Member of the Month for APLDWA

April - June, 2018
Member since 2011

Tom Barrett

Environmental Construction, Inc

When asked to provide some insight into the personality behind this old face, Tom had to pause. His lifelong dedication to landscape design and construction came from a deep-seated desire to touch and work with the earth. “I wanted to avoid slipping on a neck tie and reporting to work in a climate-controlled office. Pre-Forestry classes led to Horticulture training at The Ohio State University”. Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, he was given a plane ticket to Seattle by his father upon his graduation. “As one of five children, I think that was my Dad’s idea of a gentle push from the nest”. He explained that his Dad’s advice was based on his experience delivering planes from Boeing Field when he was a young man during WWII.

Tom’s West Coast love affair with landscape design and construction began back in 1979, when he moved here permanently. Over the subsequent 39 years, Tom’s career has grown focusing primarily as a construction foreman for several local companies, to a designer and builder of fine gardens in the greater Seattle area. He has been self-employed since 1982 and has been the leader of Environmental Construction, Inc. since starting the business in 1990.

One of the many lessons Tom has taken to heart is the critical role of working with other talented designers and builders. It has proved to be instrumental in his company’s growth. Tom says “I love to play on a team and I am a fairly good team builder. Also, the opportunity to spread my wings and learn from other designers or local tradespeople, is the primary force that has kept me in the game this long. The joy of collaboration has become a critical and sustaining part of my daily routine.”

After a long career as the sole owner of his company, Tom fulfilled a lifelong desire when Environmental Construction, Inc. officially became an employee-owned business in December 2017. He is proud to welcome Lori Beehner and Jon Daughtry as shareholders. Tom says “It was time to acknowledge the role these others have played in my success”.

“In spite of being instructed to write about myself for this opportunity, there is no getting around that I now enjoy the combined talents of an extended team as part of my sense of who I am”.

ECI’s network of in-house and outside skilled tradespeople includes designers, engineers, concrete, carpentry, masonry, electrical and plumbing tradespeople, plus amazing Horticulturists with expertise as color and plant specialists. Tom says “I want to recognize and salute the other APLD designers who provide beautiful and professional CAD drawings and building permit services as independent members of our team. Joining APLD has been an amazing opportunity to re-immerse myself in a remarkable pool of green industry professionals. They remind me daily of why I love this business”.

Tom’s favorite part of the business is meeting and working with people. And while he enjoys spreading his wings during the dreaming phase (at initial consultations), he admits that at some point, his dreams and the client’s fiscal realities must balance.

As for the future, Tom laughs when he says, “I will enjoy watching Lori and Jon take over the business as I waltz into the sunset in another 7 to 10 years … or maybe never!” Tom joined APLD back in 2011 and has served on the Washington Chapter Board since 2015.

Seattle Outdoor Kitchen

Our client in Seattle had a small back yard deck that they wanted to remove and replace with an underground wood shop and outdoor kitchen above.

We removed the deck and dug out the required "basement" hole where the shop would go, and poured the new foundation walls and framed above with a water-proof deck.

We framed over the waterproof deck, and installed the glue laminated beams, roof and cabinets.

The finish product exceeded our client’s expectations.

This project was a Washington Association of Landscape Professionals (WALP) Grand Award ‘Unique Project’ winner in 2015.


New covered outdoor kitchen & stairs See before image here


New outdoor kitchen


Kirkland Entry Steps

When we met this Kirkland home owner she had to walk down her steep driveway to access her front entry walk.

This project involved splitting an eight-foot tall vertical rockery and re-setting the rock from the top into an outcropping farther below and over-filling the bottom of the original rockery.

We were then able to form and pour the new serpentine steps from the street to the new front entry walk.

After that it was a matter of raising the new entry walk by walling up from their existing front entry with Eagle Mountain rubble, adding the large size Pennsylvania Bluestone path and adding step railings and finishing touches.

The client’s new front entry through her garden was more functional and far more inviting.

This project was also a WALP Grand Award ‘Residential Construction’ winner in 2012.


Re-setting rocks


Forming steps


The new entry walk


The new serpentine steps

Tom Barrett

Environmental Construction, Inc
2038 9th Street West
Kirkland, WA 98033
www.envconst.com

Contact Tom:
Office: 425-803-9881
Email Address: tom@envconst.com