Volunteer Highlight: Nathan Hunter, PLA, LEED AP BD+C

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Nathan Hunter has lived in Knoxville on and off for more than half his life and spent the last eleven years of his landscape architecture career at IBI Placemaking downtown. After getting his Master’s Degree in LA from LSU Mr. Hunter honed his skills at a leading Urban Design and LA firm in Atlanta before moving back to Knoxville. He has managed a wide range of projects from campus planning and design to open space redevelopment, but particularly enjoys the creative problem solving and contextual integration involved in urban renovation and streetscape revitalizations. Nathan is a Licensed Landscape Architect and a LEED Accredited Professional.

Mr. Hunter loves serving his community, regularly volunteering at ETCDC and in previous leadership roles on the Ijams Nature Center Board and the local Section of the Tennessee Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Growing up, Nathan moved frequently, living in such diverse landscapes as California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Ohio. This experience at a young age has fed his love of the uniqueness of landscapes and environments, and pushed him to find his contentment in the exploration of international travel and the cultivation of his own home garden landscape. He and his wife, an Interior Architect, currently spend their time raising their 1-year old daughter.

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About his time as a volunteer with us, Nathan had this to say:

'Volunteering with the East Tennessee Community Design Center (ETCDC) has introduced me to many aspects of my profession at an early stage and let me test the waters and my skills before applying them to larger projects at my firm. Specifically, the experiences with collaborative design efforts, client engagement, and public speaking have been a tremendous asset in growing my confidence and qualifications as a landscape architect. Every project I’ve advised on with ETCDC has taught me something new and provided me an opportunity to grow and expand my knowledge base.
 
Equally, I get an immense sense of satisfaction and good will from the work I do with the ETCDC. Knowing that I am giving a skill I have so that my community can grow and prosper is a wonderful feeling. All demographics of a community deserve good design, as good design uplifts us all. So the work that the ETCDC does is invaluable to supporting and uplifting our community. Everyone should spend a portion of their time and energy volunteering in their community and to be able to do some of that volunteerism with the ETCDC ensures that the work I do is not done in vain.'