Business Details
Innovative Landscape Architecture & Urban Design
Stoss is a multidisciplinary design firm dedicated to transforming urban environments through innovative landscape architecture and urbanism. Founded on principles of resilience, equity, and community engagement, we specialize in creating dynamic public spaces that address complex social, environmental, and economic challenges. Our team combines decades of experience with cutting-edge research to deliver solutions for parks, plazas, waterfronts, and urban infrastructure. We prioritize climate adaptation strategies, integrating green and grey infrastructure to mitigate flooding, drought, and heat island effects. Our collaborative approach involves stakeholders at every stage, ensuring designs reflect local needs and histories. With projects spanning continents, we bring global expertise to each context while maintaining a commitment to local impact.Our work bridges academia and practice, fostering continuous innovation through teaching and speculative research. Recognized with prestigious awards, including the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award, we remain at the forefront of redefining urban landscapes. Our strategic advising services help clients navigate resiliency planning and open space development, supporting sustainable growth. Through rigorous design processes and inclusive public engagement, we strive to enhance quality of life while avoiding displacement and gentrification. Our multidisciplinary team includes landscape architects, urban designers, and specialists in climate adaptation, ensuring comprehensive solutions for every project.
Services
Landscape Architecture
Urban Design
Public Engagement
Climate Resiliency Design
Strategic Advising
Research Initiatives
Highlights and features
- We offer 30+ years of global experience in landscape architecture and urban design.
- Our multidisciplinary team integrates climate adaptation into every project.
- We employ tailored public engagement strategies for inclusive community participation.
- Our work balances ecological, social, and economic needs in urban environments.
- We maintain academic partnerships to drive continuous innovation in design practices.
Services
Landscape Architecture
We deliver comprehensive landscape architecture services from concept to construction. Our team creates functional, aesthetically compelling spaces for parks, plazas, and urban campuses. Projects integrate ecological systems with human needs through detailed construction documentation and multidisciplinary coordination. Our waterfront expertise addresses climate challenges while creating vibrant public realms.
Urban Design
Our urban design practice shapes neighborhoods and city systems through collaborative processes. We develop frameworks for park networks, transportation corridors, and redevelopment areas. Solutions balance economic viability with social equity, prioritizing walkability and multimodal connectivity. We create resilient urban forms that adapt to changing climate conditions while preserving community character.
Climate Resiliency Design
We specialize in designing infrastructure that withstands climate extremes. Our approach combines green infrastructure with engineered solutions for flood protection, drought mitigation, and heat management. Projects incorporate living shorelines, stormwater systems, and adaptive reuse of industrial sites. We create layered defenses that provide ecological and social benefits while protecting urban assets.
Public Engagement
We develop customized engagement strategies that empower diverse communities. Our process uses interactive workshops, digital platforms, and hands-on activities to gather input. We prioritize inclusivity through multilingual outreach and accessible meeting formats. This approach ensures designs reflect local history, culture, and practical needs while building community ownership of public spaces.
Strategic Advising
We provide expert guidance on resiliency planning and project development. Services include competition management, partner selection, and goal definition for public and private clients. Our advisory work addresses complex urban challenges through research-based recommendations. We help organizations develop long-term strategies that align with community needs and environmental imperatives.
People
Chris Reed
Founding Director
Internationally recognized landscape architect and 2012 Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award recipient. Professor at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Leads innovative urban transformation projects globally while advancing design education and research.
Paige Scott Reed
Owner / Legal Advisor
Attorney specializing in transportation and employment law with extensive public sector experience. Former General Counsel for Boston 2024 and MassDOT. Past President of Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association. Manages firm operations and legal matters.
Joonyon Kim
Director Studio + Technical
30-year landscape architecture veteran with global expertise in waterfront revitalization and climate adaptation. Leads technical execution of complex urban projects. Award-winning practitioner with significant contributions to major cities across five continents.
Questions
What types of projects does Stoss Landscape Urbanism specialize in?
We focus on parks, plazas, waterfronts, urban campuses, and climate-resilient infrastructure. Our work spans public spaces, transportation corridors, and post-industrial site redevelopments globally.
How does the firm approach climate adaptation in design?
We integrate layered strategies combining green infrastructure, engineered solutions, and adaptive reuse. Our designs address flooding, drought, and heat island effects while creating functional public spaces.
What makes your public engagement process unique?
We use tailored, multimodal approaches including digital platforms and hands-on workshops. Our process prioritizes inclusivity through multilingual outreach and community-specific engagement methods.
Do you work internationally or focus on specific regions?
While based in Boston and Los Angeles, we've completed projects across North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Our approach adapts global expertise to local contexts.
How do you ensure designs address social equity?
Through rigorous community engagement and design strategies that prioritize accessibility. We actively work to prevent displacement while enhancing neighborhood amenities and economic opportunities.
Can your firm assist with design competitions or partner selection?
Yes, we provide strategic advising for competition participation and team assembly. Our experience includes managing complex RFP processes and selecting multidisciplinary design partners.
