About Us
Some of you may know that James Royce, cofounder of 2112 is a drummer in his alternate life. Like any good drummer he plays to the needs of the song, whether that’s a steady backbeat or a raucous solo, the overarching style and tone of the song is paramount and the drums play their role. This is also how we approach design: by listening to the needs of the client and developing creative, elegant solutions to make that project sing. We can design elaborate landscapes where needed and practice restraint where the simple solution is just, simple. Our biggest compliment is when a client tells us that the project feels like it has always been there.
We have the technical experience to design all aspects of landscape with a specialization in complex landscapes over structure, stormwater management and site grading, detailing, construction administration, designing for accessibility, soils and planting, permitting and project coordination. We work collaboratively, creatively and efficiently from day one. We are passionate about every project and take our work seriously while bringing a light-heartedness and joy to the process.
The Studio, founded in 2011, is certified as a Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) in Massachusetts and licensed throughout New England and New York. Want to know about the name?
Meet Our Team
LYNNE GIESECKE
PRINCPAL
Lynne is a registered landscape architect throughout New England. She leads the design generation within the Studio focusing the work on simple moves which accommodate environmental dynamics + program flexibility. Prior to receiving her MLA at the Rhode Island School of Design she worked throughout New England as a mountain guide and outdoor educator. She has brought her experience of living in the natural world to the practice of landscape architecture.
With her undergraduate degree in geology, years as a competitive athlete, extensive Pilates and Yoga practice her design interests are rooted in ecological context, systems and wellness.
JAMES ROYCE
PRINCPAL
James is a registered landscape architect, LEED AP, and accredited green roof professional. With a background in environmental science and site engineering, James leads the Studio’s technical efforts, sustainable design and development of institutional projects. He brings extensive practical knowledge, business sense and professional relationships to Studio 2112. Formerly a Senior Associate at Stephen Stimson Associates, James also spent two years working in the field of landscape architecture in Europe.
James’ research interests lie in stormwater management within site design and the metrics of sustainable and performance-based landscapes. Outside the office James enjoys spending time with his kids, mountain biking, riding motorcycles and the never ending search for the right groove on his drums.
SHIRA DAVIS
Associate
Shira is a project manager at Studio 2112 overseeing institutional and residential projects. Always on the border of science and design, Shira brings the rigor and critical thinking of her scientific background to conceptual design. She strives to apply functional and practical design in an imaginative way to create compelling spaces.
Prior to joining Studio 2112, Shira worked in Toronto where she specialized in public realm and educational landscapes including parks, active transportation and school yards. Shira holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Toronto and is a licensed Landscape Architect in Canada.
DANA CEVA
Senior Landscape Architect
Dana joined Studio 2112 in early 2022 after moving to Boston from Fairfield County, Connecticut. She was previously immersed in the residential design-build sector, designing landscapes in both CT and NY. Dana has a bachelor’s degree of landscape architecture from the University of Connecticut and earned her landscape architect license in the state of CT in 2021. As a collegiate athlete, Dana excels at time management, being a team player as well as a leader, and the drive to always strive for more.
Dana cares greatly about the environment and nature; she strives to have her designs reflect that. Her interests outside of the office include crossfit, hiking, beekeeping, spending time with her rescue Pittie, propagating house plants, and finding new ways to reduce her carbon footprint.
KELSEY WAKEFIELD
Project Manager
Kelsey joined Studio 2112 in the of Spring 2024 after a nomadic work tour of the country and abroad. Previously, she has worked on public projects in CA and NY and has a Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from Rhode Island School of Design. She is also a proud AmeriCorps alumnus having worked as a Community Builder and Organizer in CT after completing her Bachelor’s of Landscape Architecture at University of Idaho. Her studies focus on human relationships with public infrastructures and new technologies which may bridge interaction between them.
Kelsey has been selected to share her work at Dutch Design Week, taught workshops at Yale University and CCNY, and was awarded a grant to study ancient indigenous city building techniques in Peru and Mexico. She has also worked in Estonia exploring the digital side of public infrastructure. In her free time, you’ll find Kelsey exploring another UNESCO World Heritage site, designing experimental aquascapes, creating new musical instruments and singing to animals on the street.
