EDSA, Inc. (previously known as Edward Durell Stone, Jr., and Associates) is a planning, landscape architecture, and urban design firm founded in 1960.
The company is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with offices in Orlando, Florida; Baltimore, Maryland; and Shanghai, China. EDSA Orient Beijing is a joint venture company.
There are 120 employees who represent EDSA and come from a varied range of cultural and ethnic distinctiveness with origins from more than 25 different countries. In addition, their portfolio spans a global range of more than 500 projects in over 100 countries. The firm has been referred to as one of the leading landscape architecture companies in the world.
EDSA also considers itself a steward of the land, according to the website, and places sustainability at the forefront of its planning and design efforts. Other services that EDSA offers include: Site selection, site analysis, visioning workshops, land use program/feasibility studies, public participation/consensus building, site design, concept/theming, design development, hardscape/water feature design, planting design, and construction period services.
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History
EDSA was founded in 1960 by American landscape architect Edward Durell Stone, Jr., who collaborated with his father, architect Edward Durell Stone, Sr. to found EDSA. Stone, Jr. died in 2009 and Douglas C. Smith, who joined the firm in 1987, now serves as president of the company.
In the 1960s, EDSA became an instrumental player in the travel and tourism industries, leading resort and recreation assignments primarily in the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Southeastern United States. During this time, EDSA adopted an environmentally-based design philosophy, which was a relatively obscure notion that takes inspiration from each project's local heritage. A village center form became the framework for housing, amenities, and commerce in order to conserve resources and foster social diversity. This approach became a hallmark of EDSA resorts and communities.
In 1971, EDSA began to receive national recognition when Stone, Jr. was appointed to the Commission of Fine Arts in Washington, D.C. by President Richard Nixon. He served in the position for 12 years. Simultaneously, EDSA's reach was growing on an international level as the firm expanded within the global marketplace. Assignments in the Middle East, Europe, and South America further imbedded the values of sensitivity to local cultures and the importance of collaboration with local professionals.
EDSA broadened its urban design practice with two influential public commissions that reinvigorated Fort Lauderdale's neglected urban waterfronts: The Fort Lauderdale Beach Revitalization in 1986 and Riverwalk Linear Park which was completed in 1994.
In the 1990s, EDSA embarked on planning for several academic institutions including the College of Staten Island and Nova Southeastern University as well as cultural venues like the Florida Nature Cultural Center. A branch office in Orlando began to thrive with several assignments for the Disney Corporation and the new Orlando International Airport. In 1994, Joseph Lalli became President of EDSA. Under his leadership, EDSA Orient became the first joint venture landscape architectural office in Beijing, China. He took the role of Chairman from 2012 until 2014, when he died. Currently, J. Robert Behling holds the role of Chairman.
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Satellite offices
- Orlando
- Baltimore
- New York
- Shanghai
- Beijing (a joint venture company)
Notable projects
- PepsiCo World Headquarters, Purchase, New York
- Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas
- Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- PGA National Golf Club, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
- Owensboro Riverfront, Owensboro, Kentucky
- Fort Lauderdale Beach Revitalization, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Castiglion del Bosco, Tuscany, Italy
- Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida
- Madinat Jumeirah Resort, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Crosswaters Ecolodge, Nankun Mountain National Forest Park, Huizhou, China
- Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland
- JW Marriott Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Guacalito de la Isla, Nicaragua
- Lustica Resort Development, Podgorica, Montenegro
- Dalian Wolong Bay, Dalian, China
- Four Seasons Reserva do Paiva, Recife, Brazil
- Dubai Opera House, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- 1 Hotel and Homes, South Beach, Florida
- Bahia Beach Resort and Golf Club, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
Corporate structure
EDSA, Inc. is a privately held company. As of 2012, the firm Is headed by Douglas C. Smith who is the President and a Principal of the company.
Awards
EDSA has received over 300 industry awards honoring their projects and innovation, some of which include:
- 2013 Waterfront Center
- Excellence on the Waterfront Honor, Smother's Park
- 2013 American Society of Landscape Architects/Florida Chapter
- Award of Excellence, Lustica Bay Resort - Planning and Analysis
- 2013 American Society of Landscape Architects/Florida Chapter
- Award of Merit, Mar Menor , Residential Category
- 2013 American Society of Landscape Architects/Florida Chapter
- Award of Merit,- Smother's Park - Open Space
- 2013 American Society of Landscape Architects/Florida Chapter
- Award of Honor- Pompano Beach Streetscapes - Open Space
- 2012 Waterfront Center
- Excellence on the Waterfront - Valletta Waterfront
- 2012 American Society of Landscape Architects/Florida Chapter
- Excellence and Stresau Award - Castiglion del Bosco Resort
- 2012 Urban Land Institute
- Global Award for Excellence -Valletta Waterfront
- 2010 American Society of Landscape Architects Firm Award
- 2010 American Society of Landscape Architects/Florida Chapter
- Excellence / Frederic B. Stresau Award - Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort - Planning & Analysis
- 2010 American Society of Landscape Architects/Florida Chapter
- Landmark Award -Pepsico World Headquarters - EDSA Landmark Award
- 1997 AAA America's Ten Best Roads
- Fort Lauderdale's A1A "Rebirth of a Roadway"
- 1996 American Resort Development Association (ARDA)
- Atlantis Paradise Island
- 1995 Florida Design Arts Awards
- Orlando International Airport
- 1992 American Society of Landscape Architects/Florida Chapter
- Florida National Cemetery
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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