I used to study fish. Funny thing was, through researching the impacts of land use on aquatic habitats, I learned more about how people live on the land than how fish live in the water. Now, as a landscape designer, I strive to help people live a more sustainable life on the land. We spend so much of our lives traveling from one destination to another on tired roads and highways. That's why I am excited about my work at Alta. We get to imagine and build healthy ways for people to move around and experience our cities, neighborhoods and environments. Through our work we create beautiful and inspiring places so people can feel good about where they live.
Emily Duchon is a LEED© Accredited Professional with a strong portfolio of bicycle, pedestrian, and trail master plans and trail and park designs. Emily’s creativity, energy, and eight years of experience in ecological design give her the tools to create vibrant open spaces and transportation networks in communities. She brings a diverse skill set to her work including abilities in geographic information systems, conceptual and schematic design, digital visualization graphics and construction document development. Emily’s ability to conduct successful community outreach efforts is a valuable asset for building project support and community investment in Alta’s projects.
Recent Projects
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Mojave Riverwalk (Victorville, CA)
The Mojave Riverwalk is a unique 9-mile trail following the Mojave River in southern California’s High Desert. The project includes alignments through rare High Desert riparian areas, historic Route 66 sites and a rail-with-trail segment through The Narrows, a dramatic canyon. Emily’s work includes agency coordination, design of trailheads and waysides including a sustainable planting plan, and construction documents.
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Santa Clara River Trail Master Plan (Oxnard, CA)
Alta is developing a master plan for a bicycle and pedestrian trail along the southern bank of the Santa Clara River. Emily is involved in developing a thorough existing conditions review, an analysis of gaps and geographic impediments, public outreach, a standards and safety review, and implementation program.
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Glen Cove Waterfront Nature Area (Vallejo, CA)
Alta prepared the construction documents, obtained the permits, and created the Vegetative Management Plan for Glen Cove Waterfront Park in Vallejo. Tasks included preliminary site plans, construction document preparation, permitting support and consultation, and agreements assistance. Emily’s various roles on the project included designing site elements and construction document production.
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9th Street Bicycle Boulevard (Berkeley, CA)
Alta is working with the City of Berkeley to design a safe and functional bicycle-pedestrian multi-use pathway that connects the 9th Street Bicycle Boulevard to the south City Limit, including mid-block crossings on City streets. This pathway will meet Caltrans approval, and attract use and interest from local bicyclists and pedestrians and regional bicycle commuters. Emily participated in schematic design and construction document production.
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Culver City Bicycle and Pedestrian Initiative (Culver City, CA)
Alta led the Culver City Bicycle and Pedestrian Initiative from concept to initial implementation. The final products of the initiative included the development of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, a bikeway pilot project, and the development and implementation of various education and encouragement programs. Emily designed roadway improvements to implement a bicycle boulevard for the pilot project.
Awards
- International Federation of Landscape Architects, Jury Award
- ASLA Student Merit Award
Selected Presentations
- National Brownfields Conference 2008, Time and Space as Dynamic Elements in Brownfield Landscape Planning
- Michigan Planning Association’s Conference 2007, Mobility Options Incorporating Safe Routes to School Principals, a Walking Audit, Traverse City, Michigan
- 2nd National Low Impact Development Conference 2007, LID on Brownfields
