Oliver Kiley (BS ’03, MLA ’08) began his career at SmithGroup, an international architectural firm with deep roots in Detroit and Ann Arbor, just after earning his degree in the Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) program at SEAS. In recent years, he has been elevated to a principal Landscape Architect at SmithGroup’s Ann Arbor office.

SmithGroup, Kiley explained, is a multi-disciplinary, integrated-design firm that combines landscape architecture, civil engineering, architecture, urban design and planning disciplines to create resilient and sustainable places and communities.

“It’s great to be able to work in that environment—with so many different but allied professions collaborating on very complex problems and projects,” said Kiley. “That's really exciting.”

Kiley is one of the co-leads in the firm’s mobility specialty, an area that he helped to develop.

“Our work is at the intersection of mobility and transportation design,” said Kiley. “We look at whole road corridors and figure out how to make those safer, more accessible, and more comfortable for people—whether they're walking, biking, taking the bus, or driving their car.”

Kiley noted that SmithGroup gives thought and attention to the aesthetic design—as well as functional considerations—to create inviting spaces that include features such as pocket parks, plaza spaces, seating areas, and other amenities.

“People-Friendly Streets” in Downtown Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor residents will be familiar with numerous projects that SmithGroup has completed in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority (DDA)—such as the William Street Bikeway, the more recent First Street Bikeway, and the reconfiguration of the Fifth Street and Detroit Street area that encompasses the farmer’s market and the community high school.

Kiley, who was involved in the design and engineering work on these “People-Friendly Street” projects, cited one of the benefits of the Fifth and Detroit Street project.

“The project really made that area work a lot better for the businesses,” said Kiley, “Customers now have a much more lively and pleasant environment to enjoy.”

Overall, the People-Friendly Street projects aim to make downtown Ann Arbor more inclusive, safe, accessible, and comfortable for people living, working, and visiting downtown. Projects are aligned with and supporting the city’s carbon neutrality goals and transportation safety plans.

 The Future of Landscape Architecture

Asked what changes he’s seen in the field over the course of his 14 years at SmithGroup, Kiley discussed several shifts in priorities and perspectives.

“One of the big drivers that is shaping the way that landscape architects are practicing is an emphasis on community resiliency, and how that relates to climate change from a mitigation and adaptation standpoint,” said Kiley. “To prepare for climate outcomes such as more intense and more frequent rainfall events, the need to design our streets to be more flexible and resilient is critical.

“Another huge driver is from the perspective of equity. There's a lot more sensitivity now, and a recognition of the impacts that our projects can have, such as gentrification and unintentionally displacing people. To address those issues, our engagement processes need to be much more inclusive in working with the community to figure out how to make changes in a way that's harmonious with community needs—making sure that we're not creating inequities, but instead, we’re confronting those historic inequities.”

Kiley noted that the COVID-19 pandemic also inspired new ways to approach how streets function.

“The pandemic is obviously very traumatic and damaging to society,” said Kiley. “But what was interesting—from a transportation standpoint—is that when traffic volumes went significantly down, communities saw an opportunity to rethink how they were using their streets and public spaces. Some of those pandemic measures, such as providing more space for outdoor dining, or creating more pedestrian and biking zones, led communities to consider the idea of making those ‘temporary’ changes more permanent. I believe those ideas are starting to impact how we think about street design—and how we can make streets more flexible, adaptable, and therefore more resilient during times of stress.”

Today’s SEAS students, Kiley noted, are well positioned for leadership roles in the evolving field of landscape architecture.

“I think people going into the SEAS program have values that are very much aligned with where the industry is going,” said Kiley, “and that is toward a greater emphasis on sustainability, equity, and social impacts.” 

SEAS Experience and Opportunities in the Field

Kiley, who taught studio classes at SEAS for a number of years, reflected on his own experience in the MLA program.  

 “I think what was really beneficial about the SEAS MLA program was the holistic thinking it encouraged,” said Kiley. “And it was great being able to rub elbows with colleagues in environmental policy and the hard sciences. That contributed to a level of knowledge and awareness of how ecological systems really work—that you don’t get from a lot of other programs. We continue to see students come out of the SEAS MLA program strengthened by that knowledge—and the ability to work across scale. I believe that’s because the program challenges students to think broadly about bigger-picture issues at the planning level or across larger geographies. All that combines to form a critical skill set that has been invaluable to me.”

Kiley addressed a challenge that the industry faces today—and one that might be of special interest to students considering their career choices.

“There's just not enough people going into the design professions right now,” said Kiley. “And that’s not just landscape architecture, but also civil engineering, and other allied disciplines.”

Referencing the 2021 infrastructure bill, Kiley noted that $650 billion has been allocated for transportation-related work.

“That money is trickling down very quickly to local communities that are trying to implement projects,” said Kiley. “The bottom line is that there is a growing demand for professionals in the design fields. And specifically, we need to engage a more diverse group of people and see more people of color involved in design decision-making.”

To inspire more interest among youth, SmithGroup has conducted outreach with high school students in recent years, in addition to their on-going internship program. “We hoped to increase their awareness about these careers,” said Kiley, “and help them to see the fun, creative, expressive side of the design professions.

“At the end of the day, landscape architecture—and related disciplines—lead to very rewarding work. You’re able to solve so many problems directly—while making physical changes in the environment that benefit people’s lives and benefit communities.”