Honoring the Browning Day founders and Landscape Architecture

In honor of World Landscape Architecture Month, we are going back to the beginning of Browning Day’s first era. Our founders, Jim Browning and Alan Day started Browning Day as a landscape architecture firm to answer the growing needs for planning and design in the city of Indianapolis and across the State of Indiana. These two extremely passionate leaders believed the natural environment and the built environment could and should coexist in engaging and exciting ways.

A US Figure Skater and Landscape Architect

Not only was Jim Browning a powerhouse in the design community, but he and his wife were also members of the US Figure Skating team. This love of the arts, culture, and sports community led to unique opportunities in each of these markets for Browning Day to leave a legacy in the City of Indianapolis and abroad.

A partnership shaping city planning

Jim and Alan became heavily involved in city planning and the sports industry as both presented Indianapolis with a unique economic development opportunity. They believed the value of a well-designed landscape can provide lasting health benefits for the community. Some of the more notable projects Browning Day worked on include the Hoosier Dome (later known as the – RCA Dome), Pan Am Plaza, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, The Circle Centre Mall, the Canal Walk Master Plan, Victory Field, the IUPUI Michael Carroll Track and Field Stadium, the Tennis Center, the Indiana University Natatorium, the National Institute for Fitness and Sports, the beautification of Monument Circle and the American Legion Mall.

Their first employee, nationally recognized landscape architect, Claire Bennett, brought her combined knowledge of architecture and landscape architecture to Browning Day. She had significant input into the designs for the Indianapolis Downtown Canal and Newfields. Her dedication and timeless designs shaped the landscape of Indianapolis’ landmark sites and numerous residential project sites across Indiana.

Legacy lives on

The Browning Day landscape architects of our past have shaped who we are today. Their ethos and innovation serve as steppingstones paving the way for future designs. Environments built on sustainable design practices allow communities to flourish and bring people together. The health of cities relies heavily on the cohesion of built and natural spaces designed by holistically-minded teams of allied professionals. These practices and ideas stem from the work of our founders and what they taught and put into action. Their legacies live on in our work today. #landscapearchitecture #WLAM2022