MCLV is a landscape architecture and urban design practice.
We endeavor to strengthen human connection with the physical environment through our work. Our team has experience delivering projects of exceptional design quality across the United States. We are currently working both locally and abroad on a variety of project types including plazas, parks, cultural landscapes, and urban redevelopments.
DEREK HOETMER
PRINCIPAL / PLA / ASLA / LEED AP BD+C
With a decade of professional experience and a life-long exposure to the profession, Derek’s passion for designing landscapes pairs bold conceptual vision and meticulous attention to detail. Working for some of the country's leading firms including Thomas Balsley Associates, Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, and OLIN, his design beliefs are deeply rooted in the idea that public spaces are powerful agents of positive change in today’s complex global environment.
He earned his Master of Landscape Architecture from Kansas State University (KSU) and has received awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), American Institute of Architects (AIA), Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). His work has been featured in Landscape Architecture Magazine, he served as a juror for multiple ASLA chapter awards, and was a Professor of Practice at KSU. He enjoys serving his community as Vice Chair for the KCMO Downtown Council Infrastructure Committee, as Chair-Elect for the KSU LARCP Professional Advisory Board, and on the KCMO Downtown Neighborhood Association Planning & Development Committee.
KEVIN CUNNINGHAM
PRINCIPAL / PLA
Kevin is an experienced landscape architect and urban designer. He has completed projects that span campus master plans and urban redevelopment to public plazas and residential landscapes, working with public and private clients including: Georgetown University, Ford Motor Company, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the New York City Department of Design and Construction.
Kevin earned his Master of Landscape Architecture degree from Kansas State University. He returned to the Midwest after living in Boston and New York where he worked as a landscape architect at Sasaki and Snøhetta. Several of the projects he contributed to have been recognized by awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). He is a licensed landscape architect in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
BEN WAGNER
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT / PLA
A lifelong Kansas Citian, Ben is a talented landscape architect whose project experience spans multiple scales, including campus design, public parks, trails, plazas, and gardens. He has a keen eye for detail and is focused on delivering high-quality work for his clients, who have recently included Ronald McDonald House Charities, Cerner Corporation, and the City of Kansas City, Missouri. He is passionate about planting design and enjoys experimenting with new techniques and combinations in his home garden – a miniature oasis in the heart of Kansas City’s Hyde Park neighborhood.
Ben earned his Master of Landscape Architecture from Kansas State University before returning to Kansas City, where he has spent the last decade in practice. His work has been recognized by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). He is a licensed landscape architect in the State of Missouri.
LARRY HOETMER
ADVISOR / PLA / ASLA
Larry brings over three decades of landscape architecture experience, including 21 years of planning and management for the City of Wichita in the Department of Parks and Recreation. During his tenure with the City he has created, managed, and overseen numerous projects including memorials, master plans, and parks. He has continued his residential practice for high-profile clients across the region in addition to his time as a public servant.
Larry earned his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture with honors from Kansas State University and began his career working on award-winning projects across the country with the renowned landscape architecture practice, Design Workshop. Upon relocating to Wichita, he spent a decade in private practice before joining the City. His projects with the City have garnered multiple ASLA awards, he has presented at the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Conference, and has hosted several Kansas Recreation and Park Association (KRPA) field events. Larry brings creativity and ambition to all his projects, enriching the lives of people through his work in both public parks and residential landscapes.
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