Gerdo Aquino, FASLA, PLA
Gerdo Aquino is the firm-wide Co-CEO of SWA, an award-winning global practice operating at the leading edge of landscape architecture, planning and urban design. Comprised of 8 studios domestically and internationally, SWA’s mission is prioritize design as an equitable platform addressing the pressing issues facing our cities and towns. For over 25 years Gerdo has worked collaboratively with communities, public agencies, institutions and private developers in Los Angeles, and around the world, in shaping a public realm informed by natural ecosystems and guided by the current needs of our built environment.
Recent work includes a planning and design studies to transform Ballona Creek in Los Angeles into a multi-benefit corridor that brings equity to people, nature and infrastructure; urban design and resiliency planning for a 4km section of the Sava River Waterfront in Belgrade, Serbia; the development of a 400ac Connectivity Plan for the Port of Los Angeles and a new 300ac HQ campus for Walmart in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Gerdo is a licensed landscape architect in 8 states, holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and a Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. He has taught graduate design studios at the University of Southern California and the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and co-authored the research publication- Landscape Infrastructure: case studies by SWA, 2nd Edition.