W.M. Whitaker & Associates (WMWA) is a landscape architecture practice based in Chattanooga, Tennessee committed to providing high quality, regionally significant planning, site design, project administration and consulting. We strive to create designs of integrity that are timeless, serve the needs of clients, enhance the well-being of all living things and honor our philosophy.
Our work reflects an extensive knowledge of ecological systems, the built environment, fiscal responsibility and a collaborative design process. We are passionate professionals with a meticulous attention to detail and dedicated to finding and respecting the larger project architectural vision. WMWA works at a wide variety of scales and projects and believes this diversity keeps our skills honed. We work closely with clients to understand their sites, address concerns, tackle challenges and exceed expectation.
Our firm philosophy is influenced by the diversity of personal interests and professional experiences of the members of our office. While our philosophy is flexible enough to adapt to any kind of project type, we honor our commitment by advocating for designs that promote placemaking, sustainability, and collaboration. Our philosophy is based upon these three principles:
We begin each project with the same question: what makes this place unique? This line of inquiry ultimately inspires design concepts that reflect our analysis of the ecological and cultural systems that underline each project site. This process often reveals a deeper narrative that unites people with place and creates opportunities for us to explore and learn with our clients. We believe that the richest designs reflect the natural and vernacular aesthetic of a place, and we devote a great deal of attention to achieve that pursuit. From narrative development and conceptual design to material selection and site details, we have found that the most meaningful projects are the ones that thoughtfully accentuate the inherent beauty of place.
In a world threatened by rapid climate change and declining rates of species biodiversity, we believe that every design must be directly met with an approach that prioritizes sustainability. We think that the most sustainable designs are often the most ecologically and economically efficient. Sustainable designs are more resilient to change, often require lower initial cost, result in reduced maintenance, and always provide lower life cycle costs. At the outset of each project, we work closely with our clients to identify and incorporate these potential benefits into their projects.
We believe in a collaborative design process that values individual expression and professional expertise. Very rarely do we work in isolation, as we often partner with architects, artists, engineers, scientists, and clients to create spaces that are designed and built by the hands of many. We strive for a collaborative process that promotes an ongoing dialogue between partners—where everyone can openly and honestly express their ideas. When a design challenge falls outside the purview of landscape architecture, we make every effort to include the most qualified professional consultants to assist us in providing a safe and functional solution.