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Jay Graham - Landscape Architect

Jay Graham (born 1946) is an American landscape architect. His 30+ years of experience span residential, historic, recreational, public, and commercial projects. A Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, he has received recognition and awards for his work on historic residential estates, waterfront and urban gardens, campus projects, public places and signature projects.

Education and Career

Jay Graham received a Bachelors of Architecture from the University of Virginia in 1969. He then continued at the University of Virginia, receiving a Masters in Landscape Architecture in 1972.

• Principal, Graham Landscape Architecture 1984 - present
• Principal, Urban & Graham 1982 - 1984
• Associate, LDR International, Inc. 1981 - 1982
• Associate, RTKL Associates, Inc. 1978 - 1981
• Landscape Architect, Thalden Corporation 1976 - 1978
• Intern Landscape Architect, University of Virginia 1971 - 1976
• Intern Architect, RTKL Associates, Inc. 1969 - 1970

Upon completion of his graduate program at the University of Virginia, Jay Graham became the University of Virginia’s first full-time staff landscape architect. Responsible for campus master planning and specific site development, Graham collaborated with each of the architects hired by the University on specific projects. While at UVA, Graham’s designs addressed the challenge of supporting a significant increase in student population and its impact on the historic grounds and core areas of the campus. Graham also established an ongoing relationship with the University’s Arboretum Committee and began the tradition of planting a tree to honor a faculty member on each Founder’s Day--a tradition that continues today. In recent years, he was responsible for landscape design at Newcomb Hall including a native beech grove and a new west plaza and staircase/stage.

Jay Graham founded Graham Landscape Architecture in 1984. Graham Landscape Architecture is headquartered in historic Annapolis, Maryland with offices in Abingdon, Virginia as well. The firm's expertise spans historic properties; college campuses; urban, country and waterfront estates; and cultural institutions in the Mid-Atlantic and Piedmont regions. The firm's distinctive designs are interpretations of architectural style, and historical influences, applied within the context of client objectives and regional characteristics. Graham Landscape Architecture is recognized for approaching every project at both the master planning scale and the more detailed scale of individual spaces and textures. The firm has created campus plans and large estate plans that involve circulation planning, recreational areas, outdoor education areas, gathering spaces of various scales, stewardship planning, and complex maintenance considerations.

Professional Involvement & Accomplishments

Jay Graham is actively involved in professional and community programs and has held leadership and advisory positions with the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Neighborhood Design Board, the Community Assistance Team, the Historic Annapolis Foundation and the National Historic Landscape Inventory initiative. He is also a noted speaker and author on issues concerning landscape design, such as “Interior Landscapes,” “Architecture in the Garden,” "The Thoughtfully Furnished Garden," "Art in the Landscape," “The Outside ‘In’ of Interior Plantscaping” “Can Real History & Economic Development Meet Along Main Street?” and "A Vision Shared or a Chance Missed." His keynote speech for Horticulture Magazine’s 2005 symposia emphasized “Reading the Landscape.”

• ASLA Member 1977 - present

Regional:

• President, Maryland Chapter 1995 -1996

• Chair, Maryland/Potomac Chapter, Regional Conference:

Opportunities in Sustainable Development 1995 - 1997

Program Chair, Symposium on Urban Trees 1991

Chair, Community Assistance Team in Baltimore 1987

Program Chair, Symposium on Urban Spaces 1978

National:

• Chair, Open Committee on Interior Landscape 1983 - 1987
• Chair, Technical Services Committee, and Editor of 1980 - 1983
• Archaeology and Storm Water Management Publications Director, Landscape Architecture Foundation 1979 – 1981

