Lisa DuRussel, ASLA, LEED AP, RLA

Clinical Associate Professor of Practice and Engagement in Landscape Architecture
University of Michigan, School for Environment and Sustainability, Landscape Architecture


Raised in a family of farmers in rural Michigan, Lisa developed a formative respect and commitment to the sophistication and complexities of nature at a young age.

As a practicing landscape architect and educator, Lisa draws from 15 years of professional design experience where she has led the design and implementation of award-winning projects that innovate on ecological design. Her practice, Site Science, places focus on research-based design and implementation strategies that integrate deep ecological design principles into forward-thinking functional and experiential landscapes. Through the craft of exploration, experimentation and cross-disciplinary study, Lisa’s work amplifies collaborative action with deep community engagement. 

Lisa has held project leader positions with established design firms: Unknown Studio Baltimore, West 8 New York, Future Green Studio Brooklyn, MNLA New York, and Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects Chicago. She currently collaborates with Unknown Studio on green infrastructure and urban afforestation initiatives in Baltimore and with Horizon Geospatial on geodesign-based community engagement workshops around the country. 

Her work has been published for the Landscape Architecture Foundation, and in Landscape Architecture Magazine, World Landscape Architecture, and Metropolis POV. Lisa received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy and her Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Michigan.