About

Motivated by a conviction that landscape design has the power to alter perception and ultimately initiate a deeper respect for the environment, ACLA designs spaces that offer opportunities for users to forge new relationships with their surroundings.

Through an iterative process, we find simple responses to complex problems, and seek to elevate experiences through layering and choreography of movement. The trust we build with our clients through long-term partnerships is an important foundation of our work, as each new project expands our expression of design and craft.

See case studies

People

Our team of talented designers, visionaries and dreamers is committed to excellence. We’re proud to collaborate with premier architects, artists and developers to create immersive and experiential spaces that foster community and connections.

Awards

ACLA has received many industry accolades, including the prestigious American Society of Landscape Architects Design Medal. In recognition of innovation, design excellence and lasting achievement, First Lady Michelle Obama honored the ACLA team with the Smithsonian’s Cooper Hewitt National Design Award.

See awards
Year
Award
Project
2022
SARA Excellence AwardSociety of American Registered Architects
2021
Merit AwardAmerican Society of Landscape Architects Northern California Chapter
2021
Honorable Mention in Architectural Design and Residential ArchitectureThe Architecture MasterPrize
2021
SARA National Design AwardSociety of American Registered Architects
2021
American Architecture AwardThe Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design
2020
Residential Design AwardAmerican Institute of Architects, California
2020
Design AwardAmerican Institute of Architects, California
2020
Honor Award in Residential DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects
2020
Design AwardTexas Society of Architects
2020
Honorable MentionSan Francisco Design Week
2019
Residential Design AwardAmerican Institute of Architects, California
2019
Kirby Ward Fitzpatrick PrizeArchitectural Foundation of San Francisco
2019
Merit AwardAmerican Society of Landscape Architects Northern California Chapter
2019
Honor AwardAmerican Institute of Architects San Francisco
2019
Special Commendation, Commitment to Community SpacesAmerican Institute of Architects San Francisco
2019
IDEAS² AwardAmerican Institute of Steel Construction
2017
Award of Excellence in Residential DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects
2017
Honor Award in General DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects
2017
Honor Award in Residential DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects
2017
American Institute of Architects AwardAmerican Institute of Architects
2016
World Landscape Architecture AwardWLA magazine
2016
Good Design AwardChicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Center for Architecture, Art, Design, and Urban Studies
2016
Civic Trust Award WinnerCivic Trust Awards
2016
Honor AwardSociety for College and University Planning and AIA Committee on Architecture for Education
2016
Feature Frontline ParkCity Parks Alliance, Washington, D.C.
2016
Honor Award in Residential DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter
2015
Best of Best AwardSociety of American Architects
2015
Award of ExcellenceSociety of American Architects
2015
Society of American Architects AwardSociety of American Architects
2015
American Architecture AwardChicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Center for Architecture, Art, Design, and Urban Studies
2015
California Council AIA AwardAmerican Institute of Architects (AIA)
2015
Merit Award in DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter
2015
Merit Award in DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter
2015
Best of Year Award – Outdoor CategoryInterior Design magazine
2015
Winner – Public Space SchemeFX International Interior Design Awards
2014
ASLA Design MedalAmerican Society of Landscape Architects
2014
National Design Award in Landscape ArchitectureThe Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
2014
LEED Gold CertificationU.S. Green Building Council
2014
LEED Gold CertificationU.S. Green Building Council
2013
Honor Award in DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter
2013
Best Practice Award in Overall Sustainable DesignCalifornia Higher Education Sustainability Conference
2012
Award of Excellence in Residential DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects
2012
Merit Award in DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter
2012
Best Higher EducationThe Smith Cardiovascular Research Building, UCSF Mission Bay / ENR California
2012
LEED Gold CertificationU.S. Green Building Council
2012
Best Practice Award in Overall Sustainable DesignCalifornia Higher Education Sustainability Conference
2012
Merit Award in DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter
2011
Honor Award in Residential DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects
2011
Merit Award in DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter
2011
LEED Gold CertificationU.S. Green Building Council
2010
Finalist, Landscape ArchitectureThe Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum National Design Awards
2010
Honor Award in General DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architecture
2010
Honor Award in SustainabilityAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter
2009
Finalist, Landscape ArchitectureThe Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum National Design Awards
2009
Honor Award in General DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter
2008
Honor Award in General DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects
2008
Honor Award in General DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects
2008
Honor Award in DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter
2008
Top Ten Green ProjectsAIA Committee on the Environment
2008
LEED Gold CertificationU.S. Green Building Council
2008
Exceptional Residential Honor AwardAIA, East Bay Chapter
2008
Design Award in ArchitectureAIA, California Council
2007
Honor Award in General DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects
2007
Honor Award in Residential DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects
2007
Merit Award in DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter
2007
LEED Silver CertificationU.S. Green Building Council (first multi-family residential LEED award in Northern California)
2007
Citation Award for Excellence in ArchitectureAIA, San Francisco Chapter
2007
First Place Design Competition
2006
Finalist, Landscape ArchitectureThe Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum National Design Awards
2006
Invited Juror, Professional Awards JuryAmerican Society of Landscape Architects
2006
Merit Award in DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter
2006
Energy and Sustainability Honor AwardAIA
2006
Merit Award Excellence in ArchitectureAIA, San Francisco Chapter
2006
Builder’s Choice Special Focus Award, Urban GardensBuilder magazine
2006
National Grand Award, Affordable HousingResidential Architect magazine
2006
Exceptional Residential Bay Area Design Merit AwardAIA, San Francisco Chapter
2005
Honor Award in Residential DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects
2005
Invited JurorThe Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum National Design Awards
2005
Merit Award in DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter
2005
National Green Building AwardAmerican Institute of Architects
2005
Gold Nugget Grand Award, Best Affordable HousingPacific Coast Builders Conference
2005
Gold Nugget Grand Award, Sustainable Residential NeighborhoodsPacific Coast Builders Conference
2005
Gold Nugget Grand Award, Attached Residential Project of the YearPacific Coast Builders Conference
2005
Excellence in Architecture Honor AwardAIA, San Francisco Chapter
2005
Unbuilt Design CitationAIA, San Francisco Chapter
2004
Merit Award in DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects
2004
Merit Award in DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter
2003
Honor Award in DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter
2003
Merit Award in DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter
2003
Merit AwardAIA, California Council
2003
Gold Nugget Grand AwardPacific Coast Builders Conference
2002
Merit Award in DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter
2002
Merit AwardAIA, Redwood Empire Chapter
2001
Honor Award in DesignAmerican Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter

Publications

Featuring stunning photography, drawings, plans, and an essay by San Francisco Museum of Modern Art curator Henry Urbach, Andrea Cochran: Landscapes celebrates the first twenty-five years of a highly intuitive and reflective creative process.

Available from Princeton Architectural Press.

ACLA’s work has been featured in dozens of design magazines and other publications.