Awards

Gene Bressler

Gene Bressler has been actively involved in the Blue Ridge Road Corridor Alliance (now the West Raleigh Alliance) since 2009. He served on the Board of Directors, chaired the Development Panel, and continues in an advisory capacity to the Board. He was actively involved in the creation of the 2012 Blue Ridge Road District Study and recent efforts to create the Metropolitan Service District. He continues to participate in on-going planning discussions for the Lenovo redevelopment area and other projects in the community.

Bressler served as head of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning (LAEP) at NC State University’s College of Design from 2006-2018 and interim head from 2022-23. During his tenure at NC State Gene led the faculty and students in a major curriculum overhaul and two successful reaccreditation reviews (2010 and 2016). Gene is credited for “setting the stage” enabling the development of strong relationships with the professional community, initiation of the department’s lecture series and the Professional Development Mentor Program, and numerous national and regional awards given to students and faculty for their achievements in landscape architecture and environmental planning.

Prior to joining NC State University in 2006, Bressler served as chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Colorado, Denver (1997-2006) and Associate Professor at the University of Oregon (1971-85). His research and teaching activities focused on urban growth, sustainable development, and planning and design strategies challenging sprawling suburban development. In 2003, he was named director of the Colorado Center for Sustainable Urbanism and was responsible for initiating and producing the 2004 and 2005 Colorado Tomorrow Public Forum focused on population and urban growth challenges facing the state. From 1985 to 1995 he was with Dynamic Graphics, Inc. (Alameda, California), developer of internationally recognized software used in various terrain, environmental mapping, spatial analysis, 3-D modeling and visualization applications.

Gene Bressler played a central role in the success of many other colleagues and countless students. In 2006 he was named Outstanding Administrator of the Year by the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA). He was elevated to Fellow in the American Society of Landscape Architect (ASLA) and named recipient of the 2017 NCASLA President’s Council Award “in recognition of his major achievements for the advancement of the profession”. In 2025 he was elevated to Fellow by the CELA.

Upon his retirement, in recognition of his achievements, NC State University Landscape Architecture Faculty and Alumni established the Eugene H. Bressler Landscape Architecture Faculty Endowment that “provides funds to support extraordinary research, teaching and outreach, opportunities for faculty academic enrichment.”

Harry’s Guitar Shop

In 1985, Harry Tueting opened Harry’s Guitar Shop in the updstairs of a small house on West Johnson Street near the Glenwood South region in Raleigh as a subsidiary of Oxbow Music in Chapel Hill. After a successful start, Harry purchased an old eyeglass grinding factory building at 616 Glenwood Avenue. Harry’s was one of the first retail businesses to move to that area, which was, at the time, predominantly a warehouse district. The goal was to actively serve the community by offering excellent purchasing advice as well as studio space for lessons.

As the area began to grow, Harry’s grew as well as a retail shop and as the premier place for lessons in the area. By 2015, changes in the area with the move towards a nightlife destination, it became apparent that it was time to move to a larger space that would be more comfortable for our loyal shoppers and students. The perfect location became available here in West Raleigh at 556 Pylon Drive. The space offered almost double the space, which allowed us to expand the shop as well as our teaching facilities, and just as importantly, much improved parking and access. Harry’s was one of the early businesses to bring retail into an area that was predominantly a wholesale and manufacturing business park at the time of the move; however, with the changes that we felt were coming to this area, we felt this would be the perfect opportunity to anchor ourselves in what promised to be one of the most up and coming areas in Raleigh. We’ve been in this location since 2015, and we’re seeing these changes coming in real time with each passing day.

Harry Tueting retired in 2022, and the shop was purchased by Mike Ayers and Scott Miller. Both Scott and Mike are established musicians and have a combined 40 years of experience in the music business, most of it while running the shop for Harry, so the transition of ownership was natural without skipping a beat. Since that time, we’ve worked hard to establish tie-ins with other local businesses as well as organizations in the area that foster musical organization, as well as working to cultivate a national presence in the retail music industry. We’ve even started hosting shows for new artists that exhibit exceptional playing and songwriting skills.

Recent times have certainly not been without difficulties. We faced the shutdown from Covid, a time when we remained open to our customers for online and touch-free pickup; we’ve weathered the major road closings, which are still affecting our business; and like many of you, we’re very much feeling the effects of this economy right now. However, we truly believe in this area and cannot wait to see the changes come to fruition. We’re very excited about the new Blue Ridge tunnel, as well as the upcoming mixed-use projects planned for the area, and we look forward to being an active member of this fantastic community for years to come!

DHHS Headquarters

LS3P and the Design Team partnered with the State of North Carolina to design a transformative new campus for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), consolidating all Triangle based administrative staff into a unified, purpose built environment. Guided by a comprehensive masterplan, the campus will provide more than 700,000 square feet across two phases, colocating Central Administrative Offices, all Triangle based Divisions, and Support Services staff previously dispersed across multiple sites.

Phase 1 delivers a 460,000squarefoot office tower for 3,200 employees across 14divisions, supported by a shared conference and training center, a central utility plant, full campus operations, and a 1,052space parking deck. Phase 2 will add a second tower for 2,200 additional employees and a future P3 mixed use development to further activate the site.

