Our Landscape Design Approach
ADLA Studio is an ecological design-build landscape architecture studio, with studios in Austin and in Driftwood in the Texas Hill Country. Our designers, builders and gardeners keep design and construction under one roof, carrying each project from conceptual schematics through construction and into long-term stewardship. We create design-forward landscapes rooted in ecology and craft: residential gardens, private estates, select commercial work, and healing and accessible gardens for institutions.
We merge horticultural knowledge, technical building skill and fine art sensibilities, and we work closely with homeowners and architects so that each landscape belongs to its architecture and its site. Our work is rooted in Central Texas and its native and drought-tolerant plants. By weaving together the elements that define a landscape, such as color, texture, light and atmosphere, we create gardens that deepen people’s connection to the living world.
Landscapes are dynamic and ephemeral, and we design for how each garden will evolve and mature over time. Our gardeners provide seasonal stewardship for the life of each landscape, so the integrity of the design holds for years to come.
Tyler Porterfield – MLA, Principal Designer
Tyler has a background in fine art, music, and construction. He developed his interest in landscape architecture at the University of Georgia in the late nineties. He has a passion for vast and dramatic landscapes, which led him from his native city of Athens, Georgia to travel throughout the Rockies and the high desert and mountainous regions of Oregon. He earned a bachelor’s degree in fine art and after moving to Austin in 2004 he worked for an environmental design company where he gained a strong understanding of Texas’ ecological systems and native vegetation. Tyler received a master’s in landscape architecture from the University of Texas in 2009. His specific interest and expertise centers around engagement in design through graphic representation, detailing, and the relationship between material and texture in the built environment.
Sara Pierce – PLA, Landscape Architect
Sara has explored landscapes through a variety of ecological, cultural and historical processes. Her undergraduate work in landscape ecology provided the foundation for her study of landscape systems and the creative use of plants in design. A desire to explore a more humanistic approach to landscape led her to pursue an M.A. in anthropology where her research focused on ethnobotany and the politics of water in Texas. She went on to earn a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Texas. Sara has a passion for place-making and her appreciation of the Austin landscape has been enhanced through years spent working in planning and design for the parks department and at local landscape architecture firms. Sara is a licensed landscape architect in Texas, and her work is increasingly drawn to therapeutic landscapes and healing gardens: places designed to support health, recovery and well-being.
Stephanie Lott – Chief of Staff
Stephanie’s background spans hospitality, wellness, experiential events, and business operations, giving her a unique ability to see both the big picture and the many moving parts required to bring it to life. For more than a decade, Stephanie has led yoga classes, travel retreats, workshops, and outdoor experiences, developing a deep appreciation for how thoughtful environments shape how people gather and connect. At ADLA, she helps keep the vision front and center while building the systems, communication, and accountability that keep projects and teams moving forward.
Todd Jenkins – Director of Operations
Beginning his formal education in art and architecture, Todd Jenkins felt compelled to transition to Landscape Architecture as a path to better explore the dynamic nature of the built environment. Since receiving his Bachelors of Landscape Architecture from Texas A & M in 2000, Todd has worked for, and lead, high end residential design-build firms in Houston, Southern California, and Austin. Over these two decades of professional practice, he has gained experience working on all aspects of the design build process, from schematic design to construction project management. An avid painter and still a believer in the value of hand-drawn graphics, Todd’s ability to meld the artistic with the functional has led him to join the like-minded partners at ADLA.
Moira Bering – Lead Designer
Moira studied Landscape Architecture at Texas Tech University and brings a deep appreciation for planting design and material richness to her work at ADLA Studio. Raised in a family of nurserymen, she developed a strong horticultural foundation through hands-on nursery experience before beginning her career in landscape architecture. Thoughtful outdoor spaces emerge from careful attention to detail and intentional design, an approach that informs her work on every project. Outside the studio, she maintains an active painting practice that informs her sensitivity to color, composition, and atmosphere.
Brian Pearson – Project Manager
Brian’s appreciation for craftsmanship began early, helping his family build their home from the ground up in central Pennsylvania. That hands-on foundation continues to inform his approach to construction, design, and problem-solving today.
A lifelong musician, Brian spent years as a touring performer and tour manager before bringing his creative sensibility into the landscape. Inspired by the impact of his own garden, he transitioned into landscape design more than two decades ago. As ADLA’s Project Manager, Brian combines creativity, precision, and technical expertise to help transform ideas into thoughtfully detailed and buildable landscapes.
Brett Ursprung – Garden Stewardship Lead
Brett brings a background in horticulture, ecological restoration, and landscape management to ADLA Studio. His experience spans professional and volunteer habitat conservation, nursery operations, and managing a diverse orchard in Hawaii. At ADLA, Brett cares for the long-term health of the landscapes he manages across Austin and the Texas Hill Country. Having lived in several regions, he has developed a lasting fascination with native ecosystems and the plant communities that shape each place.
Gilbert – Site Foreman
Gilbert brings over 20 years of construction and landscaping experience to the ADLA team, having built his career from the ground up after moving to Texas from Miami, Florida. With a sharp eye for detail and a true “jack of all trades” skill set, he excels at managing on-site logistics and ensuring the quality and craftsmanship of every build. He truly enjoys being in nature both on and off the jobsite and in his leisure time enjoys relaxing and fishing. Gilbert is a dedicated father of four—his daughter is preparing for college, two sons are professional chefs, and another is a structural welder.