Connecting with… Laurie Beth Donnachie
Name: Laurie Beth Donnachie
Title: Landscape Architect & Arborist
Started at christopher: 2017
Current Town: Manassas, VA
Alma Mater: Penn State
Favorite DC tourist destination: National Gallery of Art
Favorite app: Eventbrite
If I had three wishes:
- World peace has to be first on the list, of course
- Spending more time with my nieces who feel Virginia & Pennsylvania are very far apart
- And if I am really reaching for the stars, I wish for site visits without ticks, poison ivy and briars
If I had to eat one meal for the rest of my life: A pita with chicken, veggies and plenty of tzatziki
On Saturday you can find me: Exploring museums or out hiking/biking on local trails
Laurie Beth’s life at christopher
Name a project you have enjoyed working on and why?
LBD: The redevelopment of the Paul VI site was a challenging project that involved extensive collaboration with the design team, the City of Fairfax and neighbors. I enjoyed working on a variety of research and drawings during the entitlement process and am excited to see the final construction.
Laurie Beth at an American University tour she organized for ASLA
What does a typical day of work look like for you?
LBD: A typical work day starts by jumping straight into a project; whether it be creating a conceptual site layout or designing an appropriate plant palette. After work I am often volunteering for American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).
What keeps you at christopher?
LBD: The diversity of project types since I enjoy working at a variety of scales and utilizing different skills. Also, the encouragement to further your knowledge through internal and external training. Education is important to me and there is always more to learn.
What is your favorite company event, and why?
LBD: The white elephant exchange since people get creative and we all have a good laugh.
What is the best piece of advice you could offer someone considering a career in civil engineering/surveying/land planning?
LBD: Landscape architecture is such a diverse field, and I recommend keeping your mind open to the wide variety of projects you can work on.
