2015
On the BoardsAlexandria Country Day School playground design
RHI is working on some ideas for outdoor classrooms and playgrounds to help convert underutilized spaces at Alexandria Country Day School campus.
StoriesWashington Post article reviews Thomas Rainer’s new book
Thomas Rainer and Claudia West recently co-authored a new book, “Planting in a Post-Wild World,” which looks at how we design plant communities similar to how they occur in nature. A recent Washington Post article by Adrian Higgins, “Why manicured lawns should become a thing of the past,” takes a look at Thomas and Claudia’s new book and some of … Read more »
On the BoardsSplash park design at a seaside park in New York
Seagrass and the windblown patterns of sand are our inspiration for a splash park we are designing for a seaside park in New York. We wanted to avoid the plastic looking nozzles typical of most splash parks, so we used champagne-colored metallic tubes in the arcing pattern of seagrass. The rubberized surface underneath will have subtle changes in elevation and … Read more »
On the BoardsSandy Springs work sessions
We had great work sessions last week to develop transformative concepts for the City of Sandy Springs, GA. Jim Tolbert, Assistant City Manager of Sandy Springs joined Rhodeside & Harwell and team members Nelson Nygaard, Gensler, RCLCO and Code Studio to evolve ideas for The Next Ten. Stay tuned for upcoming updates! Check out the project website here for more … Read more »
StoriesRHI at 2015 ASLA Chicago
Nine of us from the RHI team enjoyed and were greatly inspired at the 2015 ASLA Annual Meeting in Chicago. Among us, Thomas Rainer presented with Claudia West, his co-author for Planting in a Post-Wild World, and Scott Stewart, Director and Head Horticulturalist for the Lurie Garden, at an education session about designing resilient plant communities. Thomas also did a … Read more »
On the BoardsSplash play area at Jones Beach
A study of dune formations translates into a fun, whimsical surface for this Jones Beach’s splash play area. This characteristic of the surrounding beaches translates nicely into a space for kids to play with a covered area for parents to sit and watch.
On the BoardsVCU campus building courtyard
RHI’s concept for the VCU School of Allied Health symbolizes Virginia’s Fall Line, creating a bold and simple configuration.
StoriesQ Street Alley installation
Rhodeside & Harwell’s design for Q Street Alley, a first generation green alley in DC, is being installed by DDOT. Our LID planters had to accommodate steep grade change (the illustration shows how it works). When finished, the alley will capture stormwater runoff from over 4 acres, filtering 14,000 sf of water each event.
StoriesWe recently enjoyed a Friday afternoon at Thomas and Melissa Rainer’s.
Continuing our summer garden parties, we were privileged to be welcomed to the Rainer’s home for a drinks, food and fun.
StoriesAnnouncing Promotions for RHI staff
We are very happy to announce promotions for a handful of our staff. Senior Associates: Megan Mansell, Ron Sessoms, Sukirti Ghosh, Qiaojue Yu, Eric Feldman. Associates: Bryan Obara, Jenn Bailey, Jon Runge. See all of our staff here.
IdeasPLANTING IN A POST-WILD WORLD by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West
We are very proud of our own Thomas Rainer, and Claudia West for their accomplishment in writing ‘Planting in a Post-Wild World.’ This is a fantastic look at the natural qualities of plants and how we can use these to create more resilient and beautiful landscapes. Get your copy here.
