For Canadian landscape architect Jenna Wouters a work exchange programme to New Zealand with WSP has opened up a world of new plant species and landscape environments. She’s here for four weeks as part of the WSP Global Exchange Programme, aimed at strengthening the company’s international network by exposing employees to new experiences.

Wouters is with the Ottawa Landscape Architecture and Urban Design team at WSP where she’s developed a broad portfolio of projects throughout Ottawa and surrounding communities. Her focus in the last few years has been Light Rail Transit projects and the integration of exterior spaces and pedestrian movements.

While in Auckland she’s been working on park concepts, coastal cross sections and ecology mapping, and has made sure to get out on as many site visits as possible.

“What I’ve noticed so far is there are many differences (between New Zealand and Canada) in terms of surrounding landscapes, based on climate and what can actually be built and hold up to the harsh winter conditions,” Wouters told Landscape Architecture Aotearoa. “The climate is very different. Auckland is a subtropical climate, whereas Ottawa is often considered as a winter city, where we can have winter for up to 6 months. We have to be able to accommodate salty roadway conditions, which is very hard on all vegetation and most hardscape materials, and snow removal overall. It’s eye opening to see the beautiful wood materials and flexibility of materials here.