For more than 40 years, Stimmel Associates has been shaping the Southeast with a blend of landscape architecture, civil engineering, planning, and urban design in one team. Stimmel has always believed that great design begins with people, and that every project is an opportunity to strengthen community life. Stimmel's history is rooted in transformation. With a portfolio of award-winning projects like Innovation Quarter, Quarry Park, and Merschel Park, they've shown how design can honor history while igniting new energy for the future. Collaboration drives their philosophy, as they partner with cities, institutions, developers, and community members to listen first, design boldly, and deliver solutions that are both visionary and practical. Sustainability and equity are at the core of their practice, ensuring that the spaces they create are resilient, inclusive, and welcoming to all. Stimmel doesn't just design landscapes, they create places where stories unfold, connections thrive, and communities flourish for generations.


Innovation Quarter; Winston-Salem, NC

Once part of a booming tobacco industry, the Innovation Quarter (IQ) has been reimagined as a mixed-use hub for biotechnology, education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship. Since 2008, Stimmel has provided master planning, civil engineering, and landscape architecture services for more than 30 projects within IQ. The initial infrastructure and streetscape design served as the catalyst, relocating utilities underground and transforming one-way streets into pedestrian-focused corridors with lighting, trees, and public amenities. Recognized with a LEED Platinum Certification, North Carolina ASLA Urban Design Award, AIA Excellence in Sustainable Design Award, the NCDOT Mobi Award, and as one of the National Trust's "Ten Remarkable Preservation Wins," Innovation Quarter exemplifies the transformative power of design. Photo Credit: Innovation Quarter




Bailey Park; Winston-Salem, NC

Bailey Park is a 1.6-acre green space at the heart of IQ. Officially opened in 2015, the park provides essential open space for residents, employees, and students while serving as the social and cultural core of the district. The design integrates a covered stage, food truck court, restrooms, seating areas, and flexible open lawns that support daily use as well as large-scale programming. Circulation improvements, including ADA-accessible connections and integrated stairways, strengthen walkability and connectivity between nearby destinations. Recognized with the AIA Winston-Salem Merit Award and the Downtown Excellence Award, the park has become a catalyst for downtown revitalization. Photo Credit: Innovation Quarter

 


Long Branch Trail; Winston-Salem, NC

Long Branch Trail is a 1.6-mile multi-use greenway that reclaims an inactive NCDOT/PART railroad corridor, transforming it into a vital pedestrian and bicycle link through IQ. Opened in 2018, the 10-foot-wide elevated path provides safe, accessible connections between nearby neighborhoods, downtown retail, and miles of regional greenways along Salem Creek and Salem Lake. The project features four new pedestrian bridges along with plazas, outdoor seating, landscaping, signage, and both site and color-changing LED lighting. The trail was strategically designed to maintain future commuter rail potential. The project was recognized with the 2019 NCDOT Mobi Award in the Innovation Category and an AIA Winston-Salem Award. Photo Credit: Innovation Quarter




Morganton Courthouse Square; Morganton, NC

Completed in 2022 as a $2.7 million investment, the Morganton Courthouse Square redesign reinvigorated the square with 1.7 acres of flexible lawns, a permanent amphitheater stage with integrated restrooms and storage, and updated infrastructure. The footprint of the former jail is outlined in paving and stone walls, salvaged jail doors reimagined as art, and two historic Meridian Stones preserved as focal points marking true north. Artist Miki Iwasaki's stage backdrop is crafted from local salvaged wood. Sustainable features include a stormwater biocell, ADA-compliant access, underground utilities, and new landscaping. The project earned the 2023 APA Great Places Award - A Great Transformation and the 2024 North Carolina ASLA Urban Design Award. Photo Credit: Stitch Design Shop




The Coal Pit at Bailey Power Plant; Winston-Salem, NC

Once a coal storage pit and power plant, this sunken industrial remnant has been transformed into a vibrant outdoor courtyard at the heart of IQ. The Coal Pit now serves as a multi-use gathering space framed by century-old concrete walls, restaurants, and a brewery. Stimmel converted the space into a LEED-certified native garden, integrating layers of stone, geotechnical fabric, and carefully selected plantings to manage water and ensure long-term resilience. By day, the Coal Pit offers shaded seating and garden views for employees and students; by night, it becomes a lively destination for dining, concerts, and community events. Photo Credit: Doug Rice




Merschel Park; Winston-Salem, NC

Opened in April 2023, Merschel Park is downtown Winston-Salem's newest civic space and a lasting tribute to long-serving city council member Wanda Merschel. The one-acre park delivers much-needed green space and incorporates public art, sustainability, and infrastructure upgrades into a cohesive urban destination. The design integrates shaded seating, open lawns, and native landscaping with two kinetic sculptures by Lyman Whitaker. Merschel Park has quickly become a beloved gathering place for residents and visitors, enhancing downtown's walkability and cultural vitality. The project was recognized with the 2024 Downtown Excellence Award and 2025 Community Appearance Award. Photo Credit: City of Winston-Salem




The Quarry at Grant Park; Winston-Salem, NC

The Quarry at Grant Park transforms a 228-acre abandoned granite quarry and city yard into one of the city's most distinctive recreational destinations. "The BOOM" is a 108-foot observation pier that projects over the quarry lake, offering panoramic views the surrounding area. Amenities include a 2-acre greenspace, an amphitheater, a comfort station, overlooks, and a 1.25-mile greenway. A mining-themed playground features a 40-foot climbing tower, a corten steel shelter, and pollinator gardens. The project has earned the 2018 North Carolina Community Appearance Award and 2019 AIA North Carolina Honor Award. See LASN's August 2024 Playgrounds Issue for a full-length feature on The Quarry at Grant Park! Photo Credit: City of Winston-Salem

As seen in LASN magazine, October 2025.