Starr Whitehouse

Creating vibrant, accessible, and resilient parks and public spaces is at the heart of what we do at Starr Whitehouse. For municipalities, community groups, and private developers in New York City, we design everything from intimate neighborhood pocket parks to expansive state park restorations and dynamic urban plazas. Our process begins with deep community engagement and site analysis, ensuring the design reflects the unique identity, history, and needs of the people who will use it.We integra...

In the dense fabric of New York City, the streets and public right-of-way are critical social and ecological infrastructure. Our urban design and streetscape planning service transforms corridors into complete, multi-modal, and green environments. We work with city agencies, BIDs, and private entities on master plans for streets, bikeways, and lighting that improve safety, accessibility, and aesthetic cohesion.Projects like the Union Square Streetscape and Lighting Master Plan or the Manhattan G...

With increasing climate challenges, proactive resiliency planning is essential for coastal and waterfront communities in New York City. Starr Whitehouse specializes in designing landscapes that adapt to and mitigate flood risk, sea-level rise, and erosion while enhancing public access and ecological health. Our work ranges from large-scale regional plans like the East Shore Shoreline Parks Resilience Plan to constructed projects like the Halletts Point Esplanade.We employ nature-based solutions—...

Educational institutions, corporate campuses, and cultural facilities in New York City rely on their outdoor environments to support mission, wellness, and community. Our campus design service creates cohesive, inspiring, and sustainable landscapes that serve as outdoor classrooms, social hubs, and restorative retreats. We collaborate closely with facilities teams, administrators, and user groups to understand programmatic needs, from wayfinding and gathering spaces to sustainable site utilities...

We are a landscape architecture and planning firm working across New York City for communities, institutions, and developers. Our projects range from shoreline restorations and daylighted streams to public plazas in dense neighborhoods. We bring together design, ecology, and engineering, and we stay involved from first concept through approvals and construction. Our work is grounded in the history and needs of each place, and we see ourselves as facilitators who help shape the public realm. If y...

Streets, sidewalks, and public rights-of-way shape daily life in New York City, and we plan them as both social and ecological infrastructure. We prepare master plans for streets, bikeways, and lighting for city agencies, business improvement districts, and private clients. Our goal is safer, more accessible corridors that work for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike, with green infrastructure built in to capture stormwater and reduce heat. Our planners know the local codes and approval pro...

Coastal and waterfront neighborhoods in New York City need landscapes that can handle flooding, rising seas, and erosion. We design resilient edges using nature-based approaches such as living shorelines, wetland restoration, and careful grading that protect infrastructure while keeping the waterfront open to the public. Our process starts with a vulnerability assessment and includes stakeholders in imagining a safer future. We then develop phased strategies that can be built over time. Our regi...

We design parks and public spaces for municipalities, community groups, and private developers across the city. Projects range from small neighborhood pocket parks to large state park restorations. Each design begins with community engagement and a close study of the site, so the result reflects the people who will use it. We choose native plantings that support local ecology, durable materials, and stormwater systems that work with the landscape. We aim for spaces that are beautiful, easy to ma...

Former industrial and contaminated sites can become valuable public land, but they require careful planning and coordination with environmental requirements. We work on brownfield redevelopment across New York City, shaping sites into parks, plazas, and open spaces that suit their new use. Our team considers soils, drainage, and planting conditions from the outset, and we coordinate with the agencies and consultants involved in remediation. We help clients move through the approvals process and...

New York City's waterfront is one of its most valued public assets, and we design it to be both accessible and ecologically sound. Our waterfront work includes esplanades, edges, and access points that connect neighborhoods to the water while managing flood risk. We combine habitat restoration with careful grading and materials chosen to withstand tides and weather. We work with city agencies, community groups, and property owners to develop plans that people will use for years. Our team has del...

Schools, corporate campuses, and cultural institutions depend on their grounds to support learning, wellness, and community life. We design campus landscapes that work as outdoor classrooms, gathering places, and quiet retreats. We work closely with facilities teams, administrators, and users to understand how the space will be used, from wayfinding and seating to utilities and habitat. Our designs use durable materials in high-traffic areas, accessible paths, and planting that is practical to m...

Residential buildings in New York City need outdoor spaces that residents can enjoy and that are practical for management to maintain. We design courtyards, rooftop terraces, entry landscapes, and shared open space for multi-family housing projects. Our approach balances comfortable seating, play areas where needed, plantings suited to the site, and stormwater management that meets city requirements. We coordinate with architects, developers, and building operators from early design through cons...