Tal Thevenot says he’s wrapping up a project in which an outdoor patio with a firepit transforms into a spa. “The floor actually goes up and down. You can have it up and walk out, and it looks like a patio space with the firepit. Then, with one push of a button, that floor slowly goes down, and the water exposes itself,” he says. A landscape architect, Thevenot has designed and led outdoor projects that include pools with acrylic windows and/or significant cliffside drops; Roman bathhouses; and even one pool with a faux tree swing, rope bridge, grotto, and underground slide that his team dubbed “Pirates of the Caribbean.” “We brought in a set design firm for Disney to build some of the elements for us,” Thevenot says.
At the helm of Carrollton-based AquaTerra Outdoors, Thevenot says he aims to create cohesion within the landscape architecture market. “You probably wouldn't go hire five different builders to build a house and five different designers to design a house. So, why are we doing that in your outdoor environment?” he says. The CEO and principal designer launched the company in 2007 after an early career with a boutique DFW firm. “I saw an opportunity to bring the true landscape architecture approach to our clients with, not only professional design solutions, but full master planning and implementation of the entire outdoor environment, essentially a single source solution,” he says.
Thevenot developed his passion for the outdoors during his childhood on an Iowa farm. “Before sun up and after sundown, we were outside,” he recalls. He interned in Dallas during his undergrad at Kansas State University and took a job in North Texas upon graduation. Three years later, he accepted a post at a Frisco-based pool company. “They initially just focused on swimming pools, and when I came in, we started incorporating outdoor structures, landscaping, irrigation drainage, fencing, hardscape concrete rules—the whole nine yards—and had a lot of success,” Thevenot explains. He decided to create his own company shortly thereafter.
Now, AquaTerra Outdoors has grown to 50 employees and won several industry awards for creativity and construction. The company was also featured on HGTV’s show Cool Pools. “We created an indoor Roman bathhouse, and myself and the project were featured on HGTV on Cool Pools,” Thevenot says. Another big milestone was constructing a new headquarters for AquaTerra Outdoors in 2018. “Growing the company to a point where you have the ability to purchase the land and build a large building to office and operate out—one that was really designed for how we operate as a business—was a big undertaking,” he says.
Historically, a large percentage of projects for AquaTerra Outdoors have been within Park Cities and Highland Park, but Thevenot says the boom of relocations to DFW’s northern suburbs is generating new business: the company has three projects that are part of the new PGA lots in Frisco and other master planning work in nearby Hills of Kingwood, as well as projects for large estates and ranches North of Celina and into southern Oklahoma.
Thevenot hopes to continue growing the business and perfecting its one-stop shopping design and build process (see sidebar). “The big thing is we want to be the undisputed market leader in the industry for design to build,” he says. “We’re very focused on that, and every day, internally, we are working to become better and better.”
The Design Process
Founder and CEO of AquaTerra Outdoors Tal Thevenot says each of his company’s landscape architecture clients work through a consultive and creative master planning process with his team. Here’s how it works:
1. Consultation. AquaTerra Outdoors staff meet with the client to discuss their unique needs for their outdoor environment and learn more about how they plan to use the space.
2. Design Proposal. The AquaTerra Outdoors team present a proposal for services to the client. With approval, they can begin ideating.
3. Site Analysis. The landscape architects visit the project site, usually a high-end residential location, and research existing infrastructure, views, terrain, and more. Any HOA rules and restrictions are discussed as well.
4. Schematic Design. The team assesses different creative possibilities for the project. They create drawings and renderings to present to the client.
5. Design Development. The client provides any revisions and project tweaks are worked into the design.
6. Master Plan. The client approves the scope and plans for the project, and AquaTerra Outdoors provides a construction proposal. Once this proposal is signed by the client, the team begins working on any necessary permitting and construction documents. The project execution begins.
“I saw an opportunity to bring the true landscape architecture approach to our clients."
