Future Green Studio

Nancy enjoys engaging with all aspects of landscape, including spatial design, historical research, writing, and work in the field.  She has designed a wide variety of projects at Future Green, ranging from urban interventions to residential backyards, from institutional site designs to detailed planting plans. She acts as a plant specialist at Future Green Studio, drawing upon her 15 years as a horticulturist and curator with Brooklyn Botanic Garden, developing planting palettes and concepts with her colleagues. She has contributed this expertise to such projects as the office’s publication SUP: Weeds in NYC, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum terrace garden, and day-to-day sourcing and work with nurseries.

When not at work, Nancy often joins the Torrey Botanical Society for field trips around the Tri-State Area, discovering new habitats and better understanding urban flora. She co-edits a small-run journal, Prospect, a forum to encourage playful and critical responses to central themes in landscape studies. She is also an occasional potter, printmaker, bookmaker, and weaver.

Nancy holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and a Master of Landscape Studies from the Bard Graduate Center, with an undergraduate degree in Art History and minor in plant biology from Smith College. While at the Harvard GSD, she received a Penny White travel grant to investigate afforestation in Iceland (2010) and spent a summer as a graduate fellow at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, DC studying American forestry practices.

Aaron Booher brings more than 18 years of international design experience to Future Green, where he continues to explore landscape design and placemaking as dynamic art forms that enrich people’s lives. A New York City resident for more than two decades, Aaron originates from a family of farmers in the Pacific Northwest’s Columbia River Gorge, where he developed a formative commitment to and respect for nature. He is passionate about urban horticulture and has travelled the world widely to experience and study indigenous landscapes, cultural landmarks, and sacred spaces. In his professional work, he strives to engage people with the living world around them through innovative and ecologically-sustainable design.

Aaron excels in balancing client priorities and project constraints with forward-thinking design solutions. His broad landscape design experience and horticultural knowledge, coupled with his creative and performing arts background, inform his approach to site planning and resilient urban design. He acknowledges his great mentor Merce Cunningham with teaching him how to “see” the possibilities of open space. 

Aaron has been lead designer and project manager for many award-winning public and private landscape projects at Future Green, including Whitman-Walker Health Center in Washington, DC and the South Downtown Master Plan in Atlanta, GA. Prior to joining the studio, Aaron was Associate Principal at HM White. His work garnered numerous honors, including for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center, The New York Times Garden, and many urban roof-garden developments. His work has been widely published in Landscape Architecture Magazine, Architectural Record, and Interior Design Magazine, among others.

Aaron holds a Master of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts from Sarah Lawrence College. He has served as guest landscape design critic at Penn Design. Aaron is a founding board member of Friends of the Elizabeth Street Garden and a member of the 6th Street and Avenue B Community Garden. He is also a NYC Parks Super Steward and certified Citizen Pruner for many NYC street trees.

David Seiter is the founding principal of Future Green, an award-winning landscape architecture and fabrication studio.  With over two decades of professional experience, David enjoys investigating the complex ecology of our cities and revealing the nuances of the urban landscape in subtle, poetic ways. A frequent lecturer, David has taught at Pratt Institute and the University of Pennsylvania and is author of Spontaneous Urban Plants: Weeds in NYC – a book about the overlooked ecological value of weeds in the urban landscape.

Winner of the prestigious Emerging Voices Award from the Architectural League of New York, David’s philosophy of urbanism is centered on the patchwork ecologies of our cities and how the priorities of people, plants and places overlap to create sustainable public assets.  David’s portfolio includes commissions for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Moynihan Station, Amant Art Campus and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. His work has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in a show called New York, New Publics and featured in numerous publications, including as one of Metropolis Magazine’s Game Changers in Urbanism.   He is a registered Landscape Architect.

