About
For Adrian Tiafierro Keys, landscape architecture is storytelling through space, light, and ecology. His design philosophy—“living with the land, not against it”—guides every project from concept to completion. Whether crafting coastal parks or private gardens, he aims to create environments that invite connection while restoring balance between people and place. A Sarasota native and lifelong environmental advocate, Adrian founded Keys Ecological Design in 2014 to advance sustainable coastal design across Florida’s Gulf Coast. His firm’s work integrates native vegetation, storm-resilient infrastructure, and public engagement, redefining what modern Florida landscapes can be. Beyond his professional practice, Adrian serves as Chair of Design for GulfGrow, a community initiative promoting native planting in schools and neighborhoods. He also teaches as an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of South Florida School of Architecture and Community Design, where he mentors emerging designers in climate-responsive planning. Adrian’s contributions have earned multiple distinctions, including the ASLA Florida Design Honor Award (2024) and AIA Florida Allied Design Partner of the Year (2022). At home in Sarasota’s Laurel Park, he shares life with his wife, environmental attorney Sofia Ramirez Keys, and their children, Mateo and Lucia—drawing constant inspiration from Florida’s coastal landscapes.
