Laura Moore, PLA, ASLA, has put plenty of miles on her ink pen as a professional landscape architect. Now, she’ll be picking it up less often as she retires from WithersRavenel.
For more than 30 years, Laura has been an LA, a designer, and an artist on the job. While her career started at a company focused solely on landscape architecture, she embraced the opportunity to work at WithersRavenel and enjoyed the collaborative atmosphere in which she worked with planners, engineers, and other professionals on a variety of projects. Her contributions to those projects across the Triangle and state while working at WithersRavenel are numerous.
Laura sees herself as an “old-school” landscape architect, as she still draws by hand while other designers prefer to create through computer. “Drawing by hand is my medium,” she says. “To me, it’s an expression that comes directly from your brain to your hand.”
She has a great deal of respect for landscape architects and designers who prefer the electronic realm. Laura recognizes the efficiencies gained with computers, particularly in the revision process.
Among the things that Laura will miss about working at WithersRavenel, besides the thrill of creation, are the people that she works with in the Raleigh studio. “They have become good friends,” she said. “I’ve learned from them, and I’ve been able to pass on some of the design knowledge that I have to some of our newer employees starting their careers. That’s been very meaningful to me.”
Laura also credited the leadership of the company and the landscape architect design studio for fostering a collaborative work environment. “Giving people opportunities to learn and grow, that’s a special thing,” she said. Her advice to young LAs is to embrace that growth mentality on the job. “Go on site visits, and think outside of the box when working to solve problems.”
In retirement, Laura is looking forward to having more time to dedicate to art and music. She plays multiple instruments and, after inheriting her mother’s baby grand piano, recently had it rebuilt.
Her big joy, she said, will be spending more time with her family. Her husband, Bob, is also a longtime landscape architect and “a wonderful partner.” They have a son, daughter, and two grandkids that they hope to see more often. A new puppy is also in the picture.
Laura plans to continue to be involved in landscape architecture in some way, either through the North Carolina American Society of Landscape Architects (NCASLA) or by volunteering in her community. Her academic career included a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking from UNC Greensboro and a Master of Landscape Architecture from North Carolina State University.
WithersRavenel congratulates Laura on her retirement, and wishes her all the best in the coming years!
