Crowley Cottrell
In 2011 Michelle Crowley and Naomi Cottrell came together to form Crowley Cottrell, a landscape-architecture practice grounded in professional respect and friendship. They shared a desire to own the creative process and decisions, and they wanted to change the way they worked within the design and construction industry.
After 35+ years of combined experience, they found that being considered a “nurturing” person within this industry—usually equated with being a woman—was thought of as a weakness. They see it as a strength and have made it a principle of their practice. Nurturing relationships are central to how they approach staff, clients, and contractors. They strive to have their core values—integrity, inclusivity, approachability, and fun—translate from design to the completed work.
Crowley Cottrell’s vision is to improve quality of life and to promote gender equality and environmental stewardship on all projects. With a broad portfolio—including parks, campuses, cultural institutions, multi-family housing, and private residences—Crowley Cottrell consistently brings clarity to complex sites to create beautiful, approachable landscapes for living.
Statement: We are honored to be included in this powerful group of 100 women to jump-start the fundraising campaign for the Oberlander Prize. Lacking direct female mentorship within our own landscape architecture careers, we are committed to mentoring the next generation of women and men from a feminine point of view. We take particular inspiration in the generous and nurturing way Cornelia Hahn Oberlander practiced—her openness to a project developing without ego or predetermined style, her focus on ethics and social responsibility, and her advocacy for children and play. That The Cultural Landscape Foundation has named this prize after one of landscape architecture’s female pioneers aligns perfectly with our firm’s vision for the future of the profession.