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34 FALL 2017 become a design specialty. He estimates that 70 percent of his firm's current projects focus on public grounds; another 20 percent are restaurants and distilleries. In addition to Philadelphia, Groundswell's work in Detroit, Akron, and Memphis contributes to a nationwide initiative to redesign public spaces known as "Reimagining the Civic Commons." "We look at assets that are part of a city — whether it's a park system, a restaurant, a pocket park — and we use those as money savers, because funding for projects has dwindled," Fierabend says. "We want to put those dollars into the experience as opposed to infrastructure." When center city District, a Philadelphia business improvement group, wanted to spruce up the southern end of Dilworth Park, next to City Hall, the group turned to Fierabend. With his Groundswell colleagues, he devised a lush pop- up winter garden and maze, with walking paths, benches, a central gazebo, twinkling lights, and giant topiaries. Nancy Goldenberg, an administrator at Center City District, recalls in particular a reindeer topiary that appeared to be standing on its hind legs. Fierabend had the reindeer hold aloft a silver tray, which he then covered with bird feed. "Who would ever have imagined that on this granite plaza in the heart of Philadelphia you would see these birds come and eat there," Goldenberg says. "It was a moment of surprise for people. That's what David creates. He's got this amazing trait of knowing how to create joyful public spaces." While Fierabend counts Central Park's Frederick Law Olmsted as a hero among landscape designers, he shrugs off labels. "I just do what I do innately as I watch how people carry themselves through space and time," says Fierabend, who prefers another title: urban space designer. He says he also admires the corner grocer who takes the time to polish Exposed wood at Talula's Garden restaurant, right, in Washington Square, Philadelphia, helps bring the outside in. For the 2016 Philadelphia Festival of the Arts, facing page, Groundswell placed a two-story waterfall on Broad Street.

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