Thomas Woltz


Thomas L. Woltz is an American landscape architect. He is the owner of landscape architecture firm Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, founded in 1985, and with offices in New York, Charlottesville, Virginia, and Houston, Texas.

Early life

Woltz was born and raised on a cattle and crop farm in Mount Airy, North Carolina. His father, John Elliott Woltz Sr., was the owner of local knitwear company Quality Mills and his mother Mary Patricia “Pat” Gwyn Woltz was a philanthropist, civic leader, and artist.
In the 1970s, the family farm was developed into the Cross Creek Country Club.
Woltz earned a bachelor’s degree in architectural design, architectural history, and studio art, and later master’s degrees in both architecture and landscape architecture from the University of Virginia.

Career

After receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in 1990, Woltz moved to Venice, Italy, where he worked at architecture firm Giorgio Vellavitis in addition to leading the University of Virginia's summer program for architecture students. He returned to the University of Virginia in 1994 to resume his studies in architecture and landscape architecture, receiving master's degrees for each subject in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Upon graduation, Woltz started working at what was then Nelson Byrd Landscape Architects, under his former professor Warren Byrd and partner Susan Nelson. In 2003, Woltz became named partner of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, and in 2013, the firm’s sole proprietor.
Throughout his career, Woltz has completed projects in the United States, New Zealand, Canada, Italy, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Personal life

Woltz lives in Charlottesville, Virginia and New York.

Projects

NBW’s project at Orongo Station in Young Nick's Head, Poverty Bay, New Zealand, which Woltz led, illustrates the firm’s integration of multiple disciplines, such as “art, architecture, agriculture, ecological, and cultural reclamation”, into a single site. The project included the restoration of an old homestead, new buildings, domestic gardens, reconfigured wetlands, a reforested coastline, and expanded access to a Maori burial ground across a 1,200-hectare property.
Other projects by Woltz include:
Restoration, Greenport, Columbia County, New York
In addition to the industry recognition earned by the firm, Woltz has received the awards listed below: