PROFILE
"Maria, You have been amazing and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your help and ideas. You must be very proud of the integrity and reputation you have in this business."
- Donna Ripplinger
"Maria... I've looked at your work. Impressive!"
- Thomas D.
"Great job in managing this park project."
- Michelle Reid, City of Calgary Parks
María del Sol Galdón is a registered landscape architect and a full member of the AALA (Alberta Association of Landscape Architects.
Maria holds a Master’s in Landscape Architecture from the University of British Columbia, and has over 16 years of professional experience as a landscape architect and interior designer, from site specific to urban
scale.
Maria leads all types of landscape design projects. She is an exceptional designer who has worked on all stages of projects from schematic design to construction administration, often as project manager.
As design lead for Planta Landscape Studio, she follows each project from start to finish ensuring the concept and design intent are met through every step of the process. This has lead to recognition by
honour of various residential design awards through LANTA.
As an associate and project manager her work at O2 focuses on fine scale landscape architecture and the graphic presentation of drawings, maps, and contract documentation. Maria’s recent project work with O2 included project management and the development of construction drawings for the University of Calgary, the Alberta Boot Company Site, Shaw Communications and various City Parks, including Bowmont Environment Park Redevelopment, a collaborative project which received a CSLA National Merit Award and a Mayor’s Urban Design Award.
As a Landscape Architect Consultant with the University of British Columbia Design Centre, she lead the research document, “Green Infrastructure in Calgary’s Mobility Corridors”, which was awarded a CSLA National Merit Award.
As a graduate student, she received the award of Top Graduate Thesis Study for her thesis work focusing on the renegotiation of Calgary’s public right of way in terms of mobility, ecology, and public realm. Maria
undertook studies in Wageningen University and Research Centre (Netherlands), focusing on alternative energy sources in regional landscapes, for which she received an International Federation of Landscape Architects Jury Award. Maria also holds a Bachelor of Applied Interior Design with studies in Calgary and Guadalajara, Mexico.
MARIA DEL SOL GALDÓN | MLArch, BAID, AALA, CSLA
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
2020 LANTA Award of Excellence - Residential Landscape Construction.
Project: Ulmer Residence. Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association
2020 LANTA Award of Excellence - Residential Landscape Design.
Project: Ross Residence. Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association
2020 LANTA Award of Merit - Residential Landscape Design.
Project: Verma Residence. Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association
2019 Landscape Designer of the Year 2019 Winner. Western Living Magazine
2019 LANTA Award of Excellence - Residential Landscape Construction.
Project: O’Brien Residence. Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association
2019 LANTA Award of Merit - Residential Landscape Design.
Project: Broderick Residence. Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association
2019 LANTA Award of Merit - Residential Landscape Construction.
Project: Amonson Residence. Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association
2018 LANTA Award of Merit - Residential Landscape: Strother Residence.
Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association
2018 LANTA Award of Merit - Residential Landscape: Roxburgh Residence.
Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association
2018 LANTA Award of Merit - Residential Landscape Feature: Murias Stormwater Management.
Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association
2018 Western Living Magazine 2018 Designers of the Year Shortlist, Landscape Design Award Category
2017 LANTA Award of Merit - Residential Landscape Design, Project: Strother Residence.
Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association
2017 LANTA Award of Merit - Residential Landscape Design, Project: Roxburgh Residence
Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association
2016 LANTA Award of Merit - Residential Landscape Design, Project: Alford Residence
Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association
2015 CSLA National Merit Award - Bowmont Environment Park Redevelopment
Concept and schematic design development during time at O2 Planning + Design, Canadian Society of Landscape Architects
2014 Mayor’s Urban Design Award - Bowmont Environment Park Redevelopment
Concept and schematic design development during time at O2 Planning + Design, City of Calgary
2013 LANTA Award of Merit - Wildwood Drive
Planta Landscape, Residential Landscape Design and Construction, Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association
2012 CSLA Award - Taylor Family Digital Library + Quad University of Calgary
Contract documentation and construction administration during time at O2 Planning + Design, Canadian Society of Landscape Architects
2011 City Of Calgary Mayor’s Urban Design Awards - Calgary Civic Plaza Municipal Complex + Site Modernization
Project management and concept development during time at O2 Planning + Design, City of Calgary
2011 City Of Calgary Mayor’s Urban Design Awards - Taylor Family Digital Library + Quad University of Calgary
Contract documentation and construction administration during time at O2 Planning + Design, City of Calgary
2010 LANTA Award of Merit - Carney Road
Planta Landscape, Residential Landscape Design and Construction, Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association
2009 CSLA National Merit Award - Green Infrastructure in Calgary’s Mobility Corridors
Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Awards of Excellence
EDUCATION
Master of Landscape Architecture, 2008
University of British Columbia | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Landscape Architecture Study Abroad (Regional Studies), 2007
Wageningen University and Research Centre | Wageningen, Netherlands
Bachelor of Applied Interior Design, 2002
Mount Royal College | Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Interior Design Study Exchange, 2001
Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara | Jalisco, Mexico
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Alberta Association of Landscape Architects, Full Member
Canadian Society of Landscape Architects
Argentine Society of Landscape Architects (Centro Argentino de Arquitectos Paisajistas)
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
2008 Top Graduating Thesis Study Award. University of British Columbia School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
2007 IFLA Jury Award, International Federation of Landscape Architects Student Competition Energizing Maasvalley
2008 SALA (School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture) Faculty Book Prize
UBC Awarded for commitment to fellow students and to the ethics of the design studio environment
2007 UBC Education Abroad Scholarship. Walter H. Gage and Elsie M. Harvey Scholarship
2005 Masters of Landscape Architecture Entrance Scholarship, Henry Syd Skinner Landscape Architecture Entrance Scholarship
2004 First Place bathroom design, Kitchen & Bath Classics, Interior design kitchen and bath competition
2002 Outstanding Achievement in Interior Design Studies Award. BAID (Bachelor of Applied Interior Design) Scholarship
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Period: 2010 - Present
Galdón Studio Inc. / Planta Landscape Inc.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Position: Landscape Architect, President
Responsibilities: Landscape architectural consultant, conceptual and schematic design, design development, detail design, permit drawings, construction documentation
Period: 20181 - Present
University of Calgary, EVDS, Masters of Landscape Architecture
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Position: Sessional Instructor
Responsibilities: EVDS Plants in the Landscape, plant identification and planting design
Period: 2009 - Present
O2 Planning + Design Inc.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Position: Landscape Architect, Consultant
Responsibilities: Conceptual design, design development, detail design; construction document production; proposal development; visualization; and graphic design
Period: 2009
University of British Columbia Design Centre for Sustainability
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Position: Landscape Architect
Responsibilities: Research publication document regarding green infrastructure applications for The City of Calgary
Period: 2005 - 2008
Matrix Landscape Architecture
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Position: Landscape Architect
Research Fellow: Landscape architecture and urban design
Period: 2002 - 2004
McKinley Dang Burkart Architecture Group
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Position: Interior Designer
Responsibilities: Commercial, retail, and residential interior design
Period: 2000 - 2003
Miles Display and Design
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Position: Visual Merchandiser and Graphic Designer
Responsibilities: Visual merchandising design, graphics and layout