Principal: Charles Anderson
Size of firm: 8
Year founded: 1994
Annual revenues: $800,000
Specialties: urban ecology, restoration and rehabilitation

"There’s a lot going on this year," said principal Charles Anderson of Anderson & Ray. After a major restructuring at the end of 1999, the firm is on the rebound and planning to hire two more professional staff members within the next month.

Having just completed the temporary plantings for (Seattle’s new sculpture garden at Myrtle Edwards Park,) the firm is gaining a reputation for expressionist landscape architecture. Current projects also include the Roxhill Bog Project in West Seattle, Pritchard Reserve on Lake Washington, Fairweather Preserve in Medina and Satsop Master Plan and Cooling Tower Park.

"These are more than traditional restoration projects. The idea is to create a landscape that is consumed by nature,’’ said Anderson.

"Urban open spaces can have more of an artistic component in their making," said Anderson. "What’s more important than professional skills is a spirit for art and a caring for the land. If you have that, the technical skills will come...When I look into a crystal ball," said Anderson, "I see the that the profession of landscape architecture is merging with the other design professions. We are increasing our collaborative roll with other artists and designers all the time."