Living Future Accreditation: A Conversation with Adam Shriver
We are thrilled to announce that Adam Shriver, Principal in our Austin office, has recently earned a Living Future Accreditation (LFA).
The International Living Future Institute (Living Future) promotes a vision of the built environment that moves beyond sustainability toward regeneration — places that restore ecological systems, strengthen communities, and create lasting value for people and nature alike.
For Adam, earning LFA represents both a continuation of long-held values and an opportunity to deepen how those ideas show up in practice. We sat down with him to talk about how Living Future reframes sustainability, the evolving role of landscape architects, and where firms like TBG can lead in shaping a more regenerative future.
In what ways does Living Future align with and/or challenge your knowledge of Landscape Architecture?
Living Future aligns closely with why I became a landscape architect. I grew up in and around city and state parks which shaped my belief that landscapes matter. What was a turning moment for me was that Living Future challenged the idea that ‘doing less harm’ is enough. It isn’t. It reframed sustainability into something regenerative: leaving landscapes better than what they were.
Has it shifted how you think about sustainability, stewardship, or the long-term impact of projects and has it changed your design philosophy in any way?
More of a refinement than a reset. I have always believed that landscape architects are in a unique position to design for both people and nature. Living Future pushed me to focus less on good intentions, and more on measurable outcomes, and to think more intentionally about how our projects perform ecologically and socially over time, not just on opening day.
What drew you to Living Future, how does it connect to the kind of leadership TBG encourages, and why now?
My path to Living Future started with my values. Growing up in the state park system led me to landscape architecture, which introduced me to LEED and SITES, then to biophilic design as I looked to broaden my perspective internationally. Living Future brought all of that together. I also believe in leadership through learning, staying curious: these things are in close alignment to TBG.
TBG values curiosity and continuous growth. What motivates you to keep learning and expanding your skill set through certifications like this?
Curiosity, optimism, and a belief that our work can do more for our communities and the world. Accreditations like Living Future help me ask better questions, stay challenged, and keep expanding my skillsets so I can contribute more to projects, teams, and the larger landscapes we live in.
How do you balance optimism and realism when working toward Living Future goals?
For me, optimism comes from storytelling and the emotional connection of people with places. Realism comes from understanding how landscapes actually work. Living Future reminds me that we don’t have to choose between inspiring places and functional systems. We can design landscapes that manage water, restore habitat, and resonate with people who use them. That “both/and” mindset keeps the work grounded and hopeful at the same time.
What opportunities do you see for TBG to lead more boldly in regenerative design?
TBG has an opportunity to lead by leaning into what landscape architecture does best: integrating natural systems with human and social needs in ways that feel intuitive and meaningful. We can tell stronger stories about how habitat restoration, water management, and regenerative strategies don’t just perform well; they elevate the human experience. When done well, this approach should feel like second nature to us, and that is where real leadership shows up.
What advice would you give to others considering Living Future or similar accreditations?
Try to start with your interest and curiosity, not obligation. Accreditations like Living Future expand how I think, ask questions, and tell more informed stories in our work. If you care about landscapes, people, and the long-term impact of what we design, the learning will be relevant and energizing.
Anything else to note?
Living Future reinforced two things I love about landscape architecture: the “both/and” approach, and the power of a strong story. Our best work integrates regenerative systems and spaces that inspire people. Telling the story of why landscapes matter, ecologically, socially, emotionally, makes the work more meaningful. This journey has been as much about mindset as technical knowledge: staying curious, asking better questions, and imagining how our designs can have a lasting, positive impact.
About the Biophilic Design Certification Program
Living Future’s education program offers continuing education on advanced sustainability topics that support the adoption of our certification programs, initiatives, principles, and philosophy. The program is dedicated to providing architecture, engineering, design, and construction (AEC) professionals with courses and credentials that increase their capability to lead the transformation of the built environment towards widespread adoption of practices that are socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative.
You can read more about the requirements and what that means for our industry here: Living Future Accreditation (LFA)