James A Garland founded Fluidity Design Consultants in 2002 after twenty years of practice in water design, architecture and urbanism.
Jim began consulting to a large water design company in 1986, while maintaining a private practice and teaching Architecture at the university level. By 1994, Jim had concentrated all his professional time to water design. His major projects during this period included Canal City Hakata (Fukuoka, Japan), Al Faisaliah (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), Lisbon Expo ‘98 (Lisbon, Portugal), the Burj Al Arab (Dubai, UAE) and Water Tower Place (Chicago, IL). Jim also led the designs for numerous other water feature projects in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. In 1999, Jim left water design to return to practicing architecture and urban design at the Jerde Partnership, where he stayed for three years.
In 2002, Jim established Fluidity to create a new generation of water features conceived, crafted, and engineered for a more sustainable century with a fresh, invigorating aesthetic. Jim’s work in such projects as the Hearst Building (New York City, NY), Roppongi Hills (Tokyo, Japan), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City, NY), Myriad Gardens (Oklahoma City, MI), Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square, PA), Tongva Park (Santa Monica, CA), Eskenazi Health Center (Indianapolis, IN), and the Nancy Best Fountain (Dallas, TX), are all examples of Fluidity’s advanced design initiative.
Jim Garland holds a Masters degree in Architecture from UCLA, with a focus in architectural design and urban design. His undergraduate degree, also in architecture, was obtained from the University of Louisiana. Jim interned at Urban Innovations Group under Charles W. Moore, FAIA, an internationally celebrated architect and professor, who was known, among many things, for his enthusiastic and skillful use of water in architecture. In 2020, Jim was awarded an honorary PhD for his career in advancing the profession of water design.
Jim is licensed to practice architecture in twenty-three states and the District of Columbia. He has lectured at Harvard University, London’s Architectural Association and the American Academy in Rome. In 1998, two of his sketchbooks were selected for exhibition at the Smithsonian Institute’s National Design Museum. Concurrently with directing Fluidity’s design efforts, Jim is writing a book covering the history of fountains, viewed through case study examinations of the best examples, worldwide.
Tom Yankelitis has spent his entire professional career in water design—over twenty-five years, after obtaining a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Woodbury University, in Los Angeles. While a university student, Tom began working on water feature projects with Jim Garland. Over his six years with a previous water design firm, Tom served as a water feature designer, choreographer, and as a studio Design Manager. In 2002, Tom joined Jim in the establishment of Fluidity.
Today, Tom directs Operations, and works in various senior positions, analyzing and developing projects, brainstorming ideas, counseling water design teams and their programming of water features on sites around the world. Additionally, Tom directs the studio’s facility and technology needs, overseeing IT, mock-ups, and testing of special products. Tom’s major projects include: Hearst Building (New York, NY), Segerstrom Center for the Arts (Irvine, California), Dubai Festival City (Dubai, UAE), Shelby Farms (Memphis, Tennessee), Franklin Square (Philadelphia, PA), Torre Manacar (Mexico City, Mexico), Friendship Fountain (Jacksonville, FL), the Houston Decorative Center (Houston, Texas), Square 487 and the Federal Reserve Board, both in (Washington, DC).
Karen Adhikari, a top-level Fluidity Principal and broadly experienced water designer, joined the company in 2005. She began her professional career as an architect and landscape architect for various firms in Asia, Europe and Africa before settling in the United States working for Walt Disney Imagineering, Watermark Design Associates, and Fluidity.
Karen has led the creation of many of Fluidity’s signature projects, guiding projects through both the design and the construction processes. She has completed a wide variety of projects around the world, managing her division of Fluidity’s team of designers, liaising with clients, coordinating with consultant team members, and implementing aesthetic and technical quality controls for every water feature. Karen’s major projects include Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square, PA), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY), Klyde Warren Park (Dallas, TX), Myriad Gardens (Oklahoma City, MI), KL118 Linear Park (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Signature Place (St. Petersburg, FL), Scottsdale Quarter (Scottsdale, AZ), Sundance Square (Fort Worth, TX), Peavey Plaza (Minneapolis, MN), SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles, CA), Century City Plaza (Los Angeles, CA), Dubai Festival City (Dubai, UAE) and the Omaha Riverfront Revitalization’s Gene Leahy Mall (Omaha, NE).
