Slater Associates Inc. (SAinc.) was hired by the Columbia Association to work with the Symphony Woods Task Force led by Cy Paumier. Members include Don Hilderbrandt, Robert Tennenbaum, Michael Reimer, Charlie Bailey, CA Staff and Howard County Planning and Zoning represented by Bill Mackey. The task force was formed to design a new, environmentally friendly Concept Plan for Symphony Woods Park.

Paumier, Hildebrandt and Slater each brought plans to the table for review at monthly task force meetings from January through April 2009. SAIinc. consolidated and refined the plans and ideas from each of the meetings. Once the plans were solidified, SAinc. was responsible for designing the Power Point show and preparing the initial design of the brochure produced for public presentations.

John Slater and Cy Paumier presented the Concept Plan at community meetings on September 16 and September 26, 2009. To see more details and to watch their presentation online, click on the links below.

http://www.explorehoward.com/news/65553/symphony-woods-let-there-be-light-food-water/

http://www.columbiaassociation.org/SymphonyWoods/symphony.html

Boarman Passes the L.A.R.E.

Adam Boarman, of Slater Associates, Inc. has recently passed the Landscape Architecture Registration Exam and become a Registered Landscape Architect with the state of Maryland.  Boarman, a Penn State alum, has been employed by the Columbia, MD based firm since 2005.  Over that time, Adam has been involved with the design of numerous parks, plazas, and campus improvements including a proposed $2.5 million park in downtown Ocean City, MD.

Working in conjunction with Bonstra Architects, Slater Associates developed a Master Plan for the renovation of the historic Gage School property, and it’s conversion into multi-family housing. The Master Plan was prepared with special sensitivity to the historic importance of the school building as the oldest standing black school in Washington, DC.

Oprah Attends Ribbon Cutting for Slater Designed Peace Garden

On Saturday, October 21, 2008, the Mayor of Rockville, City Council Members, Park and Recreation officials, Slater Associates representatives and an estimated 1,500 friends and supporters gathered for the dedication of the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park in Rockville, Maryland. The ribbon cutting ceremony and unveiling of Mattie's statue took place at the Slater Associates designed Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peace Garden. Oprah Winfrey attended the event as a special surprise for Mattie's mother, Jeni Stepanek, taking the stage with the words, "I'm here because I loved my guy Mattie."

It is Slater Associates' wish that that this space and the essence of Mattie's wisdom will serve as a place of respite and rejuvenation for the many people who visit. More importantly, by experiencing this park it is hoped that visitors will embrace Mattie's messages of harmony and peace, carry these forward when leaving the park, and make choices that will create their own legacy for life and for our world.

For more detailed information on the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park and Peace Garden, please see please see our featured project.