WE ARE HONORED TO ANNOUNCE THAT VACCARINO ASSOCIATES HAS RECEIVED TWO 2026 DESIGN AWARDS FROM THE ASLA FLORIDA CHAPTER, BOTH IN THE RESIDENTIAL CATEGORY!
Our approach to landscape architecture merges ecology, hydrology, plant and soil sciences, cultural context, and design excellence—restoring damaged landscapes, managing water systems, and creating places where communities and nature thrive together.
About Vaccarino Associates
Vaccarino Associates is a San Juan–based landscape architecture studio with deep roots in the Virgin Islands. Our work is guided by site specificity, collaboration, and a strong ecological ethic.
We listen closely to land, climate, and community, and respond with grounded, purposeful design. With expertise in native plant species, site regeneration, and integrated water systems, we create landscapes that restore ecological function and support long-term resilience.
Our Philosophy
Landscape Architecture Rooted in Nature-Based Solutions
The challenges of climate change require more than sustainable design—they demand regenerative thinking. We see every project as an opportunity to restore natural systems, reconnect fragmented ecosystems, and create landscapes that improve environmental performance while enriching everyday life. From coastal restoration and stormwater management to urban forests and public spaces, our work demonstrates how landscape architecture can become essential infrastructure for healthier, more resilient communities.
-
We see every site as a living system. Our work restores soil health, increases biodiversity, reconnects fragmented habitats, and transforms degraded landscapes into resilient ecological networks. Whether designing urban waterfronts, wetlands, coastal restorations, or public spaces, we prioritize long-term environmental performance over short-term intervention.
-
Water is the defining resource of island landscapes. Our projects capture, retain, filter, and reuse water through green and blue infrastructure, constructed wetlands, bioretention systems, permeable surfaces, native planting, and integrated grading. By working with natural hydrology rather than against it, we reduce flooding, improve water quality, recharge groundwater, and minimize dependence on potable water for irrigation.
-
Resilience begins with thoughtful planning. We integrate architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, ecology, and hydrology to create landscapes capable of responding to hurricanes, sea level rise, coastal erosion, flooding, drought, and changing environmental conditions. Using locally appropriate materials, native vegetation, and low-impact construction strategies, we reduce carbon emissions while strengthening the long-term resilience of communities and ecosystems.
