Fundamental principles of planning and design can be learned from the careful study of natural processes. Since our founding 40 years ago, a basic affinity with ecology has led us to integrate development with nature - rather than impose it - and to create design that is most intrinsically suitable to a site and impacts nature least. This philosophy was articulated by one of our founders, Ian McHarg, in his seminal book Design with Nature, which influenced a generation of environmental planners, designers and the public at large, and it continues to permeate all scales and types of WRTs projects. Today, our work is increasingly focused on assignments that improve existing urbanized areas and conserve important environmental assets in undeveloped natural areas.