Collaboration was essential throughout the process. LS3P worked closely with the Department of Administration, the State Construction Office, and all DHHS divisions, while also engaging the City of Raleigh and the Blue Ridge Corridor Alliance to align the project with broader community goals. Prioritizing environmental responsibility and employee wellbeing, the campus is designed as an inclusive, walkable, transit supportive workplace that encourages biking, pedestrian connectivity, and healthy daily routines. Envisioned as a civic hub, it enhances public transparency, strengthens service delivery for North Carolinians, and continues DHHS’s legacy of community engagement.

Delivered under a stringent timeline, Phase 1 was required to be operational by 2025 toalign with the expiration of state leases, demanding rigorous coordination, transparency, and longterm stewardship.

Blue Ridge Road Bike-Pedestrian Bridge Team

Once completed in summer of 2026, the Blue Ridge Road Bike and Pedestrian Project will provide connection between several key destinations along Blue Ridge Road from just north of Trinity Road to Reedy Creek such as NC State and the Lenovo Center. This connection will be achieved by adding 10′ multi-use path, sidewalks, pedestrian signal accommodations and a new Pedestrian bridge over Wade Ave.

This bridge is a “Statement Piece” that will have color changing LED lighting embedded in the curb as well as spotlights that project upwards, illuminating the overhead bridge structure for those headed to events at Carter Finley or the State Fair. Grasses, shrubs, flowers and trees will be planted along the multi-use path and at the corner of Reedy Creek that’s shared with the DHHS campus, further enhancing the curb appeal. The intersection of Reedy Creek Road with the Art Museum driveway at Blue Ridge Road was designed to be fully protected, with separate defined space for motor vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists visiting the NCMA. Overall, the entire experience of traversing Blue Ridge Road will be improved significantly with safety and connectivity in mind.

Team Members

Stéphane A. Belinga
Project Manager City of Raleigh, Roadway Design & Construction Division

Born and raised between Cameroon and France in a diplomatic family, I grew up with strong interests in History and maps, the great outdoors, football, and the Visual Arts. This led me to start an event planning agency in my early career as a Graphic designer and Publicist in Morocco. After moving to the US 12 years ago, I switched careers to a civil Engineer, where I worked in different fields from bridge Inspection to urban/rural roadway rehabilitation, as a project engineer. In my current role as project manager, I am very excited to collaborate with different stakeholders across various disciplines, from small to large-scale projects, ranging from traffic calming improvements to a pedestrian bridge and the much-anticipated Bus Rapid Transit. I am proud to be part of a team that helps this City, now my home, better itself and provide its residents a much-improved quality of life.

Sam Brewer
Supervisor – City of Raleigh, Roadway Design & Construction Division

Sam has been with The City’s Roadway Design and Construction department for 5 years. He currently is a Supervisor supporting our Project Manager’s to deliver key projects. He also has years of experience as a construction Superintendent, Spanish teacher, NC State alum, and parent of three teenagers.

Michael W. Derby
Inspections Engineer, Raleigh Water

Mr. Derby is a dedicated Engineering Inspection Manager with over 20 years of experience, specializing in quality assurance and technical oversight for Raleigh Water utility construction projects. He and his wife are the proud parents of three children, creating a vibrant family of five. In his free time, Michael enjoys coaching and watching his kids’ sports events, cherishing these active moments with his family.

Ben Henderson
Project Manager – City of Raleigh, Roadway Design & Construction Division

Sprouted in Upstate New York, transplanted to Denver CO, and finally planted my roots in the fertile soil of Raleigh NC. Over nearly 15 years in roadway construction I’ve worked in various capacities from materials testing/inspection to quality management and currently a Senior Project manager in Roadway Design and Construction for the City of Raleigh. I’ve enjoyed working on large scale design build projects and privileged to work on several greenway and pedestrian improvement projects in the City I call home.

Dennis Trujillo
Raleigh Stormwater

Originally from New Mexico, I earned my degree from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. During my time in New Mexico, I successfully owned and operated a construction company, gaining valuable hands-on experience. For the past five years, I have served the City of Raleigh in various capacities, beginning with the Engineering Services Survey Crew, transitioning to Roadway Design and Construction, and currently working in the Storm Water Department. With over 14 years of comprehensive experience in residential, roadway, and storm water construction, I strive to approach every project with dedication and a commitment to quality.

Capitol City Lumber Co. & Nicholson Family

Capitol City Lumber Company is a family-owned lumber yard based in Raleigh, North Carolina, proudly serving the greater Triangle area since 1945. Founded by James Anglin Nicholson with a single building and a commitment to quality materials at a fair price, the company has grown into a trusted, third-generation business known for its reliability and customer service.

Today, Capitol City Lumber operates five warehouses stocked with an extensive selection of hardwoods, specialty and exotic woods, plywood, and building materials, along with contractor hardware. Serving builders, contractors, and homeowners alike, the company offers a hands-on, customer-first experience—allowing customers to personally select their materials with guidance from a knowledgeable and experienced staff.

Whether supporting new construction, renovations, custom woodworking, or DIY projects, Capitol City Lumber Company remains dedicated to its founding values of quality, service, and dependability, continuing to be a go-to resource for the Triangle community.