Richard Arentz, ASLA
Richard Arentz is the founder, Principal and lead designer of Arentz Landscape Architects. For over two decades, Arentz Landscape Architects has developed a consistent body of enduring and award-winning work. As a boutique firm with regional offices in Washington, DC, Warrenton, VA and Rochester, NY. Focusing on residential and select institutional design, Arentz is committed to consistent design quality, process, and implementation. Arentz emphasizes lifelong stewardship of the gardens and environments that they create and the relationships that they develop.
Richard’s agrarian roots formed his connection to the landscape at a very early age. Growing up on a farm he observed from an early age the impacts of weather, the cycles of the seasons and the interconnectedness of man to nature. He was given the freedom to explore, study and sketch the natural and cultivated landscape. After graduating from the Pennsylvania State University with a B. S. in Landscape Architecture, his first day of work was in Heidelberg, Germany. This first experience led to other firms and opportunities with incredible mentors.
His skills of observation were further honed by opportunities to work in 14 different countries, with a great variety of new landscapes to discover. Projects ranged from resort development in Tunisia, to NATO facilities in Iceland, to embassies in Uganda and Peru, to spending a year living and working on a new government center in Tokyo, Japan. The experience of immersion into those varied landscapes, cultures, and environments has enriched the vocabulary that informs the very detailed residential work he now focuses on. Richard’s work is frequently published and has been recognized with many awards from professional groups and publications. Richard received the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Pennsylvania State University, College of Arts and Architecture. He has served on design juries and lectured at Penn State and Garden Clubs throughout the metropolitan area and in England.