• MDASLA Merit Award, Piedmont Farm 2006
• Landscape Award, inform Magazine, Tidewater Farm 2006
• MDASLA Honor Award, Tidewater Farm 2005
• Art in the Garden Award, Horticulture Magazine 2005
• MDASLA Merit Award, US Naval Academy Visitor’s Center 2002
• Landscape Award, inform Magazine, Anstom/Hiemstra Residence 2001
• Innovative Design Award, MDASLA, Anstrom/Hiemstra 2000
• Landscape Award, inform Magazine, Ruesch Residence 2000
• Grand Award/ Special Events, Landscape Contractors Association, Papal Altar 1996
• Landscape Award, inform Magazine, Stoner Residence 1996
• Landscape Award, inform Magazine, Baltimore-Washington Internat’l Airport 1995
• Residential Design Award, Washingtonian Magazine, Historic Porto Bello 1995
• MDASLA Merit Award, Baltimore-Washington International Airport 1993
• Landscape Award, inform Magazine, Governor’s Mansion Fountain 1993
• Grand Award, Builder Magazine, Historic Porto Bello 1993
• Baltimore Magazine and AIA Award, Historic Porto Bello 1991
• Heritage Award, Landscape Contractors Association, Thomas Jefferson Court 1991
• Grand Award, Landscape Awards, American Association of Nurserymen, Space Center Tysons 1990
• Award of Distinction, ALCA, Harrison’s at Pier Five 1989
• MDASLA Honor Award, Olfson Residence 1989
• Landscape Award for Interiorscapes, Florida Nurserymen & Growers Assoc., Space Center Tysons 1987
• MDASLA Award for Interior Landscape Design, Shady Grove Exec. Center II 1985
• Grand Award for Interior landscape Design, Landscape Contractors Assoc. of Metropolitan Washington, Shady Grove Executive Center II 1985
• Award of Excellence, National Association of Industrial and Office Parks, Signet Tower 1985
• MD ASLA Award for 200-Acre Site Plan, Darnestown Private School 1983

Publications and Lectures

• “Architecture in the Garden,” Lecture, Junior League of Washington 2003
• “Can Real History & Economic Development Meet Along Main Street?” Lecture, Restoration and Renovation Conference 2001
• “The Thoughtfully Furnished Garden,” Groundwork, Landscape Contractors Association MD-DC-VA, June Issue 1996
• “The Thoughtfully Furnished Garden,” Lecture series, ALCA Winter Workshop, Behnke Nurseries and Washington Design Center 1996 - 1998
• “A Vision Shared or a Chance Missed,” Freehand, American Institute of Architects, Summer/Fall issue 1995
• “Art in the Landscape,” Groundwork, Landscape Contractors Association, MD-DC-VA, October issue 1994
• “Interior Landscapes”, TimeSaver Standards (two editions) 1988 & 1998
• “The Outside ‘In’ of Interior Plantscaping,” Program for ASLA and ALCA 1987
• Interior Landscape Design: State of the Art, Symposium, Cincinnati 1985
• Interior Landscape Design, 3-day course, Harvard Graduate School of Design 1981 – 1983
• University of Virginia, Lecturer 1972 - 1976
• Washington Architectural Foundation, Board Member 1993 - 1995
• Associated Landscape Contractors of America, Interior Landscape Division, Director 1980 – 1981

Major Accomplishments and Selected Executed Works

Wye Hall, Queenstown, Maryland, 1998 – Present Positioned on approximately 26 acres in Queen Anne County on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Wye Hall is historically significant as the family residence of William Paca, delegate to the Continental Congress, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Governor of Maryland from 1782 to 1785. Jay Graham lead a team of landscape architects to design a master plan, gardens and terraces, and a land management program for the estate. Respecting the historical significance of the land, Mr. Graham encouraged the client to retain a professional archaeologist to study the property. As a benefit of this work, Graham’s team was able to take historic precedents into consideration throughout the design process, preserve archaeological resources, and create an interpretive design that serves the needs of the 21st century family. Graham’s design recaptures the essence of historical spaces, frames important water views, and respectfully overlays a 21st century garden on an 18th century foundation. The land management program includes the use of native plants on the riverside banks and in the meadows around the house.

