Peter Walker, founder of PWP Landscape Architecture, has been chosen as the 2012 recipient of ULI’s highest honor, the J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development. The prize recognizes a person or a person representing an institution whose career demonstrates a commitment to the highest standards of responsible development.

Berkeley-based Walker, whose career spans five decades, is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished landscape architectural designers of his time, forging the renaissance of landscape architecture as a discipline. The scope of his work is expansive, ranging from the design of small gardens to the planning of cities around the globe, with a particular emphasis on corporate headquarters, plazas, cultural gardens, academic campuses and urban regeneration projects. Exploring the relationships between art, culture and context, Walker challenges traditional concepts of landscape design.

Peter Walker was one of the chief designers of the National September 11 Memorial, “Reflecting Absence,” in New York City, which opened on September 12, 2011. His thoughtful approach to the memorial has been highly praised as reflecting both the collaborative aspiration of his practice and the public impact of his work. His local projects include those at UCSF Mission Bay Campus, Transbay Transit Center, Pixar Animation Studios, Shoreline Park in Mountain View, Stanford University Knight Management Center, Golden Gateway in San Francisco and Foothill College.

Walker will receive his award at ULI Fall Meeting in Denver at the October 17 General Session.

Watch the video as Peter Walker discusses his approach to projects and on receiving the prize.

Read the full J.C. Nichols announcement.

Read more on the ULI J.C. Nichols prize program.