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McCullough Landscape Architecture, Inc.

703 16th Street, Suite 100 San Diego, California 92101

P (619) 296-3150 F (619) 501-7725

info@mcculloughla.com

Spring Nursery Visit: Native West Nursery Tour

April 24, 2025  /  Catherine McCullough

Last month, our team took a field trip to Native West Nursery to explore how some of our favorite native and climate-adapted plants are growing this season. We love getting out of the studio several times a year to stay inspired by what’s thriving locally and to stay connected with our plant palette in real time.

The Native West team gave us a fantastic tour of the nursery, sharing insights into seasonal changes, plant performance, and the latest in sustainable growing practices. These visits help inform our designs and reinforce our commitment to selecting the right plant for the right place.

We put together a quick highlight reel from our visit, check out the video below to follow along!


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Celebrating Benjamin Arcia’s Promotion to Studio Design Leader

April 24, 2025  /  Catherine McCullough

We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Benjamin Arcia, M.U.D., ASLA, to Studio Design Leader at McCullough!

This milestone celebrates more than a decade of design leadership, creativity, and dedication that Benjamin has brought to the firm since joining us in 2013.

Throughout his career, Benjamin has consistently approached each project with curiosity. His ability to bridge the technical and the artistic, while staying rooted in the human experience of place, has made him an integral part of McCullough’s evolution. From transit-oriented developments to affordable housing, Benjamin’s work reflects a deep understanding of urban design and a commitment to community.

In his new role as Studio Design Leader, Benjamin will represent the firm in public-facing opportunities, share thought leadership across the profession, and continue to push the boundaries of what landscape architecture and urban design can do. His integrity, professional excellence, and collaborative spirit align seamlessly with McCullough’s mission to elevate everyday spaces.

“Benjamin is one of a kind, a renaissance type of sorts, a close friend, and one I personally admire greatly. We are honored to have him on our team.”

- David McCullough, Principal Landscape Architect

Beyond the external responsibilities, Ben’s leadership will play a big role inside our studio as well. He’s someone our team naturally turns to for guidance, honest feedback, and support. As Studio Design Leader, Ben will continue to mentor staff, nurture collaboration across teams, and help shape how we grow as designers and as a studio.

He’s a big believer in sharing knowledge, staying curious, and creating space for creative exploration. Whether he’s helping a teammate think through a design challenge or encouraging new ideas, Ben leads with humility and generosity.

Ben holds a Master’s in Urban Design from the University of Miami and brings a richly layered background to the practice, from hands-on carpentry and digital 3D modeling to experience volunteering on organic farms during a year and half sabbatical across South America. His multicultural perspective and bilingual fluency (Spanish/English) further enrich our team’s approach to inclusive and responsive design.

Outside of the office, Benjamin is an avid cyclist, backcountry trekker, and former competitive sailor.

Please join us in celebrating this exciting next chapter for Benjamin and for McCullough. We’re proud to have him step into this leadership role and look forward to the innovation, mentorship, and vision he will continue to bring.


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Designing for Safety and Community in Student Housing

April 24, 2025  /  Catherine McCullough

Removable bollards allow emergency vehicle access; natural boulders create seating to foster community at Mesa College Commons in San Diego.

Maha Balachandran, Int’l ASLA
Senior Associate, Northern California Office

We’re thrilled to share that our Northern California Senior Associate, Mahalakshmi Balachandran, was recently published in Multi-Housing News with her article, “Safer Student Housing Through Smart Design.”

In the piece, Maha explores how thoughtful landscapes can do more than beautify a space, they can shape behavior, foster a sense of belonging, and enhance safety without feeling overbearing. She dives into principles like CPTED and tactical placemaking, and shares how intentional choices, like lighting, natural access control, and multifunctional green spaces, can transform student housing environments.

“Security by design isn’t just about adding cameras or bright lights—it’s about shaping environments that naturally discourage crime and encourage positive interaction.”

— Maha Balachandran

Read the full article here.


Catch Maha Live in May!

Maha will also be speaking at the upcoming Bisnow Northern California Student Housing and Higher Education Summit on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. She’ll join the panel “Enhancing the Student Experience: Building with the Next Generation in Mind” to discuss design trends, sustainability, wellness, and the broader impact of campus communities.

Use code JOINME for a discount: Register here

Hope to see you there!


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Shaping the Future of Affordable Housing: Key Takeaways from the Housing California Conference 2025

March 24, 2025  /  Mahalakshmi Balachandran

From March 5-7th, 2025, Catherine McCullough, President/CEO/CMO and Mahalakshmi Balachandran, Senior Associate, attended the Housing California Annual Conference 2025 in Sacramento, CA. The event gathered nearly 3,000 professionals for Solidarity in Action: Building Power to Transform Communities. Topics discussed include the pressing challenges narrative; building power; and changing policy to end homelessness and create affordable homes for all.

Catherine and Maha attended tours of local affordable housing projects and multiple plenary sessions covering discussions under seven tracks and here is a quick highlight of the key takeaways:

Change in approach to affordable housing

There’s a focus on analyzing Vienna’s social housing for its highly successful social housing system. This discussion highlighted that the perception of Affordable Housing should be seen as permanent housing for all and not as housing for economically challenged people. Coalition amongst developers, local jurisdictions, homelessness/housing experts, elected leaders and community stakeholders will create a paradigm shift in how we approach affordable housing.

Solving homelessness

Housing should be a progressive approach that prioritizes permanent, stable housing to individuals followed by addressing mental health issues, disabilities, substance abuse and employment. 

Housing is a human right

Expanding social housing programs, offering rent subsidies, protecting renters and improving the accessibility of mortgages for low-income families can all be part of an effort to make housing more equitable. 

Shape Narratives, move mindsets, and housing justice

The first step is to understand. Understanding resident needs, abilities, challenges will help tailor place-based and user-centered housing design. Inclusive communities are those where individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are seen as valuable members, and where community members interact, support, and learn from each other. Building relationships between neighbors can break down barriers and reduce stigma. Amenity spaces like community gardens, play areas, naturally ventilated and daylight spaces, and connecting with nature can make individuals engage socially, feel supported and empowered. 

Housing is a climate strategy

Through innovative design, the use of sustainable materials, energy-efficient technologies, and leveraging infrastructure funding, we can accelerate the creation of housing that contributes to a cleaner, greener future.

Shaping the Future of Affordable Housing in California

The Housing California Conference 2025 emphasized the most urgent housing challenges in the state, showcasing successful initiatives and identifying actionable strategies to ensure that all Californians have access to safe, affordable, and sustainable housing. McCullough remains committed to these goals through continued dialogue, partnerships, and the implementation of creative design strategies. Through collaboration and forward-thinking design, we are determined to create a future where everyone has a place to call home.

Catherine and Maha meeting collaborators, Donata Gilliland of Flint Builders and Tracy Jenkins of 3QC for lunch in between sessions

Catherine and Chad Yussman of KFA Architecture, Los Angeles

A special tribal blessing by local Native American leaders kicked off the three-day conference


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Celebrating the Women Shaping Our Landscape Architecture Team

March 24, 2025  /  Catherine McCullough

March is Women's History Month, a time to recognize the contributions of women who have shaped history in countless ways. In the world of landscape architecture, women have long been essential in designing spaces that connect people to nature.

At McCullough, we're proud to have a team made up of talented women from diverse backgrounds, including India, China, Israel, and across the U.S., whose creativity, innovation, and unique perspectives make our work richer. While having a majority-women team wasn’t intentional, it’s something we appreciate and celebrate. We believe in empowering women's leadership in design and the built environment because their voices help create spaces that are thoughtful, serene, and genuinely meaningful.

Honoring Our Team

The women on our team are more than designers, they are leaders, innovators, and collaborators dedicated to shaping thoughtful, resilient, and inspiring spaces. Their diverse perspectives enrich our projects and help us create meaningful places where people can connect with nature and each other.

As we celebrate Women's History Month, we recognize the impact of these talented women and the lasting legacy of women in landscape architecture. To all the women shaping our world through design, we celebrate you today and every day.

Maha Balachandran, Int’l ASLA
Senior Associate - Oakland Office

Kira Becker, ASLA
Associate - Los Angeles Office

Jenny Devaney
Office Administrator

Melanie Loria
Marketing & Business Development Manager

Sophia Rumpf, ASLA
Associate

Kat Valley
Project Accountant

Polina Karake, MSID, Int’l ASLA
Associate

Catherine McCullough, FSMPS, CPSM
President/CEO/CMO

Jiayao Tang, MLA, ASLA
Junior Associate

Olivia Wax, ASLA
Junior Associate

As proud members of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the women at McCullough are part of a larger network of professionals committed to advancing the field and uplifting women in landscape architecture. Check out ASLA Resources on Women in Landscape Architecture here.


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