About Us
Surculus is built on an insistence that—when executed superbly—landscape architecture has great potential to elevate quality of life while providing biodiversity, increasing resilience, and promoting mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Our team’s collective passion is recognizing the unique ecological, social, and functional potential of specific sites and collaborating to bring them to life.
Our Mission
We design outdoor spaces that connect people with one another and with nature.
Meet the Team
Erin F. Stevens
President & founder / PLA, ASLA, LEED AP
Erin, a native of the South Carolina barrier islands, credits her initial ecological fascination to a childhood rich with exploration of the ephemeral coastal landscape. As an adult, Erin’s studies led her from this temperate coastal environment to the frigid urban ecology of New England where she acquired a Bachelors Degree in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard University and a first-hand understanding of the power of varying environmental factors in shaping the human experience. To further explore this phenomenon, she moved to Manhattan to pursue urban studies at Columbia University. After a series of internships in NYC, Venice Italy, and Charleston, she completed her Masters in Landscape Architecture at the University of Georgia.
In her professional career, Erin worked on a variety of planning and design projects including a federally-funded transit study for the Charleston region, the redevelopment of an environmentally sensitive low-impact residential neighborhood within a highly contaminated watershed, and development guidelines and public space design for multiple mixed-use and infill developments in the Charleston region.
In 2016, she founded Surculus, a Charleston-based landscape architecture and urban design firm focused on increasing resilience and effectively integrating ecologically sensitive systems into urbanized and other human-affected contexts. In addition to her practice, she has taught in Clemson University’s Master of Resilient Urban Design Program, served as a founding member of the Nature Based Exchange, and currently serves as Chair of the City of Charleston Design Review Board.
Robert K. Maerlender
Studio Director / ASLA, CLARB
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Originally from Rochester New York, Robert earned his Bachelors of Landscape Architecture with Honors from the State University of New York at Syracuse. He studied abroad in Paris, London, and Milan. Following graduation, he was introduced to the heat and humidity of South Carolina where he began his professional career. Through this experience, he developed a love of the Lowcountry and a deep appreciation for South Carolina’s rich cultural traditions, history, and coastal landscapes.
With over 20 years of professional experience, Bob has worked extensively in sensitive coastal environments from Rhode Island to coastal Georgia and internationally in Costa Rica, Ireland, and the Bahamas. Bob brings a strong background in design and construction to the team, focusing on the relationship between our cultural landscapes and the built environment. Bob has designed and managed projects ranging from large-scale master planning to the intimate scale of the single-family home. His work with previous firms includes: the Renovation of Colonial Lake; multiple projects on Kiawah Island including West Beach Village, Freshfields, The Sanctuary Hotel, Cassique Golf Club; as well as The Briars Creek Golf Club, The Myrtle Beach Air Base Redevelopment, Ashley Hall School Campus, and some of the Lowcountry’s finest private homes.
Bob’s work is grounded in a love for art and science. This passion—combined with a fundamental understanding of the environment, a compassion for people, and an unrelenting drive to create truly memorable places—informs Bob’s work which has received multiple awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Laura Philpott
Operations Manager
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Native to Atlanta, GA, Laura was raised spending much of her time exploring the outdoors under the shade of the forest canopy and in the many parks around the city. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from Kennesaw State University. With a focus on Organizational Communication, she studied the importance of employee support and development in the workplace.
Drawn to the Lowcountry by the sweeping marsh vistas, native flora & fauna, and the friendly nature of the locals, Laura found herself in Charleston where she began her professional career. She has worked in barrier island land development supporting large-scale, residential master planning. With efforts focused on sustainable land development practices, she supports the emphasis of thoughtful response to the natural environment and landscape prioritization in order to provide a place where people can thrive and connect with one another.
She has a passion for connecting with people from various backgrounds and discovering what they love about the places they call home. In her free time, Laura enjoys spending time at the beach with a book in hand, throwing dinner parties for family & friends, and exploring all that Charleston has to offer.
Joseph O’Callaghan
Senior Landscape Architect / PLA, Int'l Member ASLA
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Born and raised in the rugged countryside of rural Ireland, Joseph brings a deep appreciation for the natural environment to his work in landscape architecture. A graduate of University College Dublin with a BSc in Landscape Architecture, his education also included formative studies abroad in Germany, where he honed his technical abilities and expanded his understanding of global design practices.
