Maria S. Smithburg
Maria Smithburg’s experience in landscape architecture over the last thirteen years has ranged from master planning to completed projects, such as urban parks and residential gardens. While working at the Chicago Park District from 1988 to 1992, she was responsible for presenting her projects at public meetings and working with community groups. Prior to working in public service, she spent her time designing commercial and institutional landscapes for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, based in Chicago, Illinois, and for Walker-Kluesing Design Group of Boston, Massachusetts. She has been running her own practice since 1992 and is currently working on gardens in the Chicago area, as well as in Harbor County, Michigan. Ms. Smithburg’s interest in the arts and her architectural background allow her to better understand the relationship between buildings and open space within an artistic context. Her academic pursuit has involved teaching landscape design theory at the University of Illinois in Chicago from 1988 to 1992. She taught garden design courses at the Chicago Botanic Garden from 1993 to 1994, focusing on landscape elements that provide the opportunity for personal and cultural expression. Ms. Smithburg has lectured at the Chicago Botanic Garden, The Arts Club, and numerous garden clubs in the Chicago area. She received her B.Arch. from the University of Buenos Aires and her M.L.A. from Harvard University. She currently serves on The Cultural Landscape Foundation’s Stewardship Council.
Statement: I was very impressed with Cornelia when I heard her speak at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Her work was so inspiring, and I saw in it qualities that I saw in the gardens of Beatriz Farrand, another pioneering woman in the field of landscape architecture. In my practice, I always strive to follow her interest in ecological concerns and cultural disciplines to bring a unique, timeless aesthetic to my landscape projects. I have also admired Cornelia’s seminal role in the evolution of Modernism in landscape architecture, and I recognize that her influence is key to future practitioners. I made this donation to help bring awareness of the work she has done to generations to come.