Building vibrant communities while preserving nature

Ecological Landscapes

Ecological function guides our work, from wild places and agricultural farmland, to urban environments. We seek to preserve greenfields and restore ecological systems through urban forests, green infrastructure, bioswales, green roofs, and urban parks.

Our emphasis on ecological function delivers wide-ranging benefits, including:

Reduced urban heat island effect through vegetative cover
Improved air quality
Reduced runoff
Stormwater management, filtration & infiltration
Expanded wildlife habitats
Pollinator-friendly plantings
Water-wise site improvements
Opportunities for human connection to nature
Passive solar heating & cooling strategies for buildings

In our home state of Utah, these efforts are closely tied to thoughtful water use. A diverse palette of native and climate-adapted plants allows us to reduce water demand while supporting a broad range of ecosystem services.

We collaborate with cities and organizations such as Utah Water Ways to advance landscapes that conserve water while contributing to the health and resilience of the broader ecosystem.

Prioritizing ecological health in every design choice

Our Expertise

Our design approach revolves around preserving and enhancing ecological vitality.

We meticulously consider the geological, hydrological, and ecological intricacies of each site we work on, striving to minimize disruption.

Green Infrastructure

We champion development that seamlessly incorporates green infrastructure.

Native Landscapes

By strategically selecting native and drought-tolerant species, we mitigate urban heat islands, foster wildlife habitats, and promote pollinator-friendly environments.

Let's Talk

Would you like to find out more about our process, and how to work with us? Follow the link below to answer a few questions about your project and we’ll reach out to you with more information on next steps.

Highlighted Projects

Oasis Community Garden

Women's Council Butterfly Healing Garden

Project Information

What Clients are Saying...

It was such a great pleasure working with Shalae and Io LandArch on not only one but two Extreme Makeover: Home Edition builds. She was able to listen, and hear, our needs as the client, quickly turn around a clear, cohesive plan, and execute that plan and vision during the install of the landscape. The final landscaping product truly complemented the architecture of the house and successfully blended traditional garden motifs with contemporary styling and modern amenities.

Andy Monaco

Io LandArch has successfully provided a variety of services for Ogden City - from documenting historic landscapes to preparing the master plan for a major redevelopment project. Io created the design concept for the Ogden Business Exchange, a redevelopment project that is transforming a historic but vacant stockyard into a state-of-the-art business park. Io's design weaves in the rich history of the site and it's proximity to natural amenities to create a truly unique sense of place.

Sara Meess

Project Coordinator, Ogden City Business Development

Io has been a tremendous help to the City of South Salt Lake as they have worked over the years to help plan and design numerous city buildings and parks. We are grateful for this consistency and reliability as we complete many projects in phases. Io's attention to detail and quality and willingness to listen to our needs ensures we are always happy with the end product.

Sharen Hauri

Urban Design Director, City of South Salt Lake

Ogden Contemporary Arts were lucky enough to work with Io LandArch on our outdoor sculpture park, PLATFORMS. Shalae was critical to pulling off this community project. She offered their services as an in-kind donation and even went as far as recommending volunteer options, as we are a nonprofit with limited funds. The outcome was astonishing. What was once a lot of overgrown weeds, chain-link, and trash, is now a welcoming park scattered with beautiful native plants and whimsical winding pathways. Ogden is lucky to have such a community-oriented landscape architecture firm in our community.

Venessa Castagnoli Executive

Ogden Contemorary Arts

Io LandArch worked with me over the course of a winter to develop the ideas I had for my yard and the vision I had for living in it. They added artistic and historical elements that are appropriate for the style and time period of my house. I appreciate their monitoring of the installation process so that the end product was as successful as the exciting plans suggested it would be. I am really happy with the results!

Amelia Jones