David Hill
David Hill is a practicing landscape architect, an entrepreneur, community developer, and historic properties redeveloper. His main platform for work has been Hill Studio, a multidisciplinary firm of community planners, landscape architects, architects, and architectural historians, which he founded in Roanoke in 1988. While his focus has been on numerous small, local projects, they are connected through his broad network of ecotourism, heritage tourism and quality of life initiatives. While these designs have cumulatively transformed the environment of many underserved communities and raised awareness of the value of the design fields to the most remote corners of Virginia, his work has also contributed to nationally significant projects like the Blue Ridge Parkway and he has been a global pioneer in bringing U.S. practices of landscape architecture and planning to China. In recent years, David has expanded his role to assist Virginia communities to implement complex historic preservation projects.
Industrial landscapes, industrial waterscapes, heritage and climate change, resilient landscape design and planning, research and professional outreach
Professional Practice Class
“Blue Ridge Parkway Neighbor’s Guide,” Preserving the Historic Road Conference, Albuquerque, NM
“New Trends in Design for Ecotourism,” International Ecotourism Expo, Mexico City, Mexico
“Design of the Blue Ridge Parkway,” International Society of Environmental Journalists, Roanoke, VA
“American Models for Private-sector Landscape Architectural Practice, “ Northeastern Forestry University, Harbin, PRC, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, PRC, and Tongji University, Shanghai, PRC
“The Pastoral, Picturesque and the Sublime in the Design of the Blue Ridge Parkway,” Reynolda Museum of American Art, Winston-Salem, NC
“Design of the Blue Ridge Parkway: A Critical Analysis,” National Building Museum, Washington DC and Harvard University Graduate School of Design
“Homeplace,” Appalachian Consortium, Boone, NC
“The Site Signature Method of Land Suitability Planning,” North American Riparian Ecosystems Conference, Santa Fe, NM
2023 Virginia Municipal League- Innovation Award for Economic Development
APA Virginia Red Clay Award – Honorable Mention
Preservation Virginia Gabriella Page Outstanding Preservation Project
Fire Station #1 Renovation, Roanoke, VA
APA Virginia Chapter Commonwealth Plan of the Year Award – Lynchburg Downtown Plan
2021 American Institute of Architects (AIA), Blue Ridge Chapter Honor Award
Baldwin Horton Square Dungannon Downtown Revitalization
2019 APA Virginia Chapter Commonwealth Plan of the Year Award – Bedford Bridge Street Area Plan
2016 American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Virginia Chapter Honor Award for Design
Elmwood Park, Roanoke, VA
American Planning Association, (APA) Virginia Chapter Award
Blue Ridge Heritage Center Master Plan
American Institute of Architects (AIA), Blue Ridge Chapter Design Citation – High Knob Tower
2015 VRPS Best New Facility Award for Elmwood Park, Roanoke
APA Virginia Chapter Award - Smith River Towns
2011 APA Virginia Chapter Award – Blue Ridge Parkway Neighbor’s Guide
APA Virginia Chapter Award – South Boston Comprehensive Plan
2009 ASLA Virginia Chapter Merit Award for Design - Chicory Square, Bluefield WV
2009 ASLA Virginia Chapter Merit Award for Planning
Apollo Agricultural Development Zone, Hangzhou, China
2008 Virginia Sustainable Building Network Green Innovation Award for Madison Field T.N.D.
2006 American Institute of Architects (AIA), Blue Ridge Chapter Merit Award
South Jefferson Redevelopment Area Master Plan & Design Guidelines
2005 Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA) Gabriella Page Preservation Award
O. Winston Link Museum and Roanoke Valley Visitors Center
2005 Virginia Park and Recreation Society (VPRS) Best New Facility Award
Vernon Lynch Park, Rocky Mount, VA
2004 APVA Founders Award for Preservation of Historic Landmark Landscape - Blue Ridge Parkway
2003 United States Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition Project of the Year – Honorable Mention
McCray Court Senior Living Center
2003 Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) Best New Facility Award
McCray Court Senior Living Center
2002 ASLA, Virginia Chapter Merit Award - City of Franklin Flood Recovery Master Plan
2002 VPRS Best New Facility Award for Mill Mountain Discovery Center, Mill Mountain Park
2001 President’s Award, Virginia Downtown Development Association (VDDA)
City of Franklin Flood Recovery Master Plan
2000 ASLA, Virginia Chapter Special Commendation for Design Miner's Park, Appalachia, Virginia
2000 ASLA, Virginia Chapter Honor Award - Blue Ridge Music Center, Blue Ridge Parkway National Park
2000 ASLA, Virginia Chapter Merit Award - Wyoming-Jackson's Ferry Powerline Study
2000 ASLA, Virginia Chapter Merit Award - Radford University Landscape Master Plan
1998 APA Virginia Chapter Merit Award - Williamson Road Corridor Infrastructure and Planning
1997 AIA, Virginia Society Honors in Recognition for Contributions to Architecture in Virginia
1997 AIA, Blue Ridge Chapter Merit Award for Wells Avenue Revitalization Enhancements
1996 National Association of Counties Honor Award - Blue Ridge Parkway / Wolf Creek Project Team
1996 National Association of Development Organizations Innovation Award
Blue Ridge Parkway / Wolf Creek Workshops Project Team
1996 APVA Honor Award - Hill Studio Building Renovation
1996 National Trust for Historic Preservation Honor Award
Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center Renovation
1995 VDDA Honor Award - Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center Renovation
1995 AIA Virginia Society Honor Award - Forest Middle School
1994 ASLA Virginia Chapter Merit Award - Interstate 81 Viewshed Planning Project
1994 VDDA Honor Award - Danville Train Station / Virginia Science Museum
1993 APA Virginia Chapter Merit Award - Interstate 81 Viewshed Planning Project
1993 Virginia Center on Rural Development Honorable Mention
Interstate 81 Viewshed Planning Project
1992 ASLA Virginia Chapter Honor Award - Blue Ridge Parkway Exhibition
1989 United Nations World Habitat Award
Woodland Community Resettlement Master Plan, Clairfield Valley, Tennessee
1986 ASLA Louisiana Chapter Honor Award - Site Signature Method of Land Planning
Education
Charles Eliot Fellow of Landscape Architecture, Harvard University , 1988-89
Master of Landscape Architecture with Distinction, Harvard University, 1988
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, 1984