Kelly R. Carr has rejoined William D. Warner Architects and Planners in Exeter, where she served as a project landscape architect for the Providence River and Route 195 relocation projects. She is now project landscape architect for the I-195 relocation and assisting in the completion of site work for GTECH’s headquarters in Providence.
PBN: What is the role of a landscape artist?
CARR: Landscape architects design the outdoor environment that relates to buildings and nature. I’ve concentrated mostly in urban and park design. It is rewarding to help make places that many people can enjoy.
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PBN: What is your specific involvement in the GTECH and I-195 relocation projects?
CARR: The site design of the GTECH headquarters was already under construction when I came back to work in March; my role has mostly been in approving materials actually used in construction. From 1992 until 1996, I worked on illustrative plans and the landscape concept for the draft and final environmental impact statement report [for I-195], which presented and evaluated three alternatives. … When the Hurricane Barrier Alternate was approved, we began Phase 1, which consisted of the environmental plan submissions. … We then began Phase 2, the actual construction documents. The first contract, the South Water Street Riverwalk, was under construction when I left in 2001. The Providence River Bridge is now being constructed, and we are submitting advanced drawings the area from Cohen Boulevard to South Water Street and the I-95 corridor from Point Street to Broad Street. Our office has worked closely with the engineers at the Maguire Group and RIDOT on the highway and secondary road alignments and their relationship to the land and urban environment. We have also worked on the architectural treatment of bridges and walls.
PBN: What has it been like, watching these formative projects unfold?
CARR: They are two very different projects – but each one, exciting. Both are very prominent and important to the urban fabric of Providence.
PBN: What were you doing during your absence from Warner?
CARR: I feel very fortunate that I was able to leave work in 2001 to spend more time with my family. Upon returning this spring, I was able to come back to the same project! That is very unusual in this field.
