Action Through Learning: Nadia’s Student-to-Practice Perspective
For World Landscape Architecture Month, EDGE is highlighting the many forms of learning within the landscape architecture profession. For co-op Nadia Ndematebem, that has included finding community at Knowlton, gaining firsthand experience through her work at EDGE, and helping bring LABash to life through a leadership role tied to this year’s event.
At Knowlton, Nadia has valued the independence that comes with studio culture. “The studios are self-directed, which I’ve found allows me to explore ideas and push the boundaries of design.” She has also found a strong sense of connection, sharing that she has “been able to build a community through clubs like Alpha Rho Chi (a fraternity for architecture and the allied arts) where I’m able to connect and make friends with my cross-discipline classmates.” That balance of individual exploration and community has been central to her education as a landscape architecture student at The Ohio State University.
Her co-op at EDGE has added another layer to that growth by giving her a closer view of daily practice in a professional setting. “I’ve learned a lot about what it really means to be on a team at a landscape architecture firm. While at OSU I was doing a lot of big-picture artistic work, at EDGE I’ve learned about the technicalities that go into the profession and how a project moves from design to the construction phase.” That perspective has helped connect the conceptual side of design education with the coordination, documentation, and team structure that carry ideas forward in practice.
“I’ve learned a lot about what it really means to be on a team at a landscape architecture firm…at EDGE I’ve learned about the technicalities that go into the profession and how a project moves from design to the construction phase.”
Nadia Ndematebem
EDGE Co-op
Outside the studio, Nadia served as a speaker liaison for LABash, coordinating sessions and supporting the event behind the scenes. The role gave her practical experience in communication, organization, and time management. One moment stood out in particular: “I was able to reconnect with my high school architecture program through the tree craft event, and it felt very full circle as that program brought me to where I am today.” Looking back on the event as a whole, she also reflected on its broader significance, concluding that “thanks to everyone’s hard work and dedication we were able to celebrate Knowlton, The Ohio State University, and landscape architecture at a national level.”
For students entering landscape architecture, Nadia’s advice is to experience life outside the studio. “I believe growth happens through challenging yourself and seeing the world in new ways.” Time spent camping, making art, climbing, and staying connected to friends and family helps her return to design with a fresh mindset.
Nadia’s perspective reflects the spirit of this week’s WLAM theme: Action Through Learning. Her experience shows that growth in landscape architecture continues through studio, practice, leadership, personal exploration, and the relationships built along the way.