Anstrom/Hiemstra Residence, Alexandria, Virginia, 1996 - 1999 Sited on Virginia’s Potomac River, the Anstom/Hiemstra residence has become an example of environmental stewardship for Fairfax County. Mr. Graham’s design is a narrative of the land, sensitive to shoreline protection and incorporating the characteristics of a natural bog, creek, river, and dry land. Challenged with the considerations of a riparian landscape comprised of flowing water, standing water, and tidal water, Graham explored the micro-conditions and produced a unified planting design responsive to the specific ecosystem requirements. Initially, he encountered obstacles with the county approval process because the design represented a drastic departure from the large manicured lawns typical of the area. Subsequently, the proposed design was approved and has become a model project for county regulators. An observation deck placed among the sweeps of tall panicum grasses and a custom designed pier help immerse the owners and their visitors into the beauty of this sustainable, thriving natural waterfront environment. This property, previously a degraded piece of land, has become a palette of native regional plants, a wildlife habitat for turtles and a variety of birds, and a haven for enjoyment for the homeowner.

Governor’s Mansion, Annapolis, Maryland, 1998 The transformation of the gardens at the Governor’s Mansion in Annapolis, Maryland, is the result of historical narrative and regional character. With the development of a 20th century entry road into the City of Annapolis, the once rear garden of this 1860s Victorian structure became a pivotal focal point in the city. Mr. Graham was retained by the Governor to redesign the mansion grounds--considered too private to be public and too public to be private. Mr. Graham’s design visually opened the gardens to the street, revealing them to the public realm. As part of his design, he conceived of a fountain to tell the story of Maryland’s natural environment. Working with sculptor Lyle Beddes of Historical Arts and Casting, Mr. Graham directed the creation of the bronze sculpture and designed the brick basin and surrounding gardens. Its lowest tier incorporates underwater aquatic life indigenous to the region. The middle tier represents the flora and fauna found on the water’s edge. The upper portion portrays the agriculture that was the financial basis for the Colony. The mansion’s gardens celebrate the history of Maryland, with the fountain now recognized as a piece of civic art, a landmark, and a point of orientation within the city fabric.

Baltimore–Washington International Airport, Linthicum, Maryland, 1993 Travelers from around the world can see Mr. Graham’s design for the garden at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport. The Maryland Department of Transportation solicited a signature landscape representative of the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan region by means of a design competition. Mr. Graham led the design team, setting a strategic direction, developing overall concepts, and designing the planting plans. As the winning entry, the gardens were built exactly as initially designed, without any changes being requested by the client. The four-season landscape design incorporates grasses that recall the regional tidewater landscape. Sculptures of 150 Canada geese in flight were designed in conjunction with graphic designer David Ashton and intern Glen Valentine and executed in Cor-Ten steel. These geese sculptures function as an introduction to all travelers to the beauty of the region, at any time of year, while articulating themes of flight and travel.

Visitor's Center, U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, 1992 In 1992, the idea of a new visitor’s center at the U.S. Naval Academy was the impetus to improve visitor access. The new center would compliment the historic core of the Academy and transform a secondary entrance to the Academy into its principal entrance. Jay Graham developed the site plan, creating opportunities for connection to the water while improving bus and car circulation. In 1896, when the Naval Academy received Congressional authorization to build major new buildings, architect Ernst Flagg wanted the Gate 3 entrance to visually, physically, and symbolically lead to water. Land fills on the site in 1959 and new buildings in the early 1960s blocked those views. Inspired by Ernst Flagg’s intention, Mr. Graham shifted the centerline of the new Gate 1 road 18 degrees, changing the focal point at the end of the street from condominiums across the creek to the confluence of the Severn River and the Chesapeake Bay. His relocation of one hundred and sixty parking spaces allowed the area to become a pedestrian-friendly waterfront promenade, unique to Annapolis, with additional lawn and trees. The design features railings and light fixtures responding to the richness of detail found around older buildings. Cannons, anchors, and other historic naval artifacts punctuate the grounds as distinctive means of telling the story of the Academy. The blend of granite and brick paving symbolize the marriage of the stone of the Academy and brick of Colonial Annapolis. Mr. Graham was assisted in the implementation by his then partner Pearse O’Doherty.

