Member Spotlight: Steven Lee
Steven Lee
Principal
SWA/Balsley
Education: Master of Landscape Architecture and Master of City Planning from University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts from Claremont McKenna College
ASLA-NY Board Member
Steven T. Lee is a landscape architect and urban designer based in New York City, with a passion for crafting meaningful and resilient public spaces. As a Design Principal at SWA/Balsley, he directs complex projects domestically and abroad including waterfronts, urban parks and plazas, and campus landscapes. His built work spans diverse contexts and includes notable projects such as Drexel Square in Philadelphia, the Ghayath Trail at Expo 2020 in Dubai, Trillium Park in Toronto, and 87 Park in Miami Beach. Steven engages closely with interdisciplinary teams, clients, and designers across experience levels to foster shared creativity and develop innovative solutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Claremont McKenna College and dual master's degrees in Landscape Architecture and City Planning from the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to practice, he has served as a lecturer at Cornell University and a guest critic at universities throughout the US.
What is YOUR story? What led you to a career in landscape architecture? When did you realize you wanted to become a Landscape Architect?
I started out in city planning and discovered landscape architecture as I became increasingly interested in shaping the public realm beyond policy making. As I had always been a creative person, finding landscape architecture was an "aha" moment for me as it merged my interest in cities and public space with art and design.
Sketch of Old Cairo (student work from UC Berkeley)
What project or work that you have done at any point in your career are you most proud of and why?
I've worked on many projects but what I'm proud of is the sheer breadth of project types and the diverse contexts in which I've worked locally and across the globe. I like to think that I bring a fresh perspective to every site while being sensitive to the local culture and environment, so that no two projects are ever alike. I have designed everything from private gardens in Florida to urban plazas in the northeast to entire city districts in the middle east. Our team just designed and built a NYCHA community garden in Brooklyn. With such diversity, the work never gets old.
What is your favorite outdoor space in the greater NYC area and why?
There are so many it's hard to choose. I love the elegance of the MoMA sculpture garden, the whimsy of Teardrop Park, and the grandeur of Rockefeller Center. I'm a little biased but I think Hunter's Point South Park is the best waterfront park in the five boroughs.
What do you do to de-stress, relax or escape?
Cooking is my meditation. I love spending an entire afternoon cooking an elaborate meal for family or friends.
Where do you go for inspiration or what do you find inspiring?
I often find inspiration in fine art, so visiting museums and galleries is a great way to expand my mind. I love modern and contemporary art as well as ancient art from around the globe. Also, traveling to different cities and studying how people use public space is a must for all landscape architects. People watching isn’t creepy, it’s educational!
What do you value most about your membership to ASLA?
Connecting and socializing with other landscape architects in NYC. Landscape architects know how to have a good time!
What else would you like us to know about you?
I have a passion for teaching and consider myself both a practitioner and educator. I am continually inspired by the next crop of designers who bring such optimism, creativity, and innovation to the work we do.