About

What we are

LVF is a certified women-owned landscape architecture firm committed to designing beautiful and enduring public spaces.

To do so, we approach our projects by understanding the people that use the spaces, the local environment and the broader landscape systems. We are energized by collaborating on large teams to tackle complex public projects, and our access to the cutting edge research through our connection to the University of Virginia, allows us to work smarter and faster.

During the design and construction phases, we lean on our experience building over $750 million in public and private work to think creatively in terms of constructability and costs for our clients. Our passion for creating great environments, filled with imagination, innovation, and sustainability, is what drives LVF for success.

LVF is a certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) by the New York State Department of Economic Development, the NYC Department of Small Business Services, and the Port Authority of NY/NJ, and a certified Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). We are licensed to practice landscape architecture nationwide and are a certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE) by State of North Carolina.

Who we are

Alexia Friend - (alexia@lvfla.com)

Alexia is a gifted designer and collaborator, working closely with clients, stakeholders and allied professionals to generate creative planning and design solutions. She brings over 15 years and $400M worth of built work experience. Alexia has led ambitious landscape projects, elevating them through design excellence and technical execution. Her portfolio ranges from large urban parks in NYC to University campus master planning. Her leadership and knowledge inform every step of LVF’s project development. 

Alexia holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Maryland Honors College. She remains engaged in academia as a guest lecturer and visiting studio critic. Currently, she is a member of the Village of Great Neck Architectural Review Committee. Prior to LVF, Alexia was a Senior Associate at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. and a designer at DLANDstudio in Brooklyn.

Mike Voelkel - (mike@lvfla.com)

Mike’s design perspective is informed by his upbringing in the San Francisco Bay Area, shaped by both Architecture (Colorado) and Landscape Architecture school (Cornell), grounded in his extensive material knowledge, and comes alive with his expertise in plant sciences. He excels at the management of large multidisciplinary teams, overseeing some of the most technically complex projects. With over 17 years of experience and $400 Million worth of built projects, his portfolio ranges from residential gardens to public parks and large infrastructure projects.

Mike holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from Cornell University, Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Colorado and is a LEED AP. Currently, Mike is an Instructor at the New York Botanical Garden, a board member of the NYS Council of Landscape Architects, and a visiting studio critic at Cornell University. Prior to LVF, Mike was a Senior Associate at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc.

Michael Luegering - (michael@lvfla.com)

Michael provides the technical analysis and design guidance on coastal resilience for the firm’s waterfront projects. In his past work, he has worked on strategic planning and design projects including the Rockefeller Foundation’s Structures of Coastal Resilience, as well as water-driven designs along the Lake Erie Shoreline in Buffalo, NY and the Trinity River in Dallas, TX. Currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia, Michael has been able to continue his academic research in coastal resilience and plant adaptation through funding with the USDA-NRCS.

Michael holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Urban Planning from the University of Cincinnati. Prior to LVF, Michael was a Senior Associate at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. and a Lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania.

Isabel Lewis - (isabel@lvfla.com)

Isabel is an integral member of the LVF team, providing designs for a range of projects, from intimate gardens to regional-scale master planning. Her work is guided by a drive to understand the interplay between culture and ecology, balancing environmental sensitivity with a careful approach to community values and interests. Outside of the office, she can be found collaging, painting, and identifying every street tree she sees.

Isabel holds a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from Harvard University, where she received the Penny White Fellowship to examine the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted’s designs for healthcare campuses. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from Reed College, receiving the Fellowship for International Travel to document relationships between light and architecture in the Arctic. Prior to joining LVF, Isabel was an Editor at Pairs Magazine and a Studio Assistant at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc.