Ian McRae
SPECIALIZATIONS
microclimate CFD modeling, nature-based strategies, environmental planning, urban design, landscape design, ecological systems thinking
PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT
Operating at the nexus of science and design enables us to develop innovative solutions that elevate landscape performance and create environments that support both community and ecology. This is achieved by integrating a project site into the broader system in order to navigate sensitive environments and identify adjacent opportunities that may have otherwise been overlooked. By taking a system-wide view to account for context and connectivity, we can ensure that our efforts deliver compelling designs while also supporting environmental function. As the landscape continues to evolve, we are challenged by extreme dynamics driven by climate change that forces us to grapple with our legacy of land development and environmental engineering. In order to make positive changes in a meaningful timeframe, we need to truly value compromise and adaptation when designing and planning for our future.
BIOGRAPHY
Ian is a project strategist at Sherwood Design Engineers and is passionate about the processes that exist where the natural and built realms intersect. As a licensed landscape architect, his design and planning of complex systems seek to integrate environmental performance and promote resilience in both remote and urban settings. This is also pursued both as a university educator, serving as a lecturer at UC Berkeley (Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning) and previously as a visiting professor at the University of Tennessee (Department of Plant Sciences).
COURSES TAUGHT
University of California - Berkeley, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
CE290: Climate Resilient Infrastructure Design Studio
University of California - Berkeley, Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning
LA201: Ecological Factors in Urban Landscape Design Studio
LA 130: Sustainable Landscapes and Cities
LA 201: Ecological Factors in Urban Landscape Design Studio
ED 201: Urban Design Advanced Studio
LA 254: Stormwater Infrastructure Master Planning – EPA Campus Rainworks
University of Tennessee - Knoxville, Sustainable Landscape Design, Department of Plant Sciences
PLSC 450: Vegetated Infrastructure Design and Construction
PLSC 485: Computer Aided Landscape Design
PLSC 311: Sustainable Landscape Management
PLSC 350: Introduction to Landscape Materials and Construction
Publications
"Resilient edges–holistic coastal protection and lessons learned," Shore & Beach, 15 June 2022.
"Integration of the WUDAPT, WRF, and ENVI-met models to simulate extreme daytime temperature mitigation strategies in San Jose, California," Building and Environment, 16 August 2020.
"Spatio-temporal non-uniformity of urban park greenness and thermal characteristics in a semi-arid region," Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 26 May 2018.