About Our Studio
Stewart | Washmuth | Sollars Landscape Architecture (SWSLA), Inc. is a design studio based in Lithia Florida that creates engaging and innovative landscapes at a range of scales. Founded in 1992 by Edward Stewart and Larry Washmuth, Stewart~Washmuth & Co. (SWCO) has become a mainstay throughout Florida’s West Coast. Since its inception, our design studio has utilized a virtual business model in order to reduce our footprint on the environment, provide a larger range of service area and reduce our overhead operating costs to the benefit of our clients. In December of 2018, SWCO welcomed Ryan Sollars as Partner and the studio has since become SWSLA. Though the name has changed, its guiding principles founded by Ed and Larry remain ingrained in the studio’s culture.
We believe what makes SWSLA unique is our ability to be nimble in the needs of our clients’, to create beautiful outdoor spaces that harmonize the natural and built worlds, and to place the conservation and preservation of our ecosystems at the forefront of our design.
Project success stems from our ability to coordinate client goals and expectations with our knowledge and experience in the many facets of landscape architecture. Understanding these elements, we sculpt our clients’ visions to create a holistic design. Though this balance shifts with each project, we believe this collaborative approach ensures a finished result that is both unique and sustainable.
SWCO has spent the last 29 years thoughtfully sculpting Florida’s West Coast. SWSLA will strive to carry on that legacy while progressing into other regions of Florida, keeping our guiding principles at the forefront of our design.
Guiding Principles: We believe harmony is found in the balance of engaging designs, client expectations, and the preservation of our ecosystems.
Team
Ryan Sollars
Principal + Creative Director, PLA, ASLA License: LA6667233
Ryan is a graduate of the University of Florida and has worked throughout the west coast of Florida for 25 years. Over the course of his career, Ryan has worked on projects ranging from high-end residential to college and professional sports stadiums. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys fly-fishing, barbecuing, restoring vintage vehicles and spending time with his family.
Contact: ryan@swsla.com
Kris Edinger
Construction Administration Coordinator
Kris is a graduate of the University of South Florida and joins SWSLA with more than 25 years of experience in the landscape and property maintenance industry. He has managed a variety of projects ranging from small residential accounts to large multi-site commercial properties. In his spare time, Kris enjoys golfing, barbecuing with family and friends and restoring classic American sports cars.
Contact: kris@swsla.com
Founders
Ed Stewart
Landscape Architect Emeritus
Ed is a graduate of the University of Florida and worked for 45 years on a vast range of projects in Southwest Florida before retiring in 2015. In addition to running SWCO with Larry, Ed was an Adjunct Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Florida and was seated on the board of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Florida Chapter (ASLAFL). Since his retirement, Ed resides in the hills of Tennessee while still participating in the firm’s growth and future direction.
Larry Washmuth
Landscape Architect Emeritus
Larry is a graduate of Purdue University and has worked on projects across Florida for 48 years before retiring in 2021. Larry’s expertise lies in the design of resort and residential communities, parks and recreational facilities, and hotels and resorts. Many of his projects having been recipients of national and state design awards. In his spare time, Larry enjoys spending time at his cabin in the mountains of North Carolina.
On The Boards
