SWATI KHIMESRA TO SERVE AS FIRM’S FIRST CEO
DURHAM, N.C. – Today, Surface 678 announced that the firm’s principals have unanimously elected Swati Khimesra, PLA, LEED AP, RELi APas Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President, effective immediately. Khimesra, who is a multi-award-winning landscape architect and a LEED Accredited Professional, previously served as a principal and partner at Surface 678.
Walter Havener, FASLA will continue his role as Founding Principal and Director of Design and will be focused on leading design teams while continuing to maintain the professional relationships that been built over his 27 years of leadership with the firm.
“From the day Swati joined us at Surface 678 I was impressed by her ability to work with clients and gain their confidence,” Havener said regarding the transition. “She has a unique ability to talk about design, technology, contracts, and resources in a way that brings her vision to light. I’m excited about the energy and fierceness she brings to the firm. She has a dogged willingness to never give up.”
With her determination, persistence, and numerous accolades and accomplishments, Khimesra was a unanimous decision amongst the firm’s principals to take on the leadership role for the firm’s future. From day one, Khimesra’s presence and impact has been felt. Her ability to interact with clients and gain their confidence, the vibrant energy and focus that she brings to every project and her 17 years of industry experience in the United States and internationally are unparalleled and her design leadership has led to numerous accolades for the firm including the North Carolina ASLA Honor Award for the BB&T Leadership Institute in Greensboro, N.C. in 2020.
“I am thrilled to lead Surface 678 into its next phase of growth in the field of landscape architecture and design,” said Khimesra. “We are well-positioned to become a leader in the southeastern region of the country with our strong foundation in design excellence, collaboration, and craft that is rooted in the creative expression of the cultural landscape.”
Under Khimesra’s direction, she hopes to cement Surface 678 as a firm that clients from far and wide seek out first when they envision design excellence for their projects, and one of the premiere firms in the country.
About Surface 678:
Cultivated in design excellence, Surface 678 is an industry leader in landscape architecture. Design, culture, and collaboration are at the core of who we are, and we place an emphasis on teamwork and communication in order to achieve design excellence. Our name is a embodies who we, the surface becomes the expression of the landscape’s beauty, while 678 is a reference to our commitment to a region of similar culture, soils, climate and vegetation across the southeastern United States.
Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Durham, N.C., Surface 678 has won more than 50 awards for their work, including three NCASLA awards in 2020. To learn more, please visit our website at www.surface678.com and follow us on Instagram @surface678.