ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL + MARKETING DIRECTOR

MLA | University of Colorado Denver

BA | Fine Art, Colorado College

Kate Davenport holds a deep interest in revelatory ethics and aesthetics for landscapes. Her work is grounded in observation and listening; discovering and cultivating what is already precious and essential to a site. Her passion for meshing art and ecology through plant-driven design has gained greater clarity over 15+ years of experience as a designer, installer, and grower. Kate co-stewards a 5-acre plot in Berthoud, Colorado, devoted to cut flower production, habitat enhancement, and experimental projects linking ecology, agriculture/floriculture, and reciprocal garden making.

FEATURED PROJECTS

Chatfield Farms Master Development Planning | Denver Botanic Gardens, Littleton, CO

Denver Art Museum Sensory Garden, Denver, CO

Steppe Garden | Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, CO

Cactus and Succulent Garden | The Wilbur D. May Arboretum, Reno, NV

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden Masterplan | Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens, Des Moines, IA

Founder’s Garden | Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Des Moines, IA

Myrna H. Berger Children and Family Garden Masterplan | Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ

French Garden | Botanica at Wichita Gardens, Wichita, KS

Konza Technolopolis: Technology City Landscape Framework Plan and Design Guidelines | Konza Technopolis Development Authority, Konza, Kenya 

Burwell Center | The University of Denver, Denver, CO

Community Commons Green Roof | The University of Denver, Denver, CO

AWARDS

Landscape/Planning Category) + 2024 Shortlist (World Landscape Architecture Awards: Built – Large Landscape Design Category)

Myrna H. Berger Children and Family Garden at the Desert Botanical Garden | 2019 Merit Award (ASLA - Colorado Chapter)

Sensory Garden at the Denver Botanic Gardens | 2018 Merit Award (ASLA - Colorado Chapter)

Myrna H. Berger Children and Family Garden at the Desert Botanical Garden | 2018 Honor Award (ASLA -Arizona Chapter )

Steppe Garden at Denver Botanic Gardens | 2016 President’s Award of Excellence (ASLA - Colorado Chapter)

Student Award of Honor | American Society of Landscape Architects, 2015

University Olmsted Scholar | Landscape Architecture Foundation, 2015

Jane Silverstein Ries Student Award | JSR Foundation, 2014

Outstanding Student | Landscape Architecture Department, University of Colorado Denver, 2014

Isa Catto Scholar | Anderson Ranch Art Center, 2005

Ritt Kellogg Grant Recipient | Colorado College, 2004

Outstanding Thesis | Art Department, Colorado College, 2004

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kate@didierdesignstudio.com

SENIOR DESIGNER + PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

BSLA (Environmental Studies + Studio Art minors) | University of Wisconsin-Madison

Michelle Britton is deeply committed to creating thriving and resilient landscapes. With seven-plus years experience in Landscape Architecture and Planning as a designer and project manager, Michelle roots her design approach in mindfulness, placing community and environmental stewardship at the forefront of the design process. Outside of work, Michelle's happy place is at a drafting table surrounded by markers and tracing paper, navigating ways to blend art, ecology, history, and site context in harmonious balance with the land.

PROJECTS

Chatfield Farms CDs | Denver Botanic Gardens, Littleton, CO

South Coast Botanic Garden | Palos Verdes Estates, CA

Auraria Ballfield | Denver, CO

Private Residence | Cherry Hills Village, CO

Highlands Ranch Senior Center | Highlands Ranch, CO

AWARDS

1881 Farm Park | 2023 WLA Award of Excellence: Concept - Large Design category (Superbloom)

Vina Apartments | 2022 Mayor’s Design Award (Norris Design)

Parrish Memorial Park | 2019 ASLA CO-WY Design over 500K Budget Merit Award (Norris Design)

2017 Wisconsin Chapter-ASLA Merit Student Award

Sigma Lambda Alpha (L. Arch.) Honors Society

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michelle@didierdesignstudio.com

DESIGNER

MLA | University of Colorado Denver

BA | English Literature | University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

Ella Reid is a designer and artist specializing in alternative materiality, distinctive and exploratory design, and expressive planting design. Equally engaged by native wild landscapes and dense urban spaces, Ella is an avid listener for the spirit of place in her work. Strong concept development, landform manipulation, and planting sensibility complement her passion for human-centric and ecologically responsible design. Ella is most in her element when creating and making: playing music, quilting, and painting are some of her favorite pursuits in addition to her passion for landscape design.

