Firm owner Ryan McKnight has served as a Landscape Architect on a wide array of projects, including private residences, state, recreational and urban parks, commercial retail and office developments, multi-family housing, university housing, corporate and educational campuses, hotels, churches and industrial facilities.

Working on various project types, locations and styles has strengthened Ryan’s design and project management skills. His ability to adapt to each unique project site’s opportunities and constraints are invaluable to his clients. Ryan’s design skills are supported by his hand drawing and rendering abilities plus his knowledge and use of current CAD software. As a young designer, he was an integral team member of Henslee-Cox Landscape Architects, a respected regional firm in practice since 1968. During this time he learned the importance of collaboration – working closely with clients and being a part of numerous multi-disciplinary design teams.

In December 2005, Ryan accepted an opportunity to become owner and principal of Henslee-Cox, and in January 2009 he renamed the firm McKnight Landscape Architects. Under his hands-on, participatory leadership, the firm has continued to provide comprehensive professional services in landscape architecture and planning.

Ryan earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from Louisiana State University in 2002. He is licensed to practice in Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri and Colorado.

Brian’s approach to design is based on an understanding of natural systems, the interplay of cultural layers, and how both inspire landscape narratives. Collaboration and research are at the heart of his process.

Brian graduated from the Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture (RRSLA) at Louisiana State University and received the dean’s medal in 2003. For nearly two decades, he has practiced landscape architecture primarily in the southeast United States. In addition to serving as principal at McKnight, Brian is a Professional-In-Residence at the RRSLA where he teaches design studio and sketching. Prior to joining McKnight, Brian was a senior landscape architect at Suzanne Turner Associates, a firm which specializes in design and cultural landscape research.

As a Baton Rouge native, he is involved in many community organizations and projects. He is the co-founder of the Beauregarden, a community garden in downtown Baton Rouge, co-producer of the Beauregard Town Audio Tour, and most recently, the co-founder of the Baton Rouge Chapter of Urban Sketchers, a global community of artists who practice on-location drawing. He also represents the Louisiana Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects as liaison to the national ASLA Historic American Landscapes Survey program.

At present, he is leading the design of a streetscape, park, cemetery expansion, school, courthouse, mixed-use development, and several residential commissions. He has earned multiple awards for his work and collaborations.