Longwood Reimagined: JBC's Role in Designing Custom Soil Profiles

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The Longwood Reimagined project represents an exciting new chapter in the evolution of one of America’s most celebrated public gardens. As part of the design team led by Reed Hilderbrand, JBC was tasked with soils design for both the interior conservatory and the surrounding exterior landscapes. Our work focused on crafting specialized soil profiles to support a wide variety of planting environments ranging from curated garden beds and a native meadow to areas of high-performance turf.

JBC’s scope included both technical design and collaborative consultation, ensuring the selected soils would meet the horticultural needs of the site while also aligning with the aesthetic and ecological vision of the project. Each soil blend was carefully designed to optimize plant health, support biodiversity, and perform well under Longwood's maintenance schedule. This attention to detail was critical, especially in the conservatory, where plantings required an entirely custom mix to thrive in the interior climate conditions.

What truly set this project apart was the collaboration between JBC, Reed Hilderbrand, and Longwood Gardens’ own horticulture department. Known for its top-tier staff and resources, the Longwood team brought deep institutional knowledge to the table, resulting in a dynamic partnership and a cooperative atmosphere. For JBC, it marked the first time we partnered directly with a horticulture department, resulting in an exciting and rewarding experience that expanded the scope of our expertise.

To highlight the transformation, we’re sharing a series of before-and-after images, comparing construction progress in 2023 with the completed gardens in 2025. These visuals showcase the dramatic impact of the project, both indoors and out.

Opened to the public in late 2024, Longwood Reimagined offers visitors an immersive experience that pairs world-class design with horticultural excellence. From the expansive meadow views to the lush plantings within the conservatory, every element has been carefully engineered to flourish, both above and below the surface. JBC is proud to have played a role in shaping this iconic transformation.

Collaboration in Design: JBC’s Role in WashU’s East End Transformation

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JBC played a key technical role in the East End Transformation of Washington University’s Danforth Campus, resulting in an ambitious redevelopment that replaced six acres of surface parking with a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly landscape. This transformative project introduced five new campus buildings, a below-grade parking garage, and a thoughtfully designed public realm that now welcomes visitors with green space, gathering areas, circulation paths, and a sense of arrival onto campus.

JBC collaborated closely with Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, Arbolope Studio, and KieranTimberlake to design and coordinate site-wide irrigation, landscape subdrainage, and engineered soil systems. The complexity of the project required precision as irrigation and soils transitioned across five new buildings and over an underground garage, where soil weights and structural profiles had to be carefully managed. The JBC team successfully navigated a broad spectrum of soil conditions, supply-related material changes, integration with existing irrigation systems, and turf fire lanes, all while preserving the integrity of the landscape design.

The result is a lush and inviting landscape that has redefined the eastern edge of the WashU campus. With strong early performance from the plantings, including rapid growth of smaller-caliper trees, this new campus entry is already thriving. “The transformation at the East End is a project I always look forward to visiting,” said Spencer Sneller, Senior Project Manager at JBC. “WashU is a beautiful campus, and MVLA’s planting design continues to evolve and mature.”

Revitalizing City Ridge in Washington, D.C.: JBC's Expertise in Green Infrastructure at Work

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Located in Washington, D.C., City Ridge reimagines the historic Fannie Mae headquarters, transforming it into a dynamic, mixed-use development. With a thoughtful blend of preserved architecture and modern design, the development spans more than nine acres of vibrant green roofs, terraces, and public spaces, all integrated above a network of underground parking and complex infrastructure.

JBC played a key role in bringing City Ridge's landscape vision to life. Our team provided comprehensive site-wide design services for irrigation, soils, and drainage, supporting everything from structural soils beneath paved surfaces to the complex needs of elevated green roof environments.

The scope was as diverse as the site itself. We managed soil specifications across multiple types of soils, including structural, planting, turf, green roof, and bioretention, along with custom blends for street trees and heritage plantings. Working in close collaboration with Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, ParkerRodriguez, and Shalom Baranes Associates, as well as structural, civil, and MEP engineers, we ensured every design detail was aligned to support both aesthetics and long-term plant health.

Coordinating across nine distinct buildings with varying site conditions, JBC approached the challenge of irrigation layout, stub-out locations, and conduit routing with precision.

Across the project, our integrated approach resulted in a resilient and cohesive landscape system that not only meets rigorous performance standards but also enhances the design and overall experience of this urban space.