With over a decade of professional experience in the Lowcountry and Southeastern United States, Joseph has contributed to an impressive range of project types, including K-12 schools, parks and recreation facilities, streetscapes, higher education campuses, multi-family and mixed-use developments, single-family residential projects, commercial properties, and community master planning. His expertise lies in a strong foundation of technical skills—rigorous site analysis, precise planning, and an acute attention to detail—which guide his approach to creating functional and harmonious landscapes. His designs aim to strike a balance between nature and the built environment while ensuring an enjoyable and thoughtful user experience.
In addition to his professional work, Joseph actively contributes to his community by serving on the City of North Charleston Zoning Board of Appeals and as Chairperson of the ULI Young Leaders Group Charleston.
Outside of work, he nurtures his passion for nature by gardening and stays connected to his roots by playing hurling, the national sport of Ireland. "Na Darach Abu!"
Lauren Stubbs
Senior Landscape Architect / PLA
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Raised in Atlanta, GA Lauren received her Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture from UGA in 2000. Studying the historic gardens and urban design of Eastern Europe left Lauren with a deep appreciation for history, art, nature, and the outdoor spaces they inspire.
Lauren’s early experiences include working closely with landowners to create extensive nature trails, wildlife viewing areas, and plantings to benefit wildlife. In 2001, Lauren joined a nationally-recognized Landscape Architecture firm and relocated to Charleston. In Charleston, Lauren worked on an array of projects including private residences, park design, campus planning, resort planning, and large-scale master planning. Through these early and formative years in her career, Lauren gained a deep respect for the Lowcountry’s coastal landscape and ecology. With over 20 years of experience in the field, Lauren brings a wide range of knowledge to each project. Her work continues to be grounded in her deep appreciation of the natural world.
Lauren currently maintains a small design build landscape studio in Athens, Georgia. She enjoys working closely with clients, artisans, craftsmen and the plant industry to design and install bespoke gardens and habitats. She received her Master Naturalist certificate from the UGA Warnell School of Forestry and served as an educational assistant for the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Lauren currently serves as a member of the Athens Community Tree Council and enjoys spending time outside and with her pets and family.
Aubrey Miller
Designer
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Aubrey brings a vibrant mix of creativity and expertise to the Surculus team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Pennsylvania State University, where she published three native plant field guides and researched resilient urban design in Germany and Spain.
Before joining Surculus, Aubrey designed public school gardens and native residential landscapes with the California Native Garden Foundation in San Jose. At Surculus, she contributed to the award-winning Lowcountry Center for Conservation and co-authored the Sullivan’s Island Native Tree Guide, recognized by the Southeastern Regional American Society of Landscape Architects. Aubrey is a proud member of the South Carolina Native Plant Society and is passionate about creating wild, beautiful spaces that celebrate the local landscape.
Maggie Williams
Designer
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A South Carolina native with a deep-rooted appreciation for the natural world, Maggie spent her childhood exploring the fields, creeks, and woodlands of her family's farm in the Midlands, which fostered her love for nature and wildlife. Her passion for art, particularly oil painting, began early on as she found herself drawn to capturing the beauty of South Carolina's rural landscapes. From a young age, Maggie knew she wanted to pursue a career that combined her love for art and nature.
Maggie's interest in the relationship between interior and exterior spaces led her to Converse College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in interior design. However, her passion for wildlife, nature, and outdoor spaces ultimately led her to landscape architecture, prompting her to pursue a master's degree in landscape architecture from Clemson University.
With experience working at several design-build firms, Maggie has designed residential landscapes in upstate South Carolina and the Highlands of North Carolina. Since moving to Charleston, she has contributed to a variety of projects, including public parks, private residences, downtown courtyards, multi-family and amenity design, and large-scale master planning.
Maggie has a special interest in native plantings and habitat restoration to support wildlife and create spaces that encourage people to engage with and appreciate their native environments. Outside of work, she enjoys DIY projects, hiking, training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and spending time outdoors with her husband and pets.