SUZANNE FROMSON
Edgewater Resources LLC
SAY IT LOUD - MICHIGAN Exhibitor
Michigan Based Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
I am inspired by small details. A smooth curve of a sidewalk, a seat perfectly placed in the shade of a tree, a park light that provides perfect illumination. It can be so hard to get these small details right, these are huge accomplishments!
SUZANNE FROMSON
Bio:
The great designer Suzanne Fromson is a Landscape Architect, but she's also a planner, an organizer, a designer, a listener, a manager, and a team member. Fromson has worked remotely for 15 years while also being the wife of an art teacher and mother of 2 kids. Being a professional chameleon is in her nature. Fromson lives in a small town in mid-Michigan, where she is the President of the Parks Board, and of the local swim club Board. She helped build a free spray park for kids. Fromson's goal is to leave her community even better than she found it!
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
As an MSU Physiology major, I took a horticulture class for fun. The professor noticed my enthusiasm and asked if I had heard of Landscape Architecture. I learned that LA is a mix of design, science, and art, and I quickly changed majors.
What do you do?
I write proposals for projects, then manage those projects and work with the public to figure out how to meet their needs. I develop the design, sometimes help get funding, complete construction documents, and manage the construction process.
What excites you in the work you do?
I love finding a way to bring a piece of unique site character into a project. For the Port of Rochester I designed seatwalls with stone endemic to northern New York. For a playground in South Haven, I worked with a local artist on a custom gateway.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
I am inspired by small details. A smooth curve of a sidewalk, a seat perfectly placed in the shade of a tree, a park light that provides perfect illumination. It can be so hard to get these small details right, these are huge accomplishments!
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
I'm most proud of the mint-themed spray park in my hometown. As PM, I hoped to give kids, including my own, a place to play on hot days. My kids no longer visit the park, but I still drive by and listen to the laughter of children playing there.
Featured Project Name:
Baileys Harbor Marina Park
Featured Project Location:
Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin
Featured Project Completion Date:
Estimated May 2024
Role in Featured Project:
Project Manager
Featured Project Description:
Marina Park will provide public space in the heart of Baileys Harbor, reconnecting the Town to its waterfront. The new park will include paths, seating, native plantings, and expansive views of Lake Michigan. One of the site's former buildings had a mural showcasing historic images and the poetry of Lorine Niedecker, which has been relocated. Eight stanzas of her poem, Wintergreen Ridge, will be etched into the park's main pathway for visitors to read as they make their way through the park.
