Team - DAVID RUBIN Land Collective

David A. Rubin

Principal, PLA, FASLA, FAAR

David is the founding principal of DAVID RUBIN Land Collective and is recipient of the 2011-2012 Garden Club of America Rome Prize in Landscape Architecture from the American Academy in Rome and is a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects. His visionary contribution to the field in “empathy-driven design” is a hallmark of the studio, earning increasing renown for fusing issues of social justice in cities with excellence in the design of public spaces. His work has received awards and honors from the American Society of Landscape Architects and the American Institute of Architects. David recently served as Design Critic at Harvard University School of Design.

Rachel Spencer

Project Manager, Associate ASLA

Rachel Spencer is a landscape designer and recent graduate of the University of Oregon’s program with a master in landscape architecture degree. Rachel’s long-term commitment and dedication to the garden has provided her with ample experience in horticulture, garden design, construction, and installation. Her most recent focus in research investigates a design process inspired by African-American art and culture as a mode of inspiring design creativity. With a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, she is perpetually drawn to the intersection where culture and the environment meet.

Gabriella Salvemini

Landscape Architect, PLA, ASLA

Gabriella is a registered landscape architect educated at the Pennsylvania State University. She has also studied in Italy and Tanzania, and spent her initial years in the profession designing a wide range of spaces in the Washington, DC, area. She is currently interested in the agency of place and how design can be a transformative factor for both communities and ecosystems, and she continues to apply that interest to the variety of scales at Land Collective.

Hanna Gold

Project Manager

Hanna strives to be ecologically sensitive and socially conscious in her designs. Her passion for landscape architecture stems from an interest in the global water crisis, specifically how the lack of fresh water disproportionately affects women. Wanting to attack the problem from multiple angles, Hanna was drawn to landscape architects' ability to create holistic solutions that are as beautiful as they are functional. In her spare time, Hanna enjoys volunteering at urban farms, taking dance classes, and travelling to new places.

Lori Aument

Marketing + Business Development Manager

With nearly twenty years of experience working in the design field, Lori manages the studio’s marketing efforts and assists with strategic business development to build and nurture the studio’s client base. Land Collective is always happy to connect with new collaborators who are interested in our empathy-driven design approach. Please reach out if you have any questions about the studio or our work at (215) 383-0540 or at laument@land-collective.com.

Brian Staresnick

Landscape Architect, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP ND

Brian is a landscape architect and urban designer combining appreciation for the broad impact of large scale planning and a passion for enabling the nuances of well-designed spaces to flourish. With a focus on urban landscapes, his experience is spread across regions and multiple scales, from small urban plazas and productive rooftops to large waterfront parks and reclaimed lands.

Rosemarie Mullen

Controller

Ro is responsible for the studio's financial operations. She parlayed her engineering degree from Drexel University and corporate management experience into founding a successful bookkeeping business, and now serves as Land Collective's Controller, with responsibilities ranging from billing process management to the performance of various treasury functions, and from pursuing the collection of the accounts receivable to reviewing and disbursing accounts payable. Ro applies her talents to the development of the kinds of close professional relationships and problem-solving/process improvements that ensure the studio’s financial stability.

Winnie Van Wagoner

Canine Chief Morale Officer (CCMO)

Originally trained in Georgia, Winnie relocated to Philadelphia and joined Land Collective, where she holds the position of Canine Chief Morale Officer. Winnie finds her passion for landscape architecture through the tactile experience of discovering the smellable and chewable components of all landscapes. She believes that a happy work environment is a productive one, and strives to bring laughter and joy to the office. Winnie aspires to continue honing her design skills at Land Collective and will also serve as the canine representative on all applicable projects.

Jessica Thorpe

Planner, AICP

Jessica is a certified planner versed in bridging the divide between policy and design. She believes planning can be both visionary and action-oriented. Prior to joining Land Collective, Jessica led future land use planning and implementation strategies for transit-oriented development for the City of Indianapolis. Her work leading Indy’s first comprehensive land use plan update in over fifty years earned multiple awards for best practice in planning and engagement.

David Elliott

Landscape Architect + Design Director, PLA

Since earning his degree in 1996, David has worked on a wide array of projects, all centered on creating community through great design. His role at Land Collective pushes the aesthetic and social possibilities of the studio, drawing on his past experience as lead designer at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, where he created notable urban parks and pop-ups. David holds an MA Hons degree in landscape architecture from Heriot-Watt University, Scotland.

