JOHN HRENO
Landscape Design · Studio Leadership · Practice Growth
I design landscapes rooted in place, ecology and human experience.
JOHN HRENO
Landscape Design · Studio Leadership · Practice Growth
I design landscapes rooted in place, ecology and human experience.
I bring 20+ years of landscape design experience across cultural landscapes, public spaces, campuses, urban infrastructure, hospitality, and private gardens. My work combines planting expertise and technical development with hands-on design leadership, multidisciplinary coordination, and project delivery. I also build client relationships, mentor designers, and develop opportunities for new and repeat work.
What I bring to a team
Design
Hands-on design leadership connecting site, architecture, planting and materials—from the first idea through implementation.
People
Mentorship and team development informed by 20+ years of helping designers grow, including many who have advanced to project manager roles.
Delivery
Project management, consultant coordination, quality review and client communication across residential, cultural and complex urban projects.
Practice Growth
Building professional relationships, developing pursuits and helping practices create opportunities for new and repeat work.
Design Leadership
For 20+ years, leadership has meant authoring design, directing teams, and earning the trust that lets complex work move from idea to place.
Berkley Riverfront at CPKC Stadium
Public realm · Multidisciplinary leadership · Project direction
Directed a multidisciplinary team across agency, engineering and design to deliver a civic riverfront for Kansas City.
T.O.D.
International · Design leadership · Complex urban infrastructure
Led design across international collaborators to turn China’s first high-speed-rail TOD into public experience.
Wabi-Sabi House
Design authorship · Client leadership · Construction + installation
Authored the design and guided client and craft from concept through installation.
“Collaborating with John over the years has been very easy and thoroughly enjoyable. His attention to detail and willingness to work with anyone really shines through within the first few moments of a meeting.”
Bryon Spicer
Principal, KPFF Engineers
Relationships + Practice
I build relationships that create opportunities for new work, expanded scope, and repeat collaboration. The examples below show my role and the resulting commission, pursuit, or next step.
Wabi-Sabi House
- Opportunity
- Palm Canyon Development approached John with an initial commission for a small Japanese-inspired interior garden; he expanded the scope to the entire property.
- Action
- Led the design and client relationship through realization, with project management and field coordination of boulder and specimen-tree placement.
- Result / stage
- Built (2025); recognized with LUXE RED, Architizer A+ and Oasis awards; continuing collaboration with the architect.
The Getty / Gehry Partners
- Opportunity
- The Getty Trust — a long-standing institutional relationship, originating with the historic Getty Villa garden and planting design (2000–2002).
- Action
- In 2026, led Hoerr Schaudt's shortlisted RFP response for the Getty expansion, with Frank Gehry Partners as architects.
- Result / stage
- Shortlisted; not awarded. Gehry Partners expressed interest in future opportunities.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
- Opportunity
- Relationship with the Associate Director of Exhibition Design and Production.
- Action
- Hoerr Schaudt was invited onto a private short list to respond to an RFP for the landscape installation of Jeff Koons' Split Rocker.
- Result / stage
- Invitation to a private short list (qualifications stage); not a secured commission.
University of Southern California (USC)
- Opportunity
- USC Architecture and Planning.
- Action
- Initiated contact, leading to Hoerr Schaudt's submission of qualifications for USC's approved services providers list.
- Result / stage
- Qualifications submission; placement on the approved providers list not confirmed.