Lois provides guidance on graphic production at Future Green and leads the design team on urban design and research projects. Lois applies her educational background in Art and Architecture – as well as more than sixteen years of professional experience in Landscape Architecture – to urban space across all scales, producing functional yet whimsical designs that nurture communities by promoting health and wellbeing.

In the studio, Lois explores varied mediums to communicate ideas through drawings, diagrams, mapping, and urban design games. Her graphic sensibility stems from her background in Fine Art, where she explored the value of visual communication, and developed a distinct style and a growing imagination for landscapes as a transformative journey through space. Lois’ background in conceptual art and her interest in collaborative practice bring a fresh perspective to urban planning and landscape design at Future Green. She is the lead designer for New Jersey Performing Art’s Center, Google’s new headquarters at St. John’s Terminal and Moynihan Station. Her contributions have led to numerous awards, including the Gallaudet University Masterplan, which received an Honor Award for Analysis, Planning, and Urban Design at the 2017 Potomac ASLA Awards.

Lois holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the Bartlett School of Architecture, London, and a Master of Fine Art from Camberwell College of Art, London. Her work has been published in international journals, including ‘scape Magazine and Landscape World.

Having lived in cities as varied as Baltimore, Hong Kong and Boston before settling in New York, Zenobia is motivated by a deep affection for the urban environment and is committed to the design of spaces that serve people and communities through beauty, access and ecological performance. She enjoys thinking about large scale landscapes and at the same time, drawing on a fine arts background, is passionate about craft and detail. 

 Zenobia has overseen a variety of urban projects at Future Green, including Atlantic Plumbing Residences in the post-industrial Northwest Quarter in Washington D.C. (Honor Award for Top Residential Design in DC, Potomac ASLA Awards 2017) and Gallaudet University Masterplan (Honor Award for Analysis, Planning, and Urban Design, Potomac ASLA Awards 2017). She has worked across all phases of design on a range of project types including public, institutional, and residential. Prior to joining Future Green, Zenobia practiced at Reed Hilderbrand New Haven where she contributed to a masterplan for the Mill River Trail with the City of New Haven and oversaw design, construction and planning for projects at the The Clark Art Institute and Yale University.

 Zenobia holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and Bachelor of Fine Arts with a focus in ceramics from Millersville University. Before earning her MLA, Zenobia managed the outreach program at the international gallery and non-profit, The Clay Studio in Philadelphia.

David Goldberg is the managing principal of Future Green Studio, where he plays a key role linking the firm’s design and fabrication wings. He is responsible both for the oversight of all installation projects the office undertakes, as well as managing all contractual, financial, and business development aspects of the firm. David keeps the office running smoothly and efficiently. He has over fifteen years of experience in project management and business development.

David has overseen over a hundred landscape installations and fabrication processes during his time at Future Green, ranging in scale from private backyards in Brooklyn to the rooftop of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. From this breadth of experience, David brings a wealth of material knowledge to the firm, contributing to projects that are both buildable and beautiful. From the initial consultation with the client to the final day of installation, he oversees the fabrication team, collaborates with designers, coordinates logistics and materials, and manages communication with the client.

David joined Future Green in 2011 and has been integral in helping the firm grow its capacity from start-up to present-day. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Pennsylvania State University and resides in Brooklyn, NY.

Max is the Director of Design- Build at Future Green, where he designs and oversees the construction process at projects of all scales and characters. As a designer, Max enjoys teasing out site- and client-specific characteristics to create vibrant spaces that perform socially and ecologically, while serving as models of craftsmanship and design.

Max’s experience designing, building and maintaining gardens in New England grounds his work in both functionality and quality. An extensive plant knowledge – stemming from years of landscape gardening – gives Max a close connection to the plant palettes he uses to enrich spaces. Experienced at shaping and combining materials by hand, Max understands the physical limitations and possibilities of stone, metals, and wood.

