A landscape architect, urban planner, father, brother and friend, Andrew passed away at his Denver, Colorado home last week, surrounded by his beloved family - after a short but tough health battle, that sister Kim Coote described as one he was fighting and winning.

"He was very stubborn, and so very determined," she said.

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"The doctors didn't think he'd last past the first 24 hours in hospital, but he hung on for weeks. He became the doctor's favourite - he just had such an impact on everyone."

Growing up, Andrew attended various primary schools, before leaving Riverside High School at Year 10.

He and sister Kim were the middle children, 13 months apart, described as being "very close" and getting up to lots of mischief together.

"He did several small jobs after leaving school, as a chef, he was doing weed control ... he was a greenkeeper at a bowling club and the Launceston Golf Club and I think that's where his love of landscaping and things was born," she said.

"Mum and dad were great gardeners too, and that's all molded him into who he was."

In his early 20s, Andrew went back and finished his schooling, heading to Sydney for university to study landscape architecture and urban planning.

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In 1985 Andrew was back in Tasmania, where he had a chance encounter with Lisa Wingrove, who he ended up marrying and having two children with - William and Grace

For Mrs Wingrove, it was love at first sight.

"I was working in Myer in Launceston, trying to earn some money before going to university in Western Australia, and he [Andrew] came in and started talking to a colleague of mine, and I was stealthily watching," Mrs Wingrove said.

"I went up to my friend Lisa at the end of their conversation and said who was that - she said Andrew Irvine and would I like to meet him, and I said I would."

A few encounters later, they went on a walk at the Cataract Gorge - where their first kiss happened, that Mrs Wingrove described as a magical moment.

Living in Victoria and then New South Wales, the opportunity came up to move internationally - the family moving to Denver, Colorado for Andrew to further his career.

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Andrew worked in urban design - Mrs Wingrove describing his work as large-scale city visioning, looking at the impact of the built environment on health outcomes, and how space can be used to improve the lives of people that live there.

Some of his most significant projects, both in Australia and internationally, include working on the Docklands project and Wattle Grove, as well as the urban setting for Dubai's Burj Khalifa and assisting with Kigali masterplan in Rwanda - the first masterplan for any African city.

It's the love for his family, and from his employers that will be his lasting legacy.

Stantec Senior Vice President Joshua Gould described Andrew as someone who brought a zest for life to every interaction.

"Andrew loved people, he was energized by the design process and using his creative talents to envision and design a world that lifted people up," he said.

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"He would also be very proud to know that his impact will continue to be felt over many years and across many continents as we continue to carry on the work and so many of us use the skills he taught us."

A scholarship foundation is being set up with the Australian Institution of Landscape Architects, to continue Andrew's work inspiring the next generation.

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