From 1995 until joining with WRT in 2004, her independent studio combined the highest level of internationally recognized design with alternative approaches to rainwater harvesting, water filtration, phytoremediation and groundwater recharge. Her projects in the US range from urban landscape improvements such as the Queens Plaza landscape improvement plan in New York City, which transforms the tangle of urban infrastructure into a memorable and environmentally functioning landscape, and Generational Walk, a pedestrian gateway at the University of Pennsylvania, to sustainable master plans for such diverse landscapes as downtown Trenton, New Jersey and Marlboro College in Vermont.

Her international projects reveal water as central to her design process. Ms. Ruddick worked with environmental artist Betsy Damon to create Living Water Park, in Chengdu, Sichuan, China, a riverfront park that demonstrates how water can be cleansed through biological means. The park's aeration features, fountains and constructed wetlands make visible the science of remediation, while also providing a sanctuary in this bustling city of nine million people. The Living Water Park has become a destination and a green safety valve for the city's residents and visitors.