Orlando’s oldest landscape architectural firm turns 40

ORLANDO, FL— The City of Orlando’s oldest landscape architectural firm, Foster Conant & Associates, is celebrating 40 years in business this month.

Since its founding in 1969 by the late Bert T. Foster (middle left photo), the Firm has provided site-specific landscape architectural design services for more than 5,000 projects.

Richard R. Conant, (top right photo) FASLA joined Foster in 1973 and has led the practice since 1987.

With the Firm’s primary focus on resort, hospitality and entertainment projects, Orlando has provided the practice with unprecedented challenges to meet the thematic and visual needs of tourist venues, notes Conant.

Similarly, Florida’s dynamic growth has provided Foster Conant with opportunities to design high quality urban, residential, educational, aviation, commercial and retail projects.

Completed projects include Orlando International Airport,(bottom right photo) Valencia Community College, MetroWest, Isleworth, (bottom right photo) U.S. 192 Streetscape, Orlando City Hall, Diocese of Orlando, Disney Village Marketplace, Lockheed Martin Information Systems, First Presbyterian Church Orlando, First Baptist Church Orlando, Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando, Discovery Cove and Aquatica at Sea World Orlando.

Most recently, Foster Conant designed mixed-use projects in Brazil and entertainment venues in United Arab Emirates.

“Technology and the Internet have opened international markets to us,” said Conant. “The speed, accuracy and ability to study projects through computer-aided design programs have opened up new design avenues for us as well.”

According to Conant, other changes in the practice of landscape architecture in the past four decades include specialization within the profession as well as new and improved hardscape amenities used in design.

“Computers allow us to design complex and intricate shapes very quickly that would have taken many hours to create years ago,” said Conant.

Foster Conant & Associates was named Professional Firm of the Year by the Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2001, and has been recognized continuously for its designs in state and national award competitions throughout its storied history.

The 12-person firm is managed by Richard R. Conant, FASLA, president, Keith Oropeza, ASLA, director of design, René A. Ramos, RLA, director of production, and John P. Sullivan, III, ASLA, director of human resources.

Please visit http://www.fosterconant.com/ for additional information.

. Contact: Elaine Ingra, PR WORKS!, PH: 407 384-1344,
elainei@pr-works.com, www.pr-works.com