At Future Green Studio, Max facilitates a dialogue between designers and builders to enhance landscape details and streamline the construction process. Max appreciates how the design-build environment sparks rapid innovation, new construction methods, and material combinations. He is constantly involved in developing shop drawings and overseeing the construction process – both in the fabrication shop and on-site. With a commitment to craftsmanship and landscape details, Max serves as a final filter to make sure that Future Green delivers quality products that endure.

Max holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Massachusetts. 

Originally drawn to Landscape Architecture from interests stemming from sustainable agriculture, Morgan continues to enjoy the multitude of ways sustainability factors into landscape design and the potential for forward thinking design solutions to contribute positively to the constructed environment.

Having practiced in Washington D.C., New York City and London, England, Morgan has had the opportunity to grow his career through navigating the complex challenges evident across a diverse portfolio of project types and scales. Detail oriented and a generalist by nature, Morgan employs a broad skill set to work with clients and colleagues to realize the best possible outcomes for all projects regardless of what constraints may arise.

At Future Green Morgan is focused on participating in the collective design processes and critical problem solving required to successfully engage with the exciting body of work the Studio is building. He has invaluable experience working with private clients, city agencies and community stakeholders both locally and internationally.

Morgan has contributed to and been lead designer of a number of award-winning public-use and private landscape projects throughout his career, most recently including the Andover Estate Phase 1 in London, UK while employed by Fabrik, and the Hell’s Kitchen Garden Courts locally in New York City while employed by HMWhite. Morgan holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Green Mountain College. He is a resident of Brooklyn and enjoys visiting his family and friends in his home state of Rhode Island whenever time and occasion permits.

As a Senior Associate at Future Green, Anni’s work emphasizes pedagogical, ecological, and cultural values by manipulating the urban landscape so that people are able to perceive, enjoy, and learn from their environment. Anni's previous design experience supplies her with a multifaceted understanding of landscape, environment, and architecture, as well as a diverse skill set. Anni earned a Master of Landscape Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Bachelor of Environmental Art Design from the China Academy of Art.

Born and raised in the greater New York area, Brian brings 18 years of carpentry and construction management experience to Future Green Studio. Starting as Head Carpenter and Foreman in Future Green’s nascent stages, he helped build the construction and install side of the company from the ground up. After years of working as a Construction Manager for various construction and millwork firms, Brian returned to help develop and refine processes that will allow the construction arm of Future Green Studio to run more efficiently.

Sophie's interdisciplinary background in science and art led her to the field of landscape architecture, where her designs merge interests in theory, history, and ecological function. Prior to pursuing her MLA, Sophie worked in outdoor education, community organizing, and as a volunteer coordinator in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. Sophie earned her Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley, and her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Art History from Vassar College.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Hannah is a graduate of the International Culinary Center and worked as a Chef de Partie in several Michelin-star restaurants until she decided to make a career change. Her love of plants and nature brought her to Future Green Studio, where she now serves as Operations & Human Resource Manager. Hannah holds a professional Human Resources certificate from Cornell and is also a student at the City University of New York.

Yifan believes that public space should be designed equitably and sustainably, balancing the constant evolution of program in the urban environment with ecological concerns. Prior to joining Future Green Studio, Yifan worked as a landscape architect at firms around the New England Area, including MKM Landscape Architecture, New Rochelle, NY and Symbio Design, a design-and-build studio in Boston, MA. She has experience from conceptual design through construction administration in project types ranging from private residential to urban planning in the public realm. During her academic and professional practice, Yifan developed a broad range of interests in environmental science, public art, and sustainable design, all of which inform her approach to design. Yifan has a multidisciplinary background in both Landscape Architecture and Ecology. She earned her MLA from Rhode Island School of Design and her Bachelor of Science in Ecology from ECNU, Shanghai. Yifan is a licensed landscape architect in the state of New York and a LEED Green Associate.

