Small Business Young Professional of the Year + 40 Under 40 Award
Coming off a banner year in 2018 in terms of growth was no surprise for our firm based on the pace set by our vice president, Fremont Latimer, asla, pla. So it was with gratitude that Fremont was not just recognized as one of the best 40 Under 40 members of our region in 2018, but also was the recipient of Small Business Young Professional Award.
I must confess that I’m not surprised by the recognition, as I’ve known Fremont since he was a student in my class at the University of Florida. He didn’t just excel in his studies, he added to the environment. He made those around him better students. He made me a better instructor. I knew then that I wanted to work with him. So I was excited that he joined our firm; first as an intern, then an employee, now as a partner.
“Our firm is unique in its ability to ‘create landscapes that are historic or contemporary interpretations for each place’”
Our firm is unique in its ability to “create landscapes that are historic or contemporary interpretations for each place”. And Fremont’s skill sets make him perfect for telling each properties unique story. With an undergraduate degree in Classic Civilizations from Colby College, Fremont loves finding the history of a place. His stint working in the Banking Industry in Chicago taught him finance and he is the master of the excel spreadsheet. But his move to Northeast Florida opened his eyes to the “green industry and the environment and forests of our region”. Getting his arborist license introduced Fremont to landscape architecture and his successful completion of a master’s degree from the University of Florida.
Over the past 24 months Fremont has become a trusted design member of the Baptist Health community in Northeast Florida, providing landscape architectural solutions for the master plan at Baptist Health South Campus including the implementation of a new parking garage, re-purposed entrances, Medical Office Buildings and therapeutic patient courtyards. He has also completed landscape architectural solutions for Baptist Health Nassau, and Baptist Health Downtown Jacksonville Tower. Currently he is leading the design for the new campuses at Baptist Nocatee, Baptist Oakleaf and Baptist Clay.
Recently Fremont has been part of the team on the University of West Florida Landscape Master Plan. He also completed the design and implementation of the University of Florida Historic Trust Museum Plaza, which just received an in-fill design award from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.
His community involvement includes being chairman of the City of St. Augustine Street Tree Advisory Board.
A devoted family man, Fremont and his supportive wife Stephanie, have two children. All of them are adventurous outdoor enthusiasts.
The University of Florida recently recognized our growth, when our firm was inducted as one of the Gator 100 fastest growing firms owned by gator graduates. This was in no small part because of Fremont’s leadership, enthusiasm, and curiosity.
Writen by Frederick Halback, PLA, FASLA, Senior Principal and Founder. Frederick Halback is the founder and senior principal of the firm. Elected as a fellow by the American Society of Landscape Architects for Built Projects, Fred’s work has received dozens of design awards, including two environmental design awards presented by the First Lady in White House ceremonies. With over 40 years experience, Fred’s designs have stood the ’test of time’.