Progressive renowned landscape architect Tom Balsley from SWA/Balsley studio has played a key role in the long-term transformation of cities. He has been involved in landscape architecture for over 35 years, with his designs focusing on the transformation of public spaces, the role of waterways in cities, including the accessibility of large parts of New York’s waterfront, and strengthening the connection to place.
Tom Balsley (SWA/Balsley) is a renowned architect with a wealth of experience based in New York. He studied at Syracuse University and later at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Balsley has lectured at Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, the National Building Museum, and Seoul National University. He has received several international recognitions, including from the American Society of Landscape Architects, the American Institute of Architects, the Environmental Design Research Association, and the Institute for Urban Design, among others.
Known for connecting landscape and city in public parks, waterfronts, and squares throughout the United States and abroad, Tom Balsley has been transforming social and cultural spaces into sustainable and vibrant urban landscapes for over 35 years. In New York alone, he has completed more than 100 parks and squares, including Hunter’s Point South Waterfront Park and Gantry Plaza Park, both of which received the prestigious ASLA Honor Award in 2014. Recently, the SWA studio led by Tom Balsley completed the reconstruction of 51 Astor Place Square, located on the other side of the East River. In recognition of his long-standing contributions to the city and its residents, a small park on 57th Street was symbolically named Balsley Park.