Ariana believes that through design of vibrant social spaces, landscape architects can curate a sense of place within communities and improve quality of life. She has degrees in Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture, and is passionate about community-driven design interventions. After earning her MLA at The Ohio State University, she worked in academia as a lecturer, teaching history and studio courses. She continues to pursue her interests in research and design theory as she believes that ongoing exploration is necessary for design progress. Prior to joining Future Green, Ariana worked as an urban designer in Nashville, TN, where she oversaw the design and implementation of public space projects all over Tennessee, ranging from pocket plazas to citywide master plans. Public engagement and site-specific research are at the forefront of her design process; while working in Nashville she led neighborhood design charettes and public meetings to gain insight into the needs and desires of the local community. Ariana aims to honor the unique cultural history of each site and believes that landscape architects can aid in the remediation of social stratification through equitable design.

Clinton was born and raised in Puerto Rico and Grenada where he started his career working on marine tugboats. While living in Brooklyn, NY for the last 19 years, he has worked in construction, as a mechanic, and driving heavy equipment. As an installer at Future Green, Clinton's skill set make him a valuable part of the team whether it is onsite or in the fabrication shop.

Farasha is a Bangladeshi born landscape architect passionate about creating spaces that bridge the gap between human and non-human species in urban settings. She believes urban landscapes are a way of giving back the space humans have borrowed during this anthropogenic era and therefore hold a great responsibility of serving its non-human clients as equals.

Prior to joining Future Green Studio, Farasha worked as an architect and academician. Through her previous projects she practiced her beliefs in making socially just architecture. She organized design workshops which engaged design school students with vulnerable children who live off the streets of Dhaka in making public facing safe spaces for the vulnerable urban poor. Her understanding that public spaces in south east Asia needed to be more ecologically informed and her love for the non-human world led her to study landscape architecture and regional planning. During her terminal semester at the Weitzman School of Design at UPENN, she combined her beliefs and knowledge of deltaic landscapes to critique the existing sea level rise adaptation model aimed at the southwestern coast of Bangladesh for her independent study.   

Farasha holds a Master of Landscape Architecture and a Certificate in Urban Design from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her Bachelor of Architecture from BRAC University, Bangladesh.

Growing up between the northern forests of Rhode Island and the agrarian towns of Switzerland, Stefan developed an appreciation for land conservation, ecological function, and urban and rural public spaces. His multidisciplinary experience prior to joining Future Green ranges from designing temporary pocket parks to new cities around the world while working in the public and private sector. Stefan holds a Masters in Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. He also attended the University of Cincinnati where he earned a Bachelor’s of Urban Planning and was presented the Professional Achievement Recognition Award for an outstanding record in completing his multi-semester work placements. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, soccer, cycling, and hiking to lakes with his dog, Manny.

Born and raised in Guatemala, Manuel came to New York when he was 17. He joined Future Green Studio as a  planting installer in 2018 and has since honed his carpentry skills to become an essential part of Future Green’s fabrication team. He has worked on several iconic Future Green works including Rockefeller Center and the Rice Village Playhouse. Manuel loves working at Future Green Studio because of his coworkers and his passion for woodworking. In his free time, Manuel enjoys hiking, camping, and playing soccer and pool.

Growing up in the metropolitan area of northeast China, Xiaodong has witnessed numerous environmental issues caused by urbanization, isolating people from nature. While inspired by his father who is an architect, Xiaodong developed an interest in creative approaches to revitalize the urban environment. Xiaodong believes that landscape architecture has great potential to make an impact on the built environment and people's life, and he strives to explore ways to create resilient designs that could bridge the disconnect between communities and their surrounding environment. Xiaodong is always applying his passion and skills to his designs and professional work.

Xiaodong holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Landscape Architecture from Rhode Island School of Design.

Peaches is the Future Green office dog. She can be relied upon to keep dynamics in the office cheerful, as well as helpfully greeting all visitors and clients. Peaches is a golden-doodle who graduated puppy-training school with full honors; her interests outside the office include the scents of our city sidewalks, running in the park, and her growing collection of toys and bones.