Joe Chambers

Joe is passionate about making cities more livable and ecologically sustainable places through the practice of landscape architecture.

Joe spent much of his childhood in rural western Maryland knee deep in creek water, but after traveling to Europe for the summer at age eighteen, he became fascinated with how cities are put together. Over his 30+ year career, Joe has worked on urban and rural sites, designing many projects, large and small—campus and urban open space master plans, waterfronts, infrastructure landscapes, parks, green roofs, plazas and estates. He is passionate about the craft and expressive potential of landscape detailing. Joe has been involved in design education throughout his career, holding adjunct and tenure track positions. As leader of MKSK’s sustainability and research initiatives, he has been exploring how urban landscapes can mimic native plant communities to make cities greener and more resilient in the face of environmental change. But he still loves to play in the water and get dirty whenever he can.