Klavon Design Associates

There must be a landscape architect on staff at the Onion.

Check out this great article on Pittsburgh's role in the underground railroad, featuring our design for Market Square. When designing the plaza, we were astounded by this little-known history, so we felt compelled to celebrate it by integrating the guiding constellations into our design. Hopefully, our city can find more opportunities celebrate these forgotten histories and heroes.

The Margaret Morrison Reflection Garden at Carnegie Mellon University is adjacent to the historic Margaret Morrison Hall. The iconic structure experienced frequent flooding in the past, so the university sought a solution that would not detract from the campus's aesthetic. The garden is actually one massive bioretention cell capable of intercepting hundreds of thousands of gallons of rainwater, which would otherwise flood the building. The result is a beautiful and functional gathering space that showcases green infrastructure as a viable and sustainable method of stormwater management.

Klavon Design is proud to announce that #MarketSquare is being recognized by the American Planning Association (APA) as one of Pennsylvania's Great Public Places! "Congratulations! The PA Chapter of the American Planning Association (PA-APA) is pleased to inform you that Market Square was designated as one of the 2015 Great Places in Pennsylvania in the category of Great Public Spaces."