Staff Spotlight: Michelle Hill

Background and Career Journey

Meet Michelle Hill, an intern for the FOCUS Land Planning Department. Michelle recently graduated from Utah State University. When she’s not designing landscapes, she enjoys ballet, singing, ballroom dancing, drawing, spending time with family, and going on road trips.

Charting Career Success Through College Pathways

Michelle’s talent and keen eye for design are evident through her extensive project experience and achievements during college. During her sophomore year of college, Michelle participated in the design of Mt. Aire Park near the university’s campus with the objective of honoring alumni. The design concept mirrored the journey of a student in the Landscape Architecture Program. It featured interlocking pathways to represent each academic year, spaces for reflecting on key moments during the college experience, and a frosted glass wall engraved with the names of USU alumni. This experience shaped Michelle’s path as a landscape architect, setting a high standard for quality in her work. It was a defining project that showcased her potential and ability to create a space that significantly impacts those who use it.

Beyond the success of this project, Michelle and her team at USU went on to receive an honorable mention for the Dean’s Prize at Utah State University for their exceptional landscape design of Old Main Hill.

Community Involvement

With all the projects Michelle has tackled throughout her college career, she has developed a deep passion for giving back to her hometown community through local projects, as well as projects across Utah and neighboring states. Michelle is committed to recognizing the great potential in each site she works on, aiming to support the culture and the people who will inhabit and use the space.

Inspirations and Vision for the Future

Michelle’s favorite architectural masterpiece is Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. She admires this garden because she created a 3D rendering of it using AutoCAD and Rhino for a final project during her college career. She captured the European Garden style vividly, and she was grateful for the opportunity to recreate such a remarkable space.

When asked about mentors in her life, Michelle highlighted the significant influence of her college professors. Several of her professors played a crucial role in her development, consistently encouraging her to excel. They took the time to sit down with her, offering valuable counsel on design. They helped her grasp the broader impacts of her work that she might have otherwise overlooked.

Michelle’s long-term goals and aspirations within the AEC field surround communities. She aspires to design spaces where individuals and families can gather, enjoy nature, and explore their imagination and creativity. As a landscape architect in training, her contributions are poised to significantly enhance project and client success for the FOCUS team.