José Leal (PLA, ASLA, IA) has a passion for truth-telling, considers humor to be good medicine, and has been learning from and experiencing the natural environment since he was a child—working alongside his family in the fields, picking avocados or oranges in an orchard, and playing outside where he grew up.  His Mexican and Indigenous heritage lead to Jose’s passion for Indigenous landscape architecture and celebrating how diverse Indigenous people have adapted to their natural environment. In landscape architecture, he found a path to continuous discovery and a means for connecting people to place, history, and culture. His respect for the land and its resources is evident in his work as a designer and planner. He considers both ecological processes and human, animal and plant systems, creating designs for places that respond to all. For José, every project represents an opportunity to build on the collective knowledge of clients, community members, colleagues and the place itself. His work ethic and tenacity ensure a steady generation of innovative ideas and solutions, while his technical expertise enables him to translate visions into physical form.

José is Director of our Native Nation Building Studio

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