AMANDA LEIFER
Landscape Architect
Amanda joined Studio 2112 in the of Fall 2021 after moving from her home state New Jersey. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree at Rutgers University’s School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, she pursued her MLA, also at Rutgers, where she studied the ways in which conflict manifests itself in the landscape and affects natural resources in the Middle East. She is interested in the practical application of landscape architecture in areas where political conflicts affect the natural world.
She was awarded the title of Olmsted Scholar in 2020 by the department of landscape architecture at Rutgers and hopes to live up to the name by designing and implementing meaningful public spaces. In her free time, she leads improv classes, plays guitar, and sings in a funk and jazz band.
LENA OWENS
Landscape Architect
Lena joined Studio 2112 in January 2021 after a move across the country from the coniferous landscape of the Pacific Northwest. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Art History and Urban/Environmental Policy at Occidental College in Los Angeles, and immediately continued on into a Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture at the University of Washington. Her studies bring a sensitivity to historical context and urban nature to the profession.
Throughout her graduate education, Lena focused on how the built environment considers children and how they move, learn, and play. Her thesis focused on connecting developmental learning theories to future conceptual playspaces in the liminal borderlands of the United States and Mexico. When she’s not working, Lena enjoys searching for great hiking trails, exploring museums, and traveling to places she’s never been before.
BRYAN SAK
Landscape Designer I
Bryan joined Studio 2112 in the Summer of 2023, after receiving his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, New York. During his time in college, he studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain, which culminated in the creation of a comprehensive observational thesis study on the city’s burgeoning urban green corridor program. His interests include historic preservation, compelling public spaces, and the intersection of art and landscape architecture.
Being born in New Orleans, Louisiana and raised in Austin, Texas, Bryan is drawn to unique and culturally rich urban environments, where he finds inspiration for his design work. Outside of the office, he enjoys photography, hiking, cooking, travelling and exploring new places. New to the Boston area, he hopes to embrace the cool weather, proximity to the ocean, and everything else that the city has to offer.
DEWITT PURCELL
Landscape Designer II
DeWitt joined Studio 2112 in July of 2024 after graduating from The University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture and an Associate’s Degree in Landscape Contracting from The Stockbridge School of Agriculture. Originally from Massachusetts, DeWitt brings a practical, hands-on approach to design, ensuring that creative designs are not only aesthetically pleasing but feasible and sustainable in New England.
Over the years, DeWitt has gained experience by dedicating several summers during high school and college to golf course maintenance, landscape construction, and landscape management which has enhanced his understanding of the green industry. In his free time, DeWitt enjoys fishing, playing golf, traveling, seeking outdoor adventures, and spending quality time with friends and family.
SKYLER BURNS
Landscape Designer II
Skyler joined Studio 2112 in the Spring of 2024 after receiving his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. While pursuing his education, Skyler studied abroad in Rome, Italy, where he explored the city’s historic points of interaction with the Tiber River, and the use of accessible riparian corridors as an alternative flood management system. Over his Summer breaks he gained his love and fascination for trees and plants while working at various nurseries.
In his free time, you can find Skyler playing ultimate frisbee, rock climbing, snowboarding or going on an impromptu night walk on the beach. Having grown up in the greater Boston area, he is excited to make a positive impact on the spaces that define the city he calls home.
PIPER
DALI
Teaching and Lectures
- Adjunct Faculty, Urban Landscape Program, Northeastern University 2012-present.
- European Council of Landscape Architecture Schools (ECLAS), 2013
- ABX, 2013
- ASLA Conference, 2012
- National Brownfield Conference, 2011
- UMass Amherst Sustainability Lecture Series, 2010
- BuildBoston, 2002, 2010
- National Stormwater Conference, 2008
- USGBC Green Build, 2002
- Guest Critics: GSAPP Columbia University, Marcus Doschanti Studio, 2011
- Guest Lecturers: LARP Site Engineering, UMass Amherst, 2010-present
- Guest Critics: Yale Architecture School, Stefan Behnisch Studio, 2010
