FIRM

Merrill Morris Partners (MMP) is a woman-owned landscape architectural consulting firm with a 40-year history of delivering placemaking projects to private and public owners. We have offices in Oakland and San Francisco, but we serve projects throughout California. The diverse talents and depth of experience of our designers make our work efficient and effective. We listen, adapt, and communicate easily and often to best manage time and cost to the project. We naturally create innovative solutions with environmentally responsible designs.
                       		  

 

The heart of our practice is the people we work with: owners, clients, design teams, agencies, and communities. MMP’s landscape architects, planners, urban designers, and support professionals have the creativity and experience needed to meet design challenges and to successfully attain consensus and approvals. We take pride in working with multidisciplinary teams to bridge commercial and public interests. We contribute to the communities we serve by creating outdoor spaces that bring people closer to nature.

 

WE'RE HIRING! Scroll to bottom of page for info.

Placemaking
At MMP we are passionate about creating beautiful landscapes that are meaningful, engaging, authentic, and sustainable. We design outdoor spaces related to their regional context, resulting in well-adapted, efficient, and cost-effective landscapes that naturally evoke authenticity. When appropriate, MMP integrates the history and social traditions of an area to provide cultural integrity and connect the community to the legacy they have inherited and to the neighbors who share it. We enjoy highlighting the natural systems of a site to remind users of the wonders of nature and the environment.
 

Technical Expertise

MMP brings essential problem-solving skills to facilitate the design and construction of complex landscapes while meeting functional needs and available maintenance practices. Our construction documents are clear, complete, and buildable to facilitate a well-integrated design package. All deliverables are reviewed by senior staff to ensure quality control. In addition to traditional design services, we also have the graphic design and technical writing capabilities to create an effective entitlement package, visual resources analysis, develop facility standards, and create maintenance manuals for landscape elements such as stormwater facilities, irrigation systems, and plantings.

 

Sustainability

MMP is a strong advocate for incorporating sustainable design principles in all building projects. We use local materials, incorporate native and climate-adapted plants, reduce waste, and encourage biodiversity. In fire-prone areas, we produce landscapes that are defensible and firewise. We incorporate stormwater planters, downspout splash gardens, and other best management practices to mimic the way nature slows, stores, and filters stormwater. We have experience implementing the following green sustainable rating systems: United States Green Building Council (USGBC) guidelines, Build It Green GreenPoint checklist, and the ReScape (Bay Friendly) Landscape guidelines.

 

Durability

Sometimes the most affordable design is not the cheapest; it’s one that lasts. It’s timeless, enduring, and resilient. MMP designs outdoor spaces that continue for decades to be elegant, durable, and easy to care for. Plants are selected for adaptability to the site and ease of maintenance. MMP designs projects that stand up to active use, respond to maintenance requirements, meet our clients’ needs, and are quality of life improvements for the people that use them.

 
 

 

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

As a small, woman-owned business, MMP commits to building equity, diversity and inclusion into our strategic planning policy and priority setting. We commit to a bias-free hiring process while building equitable pathways to wealth-building opportunities for all employees. We support equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work through project selection: mitigating environmental degradation, adding green space to low-income neighborhoods, and meaningfully engaging communities.
 
 
 

 

Woman-owned, Small & Local Business Certifications
 

US SBA- SB

CA GSA- SB (micro)

CUCP- DBE, SWBE

CPUC- WBE

Alameda County- SLEB

ACTC- LBE, SLBE, VSLBE

City & County of SF- WLBE, Micro LBE

LA METRO- SBE

VTA- MWBE

Oakland- LBE

Port of Oakland-SBE, LIABE, VSBE

PEOPLE

JOIN OUR TEAM

We have the following job opportunities!

JOB TITLE
Landscape Architect/Designer
EMPLOYMENT TYPE
Full Time
JOB DESCRIPTION

Merrill Morris Partners (MMP) is a progressive, woman-owned business with offices in San Francisco and Oakland. We are seeking landscape architect/designers who are creative, inspired to make an impactful contribution to our profession, and able to complement and support our studio team. We maintain an open studio environment: you will work first-hand with experienced senior staff, providing you an excellent opportunity for growth and professional advancement within the firm. We promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing as a part of our office culture, giving each team member a chance to contribute from conceptual design through construction. 

 

We are currently working a hybrid schedule, related to COVID-19. In the coming months, we anticipate increasing our in-office time to support team building and mentorship. We use a collaboration platform to communicate easily between the two office teams. We use it to chat, exchange files, and participate in video discussions.

 

MMP provides services on a full spectrum of project types in predominantly urban environments. We are committed to sustainability, and social equity, diversity, and inclusion. Our leading areas of project expertise are transit and transportation related projects; green infrastructure; streets, parks and urban open space; educational facilities; and multi-family housing. MMP’s client base is broad in both the public and private sectors. We provide services primarily in the Greater Bay Area.
QUALIFICATIONS

Required Education/Competences: 

  • Degree in Landscape Architecture from an accredited program
  • 2-5 years office experience with demonstrated AutoCAD production capabilities, presentation graphics, and articulate written, spoken and visual communication

 

Preferred Landscape Architectural Technical Experience: 

  • Familiarity with or certified ReScape (Bay Friendly), LEED, SITES
  • Basic planting design and horticultural knowledge, including California appropriate, native and climate-adapted plant material
  • Basic landscape construction materials, methods, detailing and specifications
  • Basic understanding of grading and drainage 
  • Familiarity with Stormwater Best Management Practices
  • Familiarity with Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO)
  • Familiarity with ADA Regulations
  • Irrigation system design a plus

 

Software skills:

  • Proficiency in AutoCAD and Microsoft Office 
  • Experience with Adobe Creative Suite and SketchUp 
  • Ideal candidate would have experience in Lumion, Rhino and/or other visualization software 
HOW TO APPLY

We look forward to hearing from you and telling you about the opportunities at Merrill Morris Partners!

 

MMP is an Equal Opportunity employer who values workplace diversity.

 

TO APPLY

Please email a cover letter, resume and portfolio/samples of relevant work in PDF format (up to 10MB, link to download if larger) to econnolly@merrill-morris.com. 

Applicants must have a valid US work permit.