minxuanzhang

MINXUAN ZHANG

I am Minxuan Zhang, a Landscape Architecture graduate (MLA) from the University of Michigan. My work resides at the intersection of ecological resilience and community-centered design.

With a strong foundation in spatial analysis and design tools (ArcGIS, Rhino, AutoCAD, Adobe Suite) , I have driven impactful projects ranging from residential planting toolkits in Detroit to urban soundscape research and built courtyard renovations. Guided by theories like Cues to Care, my research and practice focus on translating ecological data into tangible, inclusive public spaces.

I am committed to designing landscapes that foster both environmental health and a deep sense of social belonging.

I am honored to have received Russel A. Pelton Award (for plant knowledge and ecological application) and the Community Impact Catalyst Award. These recognitions have further reinforced my commitment to creating landscapes that integrate ecological resilience, community engagement, and long-term environmental stewardship.

Education

University of Michigan
Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
09/2024-05/2026

China Agricultural University
Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture
Beijing, China
09/2020-06/2024

Professional practice experience

SmithGroup
Spring Break Job Shadowing
Ann Arbor, MI
03/2025

Participated in discussions and meetings on landscape and urban design

University of Michigan,
School for Environment and Sustainability
Graduate Student Research Assistant, Advisor: Prof. Joan Nassauer
Ann Arbor, MI
05/2025-

Participated in the training and validation of large language models

Evaluated Detroit neighborhood environments through the lens of the Cues to Care theory

Graduate Student Research Assistant, Advisor: Prof. Mark Lindquist
Ann Arbor, MI
06/2025-10/2025

Collected and organized soundscape data from 127 sites across Detroit

Assisted in designing a survey questionnaire on urban soundscapes

Contests
&
Projects

East Village Detroit Catalyst Plan
(University of Michigan & AboutFaceDetroit)

Detroit, MI
01/2025-05/2026

Drafted precise CAD plans and site layouts for the CITGO Lot redevelopment, ensuring alignment with municipal zoning codes

Executed a comprehensive door-to-door survey of East Village residents to gather qualitative data on public green space usage and preferences

Developed a comprehensive planting and design toolkit for residents, featuring adaptable modules for diverse environmental conditions

Boosting the Night Market Economy of Beijing Jiukeshu Street
Team leader
Beijing, China
03/2022-05/2022

Led team field research and site analysis

Oversaw creative direction, prepared full presentation materials, and ensured smooth project progress

Morning Tea Courtyard Space Renovation (Constructed)
Team member
Henan, China
03/2022-05/2022

Conducted a field investigation, including interviewing the locals and collecting site information, deconstructed the cultural features of Jia County to extract the design elements of chess

Skills

Auto CAD
Adobe Creative Suite
SketchUp
Rhino
Grasshopper
V-Ray
Lumion
GIS

Awards

The Russel A. Pelton Award
2026
Awarded for demonstrating outstanding knowledge and sensitivity to plant materials and their ecological application in landscape design.

The Community Impact Catalyst Award
2026
Recognized for enhancing community belonging and broadening perspectives through collaborative projects and a demonstrated commitment to social and environmental justice.

Last Updated 24.10.31

PORTFOLIO

1. Weaving Urbanity into the Wild
Mixed-use Planning and Landscape Design:
Synergy of Living, Working, and Nature in York Township

Instructor: Paul Kissinger
Type: Individual/ Academic Work
Time: Aug. 2025-Dec. 2025
Location: York Township, MI
Key Concern: Public space; Ecological Integration; Programmatic Synergy

Urbanization is a universal trajectory towards modernization. For the York Township project, this means revitalizing a site characterized by its transition from man-made order to wild grassland.

Our vision establishes a new municipality model: a balanced, mixed-use district where high-density commercial vitality meets the serenity of ecological living, redefining the synergy between rural context and urban growth.

2. Framing the Seasonal Echoes
Planting Design:
A Unified Gateway Merging Native Blooms and Flexible Gathering Spaces

Instructor: Lisa Du Russel
Type: Individual/ Academic Work
Time: Aug. 2025-Dec. 2025
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Key Concern: Planting Design; Native habitats; Seasonal successions

This gateway design serves as a poetic threshold between urban structure and the botanical garden. By weaving native floral successions into rhythmic paths and terraces, the intervention creates a multi-layered sensory experience—a sanctuary where ecology meets celebration within the shifting echoes of the seasons.

3. Reinventing the City's Broken Places
Urban Design:
Study on the Connectivity and Enhancement of Public Spaces along Chongqing's Riverfront

Instructor: Xianfeng Li
Type: Individual/ Academic Work
Time: Mar. 2022-Jun. 2022
Location: Chongqing, China
Key Concern: Public space; Connectivity; Human activities

Urbanization is a general law of economic and social development towards modernization.Chongqing, as a new municipality in China, is characterized by a dual economic structure, with both large cities and large rural areas.

4. Remodeling the Eroded Area
Landscape and Ecology Design:
Renovation and Ecological Restoration of Coastal Erosion Areas in Yancheng, Jiangsu

Instructor: Liang Xiong
Type: Individual/ Academic Work
Time: Sept. 2023-Dec. 2023
Location: Jiangsu, China
Key Concern: Erosion Preventing ; Sewage purification

The Wetland in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, is an important wetland in China and one of the most biodiverse areas. Under the double influence of human interference and natural erosion, the coastal wetland has been degraded continuously.