Employee Spotlight: Melissa Lee

What inspired you to pursue a career in landscape architecture?
I grew up an avid golfer, so I was interested in the manipulation of the earth and the mental game involved in placing hazards (sand traps and bodies of water) throughout the course. My dad inspired and encouraged me to pursue a career in landscape architecture. 

What have you learned from your career in landscape architecture?
One of my college professors always used the phrase, "less is more," when it comes to designing. Throughout my career, I always tried to apply that phrase, but never fully grasped the concept until many years later. I like to think that the same phrase can be applied to everyday life as well as my design approach.

What motivates you?
I am motivated by seeing projects come to life during the construction phase. It is rewarding to walk through the physical spaces and see the built elements that I spent so many hours detailing.

What's something you're excited to be working on?
I am excited about all the projects I am working on, but I would say the projects that are in construction excite me the most. There is always something that comes up in the field that could not have been predicted on paper, and I enjoy the problem solving.

When was your first time riding a horse? What was that like?
I went on a trail ride up in the mountains when I was six and fell in love with everything and anything to do with horses from that moment on. Whenever we went on vacation where trail rides were offered, I had to do it, multiple times! I started taking riding lessons when I was 8 and rode competitively for 10 years. My horse's name was Prince and he lived to be 32!