We’re turning a spotlight on our newly promoted Principal Landscape Architect, Stefano Scarano! Stefano has over 20 years’ of experience in developing public space and landscape projects in different scales.
He has a bright personality and is extremely creative. That combination never fails to bring up good energy across the business and adds up a bit of identity to all the projects he contributes to. In several occasions, Stefano has demonstrated to be a great asset within the Landscape and Urban Design team. He led on the Camberley high street project, which transformed the town centre into a lively and safe area for everyone. The Chartered Institute for Highways and Transportation commended the scheme at the Awards ceremony in 2022.
Stefano has worked at Project Centre for just over six years, and has progressed from Landscape Architect to Senior Landscape Architect and recently, Principal Landscape Architect.
“Project Centre is a company that gives you enough space to grow and to create. You’ve got to show that you’re willing to learn and improve yourself. If you do that, be sure that the management at every department will invest time and funds for your development.”
Stefano Scarano, Principal Landscape Architect
Stefano has had an inspirational career journey, which was willing to share with us in a quick catch up…
Tell us a bit about your career path, how did you get into the industry and why?
I trained as an architect, it was my first job that made me discover the amazing world of public realm. The place where we meet the others, a place that’s always available for anyone, the scene where we are more vulnerable, a realm of power and magic.
Why do I feel so comfortable seating in that square? Why do I find myself walking faster in that street? And why do I like to sit in that corner rather than the one on the opposite side? Most people will not find it easy to answer these questions. As Landscape Architects, we can make those feeling happen. That’s the reason why I have studied, the reason why I got Chartered and the reason I come to the office every day with a smile on my face.
What do you enjoy the most about your job, and within Project Centre in particular?
More than anything I enjoy designing spaces that are open to anyone. In a lot of the offices where I have worked in the past, I was creating gated spaces, inaccessible to most people. At Project Centre we design spaces that are for everybody to enjoy and this is something that makes me very proud. Another reason why I am so happy to work here is because Project Centre is a multi-disciplinary company. It gives me plenty of opportunities to learn from my colleagues from different disciplines and it widens my perspective over each of the design that we create here.
What do you enjoy the most about your job, and within Project Centre in particular?
Camberley High Street is probably my favourite project. It was the first time I could really test my skills working with a big project. I was there when the first ideas were proposed, and I was there the day the project was finished. We had to face quite a few challenges, but I was very lucky to be in a team of amazing people. We helped each other for the whole duration of the project, and we manage to deliver an amazing space for the people of Camberley.
Can you share a piece of career advice for our new starters?
Listen, listen, and listen. This would be my advice. What are projects should be made of is the dreams and the hopes of the people that will live there, and they should never be just representation of ourselves. Keep an open mind in the face of the strangest things. Consultation feedbacks, clients proposing something horrible, Engineers suggesting using that material. Discuss it, feel it, fight for it and finally, make your choice.
If you’re interested in starting or developing a career with us, check out our latest opportunities.