PROJECTS

Peace and Healing Garden | Auraria Campus, Denver, CO

South Coast Botanic Garden | Palos Verdes Estates, CA

Mediterranean/Lebanese Garden | ABQ BioPark, Albuquerque, NM

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park | Alamogordo, NM

AWARDS

Merit and Honor Nominee | American Society of Landscape Architects, 2024

Studio Excellence Award | University of Colorado Denver, Spring 2022

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ella@didierdesignstudio.com

SENIOR ASSOCIATE + DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY

MArch + MLA | University of Virginia

BSArch | University of Virginia

Susan Hughes enjoys the immediate, hands-on nature of working in the field and with clients, and the opportunities for collaborative solutions that this work affords. Susan's broad background in design – including 15 years experience in Landscape Architecture, Architecture, and Planning – has involved managing a wide range of complex public, institutional, and residential projects. Susan's strong sense of texture, scale, materiality, color, and detailing is informed by her love of nature and her hands-on custom construction experience.

PROJECTS

New Mexico Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park | Carlsbad, NM

The Habitat Gardens | Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, CO

Mediterranean/Lebanese Garden | ABQ BioPark, Albuquerque, NM

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park | Alamogordo, NM

Private Residence | Fort Collins, CO

Fisher Playground | Denver University, Denver, CO

AWARDS

Richardson Apartments, San Francisco, CA | Award of Excellence in Residential Design (National ASLA) + Merit Award in Design (Northern California ASLA)

Buhl Community Park, Pittsburgh, PA | First Place Winner (Pittsburgh Children's Museum Design Competition)

Community Chalkboard + Podium, Charlottesville, VA | Merit Award (Virginia ASLA) + Inform Design Award

McGuffey Park Restoration Design | Inform Design Award

D.O.E. Solar Decathlon | 2nd Place - Winner Design and Livability - Winner Energy Balance

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susan@didierdesignstudio.com

DESIGNER

MLA | University of Colorado Denver

BA | History + Theatre | University of California San Diego

Nick Patin is interested in the research, theory, and philosophy of the event of landscape. He often uses big picture, outside-the-box thinking, and silly play to explore different solutions to multi-scalar design components. Nick communicates his passion for the early design process--the fermentation, distillation, and idea play--to the field of landscape architecture through writing, research, design, and teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate level. Outside of work, Nick likes to bike, cook, road trip, hang out with his pets, have spontaneous adventures, and talk about interesting ideas.

PROJECTS

New Mexico Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park | Carlsbad, NM

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park | Alamogordo, NM

Mediterranean/Lebanese Garden | ABQ BioPark, Albuquerque, NM

Private Residence | Fort Collins, CO

Metro Caring | Denver, CO

Windsor Historic Homestead | Windsor, CO

South Coast Botanic Garden | Palos Verdes Estates, CA

The Edge III | Loveland, CO

Private Residence | Castle Pines, CO

Highlands Ranch Senior Center | Highlands Ranch, CO

AWARDS

Student Merit Award | American Society of Landscape Architects, 2017

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nick@didierdesignstudio.com

DESIGNER

MLA | University of Colorado Denver

MA | Modern American History | James Madison University

BA | History (Business minor) | Carroll College

Emily Beeson strives to make meaningful spaces by supporting vibrant ecological systems and engaging powerful, place-based, and trauma-informed design interventions. Her graduate research into how trauma-informed landscape architecture can support survivors focused on the mechanisms behind the therapeutic and restorative potentials of nature and beauty. She continues to advocate for the transformational potentials of landscape architecture in her design and marketing roles at Didier Design Studio.

PROJECTS

New Mexico Living Desert & Gardens State Park | Carlsbad, NM

Private Residence | Cherry Hills Village, Denver, CO

Peace and Healing Garden | Auraria Campus, Denver, CO

AWARDS

LAF Olmsted Scholar | University of Colorado Denver, 2024

Outstanding Graduate | University of Colorado Denver Landscape Architecture Program, Spring 2024

Student Honor Award | American Society of Landscape Architects, 2024

JSR Foundation Student Award, 2023

Jennifer Moulton Fellowship, 2023

Dana Crawford Endowed Scholarship, 2022

Studio Excellence Award | University of Colorado Denver, Fall 2021

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emily@didierdesignstudio.com

OFFICE MANAGER + MARKETING ASSISTANT

MH | Visual Studies | University of Colorado Denver

BA | Art History | University of Colorado Denver

Aimee Andrews is passionate about the transformative nature of art, visual culture, and design. Aimee specialized in digital cataloging, art historical research, and digitization for a digital teaching collection of art and cultural objects while working at the University of Colorado Denver. Aimee's creative acumen helps showcase Didier Design Studio's work by creating timely content for digital marketing pursuits. She provides integral, multi-faceted support to the DDS Team. Originally from the Texas Hill Country, today Aimee enjoys exploring the museums and restaurants of Colorado.

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aimee@didierdesignstudio.com