OJB is a collective landscape architecture and urban planning practice inspired to create beauty and find unexpected moments in the natural world.
Transforming public spaces is central to our mission
Founded in 1989 by James Burnett and led today by him and his partners nationwide, OJB and its landscape architects value the human condition and the importance of community. The work affirms the public realm as our shared responsibility—a place for discovery, engagement, and change.
Transforming public spaces is central to OJB’s mission. The work weaves ecology and play together, celebrates discovery and delight, and connects people to the natural world meaningfully. Our evidence-based approach to design respects natural ecologies and is an active learning model that continually informs our work.
We strive for dynamic community input and feedback and to express the special genus of each place.
OJB has been recognized with more than 150 significant national and international awards for projects, including a record-setting four ULI Open Space Awards in the past ten years. This awards competition is the benchmark for the most successful public parks and open spaces across the globe.
OJB is the recipient of the 2020 National Design Award in landscape architecture from the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian National Design Museum, and the 2015 Firm Award from the American Society of Landscape Architecture.
A Foundation of Design
We believe effective and innovative design can contribute to healthier communities. With every project, we apply solutions-oriented design thinking to achieve positive outcomes for people and planet. We consider ourselves visionary pragmatists, balancing beauty and function in every space.
OJB strives to meld the artistry and science of landscape architecture. Through our research arm, OJB*lab, we use data analysis of site, climate and social dynamics to inform our designs and drive innovation in the field. The *lab works in unison with early design exploration teams to experiment, research, brand, and publish. We ask difficult questions to continually improve our process. Through the lens of ecological, environmental, infrastructural, and social aspirations, we analyze and examine environmental conditions that contribute to positive design choices.
Usability is an essential pillar of OJB’s design philosophy. We consider how the space will be utilized for years, from farmers’ markets to outdoor concerts and more. Our projects leverage the area’s natural resources to create an elegant backdrop for gathering and connection. We believe public spaces should be programmed to bring people together.
OJB creates resources for the continued care of our landscapes with OJB*care. Landscapes are living and breathing ecosystems that thrive with proper maintenance and support. Our experienced horticulturists, arborists and plant scientists devise programs that monitor soil health, long-term plant and tree care, and recommendations for seasonal swings, water control, nutrient supplement and pest control. This foundation ensures health and vibrancy for years to come.
”From campuses to workplaces, from the streetscape to the roofscape, we continually seek ways to connect people with nature. We know that well-being is intimately tied to our relationship with the natural world, and we must balance access to our public landscapes with their ability to be sustained.
At OJB, we aim to be design leaders creating positive change— environmentally, aesthetically, and socially. We continually review and refine our policies to create an environment that values diversity, ensures equity, and promotes inclusion.
As a testament to our dedication, we are proud to have attained the Just 2.0 label, awarded by The International Future Living Institute. This label is supported by 22 social equity indicators, spanning six comprehensive categories that establish measurable benchmarks. These categories encompass creating positive change and inclusion, promoting equity, prioritizing employee well-being and benefits, demonstrating stewardship, and adopting responsible purchasing practices.
Notably, we are among the select group of approximately 150 organizations worldwide and one of only three dedicated landscape architecture firms to have received this certification. OJB was initially certified in April 2022 and was recertified in September 2024. The Just label represents one aspect of our dedication to fostering a more sustainable and equitable built environment.
