Our employees are at the heart of everything we do, and Jose Ramirez is no exception. As a Landscape Architecture Designer II on our Indianapolis team, he brings a deep-rooted passion for creating community spaces that are meaningful, beautiful, and engaging. Learn more about how he got his start, where he’s headed, and how he helps our team brings a unique approach to landscape architecture projects.
Driven to make a difference
Jose’s journey to landscape architecture started early. As a kid, he loved designing and building things, which eventually led to him pursuing an architecture degree at Ball State. Once he got into the program, though, he realized that designing landscapes better suited his talents and interests.
“When I went to college I was interested in architecture, but I was pulled towards landscape architecture because of the community impact. It felt like I could make more of difference.”
Jose loved diving into not just how spaces get made, but why, exploring the relationships between people and their physical spaces. By balancing engineering logistics with human behaviors, his landscape architecture coursework dispelled the misconception of “just being where to plant things” and took root as a driving passion for his future career.
After graduation, he worked in residential design but yearned to be part of a more multidisciplinary team. He heard about V3 from a friend/current team member and was instantly drawn to our vast array of projects, market sectors, and Best Firm to Work For status. Now a year into his tenure, Jose has been showcasing his rendering skills and expanding his contributions across projects.
Creating community impact
In a short amount of time, Jose has jumped into a considerable portfolio of projects, from parks and trails to mitigating a stream through a golf course. The diversity of work keeps him engaged and inspired, especially when he gets to work across service lines or V3 regional offices.
“It’s so nice to get those different perspectives and get exposed to different types of clients. Working with our engineers within transportation, natural resources, and other teams helps me learn so much.”
Not only does he learn from his peers, but V3’s community engagement approach to landscape architecture helps him understand what people need and want from their local environments. The landscape architecture team goes right to the source when creating new community spaces, directly engaging with residents through public events and surveys for actionable feedback.
“Community engagement is the best place to start. We can better understand what the community needs are and then have the opportunity to put it into action.”
One of his favorite projects has been Riverside Adventure Park: a former golf course that is being transformed into a multifunctional, interactive park for all. It was the first V3 project that utilized his rendering talents and allowed him to work with our entire team. Now as the designs are being implemented, it’s been thrilling to see everything come to life.
“It’s great to hear people outside of work talk about this project and think, hey, I’m a part of this! With all the collaboration and moving parts, seeing the progress and making people happy is exciting.”
Fueling creativity
Outside of work, Jose plays guitar and several other instruments. He comes from a very musical family and together they explore both Spanish and English melodic styles. He also loves playing with his 95-lb German Shephard, Bruce.
His next goal is to secure his landscape architecture license to delve even deeper into the profession. Though the process involves considerable studying and multiple exams, he’s excited to keep learning and growing.
“I’ve been extremely happy at V3 and look forward to what’s next. I’m ready to expand my career and my role here; I really enjoy what I do and where I do it!”
Work with Jose and our landscape architecture team
Our landscape architecture team is growing! V3 is a repeat Best Firm to Work For and Healthiest Employer winner, offering unlimited potential to develop your skills and make an impact. Explore our open landscape architecture job opportunities in Indianapolis, Charlotte, Chicago, and beyond to learn more.