a modern surgery center. The modernization consisted of two main components : ADA compliance and water usage. In order to make the site ADA compliant the project team collaborated with the client to redesign the elevator systems, pathways and ramps. To establish the site as "low-water usage" the team had to gut and replace the existing irrigation system and replant the entire site with native and drought tolerant plants.

The primary objective of this project was to expand the outdoor living space and "re-vision" the existing pool area/outdoor entertaining. The updated craftsman architecture of the house feels modern and the client wanted the outdoor space to reflect that aesthetic. Pedersen Associates designed a new trellis concept, outdoor BBQ, shade screen, bluestone hardscape, stucco terracing and planting. The result is well integrated, and feels lush and inviting.

1 Think globally, act locally. This phrase has been used in many sectors, but it has never been more true than in the landscaping industry right now. From installing native plant material to utilizing locally produced composts and mulches, the impact is real. The local supply chain is much shorter and the quality, in my opinion, better. 2 Get to know your irrigation controller. Yeah, I know, it's like the basket of remote controls you have for your entertainment systems, but it's actually a pretty simple task.