RGS Through the Seasons:  Three Perspectives on Landscape Architecture

Like the spaces they create, landscape architects progress through distinct phases of growth:

• Newly designed sites offer potential and excitement, mirroring the enthusiasm of beginners finding their footing in the profession.

• Maturing landscapes require knowledgeable stewardship as they develop character and fulfill their purpose, like proven professionals who balance technical expertise with growing leadership.

• Established spaces stand as living legacies, sometimes needing renewal while showcasing the designer’s original intent, reflecting the perspective of veteran landscape architects who’ve witnessed their creations mature over decades.

In celebration of World Landscape Architecture Month, we spoke with three of RGS Associates’ landscape architects, whose stories illustrate how careers in the field evolve, flourish, and leave lasting impacts on the built environment.

The Enthusiastic Newcomer:  Finding a Place in the Landscape

Lindsey Anderson joined RGS Associates’ Lancaster office just nine months ago after graduating from Penn State’s landscape architecture program. Growing up on a farm in Lancaster County, Lindsey was naturally drawn to the profession.

“I was looking for a career path, and landscape architecture definitely stuck out to me because it was very involved in the sciences, but also very artistic and design-oriented,” Lindsey said.

Her introduction to RGS came through a networking connection—a friend’s mother who worked at RLPS, a Lancaster, PA-based architecture firm that frequently collaborates with RGS. The culture immediately drew her in.

“I just fell in love with RGS,” Lindsey said. “It’s such a great community. It is so personality-oriented.”

As an entry-level site designer, Lindsey crafts conceptual designs, performs feasibility studies, and researches zoning ordinances, all vital groundwork upon which successful projects grow. She particularly enjoys creating illustrative site renderings, which are less technical versions of plans that include added color and texture to help clients and townships visualize the end result once built.

One project she’s especially excited about involves designing these types of renderings and graphics for informational displays about wetlands and basins on a property development. “I’m working on a signage component that explains what the site is, who lives here, and some simplistic graphics about things like the water cycle or pollination,” she said.

Lindsey said it’s exciting to take the theories she learned in college and apply them to real-world scenarios. At the same time, she said she’s been surprised by the complex legal restrictions that sometimes shape these projects.

“I had never even heard of a setback before, which I know sounds crazy,” she said with a laugh. “But I’ve learned so much over the last nine months—real applications, not just educational exercises. It’s been wonderful.”

Looking ahead, Lindsey said she is eager to continue developing her skills under the guidance of her colleagues. She’s particularly focused on expanding her knowledge of planting design and site grading and further refining her graphic abilities and rendering techniques—all skills she’s learning from her mentor, Adam, and the other talented designers at RGS.

The Seasoned Professional:  Cultivating Growth and Leadership

Twelve years into his career, Jacob “Jake” Krieger serves as a Project Manager in RGS’s York office, where he oversees multiple projects for the York and Harrisburg areas, including early education centers and age-restricted communities. His professional life has bloomed in recent years. While he still maintains deep roots in the design work he loves, Jake has taken on more of a leadership role.

“I’m currently mentoring another team member right now,” he said, “and I’m enjoying helping him develop professionally.”

Jake juggles various project types simultaneously—from 90-acre senior living communities to early childhood education centers with specialized play areas. He finds particular satisfaction in creating spaces that positively impact children. For these projects, he has drawn inspiration from his five kids, who have sometimes served as unwitting test subjects.

“I’ve tested a couple design elements on them,” he said with a smile. “One time it was these steppingstones made from logs I was thinking of using in a project. I made my own at our house and had the kids test them out for spacing to see how wide they should be, so they don’t tip over.”

His projects typically span three to four years from initial planning through construction.

“There are ebbs and flows,” he said. “Our industry is based around deadlines. You know, deadlines for clients, deadlines for construction, deadlines for townships – they all have their deadlines that we have to meet.”

Despite the occasional pressure, Jake said his work/life balance is great, and he derives tremendous satisfaction from creating functional spaces that quietly serve their users.

“I love the impact we get to have on sites,” he said. “Sometimes it almost goes unnoticed, but that’s OK. Sometimes having an easy solution that nobody notices is the best part.”

The Distinguished Veteran:  Mastering the Built Environment

With 44 years in landscape architecture, Bernard “Bern” Panzak brings a wealth of experience to RGS Associates’ Paoli office. As an RGS Principal, his career is deeply rooted, broadly influential, and still growing in new directions.

Unlike many who discover the profession during their college years or later, Bern recognized his path early. Without truly knowing where it would lead, applying to enter the Landscape Architecture program at Penn State seemed right. Combining his passions for art, design and technical (yes) hand drafting, Landscape Architecture provided an opportunity to learn and grow into a lifelong career.

“It’s rare for a kid to put their finger on something that early, and then 44 years later realize that they were really darn close to the sweet spot,” he said.

Throughout his career, Bern has witnessed seismic shifts in the profession – from manual drafting with T-squares and ammonia-based blueprints to sophisticated digital modeling. He said he vividly remembers those freshly printed blueprints.

“The whole print room was like an ammonia factory,” he said with a chuckle. “Probably not good for anybody’s health.”

Among his most meaningful projects was an entrance design for a historic cemetery. While it’s just one of the hundreds of projects he’s done over the years, it’s one of the few that he revisits periodically.

“The gates were fabricated in Covington, Kentucky, then shipped to us,” he said. “The stonework of the supporting piers and wall, the wrought iron fence, the ornamentation – I’m really proud of how sensitive the design was to the historic cemetery.”

For Bern, one of the most profound joys of a long career is seeing how projects like the cemetery entry mature over time. Watching saplings grow into shade trees and seeing spaces develop their own character is quite gratifying. It is only now, he said, after four decades in the business, that he can truly appreciate it.

“I pull into places, and I know we planted those trees,” he said. “There is tremendous satisfaction that comes from seeing a project realized.”

When asked what advice he would offer those just starting out in the industry, Bern emphasized the importance of maintaining a sense of purpose and a love for the craft throughout the inevitable challenges.

“The biggest driver, and the best advice, is to hold on to the passion for what you do, and know that it is making a difference,” he said. “Unlike a lot of professions, landscape architecture allows you to see the tangible impact of your projects over time.”

The Seeds of Wisdom

Though they stand at different points along their career paths at RGS, Lindsey, Jake, and Bern share a common foundation: creating meaningful spaces that connect people to their environment. From Lindsey’s fresh perspective to Bern’s tested wisdom, their journeys demonstrate how the field of landscape architecture uniquely blends science with art, technical precision with creative vision, and immediate impact with long-term legacy.

“Our designs impact people, whether they realize it or not,” Jake said. “I try to instill that mentality into everything I do. I want to create designs that work the best for the site, the clients, and the people who will be impacted.”