Jesse Turner, PLA

Jesse grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, where an early connection to plants and the outdoors shaped his path. The son of a nurseryman, he spent his youth working on garden projects and digging ditches, hands-on experience that laid the foundation for a career in landscape architecture. Today, he brings together ecological awareness, research-based methods, and strong design principles to create resilient, thoughtful landscapes.

Jesse has designed many award-winning public spaces for places like Duke University, the North Carolina Museum of Art, and the University of Minnesota. His work reflects his playful yet purposeful approach, blending ecological smarts with design savvy to create spaces that are both beautiful and resilient. Whether he is designing a wheelchair accessible treehouse, sharing stories about the natural world through his podcast, or teaching the next generation of industry game changers, Jesse brings heart, humor, and a deep sense of place to everything he touches.