27.4.11

Remarkable Landscape Architects



Thomas Balsley

<http://www.tbany.com/>


Thomas Balsley, FASLA, is the principal designer of Thomas Balsley Associates, best known for its practice of landscape urbanism within our public parks, which make evident Thomas Balsley’s deeply held belief that our parks are among society’s truest forms of democracy.
Thomas Balsley’s reputation has been built by creating public spaces that enhance and enrich the lives of the individuals and communities who inhabit them. His practice includes design at a range of scales, including landscape architecture, urban design and site planning. With over 35 years of experience, a broad and balanced portfolio of award-winning attests to his ability to manage the intricacies of the public review process, multiple client interests and challenging budgets and schedules without compromise to design quality.
Mr. Balsley is a graduate of Syracuse University and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. His lectures and teachings have extended to universities around the world including Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, the University of Pennsylvania, the National Building Museum and Seoul National University.
Among a number of local and international works, his notable projects include Leeum Museum in Seoul, Gate City Park in Tokyo, Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles as well as Gantry Park, Riverside Park South and Chelsea Waterside Park, in New York City. Recent international design competitions won include the Magok Waterfront and the National Ecological Center in Korea, and Kasumi Plaza in Tokyo. In New York City alone, Mr. Balsley has designed more than 100 public parks and plazas; In an unexpected gesture of recognition for Mr. Balsley’s contribution to New York City’s public realm, a park he designed on 57th Street was renamed Balsley Park in his honor.








Balsley Park in New york























Gantry Plaza State Park in Queens, NY












Chelsea Waterside Park in New York, NY


















Capitol Plaza in New York, NY