Henry Moll

Project Manager, ASLA

As a landscape designer, Henry is interested in landscapes' potential to enhance public health and enrich culture. He considers design as the narrative for creating the world we want to live in. Henry holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Philadelphia University, where he was awarded exceptional achievement for his thesis. Henry has also studied in Denmark and has a continued interest in Scandinavian culture and design. His professional experience spans multiple design foci, including landscape, architecture and visualization.

Mackenzie Wendling

Project Manager

Mac holds a master of landscape architecture degree from Kansas State University. He studied abroad in Copenhagen, where he took courses in urban design, philosophy, and neuroscience. Through his academic and professional career, he realized a passion for creative storytelling, public space, and social equity. Mac believes that altruism is essential in fostering just, resilient, and sustainable design solutions. Outside of design, he enjoys studying history, politics, and art.

Joe Drone

Chief Drone Officer

New to DAVID RUBIN Land Collective, Joe assists us with getting those hard-to-reach shots, tracking construction on larger projects, and seasonal time-lapse scenarios. He travels extensively and is a valued member of the studio team. His buzz is infectious, and the extended team appreciates the varied perspectives he offers on the constructed landscape.

Rose Lee

Project Manager, Associate ASLA

Rose graduated from the University of Houston with a bachelor of architecture, and worked in community planning as well as architecture before receiving her master of landscape architecture degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Passionate about design and humanity, she believes that well-designed spaces hold limitless potential to affect positive change for people and their environment. This philosophy guides her work from master plans to garden designs. In her spare time, Rose enjoys volunteering and traveling to experience and connect with various cultures and places.

Matthew Fichter

Project Manager, Associate ASLA

Matt is a landscape designer educated at the Pennsylvania State University. He also studied abroad in Germany, where he observed urban space, post-war industrial landscapes, and sustainable design. Through his learning and travel experiences, Matt continues to seek a better understanding of the contextual philosophy within landscapes socially, economically, and ecologically, both at home and abroad. Prior to joining Land Collective, Matt focused on design at a variety of scales within the institutional sector while working at Mahan Rykiel Associates.

Emily Hahn Van Wagoner

Project Manager, Associate ASLA

Emily holds a bachelor degree in landscape architecture from the Pennsylvania State University and believes that with creative design, everyday spaces can be transformed into new and extraordinary places that go above and beyond the functional needs of the space. She is passionate about the art and science of landscape architecture and draws her inspiration from exploring the land and history that surround her. During her education, Emily’s studies included exploring and designing in the American Southwest and spending a semester abroad in Bonn, Germany.

Jon Van Wagoner

Project Manager, Associate ASLA

Jon is driven by the experience of landscape. He holds a bachelor of landscape architecture from the Pennsylvania State University, where he spent semesters designing within cultures and environments ranging from the American Southwest to Bonn, Germany. His work at the Holden Arboretum and Studio Bryan Hanes led to a fascination with the capacity of landscape to depict stories and abstract human experience. As a landscape designer, he is excited to continue exploring the capacity of landscape to engage and inform the public and energize communities.

Kenneth M. Gignac

Landscape Architect + Technical Director, PLA, ASLA, LEED BD+C

Ken utilizes his wide-ranging experience in the profession to inspire and inform his current projects. That work ranges from large-scale master plans for international clients to intricate project detailing. While his work has been primarily focused on college and university related projects, Ken has also collaborated with private developers on multi-unit housing, and governmental institutions for urban streetscapes, parks, and trail projects. As Technical Director, his design and construction experience in the A/E/C industry is utilized on all projects as they advance to documentation and construction. Ken's great passion is also evident in his role as a mentor to the Land Collective staff, assisting the team with design approach, technical issues, and general guidance through the profession.

Julie Smith

Landscape Architect, PLA, LEED BD+C

With landscape architecture and project management experience working in both the public and private sectors, Julie brings a unique multi-faceted experience to Land Collective. Her work focuses on translating ideas into built landscapes, developing solutions for complex urban design challenges, and communicating these to the broad constituency of parties needed to bring a project to life. Prior to joining Land Collective, Julie was an integral member of several Chicago City agencies and landscape architecture firms leading numerous award-winning projects. Julie enjoys traveling and is always looking for her next adventure.