Landscape Architect Articles

Meet Jolene Rieck PLA, ASLA10-22-15 | Feature

Meet Jolene Rieck PLA, ASLA
Women in Landscape Architecture

Meet Jolene Rieck PLA, ASLA

Jolene Rieck established Peaks to Plains Design in 2003, and is the principal landscape architect. She grew up on a farm in South Dakota and is still engaged in farming and agricultural land production. Jolene has been a practicing landscape architect in Montana for over 15 years, working from the prairie to the Rockies, forming a knowledge base for Peaks to Plains.

Jolene is recognized as a leader in her profession and an active community member. She is the past president and trustee of the Idaho/Montana ASLA, past president of the Zonta Club of Billings, Mont., and a member of the Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota Recreation and Park Associations. She has been recognized locally as recipient of the "40 Under 40" award, for influential people under 40 years old.

Jolene has diverse experience in project management, community planning, design development and construction administration. She has worked successfully with multiple disciplines including architects, engineers and public agencies. Her clients include private landowners as well as public entities. Jolene defines a successful project as one with a creative solution that is fiscally responsive and technically achievable.

Firm
Peaks to Plains Design, Billings, Mont. Mont. license #184LAR; Wyo. license #LA-0073C; N.D. license #8; S.D. license #10075

Education
BLA with an emphasis in Natural Resource Management, North Dakota State University; B.S. in Environmental Design with a minor in Earth Science, North Dakota State University

Honors
Western Business "40 Under 40" Award

Professional Affiliations
Past Trustee, ASLA
Past Chair, ASLA Licensure Committee
Past President, Idaho/Montana Chapter ASLA
Past Chair, Yellowstone County Historic Preservation Board
Member, NRPA
Member, North Dakota, Montana & Wyoming Recreation & Parks Associations
Member, Irrigation Association
Member, Association of Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals
Member, American Planning Association
Member, Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority
Past President, Zonta Club of Billings

Certifications
CLARB Certified Landscape Architect #6980

Pictograph Caves State Park, Yellowstone County, Mont.

Peaks to Plains Design developed a natural-appearing, low-water landscape for the new visitor's center at Pictograph Caves State Park in Yellowstone County, Mont. The firm provided construction documents for the site's grading plan, pedestrian trails, reclamation plan and irrigation design. Local boulders were integrated into the pavement and placed near the foundation of the building, resembling an emergent rock outcropping. The Billings Gazette commented: "The building seems to grow out of the hillside landscape designed by [Peaks to Plains Design]." The boulders were also used to disguise a water-catch system in which no gutter or visible drain outlets are present. The plant selection reflects the existing ecosystems, only using plant species native to the area. The overall construction cost, including the new visitor center, was $812,000.

Trout Meadows Apartments, Bozeman, Mont.

The Cattail Lake Subdivision in Bozeman, Mont., consists of over 40 acres dedicated to single-family, multi-family and townhome development. Of that acreage, approximately 18 acres is dedicated to park and open spaces, including a 10.9-acre lake. Peaks to Plains Design served as the project landscape architect. Cattail Lake, which was formerly a gravel pit, provides aesthetics and recreational activities, including fishing. To attract tenants to the project, Peaks to Plains Design enhanced the lake by designing a boat launch area and a dock along with parking and picnic facilities. Working with Vaughn Environmental, the lake and adjacent creek received additional mitigation measures with vegetation enhancement and some grading to more closely emulate natural conditions. The Cattail Creek corridor is enhanced with recreational trails, benches and unprogrammed open space. Immediately surrounding the multi-family units is low-maintenance landscaping. Taking into consideration tenant safety, aesthetics, microclimate changes and conversation areas, the project includes several trees and planting beds. The irrigation system is sourced from ground water wells and the efficient design is part of the overall strategy for water conservation. A small playground serves the needs of tenants with young families.

Castle Rock Splash Park, Billings, Mont.

Castle Rock Park in Billings, Mont., is now a popular summer destination for citizens in and around the community. Peaks to Plains Design designed a fun and attractive aquatic facility that recycles the water. The project was a catalyst for other activities to take place in the park, like festivals and concerts, while serving the needs of the adjacent neighborhood.

Williston Parks and Recreation District, North Dakota

The Williston Parks and Recreation District (WPRD) in North Dakota is experiencing the sudden and large onset of impacts from the Bakken oil boom. However, the district has a stable funding structure through a one-cent sales tax, which is generating over $10 million annually. The citizens have indicated parks are their priority. Peaks to Plains Design was hired to review park amenities, prepare designs for new improvements and provide budgetary estimates to six parks. The scope of work included inventory through land surveys, soliciting input from residents and preparing schematic plans and design development drawings so that the park upgrades could be budgeted. The parks range in size from a 2-acre neighborhood park to a 136-acre natural resource park with a spring-fed lake. The proposed designs include new roadways, ball fields, trails, special event areas, picnic shelters, rentals, a tubing hill, ice hockey, Frisbee golf, mini-golf and parking lots. The improvements range in costs between $250,000 and $600,000. The WPRD Board has approved the plans; construction is scheduled for 2016. The district was a finalist for the 2015 NRPA National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.

Bozeman Gateway, Bozeman, Mont.

Since 2006, Peaks to Plains Design has been a part of a design team to develop Montana's first "lifestyle" commercial center in Bozeman. Known as "The Bozeman Gateway," the project encompasses 72 acres of land area as a commercial planned unit development. It includes mixed use retail/office/entertainment and hotel development parcels. Situated along Highway 191 at the west entrance to the city, the project team wrote development standards that highly exceeded the already stringent standards of the Bozeman Unified Development Ordinance and the Entryway Corridor requirements. Peaks to Plains Design authored the landscape design standards, which include the treatment of stormwater run-off. In phase one, Peaks to Plains Design provided some of the initial design concepts for the bridges and surface water conveyance systems. The developer used custom laser-cut metal work in the bridge detailing, which earned the team the 2009 Beautification Award for Inviting Entryways.

Q&A

1. What was the pivotal or motivating factor(s) that made you choose a career in landscape architecture?
I have had a lifelong interest in art, which was fostered from an early age by my parents, who were avid collectors and art enthusiasts. My love of art has woven its way through my career. I felt intrigued and inspired to explore landscape design as a way to creatively express myself.

2. What in particular do you attribute your success to?
Hard work and perseverance, but also luck, flexibility and daring to take chances. I have always surrounded myself with talented and creative people who inspire and energize me.

3. What career advice would you give to a recently graduated landscape architectural student?
My advice would be to avoid getting stuck in the wrong spot. The profession is growing so substantially and has so many interesting facets and directions. Follow your passion and find the right fit for you.