Business Details
Award-Winning Landscape Architecture Services
Founded by Jade Cummings and Kellie Connelly, two educators in landscape architecture, Terraink is an award-winning firm dedicated to professional practice, responsive design, and employee mentorship. We merge our passion for evolving communities, equity, and creativity with a commitment to enjoying the design process alongside clients and teams. As a WBE/DBE-certified firm with licenses across five states, we offer services including site analysis, master planning, construction documentation, and visual assessments for commercial, institutional, municipal, and residential projects. Our collaborative approach ensures high-quality outcomes while fostering positive impacts on every landscape we touch. With expertise in sustainable design and construction, we serve clients like Boston College and institutions requiring federal compliance through our SAM certification.Our team combines academic rigor with hands-on experience, maintaining certifications such as LEED AP and Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional. We prioritize client collaboration, resilient space creation, and community engagement, believing that landscape design requires a multidisciplinary team to achieve success. Our principals have taught at the Rhode Island School of Design, blending educational insights with practical application. We maintain a flexible, friendly work environment while supporting professional development through mentorship and work-study programs.
Services
Site Analysis
Master Planning
Construction Documentation
Visual Assessments
Expert Testimony
Highlights and features
- Founders hold Harvard University MLA degrees with teaching experience at RISD
- Licensed in 5 states with LEED AP and MCLP certified professionals
- Specialize in merging educational insights with practical design solutions
- Offer full-service landscape architecture from concept to construction
- Maintain federal government certification through SAM registration
Associations and certifications
- WBE
- DBE
- System for Award Management (SAM)
What people say
Excellent at their craft
Kind and collaborative
Top of our list
Strong communication
Invested in their work
Services
Site Analysis
Our comprehensive site inventory and analysis process examines environmental conditions, existing infrastructure, and usage patterns to inform design decisions. We evaluate topography, vegetation, hydrology, and regulatory constraints while considering client goals and community needs. This foundational work ensures all subsequent design elements align with both practical requirements and aesthetic vision.
Master Planning
We create strategic master plans that balance functional requirements with ecological sustainability across residential, commercial, and institutional properties. Our approach integrates circulation patterns, programmatic elements, and green infrastructure while maintaining compliance with local regulations and accessibility standards. Each plan provides phased implementation guidance for long-term success.
Construction Documentation
Our detailed construction documents include grading plans, planting layouts, and material specifications that translate design concepts into buildable solutions. We coordinate with engineers and contractors to ensure technical accuracy while maintaining design intent throughout the documentation process. These comprehensive plans facilitate smooth permitting and construction phases.
Visual Assessment
We conduct thorough visual impact assessments for projects requiring regulatory review, evaluating how proposed designs affect existing sightlines, aesthetics, and community character. Our analyses include mitigation strategies that balance development goals with environmental preservation, supported by photographic simulations and technical documentation for approval processes.
Expert Testimony
Our principals provide expert witness testimony for land use cases, combining technical knowledge with clear communication during legal proceedings. We support clients through zoning hearings, environmental reviews, and dispute resolutions with data-driven analysis and professional insights developed from decades of combined experience in landscape architecture practice.
People
Jade Cummings
Principal
Registered landscape architect and LEED AP professional with Harvard MLA degree. Teaches sustainable design at RISD, focuses on client collaboration and sustainable design concepts that influence all project phases.
Kellie Connelly
Principal
Licensed landscape architect with expertise in site design and implementation. Holds Harvard MLA degree and RISD teaching experience, specializing in balancing environmental needs with engineering requirements for successful project delivery.
Jiayue Wang
Landscape Designer
Master's graduate from Rhode Island School of Design with background in community engagement projects. Combines artistic perspective from her painting professor father to add creative value to landscape architecture solutions.
Kelly Ashton
Landscape Designer
UMass Amherst graduate and Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional. Brings design-build field experience to projects while pursuing professional licensure through hands-on client and team collaboration.
Liz Thompson
Senior Project Manager
LEED Accredited Professional with Cornell landscape architecture degree. Specializes in public parks, streetscapes, and educational campuses while maintaining focus on resilient, community-focused space creation.
Questions
What types of projects does Terraink handle?
We work on residential, commercial, institutional, and municipal projects including parks, educational campuses, multi-family housing developments, and public spaces.
Are you certified for government contracts?
Yes, we're WBE/DBE certified and registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) for federal government projects.
Do you offer construction phase services?
Yes, we provide construction administration including site visits, contractor coordination, and documentation updates throughout the building process.
What makes your firm different?
Our educational backgrounds combined with practical experience create unique solutions that balance academic rigor with real-world implementation challenges.
Can you help with permitting processes?
We assist with regulatory compliance and permit acquisition through our understanding of local, state, and federal requirements.
Do you teach sustainable design principles?
Our principals have taught sustainable design at RISD, integrating these principles into all our project approaches and client collaborations.
