MCLV is a landscape architecture and urban design practice.

We endeavor to strengthen human connection with the physical environment through our work. Our team has experience delivering projects of exceptional design quality across the United States. We are currently working both locally and abroad on a variety of project types including plazas, parks, cultural landscapes, and urban redevelopments.

DEREK HOETMER

PRINCIPAL / PLA / ASLA / LEED AP BD+C

Derek’s lifelong exposure to landscape architecture is evident in his conceptually bold, detail-oriented designs. With a diverse portfolio spanning planning urban districts to constructing rooftop terraces, he’s collaborated with clients worldwide, including the NYC Housing Authority, the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. Bureau of Overseas Building Operations, and Google.

While he appreciates working abroad, he enjoys serving his community as Chair of the Kansas City Downtown Council Infrastructure & Open Space Committee, as Chair of KSU Landscape Architecture & Regional Community Planning’s Professional Advisory Board, and as Past Chair of the KCMO Downtown Neighborhood Association Planning & Development Committee. His experience has garnered awards from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). He is a licensed landscape architect in the State of Missouri.

KEVIN CUNNINGHAM

PRINCIPAL / PLA

Kevin is an experienced landscape architect and urban designer. He has completed projects that span campus master plans and urban redevelopment to public plazas and residential landscapes, working with public and private clients including: Georgetown University, Ford Motor Company, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the New York City Department of Design and Construction.

Kevin earned his Master of Landscape Architecture degree from Kansas State University. He returned to the Midwest after living in Boston and New York where he worked as a landscape architect at Sasaki and Snøhetta. Several of the projects he contributed to have been recognized by awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). He is a licensed landscape architect in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

BEN WAGNER

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT / PLA

A lifelong Kansas Citian, Ben is a talented landscape architect whose project experience spans multiple scales, including campus design, public parks, trails, plazas, and gardens. He has a keen eye for detail and is focused on delivering high-quality work for his clients, who have recently included Ronald McDonald House Charities, Cerner Corporation, and the City of Kansas City, Missouri. He is passionate about planting design and enjoys experimenting with new techniques and combinations in his home garden – a miniature oasis in the heart of Kansas City’s Hyde Park neighborhood.

Ben earned his Master of Landscape Architecture from Kansas State University before returning to Kansas City, where he has spent the last decade in practice. His work has been recognized by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). He is a licensed landscape architect in the State of Missouri.

LARRY HOETMER

ADVISOR / PLA / ASLA

Larry brings over three decades of landscape architecture experience, including 21 years of planning and management for the City of Wichita in the Department of Parks and Recreation. During his tenure with the City he has created, managed, and overseen numerous projects including memorials, master plans, and parks. He has continued his residential practice for high-profile clients across the region in addition to his time as a public servant. 

Larry earned his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture with honors from Kansas State University and began his career working on award-winning projects across the country with the renowned landscape architecture practice, Design Workshop. Upon relocating to Wichita, he spent a decade in private practice before joining the City. His projects with the City have garnered multiple ASLA awards, he has presented at the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Conference, and has hosted several Kansas Recreation and Park Association (KRPA) field events. Larry brings creativity and ambition to all his projects, enriching the lives of people through his work in both public parks and residential landscapes. 

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