io landarch

GRASSROOTS DESIGN

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE + URBAN DESIGN
community revitalization

Io Landarch is a Landscape Architecture and Urban Design Studio specializing in community revitalization through historic preservation, creative placemaking, and outdoor recreation. Our work is focused on the continuation of regional narrative, weaving history, ecology, culture and meaning together for projects that evolve from and advance the spirit of the intermountain west.

  • HISTORIC

    Historic and Cultural Landscape documentation, preservation, and adapitve re-use.

  • CREATIVE PLACEMAKING

    Urban design with the arts, incorporating long-range planning with tactical urbanism.

  • OUTDOOR RECREATION

    Parks and trails with a focus on physical sport combined with access to nature for healthy communities

OUR WORK

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EXPERTISE

community revitalization from the ground up
Historic Preservation

The preservation and adaptive re-use of historic places results in places that are sustainable, but also inherently incremental, inclusive, and successful communities. Our research and advocacy focus on the culture, traditions, and stories from our shared past to provide connection, context, and meaning. Our work moves beyond isolated buildings to encompass historic districts, historic and cultural landscapes.

Creative Placemaking

Creative placemaking integrates the arts with both traditional and innovative urban design techniques to provide opportunities for creative individuals and organizations to thrive, create a sense of community, celebrate and build on the unique cultural history of an area, provide for the development of physical infrastructure including public art, and provide real economic returns.

Outdoor Recreation

Our designs for outdoor recreation result in powerful physical and emotional experiences that provide an impetus for the protection of our natural resources. The economy of the West is changing from an extractive, industrial (railroad) one to an intensive use-based one (outdoor recreation), that if sustainably managed can allow for continued use and preservation over time.

Residential

Every great community is comprised of neighborhoods and homes with history, context, and character. We specialize in residential design services for historic homes and in-fill development. We work with home-owners who want their yards to be ecologically friendly, waterwise, and offer localized food production.

Our Team

Shalae Larsen
Principal Landscape Architect
Shalae Larsen is Io Design’s Principal Landscape Architect, her unique design and planning perspective integrates a deep appreciation for indigenous landscapes and the vernacular of the west. Her design sensitivity is contextually based, and is applied through years of practice as a licensed Landscape Architect. This combined with Shalae’s Masters Degree in Architecture from the University of Utah, makes her particularly well suited to leading diverse teams to create successful places.
Brent Potter
Lanscape Architect
An Associate Landscape Architect at Io, Brent brings 8 years of professional experience along with valuable project management and construction expertise to the Io team. A native of rural Pennsylvania, Brent gained an early appreciation for riparian and wetland ecologies growing up along the shores of Lake Erie. Brent has a BA in Landscape Architecture from The Pennsylvania State University.
Tonya Randall
Intern
Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, Tonya is a Graduate student Utah State University in her final year of study. Her thesis focus is on 3D Modeling and communication in Landscape Architecture. Tonya has a particular interest in streetscape design and ecological friendly parks and open spaces. Her Undergrad was in Psychology and she spent 3 years working with patients and learning about impactful healing environments and spaces.
Jake McIntire
Artist | Collaborator
Jake McIntire is a designer, entrepreneur, strategist, and creative problem solver working at the intersections of business, art, design, and urban theory. Jake is the founder of Union Creative Agency. He holds an MFA in Collaborative Design with an emphasis in Social Entrepreneurship and Urban Theory from the Pacific Northwest College of Art. Jake has dedicated himself to exploring urban transformation and he believes that art is among our most powerful resources in creating better cities.
Kristen Clifford
Planner | Collaborator
Kristen is a professional planning consultant whose expertise includes 7 years as a municipal planner working to preserve community character and the environment while facilitating the rapid growth and redevelopment of communities. She is working to create places for people to value and respect their surroundings and their community. Kristen has a Bachelors degree in Urban Planning at the University of Utah, Cum Laude.
Rhonda Lauritzen
Historian | Collaborator
Rhonda Lauritzen is a professional biographer specializing in placemaking, oral history, and personal stories. She is the founder of Evalogue.Life, regularly presents on the power of sharing true stories, and is the author of multiple books. In addition, Lauritzen has served as a public relations director and senior Vice President at the Ogden-Weber Technical College. Before that, she was CEO of her family’s business, which inspired first book, Every Essential Element. That unexpected memoir began her personal journey into storytelling.
Cimarron Chacon
Trail Collaborator
As a veteran in the Trails Industry, Cimarron has been influencing public policy, design, and opportunity for recreation since 1998. Trained as a Landscape Architect, she began her career with the BLM in St George, Utah. As her passion for mountain biking increased she moved into the private sector and worked on natural surface trail master planning and design projects around the country. Cimarron now owns & operates GRO, a trails and race consulting and promotion company.

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