Prince Frederick Town Center, Calvert County, Maryland, 1990 Faced with commercial activity moving away from the Prince Frederick Town Center, Calvert County, Maryland conducted a design competition for town planning initiatives. The county selected the design proposed by Mr. Graham and his team, which focused on rejuvenating the struggling commercial core. Graham held the leading role on the team, charged with leading the development of the vision for the town center. A significant design challenge was to transform a collection of six-story government buildings into a neo-traditional town with a southern Maryland accent. The transformation was accomplished with the enhancement of the court square and the creation of a main street. The resultant master plan, demonstrating Graham’s respect for the character, topography, and culture of the region, became a model for subsequent town planning assignments in the town centers of St. Leonard and Lusby in Calvert County, Maryland.

Rosecliff, Seal Harbor, Maine, 1988 Perched cliffside above the Atlantic Ocean, Rosecliff challenged Mr. Graham to transform this heavily wooded sloped property into a secure residential estate for its owners while providing safe play spaces for their young children. Responsible for the site master plan, then garden and terrace designs, Graham addressed technical concerns including drainage problems, rock just below the ground surface, creation of septic fields, and restoration of the property after construction. Today, a 300 foot long granite wall, native evergreens, and native understory plants give the owners privacy and security. A level lawn panel opens the property to foreground views and offers areas for casual play. Retaining walls that drop 20 feet are draped with rambling roses to visually soften the rock cliffs and provide a safety barrier from above. A series of paths weave through the gardens and along the cliffs opening the vista to once obscured water views. In the mid-1990s, Penelope Hobhouse created new perennial gardens, incorporating them within the overall structure of Graham’s design.

Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, Maryland, 1985 The driving force behind the Druid Hill Park competition was Baltimore City’s desire to stimulate local and tourist visitor activity within the metropolitan area. Mr. Graham, whose great-grandfather was President of the Park Board early in the 20th century, entered the competition to create a unique plan that would create a new destination within the city. As landscape architect and project manager, Mr. Graham formed a team that included Patricia O’Donnell, FASLA, Charles Birnbaum, FASLA, and Anthony Walmsley, FASLA, to handle the historical aspects of the park, the park management plan, and park recreation. Mr. Graham‘s primary emphasis was to conceive of and develop the concept to draw people into the park. His conviction that landscape is a design feature that can be manipulated as an art form led to the plan for gardens drawing on various design traditions. The natural gardens were based on English influences, and the formal gardens were indicative of French, Italian, and Islamic traditions. The master plan gave the park’s historic conservatory more prominence by adding complementary structures, working greenhouses, and formal gardens in order to serve as a counterpoint to the adjacent zoo. The notable conservatory design by Heather Cass and Pat Pinnell, architects on the post competition team, was published in Glass Houses–A History of Greenhouses, Orangeries and Conservatories in 1988. The Druid Hill Park master plan has served as a model for funded projects for almost two decades. Its influence is seen in the design of the more recent gardens that currently flank the historic conservatory.

Thomas Jefferson Court, Georgetown, Washington, D.C., 1984 As the lead landscape architect for this office/retail complex in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., Mr. Graham collaborated with architects at SOM to develop alternatives for the greening of urban street level courtyards above underground parking garages. His background in architecture led to a design that used banners in combination with trellises to compliment the plants and create a more comfortable pedestrian experience. The design incorporates a series of low planters teaming with seasonal color. The use of vines, in this case parthenocissus tricuspidata on the walls and wisteria on the trellis, was considered highly innovative in the mid-eighties. It prompted many other landscape architects to photograph the project and use it as a model of a simple but human-feeling, maintainable urban space. The plant selections were based on suitability to survive in harsh urban conditions. At a time when many urban landscapes faced the challenges of continued sustainability and ongoing plant replacement, this urban landscape thrived. The design survived the test of time, receiving a Heritage Award from the local landscape contractors association ten years after the initial implementation.