Connecting with… Daniel Langston
Name: Daniel Langston
Title: Landscape Architect
Started at christopher: July 2013
Current Town: Richmond, VA
Alma Mater: Virginia Tech
Favorite DC tourist destination: National Mall and the Tidal Basin, where I proposed to my wife!
Favorite app: Downcast. I got hooked on podcasts during long commutes!
If I had three wishes: 1) Travel for a year, 2) Visit every major stadium around the world, 3) Have a time machine to witness great moments in history
If I had to eat one meal for the rest of my life: Panned Oysters and Angel Hair Pasta with Lemon Sauce
On Saturday you can find me: During this most unusual time, you can find me on the back patio with my family. Under normal circumstances, you’d find me out with my family somewhere around Richmond, at one of Virginia’s many fine wineries or a sporting event.
Daniel’s life at christopher
Name a project you have enjoyed working on and why?
DL: Rivermont – it was one of the first projects I started working on with christopher and have been able to see it through all the way to construction. The entitlement application for the single-family neighborhood was especially difficult (12 submissions!) but it made the project better, as it was honored by Fairfax County in their annual Land Conservation and Tree Preservation awards.
Family time on Easter
What does a typical day of work look like for you?
DL: At this stage in my career, a large portion of my responsibilities include business development as we build up our Richmond office. So, on a typical day, that means starting with digging into regional development news, reaching out to contacts in the Richmond area to maintain relationships and setting up meetings. But I still have project responsibilities, so that means working on entitlement applications and layouts or landscape plans in AutoCAD or Photoshop. Coordinating with clients or team members is another daily occurrence because communication is key in our profession.
What keeps you at christopher?
DL: The people. When I was looking to make a change and move back to Richmond, I wanted to somehow remain with christopher because those in leadership positions have given me great opportunities and I have learned so much from my coworkers. The original idea of remote working became something much bigger than I originally envisioned, as the company put faith in me to help open a Richmond office. Even though I am two hours away from almost everyone who works at christopher, it doesn’t feel that way because they have been extremely supportive and generous with their time and expertise. It makes me proud to represent christopher in my hometown.
James River Park Pipeline Walkway
What is your favorite company event, and why?
DL: The annual awards! It’s always fun to see everyone in the company outside of the office and let off some steam. Having the event in a different venue every year keeps it fresh, especially if it’s a project that christopher has had a hand in designing. It’s also great to see the company honor long-tenured employees in special ways.
What is the best piece of advice you could offer someone considering a career in landscape architecture?
DL: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and ask questions. You won’t learn anything by staying in your comfort zone or thinking you already have the answers. The key is to avoid making the same mistakes or asking the same questions multiple times.
