Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Riverdale, Washington DC

 
In his nearly 20 years in government and environmental and landscape design consultancy, Christian Gabriel has elevated the prominence and practice of landscape architecture in the delivery of large-scale public design projects, policies, and programs. His early work at prominent landscape design practices informed his later efforts to establish more sustainable landscape policies and practices in Federal government and regional park systems. During his nine years with the US General Services Administration (GSA), among his many accomplishments were incorporating SITES certification standards into all of the agency's capital projects; establishing a Landscape Analytics program linking design goals with field-verified performance achievements; and authoring design performance standards for all nonmilitary federally focused site-based construction. He also essentially realigned GSA's design discussion from one centered exclusively on architectural expression to one focused on integrated design. His new role focuses on transforming the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission, responsible for more than 30,000 acres of land around the nation's capital. An award-winning writer and designer, Christian Gabriel has broadened the scope, expertise, and influence of the profession nationally and internationally.