World Landscape Architecture Month Spotlight - Bruss Landscaping
As we celebrate World Landscape Architecture Month, we’re shining a light on the talented professionals who bring outdoor spaces to life. First up: Bruss Landscaping, our premier landscape design firm based in Wheaton, IL.
With a team of five skilled landscape architects and designers, Bruss Landscaping has been creating stunning, functional landscapes for over 70 years. But what drives their creativity? What inspires their designs? And what trends are shaping the future of outdoor spaces?
We sat down with the team to hear their stories—how they got started, their design philosophies, favorite projects, and the materials and trends they love most. Read on to get to know the minds behind Bruss Landscaping’s exceptional work!
What inspired you to become a landscape architect/designer?
Enjoying the combination of being outdoors and interacting with people.
How would you describe your design philosophy in one sentence?
Minimalist
What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on and why?
It was for a young couple with a growing family who loved to entertain(pictured above). It had many unique challenges. Used new materials. Developed new relationships. Won regional and international awards. But most importantly cemented a long term relationship with high quality people and their growing family.
What elements or materials do you love incorporating into your designs?
Firepits, natural stone, and low maintenance plants.
What trends in landscape architecture/design excite you the most right now?
Native plantings and the appreciation for outdoor living spaces.
Who has been a major influence or mentor in your career?
Andy & Carol Kehl, Arnie Kroeze, Eric Bruss, Jerry Prochnow, Amber Kehl, Steve Kehl.
Anything else you’d like to share about your journey or the field of landscape architecture?
We are blessed to work in an industry that is heavily influenced by relationships. It allows a continuous blend of math, science, nature, people and technology to the point that there is never a dull moment.
What inspired you to become a landscape architect/designer?
A passion for the outdoors since childhood, married with my first summer job at 18 being working in landscape building walls and patios for a paving business and getting hooked on seeing the ability to transform people's properties and see them enjoy those spaces.
How would you describe your design philosophy in one sentence?
A harmony of land, architecture, and client that provides a sense everything being one cohesive vision.
What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on and why?
Reworking the grounds at the United Methodist Church of Geneva with an emphasis on native plantings and low-impact solutions for long term sustainability.
What elements or materials do you love incorporating into your designs?
Natural stone. Particularly natural cleft full range bluestone. Reclaimed pavers or cobbles from old streets where appropriate.
What trends in landscape architecture/design excite you the most right now?
Stormwater management including rain harvesting and permeable basing changes in methodology.
Who has been a major influence or mentor in your career?
Bob Hursthouse
Anything else you’d like to share about your journey or the field of landscape architecture?
It's been a ride that's really allowed me to work in so many facets of the business that there's constantly something to learn and dive deeper into in ways that make this job endlessly challenging yet rewarding.
What inspired you to become a landscape architect/designer?
I grew up and spent a lot of time at the Morton Arboretum and have always had a love for plants and design.
How would you describe your design philosophy in one sentence?
My landscape design philosophy centers around selecting plants and materials that work with the existing environment to create sustainable, beautiful outdoor spaces.
What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on and why?
I loved working on a historic home in Naperville (pictured above), where we preserved the historic integrity while creating a functional outdoor space for the homeowners.
What elements or materials do you love incorporating into your designs?
I love finding homes for plants I love and hope will thrive in each landscape I design.
What trends in landscape architecture/design excite you the most right now?
The rise of nativars! I love native plants but also appreciate the beauty and diversity of cultivated varieties.
Who has been a major influence or mentor in your career?
My colleague, Lindsay Buchalski, has been a wonderful mentor, sharing her expertise and guidance throughout my career.
What inspired you to become a landscape architect/designer?
I have always been drawn to nature and horticulture, with a propensity for art and illustration. When I learned of the Landscape Architecture program, I knew I had found my calling.
How would you describe your design philosophy in one sentence?
The most important way to approach design is with the ears; listening to clients' needs and translating those in a tangible and thoughtful way provides the greatest path forward.
What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on and why?
My favorite project here at Bruss was concepting an outdoor entertaining space for a growing family that doubled as an outdoor classroom (pictured above). This project is being installed later this Spring, with phases continuing into 2026. The idea of creating a space with multiple uses and engaging young children, was considerably special to me, as I am also a mom of curious young kids.
What elements or materials do you love incorporating into your designs?
I love finding unique uses for ordinary objects and incorporating natural stone elements into designs, wherever possible.
What trends in landscape architecture/design excite you the most right now?
I'm very excited to see that the public is engaging in the protection of pollinators and is starting to request pollinator-friendly spaces as a part of their design program.
Who has been a major influence or mentor in your career?
The relationships I've built with other suppliers and contractors within the industry have been the biggest influence in my career. I have had the opportunity to learn from each of their respective fields, whether that be in supplying and selecting hardscape materials, procuring plants and getting the grower's perspective, or from peers who are learning from challenges in the field and sharing them.
Anything else you’d like to share about your journey or the field of landscape architecture?
Landscape architecture encompasses many, many different experiences, from a diverse, ever-growing industry. There is a solid career path forward for just about any individual who has a passion for the outdoors, design, technology, or construction. I am thankful I have found this path, as I have had many, many rewarding experiences and expect to continue to do so in the future
What inspired you to become a landscape architect/designer?
I enjoyed technical drawing classes while in high school. While undecided my Freshman year of college, I met with the Landscape Architecture department and was interested in the combination of detailed drawings with the natural environment.
How would you describe your design philosophy in one sentence?
Horticulturally, I prefer to design plants in large swaths to help heighten the impact from the plants.
What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on and why?
We had an opportunity to redesign and update a corner lot. It was awesome to have two "front yards" to work on, while still making the entire property feel cohesive. We also incorporated a secluded area for the family to gather and enjoy their outdoor living area away from the busier sidewalks and streets.
What elements or materials do you love incorporating into your designs?
I think large shrubs and small ornamental trees are underrated and I always try to find space for them in my planting plans. I find designers tend to focus on the two ends of the planting spectrum, either large impressive structural trees, or the ground plane perennial plantings but they might miss out on the impact of human-scaled plantings.
What trends in landscape architecture/design excite you the most right now?
While it might not be a design trend, I'm excited that clients and homeowners are investing more into their outdoor experiences at home. Homeowners are smartly moving away from large, unused expanses of lawn and opting to utilize their newly found square footage in a more impactful and enjoyable way. For some it's an outdoor kitchen and dining area, for others it's a flower and pollinator garden.
Who has been a major influence or mentor in your career?
I've been fortunate to work with many great crew leaders and crew members during my time in the industry. The crew is where the rubber meets the road and I tend to learn the most from my conversations and time spent with those team members. The way they approach their work, their interactions with client, and the respect they give to the job, project, and each other is great to learn from.
Anything else you’d like to share about your journey or the field of landscape architecture?
The industry has a lot of different opportunities through sales, design, production and suppliers. It is interesting how varied careers can be while still having an impact.