Today we’d like to introduce you to Pamela Self.
Pamela, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a registered landscape architect with more than 25 years of experience on a wide range of commercial and residential projects.
I grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago and received my degree in Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University. I was very fortunate to work for one of Chicago’s leading landscape architecture firms during the first several years of my career. I established my own firm in 2003 and have been focusing on creating spaces where people live, work and pause. At PSLA, we do a wide range of projects from small to large residential and every type of non-residential you could think of.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Of course not (laughing). I don’t think any business has a smooth road. There are struggles with finding your place in the market; I was trained as a designer, not as a business developer. We managed to survive through the recession, which was a huge struggle. During our first five years, we received clients only through referrals. Once the recession hit, we had to figure out how to market ourselves and find work. The building industry is cyclical so planning for the ebb and flow of the economy is a constant challenge.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are a boutique landscape architecture firm offering design services to a wide-range of clients. Our passion is creating inspirational and creative outdoor living spaces.
Regardless of project context, we design unique surroundings by understanding our customer’s vision and needs, property potential and budget limitations.
We are proud to be in business for more than 14 years and the majority of our customer base is from referrals. We are also extremely proud to have been awarded a five year contract with the Chicago Department of Transportation to design the seasonal annual display for the Michigan Avenue Medians from Roosevelt Road to Oak Street.
We believe our customer service and design ability sets us apart in our industry. We take pride in being a client advocate during design and throughout the construction process, which ensures a successful project.
What were you like growing up?
My love of landscape began when I was young: working with my grandfather in his garden, caddying for my father on the golf course and playing with my siblings in the DuPage County forest preserves. My love of design began with my mother’s artistic talents, my high school drafting class and a fascination with the world of building. I followed that love of landscape and design to Iowa State University, where I learned from world-renowned landscape architecture professors on a campus named one of the top 25 most beautiful sites in the U.S. All these experiences built the foundation for my eventual career path.
Contact Info:
- Website: pamelaself.com
- Phone: 847-438-4922
- Email: pself@pamelaself.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/psla_design
Image Credit:
PSLA
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