Simone Collins is about learning, teaching, and advancing the practice expertise of our diverse staff.
History / culture – For over 30 years, SC culture has emphasized retaining and advancing our staff into leadership positions within the firm and in their regional communities.
Disciplines – Simone Collins is small firm of landscape architects, planners and engineers – with staff ranging from principals, each with over 45 years professional practice – to college interns, and all levels of design and management between.
Office / Location – The SC workspace is a green office redesigned and renovated by SC as a collaborative open-design environment – to inspire all aspects of conservation stewardship, and located one block from the SEPTA Norristown Transit Center.
Diversity, safety, respect – SC is an equal opportunity employer with a history of adapting productive work regimens that meet changing personal and family demands of our staff. SC strictly observes public health protocols – including the capability for remote work when required. A history of progressive SC practices, including open dialogue, fair compensation and work-life balance demonstrate respect between SC staff colleagues.
Pete Simone, RLA, FASLA
Peter co-founded the firm in 1990, after practicing across the Philadelphia region since graduation from Rutgers University in 1975. He serves as president and principal for projects from planning to construction. Pete was elected Fellow to the Society of Landscape Architects by his peers in 2005.
Throughout his entire college and adult life Pete has rowed competitively and is a past president of Vesper Boat Club on the Schuylkill River. He enjoys spending time in the many open spaces and trails that Simone Collins has assisted in
bringing to life.
bringing to life.
William Collins, RLA, ASLA
Bill practiced in Atlanta, Philadelphia and Boston after graduation from The Ohio State University in 1975. He won two federal awards to design, build, live in, and monitor a passive solar house in 1981. Bill founded and edited the Citizens Voice newspaper about the Delaware River water diversion in Bucks County in 1983-4. He joined the firm in 1992, became a shareholder in 1995, and a VP in 1998. Bill serves as principal for transportation, recreation, and ecological planning/design projects. Personal priorities include family, water, art, music, writing and activism.
Sarah Leeper, RLA
Sarah joined SC after graduating from the University of Georgia in 2003, and serves as principal/senior project manager for a broad practice spectrum - ranging from regional planning through design of parks, transportation, greenways, trails, and horticultural projects. Sarah uses her expertise in site materials, detailing, and ecological plantings to design and document sustainable landscapes at all scales. Sarah is transitioning to principal shareholder in SC, and helps guide staff through SC in-house technical training. Friends, restaurants, softball and her dogs make her smile.
Pankaj Jobanputra, AICP
Pankaj Jobanputra (PJ) is a planner/project manager at Simone Collins since 2014. His experience is focused on municipal zoning analyses; community/economic strategies; comprehensive/ park/open space plans; and urban/corridor strategies. Pankaj manages services for multiple local Pennsylvania governments, including: Exeter Township, Solebury Township, Limerick Township, Lehman Township. Milford Borough, Pen Argyl Borough and Berks County. He is exceptionally articulate and experienced in conducting inclusive public participation programs. PJ was born and raised in Philadelphia, enjoys sharing the treasures of the City with his family, and bleeds green for the Eagles.
Robert Gladfelter RLA, ASLA
Rob joined the Simone Collins team in 2018 after receiving his B.S. in Landscape Architecture from Temple University. Prior to going back to school, he worked for 15+ years in the landscape construction and horticulture field. He has authored reports, drafted construction documents, assisted in public participation, prepared graphics, and is the go-to person for GIS analysis. From 2021-2023, Rob worked with a mission based design and build firm that concentrated on ecological and native landscapes. He returned to Simone Collins to again work with the public. Rob is also an avid outdoorsman and plays music.
Tobias Levin, RLA, ASLA
Toby earned his Master of Landscape Architecture in 2019 from Temple University. Following graduation, he moved to the mountain west, working as a landscape designer on public projects, at a variety of scales. He has authored reports, drafted construction documents, prepared graphic renderings, and assisted in public engagement. Toby is drawn to urban spaces that connect people with natural processes and to wild spaces that allow people in. Exploring a site deeply, researching its history, how water and visitors flow through it, and engaging with stakeholders excite his design work. When not in the office, he enjoys birdwatching, hiking with his corgis, or cooking and eatin
David Bender, IDSA, Associate ASLA
David has spent two decades honing his management and design skills in Philadelphia’s non-profit sector, for the past dozen years at DesignPhiladelphia developing and implementing educational programs and exhibitions that excite and inspire the public about architecture, urban planning and design. David enjoys collaborating with people on creative projects that explore and redefine the relationships between art, science, design, nature, and society. He is especially interested in designing products and places through which people and nature can interact and enjoy one-another’s company. When not working, he can be found exploring his favorite ecosystems, wooded wetlands.
Michelle Armour, ASLA
Michelle Armour graduated from Temple University in Landscape Architecture with multiple honors, joined SC in 2019, and serves on multiple SC planning/design projects. Her writing/editing skills help SC teams to refine graphic and written products, and her research/analytic skills contribute to SC project investigations. Michelle serves on the Executive Committee of the PA/DE Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. As a former healthcare professional and musical performer, Michelle brings her passion for communication and creativity to her landscape architecture practice, where she specializes in designing spaces that promote health and wellness.
Devon McLaughlin
Joining Simone Collins in January 2025, Devon graduated from Temple University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture. She began her professional career with a foundation in construction and design-build. Working in diverse ecological environments, Devon has collaborated with clients to create beautiful, functional landscapes that reduce water consumption to benefit local ecology. Devon’s experience in construction and environmentally conscious design allows her to weave art within her created landscapes. She strives to ignite a spark of biophilia in everyone who interacts with the landscape while still embracing each site’s ecological individuality.
Jordan Upadhyay
Jordan Upadhyay joined Simone Collins in January 2025 and graduated from Rutgers University in 2024 with a Master of Landscape Architecture. He has worked on a wide range of project types across diverse geographic regions and scales, including public park design, transportation and urban planning, green stormwater infrastructure, and climate resilient design. Jordan’s background in ecology and land stewardship inform his current work. His design philosophy is rooted in cultivating the unique relationships between people, place, and environment to foster more sustainable, vibrant, and resilient communities.
Join Our Team
Simone Collins welcomes interested professionals to submit letters of interest in employment along with current resumes to