Jupiter Native Nicole Plunkett Named to University of Florida’s 40 Gators Under 40
Nicole Plunkett, partner with Cotleur & Hearing and founder of Future Landscape Architects of America (FLAA), was recently recognized by the University of Florida (UF) Alumni Association in the Class of 2022 40 Gators Under 40! The Jupiter native’s outstanding achievements have positively impacted the Gator Nation, Palm Beach County, and Florida at large.
Plunkett earned a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture with a minor in environmental studies from the UF College of Design, Construction, and Planning in 2010. Her career led her to become partner of the landscape architecture and land planning firm Cotleur & Hearing in 2019. Earlier in her career, Plunkett founded FLAA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating K-12 students about the field of landscape architecture, and has worked with over 3,000 students from more than 40 organizations and schools.
“I went to Jupiter High School, and it was there that I discovered the profession of landscape architecture through the Jupiter Environmental Research & Field Studies Academy,” Plunkett said. “It was such a wonderful program, and it has been so amazing to see things come full circle. Now, I’m working to become a mentor to inspire the next generation of landscape architects.”
Plunkett’s work with FLAA won a $25,000 fellowship for Innovation + Leadership from the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) in 2017. During the same year, Plunkett became the inaugural recipient of the Exceptional Emerging Professional Award from the Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).
While attending UF, Plunkett interned at Jupiter-based Cotleur & Hearing where she gained valuable experience in the fields of landscape architecture and land planning. She was hired by the firm upon graduating in 2010, and has since worked on multiple, high-profile projects throughout Palm Beach County. Cotleur & Hearing’s clients include the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Power & Light, Downtown Palm Beach Gardens, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, The Gardens Mall, 1000 NORTH, and Charlie & Joe’s at Love Street.
“It has been very rewarding to find professional fulfillment and success in the community I call home,” said Plunkett. “We live in such a beautiful environment, so I’m inspired to respond to that and highlight it through my work.”
Plunkett recently helped a senior at Jupiter High School with his design project to create an outdoor classroom at neighboring Jupiter Elementary School. The two worked together in the office and in the field, and the project was completed in the spring of 2020.
“He was so inspired by our profession that he is now planning to attend UF this fall to study landscape architecture,” Plunkett said. “Go Gators!”
About Cotleur & Hearing
Cotleur & Hearing provides professional services in the disciplines of landscape architecture, residential landscape design/build, land planning, and environmental consulting. The firm services a multitude of high-profile clients, along with counties and municipalities statewide, land developers, and many other private sector clients. Aside from an extensive portfolio in Florida, Cotleur & Hearing has also completed projects in the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Managing complex landscape architecture, land planning, and environmental projects requires specialized skills and talent that are developed through experience. The firm’s seasoned staff includes landscape architects, designers, graphic designers, planners, and environmental specialists. This dedicated team takes a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving, which has produced award-winning results.
About Future Landscape Architects of America
Future Landscape Architects of America (FLAA) is a nonprofit organization focused on educating K-12 students about the field of landscape architecture. The mission of FLAA is to advocate the student discovery of the landscape architecture profession by connecting educators to practitioners and resources. From participating in classroom projects to taking outdoor field trips, students have opportunities to learn firsthand from a landscape architect about designing communities, topography, stormwater solutions, plants, and much more. FLAA has flexible curricula and can work one-on-one with teachers to fit the needs of their students based on age, timing, and type of activity.