JohnPerry has been a central participant in Fluidity since 2003. In his current role, John advises Fluidity’s engineering group while contributing to special studies for the studio’s most challenging water feature concerns. John’s responsibilities include engineering analysis, staff development, mechanical, electrical, and controls systems review, and construction commissioning consultation. John’s nearly thirty years of experience in water engineering contributes significantly to Fluidity’s standards of quality.
Prior to joining Fluidity in 2003, John spent several years with a large water design firm, where he served as Project Electrical Engineer for numerous projects, including the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas. John’s projects with Fluidity have included Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY), Longwood Gardens(Kennett Square, PA), Dubai Festival City (Dubai, UAE), Cairo Festival City(Cairo, Egypt), Madinaty (Cairo, Egypt), Klyde Warren Park (Dallas, Texas),Myriad Gardens (Oklahoma City, MI), Eskenazi Hospital (Indianapolis, IN), Tongva Park (Santa Monica, CA), The Index Building (Dubai, UAE), ScottsdaleQuarter (Phoenix, AZ), and Wyatt Square (Houston, TX).
Dolly Wisco joined Fluidity’s team in 2003 after obtaining her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Environmental Design from Otis College of Art and Design. After six years with Fluidity, Dolly returned to academia for a Masters of Architecture from the University of Illinois at Chicago, obtained in 2011. Dolly returned to Los Angeles, worked in architecture for one year, then rejoined Fluidity. In 2015, she became a licensed architect in the State of California, and in 2018, Dolly was elevated to the level of Associate Principal.
During her time at Fluidity, Dolly has served as project director, project designer, water choreographer and onsite construction coordinator for many of Fluidity’s projects, domestically and abroad, including a significant period of time spent in Dubai. Dolly works closely with Jim Garland and Tom Yankelitis in the creation and development of water feature designs and their constructions. Her commitment to advancing the field of water design is an integral part of Fluidity’s design methodology. Dolly is currently the lead Principal working in BIM and delivering water feature projects in Revit.
Chinmoy Panigrahy earned his Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Iowa State University in 2004. He began his architecture career in Southern California focusing on medium-scale civic and commercial projects, together with high-end, modern, single-family houses before joining Fluidity in 2008. As Associate Principal, Chinmoy works closely with the firm’s engineers and design principals, focusing his fifteen years of water feature expertise on crafting drawings packages and administering to construction. Chinmoy has extensive experience researching materials and assemblies, visiting project sites, and resolving construction issues.
Chinmoy’s major projects have been among Fluidity’s most complex, including Myriad Gardens (Oklahoma City, OK), The Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Health Center (Indianapolis, IN), Tongva Park (Santa Monica, CA), World One (Mumbai, India), Cleveland Public Square (Cleveland, OH), Segerstrom Center for the Arts (Irvine, CA), and recently, The Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial (Sandy Hook, CT).
Debbie Jaloma focuses on identifying potential projects, bringing in new business opportunities, proposals and contract negotiation, and maintaining relationships with new and existing clients. Debbie is responsible for expanding Fluidity’s portfolio both domestically and worldwide, with a concentration on projects in Latin America. Debbie comes to Fluidity from a large Los Angeles-based water feature design firm where she was a key participant in securing major projects including Baha Mar in the Bahamas, The Grove at Farmer’s Market in Los Angeles, Denver City Park, Detroit Metro Airport and Kansas City Union Station. Her prior positions include Director of Business Development at ResortCom International (San Diego, CA) and Director of Business Development with Interval International (Miami, FL), She is fluent in Spanish and is a graduate of the University of Southern California.
In 2018, Alyce Torrez earned her Master of Architecture degree from Kansas State University, where she also performed special studies in printmaking, metal smithing, and landscape theory. After graduation, her interest in water expression and design led her to Fluidity. Alyce contributes to projects across all of the design and construction phases. She produces ideas, diagrams, 3-D models, perspective renderings, preliminary design studies, details development, construction drawings, and field commissioning. Notably, Alyce is one of Fluidity’s water feature choreographers. In 2022, she developed six water feature choreographies for the innovative and complex, Nancy Best Fountain, at Klyde Warren Park, in Dallas, Texas.
