Among the typical college prep courses offered at Kris Bradner’s high school, something different piqued her interest.
The private school she attended in Woodbury, Conn., had a required vocational agriculture program, which included classes on landscape design taught by Eugene Wisniewski. His passion inspired Bradner.
While becoming a landscape architect wasn’t exactly a traditional career path, Wisniewski presented the subject matter as fascinating, impactful and something Bradner could continue to study beyond high school.
“He talked about it, showed us things, was interested in plants and how the landscape and design of open space affects people,” Bradner said of Wisniewski, who has since passed away. “He talked about the fact that we could go on and study this. He was instrumental in me looking at schools for landscape architecture.”
Bradner learned that she liked the professional aspect of the work itself, especially the problem-solving, the process required, taking charge and figuring out how to get goals accomplished.
“Leadership came out of all that,” Bradner said.
And she’s honed those skills over the years to become principal at Traverse Landscape Architects LLC in Providence.
Many who are not involved in the field may not realize the full scope of what landscape architecture entails, and the fact that many details can be involved that require a broad base of expertise, Bradner says.
Depending on the project challenges and location, landscape architects’ work can include site analysis, site inventory, site planning, land planning, planting design, grading, stormwater management, sustainable design, construction specifications, and compliance with building codes and ordinances.
On recent projects, for example, Traverse has enhanced education facilities with native vegetation that are habitats for birds and butterflies, producing project-based learning options; utilized salvaged granite from foundation work to keep a cohesive design; and integrated interior and exterior spaces.
All of it comes together to “enhance human experience through design,” with spaces to walk, gather, learn and co-exist with nature more effectively.
‘All throughout, I learned the type of work I wanted to do.’
KRIS BRADNER, Traverse Landscape Architects LLC principal
Bradner earned a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture at the University of Rhode Island before going on to work at four firms in the Baltimore area and then in Rhode Island from 1998 to 2011.
Each work experience offered rich rewards, in both her professional and personal life, she says. This period included time at a multidisciplinary firm, collaborating with engineers in the same building, which she had not previously experienced in her professional career.
“All throughout, I learned the type of work I wanted to do. My time at each firm was also long enough to really learn about that particular type of each scale of business,” Bradner said. “And my first job probably brought the biggest reward in the sense that I met lifelong friends.”
After moving back to Rhode Island from Maryland, she met Traverse co-founder Arthur Eddy. In 2011, the two started what is now Traverse Landscape Architects. In recent years, they’ve added a second location: When senior associate Justin Robertshaw moved to Iowa in 2019, it was decided he should open a satellite office for Traverse in Cedar Rapids.
The company now has 12 employees and works on everything from public parks and commercial properties, to health care facilities, hospitality projects, schools, athletic developments and more.
At the Castle Hill Inn in Newport, the firm designed an outdoor dining area – called The Lawn –overlooking the waterfront. The space was particularly challenging because of the steep terrain and rock below the soil.
When Rhode Island College built a new nursing building on its Providence campus, Traverse was hired to develop the landscaping plans.
Traverse has also worked on exterior spaces of other prominent school projects, such as the construction of the new East Providence High School and the Barrington Middle School.
In fact, schools, including public and private new construction and additions, now represent about 60% of its business.
Bradner is pleased with the firm’s growth over the last decade and she’s proud of the rich dynamics within the organization, based on relationship building.
She tells of the bonds the Traverse team forms with project partners and stakeholders, especially over the course of multiyear projects. She said this often means the ability to talk openly and honestly to an owner, reaching agreement on solutions to various challenges.
Internally, Bradner is committed to Traverse serving as a training ground. The organization is small enough that associates can work with more-junior team members and offer exposure on different kinds of jobs, Bradner says.
“That is my biggest reward,” she said, “seeing their confidence grow.”
