August 9, 2016 — Weber Thompson is pleased to welcome Rachael Meyer PLA, GRP, LEED AP as new Landscape Architecture Principal. Rachael has over thirteen years of experience with public open spaces, residential amenity spaces, and streetscape design. She will lead Weber Thompson’s Landscape Architecture Design Studio, working on a wide range of the firm’s residential, commercial office, and affordable housing projects.
Catherine Benotto AIA, ASLA, LEED AP BD+C, the firm’s Landscape Architecture Principal for over fourteen years, will be retiring on September 15th. Catherine started at Weber Thompson in 2002, and rapidly ascended to a leadership role in the firm. She was promoted to Principal in 2007, and has been instrumental in building the firm’s portfolio of landscape architecture, urban planning and community design projects.
As the firm’s first LEED AP, Catherine launched Weber Thompson’s Green Team, which instituted green business practices and incorporated sustainable features in many of the firm’s projects. That Green Team effort lead directly into the design and construction of The Terry Thomas, an AIA COTE Top 10 award-winning project which was designed by and for Weber Thompson. She also worked with the US Green Building Council on LEED for Neighborhood Development and had two projects certified under that Pilot program.
During her fourteen years at the firm, Catherine lectured extensively and served in more than a dozen public service capacities. Most recently, she was appointed to Mayor Murray’s Housing Affordability and Livability Advisory Committee, a 28-member group tackling Seattle’s rising housing affordability crisis. She served four years on the Seattle Design Review Board and six years on the Seattle Planning Commission. With the Commission, she helped prepare the action agenda “Family Sized Housing” which was a culmination of her “Where’s the Family in Multi-Family” research, writing and lectures.
Weber Thompson Senior Principal Kristen Scott says “Catherine has been an integral part of the firm for the past fourteen years. Her commitment to public service and great design has made her an esteemed member of our team. Her unrelenting desire to impart positive change in our community has inspired the next generation of leaders both inside and outside our firm. We are truly grateful for her commitment to making our city more equitable and sustainable. Identifying a replacement was challenging, but we are looking forward to working with Rachael to build upon Catherine’s legacy.”
Rachael Meyer comes to Weber Thompson from Berger Partnership, where she was project manager for The Bullitt Center’s Living Landscape as well as McGilvra Place Park, the first Living Park. During her career, she has worked on a variety of residential, commercial office, mixed-use and public open space landscape designs, with a focus on projects in the Puget Sound region. Rachael was one of the first accredited Green Roof Professionals in the country and has been a leader in green roof design in Seattle. She received her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and a BA in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Washington, where she was a Mary Gates Scholar.
Rachael has lectured and presented extensively about her work. She has spoken at the Washington Association of Landscape Architects Annual Conference, the Living Future UnConference, and the AIA Seattle Water Forum. Rachael has authored numerous articles on topics including Living Building landscapes, urban agriculture, water management strategies and green roofs.
At Berger Partnership, Rachael spearheaded numerous research efforts, and was part of the team that received an Honor Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects for their research ‘Productive Neighborhoods: A Case Based Exploration of Seattle Urban Agriculture Projects’. In 2008 she was awarded the Unsung Hero Award from the King County Housing Development Consortium for her work with Architects Without Borders and Habitat for Humanity.
Catherine and Rachael will work side by side until September to ensure a smooth transition for the team and the firm’s current Landscape Architecture projects, which include: the dynamic landscape at Nexus, a new condominium tower in Denny Triangle; the landscape at Fremont Living Office Building; the roof deck and streetscape at LUMA, a nearly completed condo tower in First Hill; and construction administration for the streetscape and multiple roof decks at 970 Denny, a 440’ residential tower under construction in South Lake Union.
About Weber Thompson
Seattle-based Weber Thompson is a full service, West coast design firm specializing in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and community/urban design. This award winning company has a staff of more than 70 design and construction professionals, housed in the celebrated Terry Thomas, a LEED NC Gold certified office building in South Lake Union. Since 1988, Weber Thompson has developed a diverse practice with projects that include high-rises, high-density urban infill, residential, hospitality, affordable housing and commercial office projects. Weber Thompson seeks effective results through a thoughtful and collaborative design process. For more information go to www.weberthompson.com or contact Weber Thompson at (206) 344-5700 or info@weberthompson.com.