Carmine Gentile joined the engineering team at Fluidity in 2019. Prior to joining Fluidity, Carmine studied mechanical engineering at Syracuse University and worked in a variety of engineering disciplines, where he was able to develop his technical knowledge and field experience. Carmine’s responsibilities at Fluidity include concept analysis, infrastructure engineering surveys, mechanical and electrical systems engineering, construction cost estimating, and field work, including commissioning. Working closely with project team water designers, architects, engineers, contractors, and owners, Carmine’s involvement in each project contributes to each step of the realization process. Carmine’s major projects include the NFL’s Media Center (Los Angeles, CA), College of the Desert (Palm Desert, CA), St. Pierre Residence (Los Angeles, CA), and The Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial (Sandy Hook, CN).
Joshua studied architecture at the University of Southern California, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in 2014. He pursued a variety of architectural specializations during and after his studies before his special focus in historic preservation. As an architectural designer and researcher, Joshua worked for five years preserving architectural history in Los Angeles, while enhancing the constructions to align with contemporary design and construction standards. In 2018, Joshua brought his eclectic knowledge to the design team at Fluidity. He works closely with Jim Garland and Karen Adhikari in his role as project leader, working to develop Fluidity’s design concepts into mature realizations, while guiding the process such that the projects stay true to the purity of their original intent, analogously to his foundation in historic architecture preservation. Josh’s major projects at Fluidity have included The Nancy Best Fountain (Dallas, TX), the Moncus Park Acadiana Swamp fountain (Lafayette, LA), Downtown Palm Springs Park (Palm Springs, CA), AT&T Headquarters (Dallas, TX), Fair Park (Dallas, TX), and Hellinikon Park (Athens, Greece).
Lingling joined Fluidity in 2013 after initiating a distinguished career as an accountant for various firms including JD Rush, Triton Imaging, Pilot International, and Sichuan Hengyuan Technology Development Col, Ltd. Lingling received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Ocean University of Qingdao in 2000, and her Master of Arts in Economics and Finance in 2004 from Brandeis University. At Fluidity, Lingling keeps the company’s books, processes invoices and payments, manages payroll, benefits, insurance and human resources. Linging and works with the studio’s project managers on project performance analysis and she advises the firm’s leadership regarding general financial strategy.
Megan Brickwood graduated with honors from UCLA in 2012, with a BA in English. After graduating, she worked in a variety of fields including editorial and print, music, and sales. She joined the Fluidity team as Studio Manager in 2018. In her role at Fluidity, Megan manages the studio’s daily operations, scheduling, and travel, and assists with staff management, human resources, and accounting. She works directly with Jim Garland in the administrative aspect of the studio and supports Fluidity’s marketing efforts.
Nick Arcuri joined Fluidity in 2022 as a Senior Designer. He works closely with the firm’s design principals and engineers, focusing on design development, construction documents and construction administration. At Fluidity, Nick’s project experiences have included technical design for the Federal Reserve Board (Washington DC), commissioning and choreography direction for Moncus Park (Lafayette, LA), concept development for Bay Shores (Sarasota FL), and technical design for H18C (Hong Kong, China). Previously, Nick worked on healthcare, education, municipal and aviation projects as an architect and designer for a commercial architecture firm in Lafayette, LA. Nick is a licensed architect in the State of Louisiana and has spent time working on the State and local AIA Boards. He graduated from the University of Louisiana with a Master of Architecture in 2016. He also holds a Bachelor of General Studies, concentrating in arts and humanities from the same university, where he focused his curriculum in metalworking, blacksmithing and furniture building.
For 20 years, Valorie Born has helped grow Fluidity’s influence and reach. Initially an employee and now a consultant, Valorie introduces Fluidity to new design collaborators, nationwide. Her contributions are many, predominately centered around fostering relationships with leading landscape architects. Her passion for cities and the role public realms play in daily life and building urban community have led to ongoing, successful collaborations with James CornerField Operations, OLIN, SCAPE, Hoerr Schaudt, Nelson Byrd Woltz, OJB and more. In addition to growing Fluidity’s network, she works with staff on strategic marketing initiatives and securing public speaking engagements for Jim Garland.
