Local is a research-based design firm building innovative, resilient, and environmentally just landscapes.

Walter leads resilient infrastructure systems design for all Local projects.

His work includes the Parque del Litoral in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, site of the 2010 Central American Games. This project won the 2010 AIA Honor award in Puerto Rico and is the first implementation of phytoremediation technology at the scale of an entire city.

Walter's current work includes leading the design of projects for the National Parks Service, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Army Corps of Engineers on coastal resilience in New York.

Walter has been recognized in Washington DC by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus for “leadership and innovation in the green economy” and taught at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University, the Pratt Institute, and Parsons The New School for Design.

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Tricia is a licensed landscape architect with over twenty years experience working on complex urban sites ranging in scale from the region to a small lot.

Tricia is passionate about delivering projects that embrace complex urban problems where landscape architecture is the agent for positive social and environmental change.

Tricia has taught urban design at Columbia University and landscape architecture studios at City College. She has served as a president for the ASLA-NY chapter and is regularly invited to speak about green infrastructure and landscape urbanism.

Tricia holds a BA in environmental studies from the University of Vermont and a Masters in Landscape Architecture from the University of Oregon where she received an ASLA Certificate of Honor.

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Tom is an accomplished executive leader with 28 years of military service managing large, complex national security infrastructure projects.

Tom's projects included managing over $5 billion in annual programs and overseeing over $1.7 billion in operating budgets. His prior experience in the engineering and construction sector include leading teams in culturally diverse environments across Southeast Asia, Asia, Europe, the continental United States, and the Pacific Rim.

Tom is a proven partner, integrator, and tactful negotiator, building relationships with local, state, and federal agencies to deliver critical resilient infrastructure projects to regions devastated by natural and man-made disasters and implement of strategic visions.

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Vincent Di Fusco is a Registered Landscape Architect (RLA) and a Certified Construction Manager (CCM) with over 20 years of experience spanning the public and private sectors.

Vincent oversees all built works driving project deliverables to meet deadlines and stakeholder needs while managing quality control, budgets and schedules.

His current projects include the development and execution of several NYC public libraries and large mixed use developments throughout Miami and NYC.

Vincent's prior experience includes consulting for the Construction Department at NYC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) on several capital projects and serving as Lead Designer and Project Manager in private practice.

Autumn is devoted to delivering public realm projects that prepare communities for climate adaptation and promote social justice through environmental equity.

Autumn's prior experience includes leading the design and implementation of the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) and the Brooklyn-Queens Park (BQP), with Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). She also colaborated at James Corner Field Operations, where she built parks that range in scale in Miami, Chicago and throughout New York City.

In 2019, Autumn served as an Urban Design Forum Forefront Fellow, where she focused on developing economic, equitable, and environmental adaptation strategies for the City of New York. She was recognized as the 2018-2019 Outstanding Recent Alumna from the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech, and receipient of a 2011 National ASLA Student Honor award and a 2010 VA ASLA Certificate of Honor.

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Scott is an urban planner with an expertise in risk-informed planning and design.

He specializes in climate adaptation, urban resilience, and disaster recovery with an emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and participatory planning and design. His past projects include the Master Plan for the resettlement of Isle de Jean Charles in coastal Louisiana and the Comprehensive Infrastructure master Plan for the Caño Martín Peña district in Puerto Rico.

Scott's prior experience includes serving as a FEMA advisor in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria with a focus on recovery planning, capacity building, and coordination efforts. He has also served as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) where he colaborated with the Office of Community Planning and Development, the Office of the Secretary, and the President’s Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force.

Ishaan leads the design and documentation of a range of project typologies.

His multidisciplinary background in architecture, landscape architecture and music informs his approach of crafting holistic orchestrations of nature and culture across all scales.

Ishaan's prior experience includes colaborating at SCAPE and MVVA where he worked on a mix of residential, rooftop, park and masterplan projects.

Ishaan holds a Masters of Landscape Architecture Degree from the University of Pennsvylania and a B. Architecture from the New York Institute of Technology.

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Eleanor brings several years of international experience working in Australia, Denmark and the US.

Eleanor is passionate about large scale climate resilience and landscape driven urban design. Her multidisciplinary background enables her to preserve a sense of human scale across all projects.

Eleanor's prior experience includes colaborating at Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), C.F. Møller Architects and Terroir Architects in Copenhagen, and Hassell in Sydney.

Eleanor received a Bachelor of Interior and Spatial Design from the University of Technology Sydney in 2015, a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Sydney in 2016 and a Masters of Architecture in Urban Design and Landscape Architecture from Aarhus Architecture School in Denmark in 2021.

Chrysothemi specializes in the design of public realm projects that have meaningful impact for their neighboring communities.

Chrysothemi's background as an architect an urban designer informs her design approach across all scales.

Her prior experience includes colaborating on projects that range in scale and scope as a Junior Architect at de Gayardon Bureau in Italy and P4architecture in Greece.

Chrysothemi received a B. Architecture from the University of Thessaly in 2018 and a M.S. in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University GSAPP in 2021 where she was the receipient of the Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Memorial Prize for most outstanding project.

Eugenia is an Environmental Scientist specializing in soil health and conservation and over 3 years of experience in various industries.

Eugenia combines her scientific expertise with her operations, management and marketing experience to support Local in its day to day work as well as lending a critical eye to research and data collection.