ASLA Oregon

December 10, 2009 Edit

in Announcements, News, UofOregon

Landscape Department Head Leaves Oregon

Landscape architect and educator Stan Jones says farewell to Oregon

Nine projects of design and construction in Eugene and Springfield are evidence of his unique teaching style EUGENE, Ore. -- (Dec. 10, 2009) -- His imprint is seen across the University of Oregon campus and in the community. Stanton Jones, associate professor of landscape architecture and department head, used the UO campus as a hands-on site for his students. After sixteen years of teaching, building and designing landscapes, restoring habitats, designing natural storm water filtration systems, and mentoring students, Stan Jones is leaving Oregon. Jones has been department head since March 2004. Jones expressed his respect for the department in a recent interview. “As head, I’ve been able to work with an outstanding faculty cohort who work together to strengthen the program.” Citing achievements like the successful accreditation visits, the initiation of the doctoral program, expanding research programs, a robust international program to Japan, a healthy and secure urban farm program, and strong relations with the professional community, Jones says the department is in a strong position. “I hope the program continues to grow, mature and evolve as it responds to the strengths and interests of the faculty and demands of the profession.” Jones arrived in 1993 and began to teach Landscape Technology and Site Analysis courses, along with design studios. Eventually, he added design-build studio and construction projects into the curriculum with the first one initiated in 1994 to create the Springfield’s Millrace Park. Design-build is a set of classes that combines landscape technologies, professional practice, and design studios to “show students the connection between lines drawn on a page and how it gets built in the field,” explains Jones. The Millrace Park project was a historic dump, overgrown with blackberries and adjacent to the historic Springfield Depot. Then U.S. Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt praised the project as an excellent example of a cooperative venture that addressed environmental quality, ecological health, and urban quality of life. Jones continued to offer numerous design-build projects throughout the area with his students. Other projects include the UO pedestrian footbridge over the Millrace and Millrace Park (1995), the outdoor classroom for Charlemagne at Fox Hollow French School (1996), Eugene Millrace north bank restoration and stormwater management project (1999), the stormwater bioswale sculpture on the south bank of the Eugene Millrace (2003), the UO’s “heart of campus” courtyard paving, garden and shelter design at E. 13th and University Streets (2004). His last design build-project was the renovation of Lawrence Hall’s central courtyard in 2006. Further off campus, the design-build projects include the playground at Spencer View Co-Op family center (2001) and the west meadow bank stabilization project on the Columbia River at The Shire property (1997). As he leaves the Pacific Northwest, Jones encourages his students to remember to “see the value in their own environment—be responsible for it, take care and stay positive, and the work will make a difference.” Frances Bronet, dean of the UO School of Architecture and Allied Arts, says, “Stan has been an incredible partner for all of us here. His sheer energy, willingness to work across all boundaries is demonstrated by a commitment to hands-on work with students, cross-unit partnerships, and great advocacy for the role of an evolving, resilient, and beautiful physical context. He has led the Department of Landscape Architecture with passion, conviction and a vision for a responsible and richly connected environment.” Jones feels strongly that teaching care and respect of the environment and of each other is critical. He has continued on this mission outside the classroom. As his family grew, Jones coached every sport his three sons signed up to try—football, baseball, hockey, and soccer. Jones leaves the UO for a tenured position at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment in the Landscape Architecture Program. His wife, Laura Blake Jones, accepted a post as Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor earlier this year. In February 2010, Professor Jones will continue his teaching of landscape technologies and working on ways to increase the connection between the architecture and landscape architecture programs. He will look for ways to create design-build opportunities that can be modeled after the successful programs at the University of Oregon and will also be developing a research program centered around the issues of inclusivity and sustainability in the design of urban environments. “The University of Michigan, like the University of Oregon, is a world-class teaching and research institution, and I’m excited by the many wonderful opportunities that lay ahead,” says Jones. Leaving Oregon is not easy for the Jones family as their involvement in so many activities both on and off campus has made them many good friends. However, one thing about the move to Michigan that has Stan Jones and his three hockey-playing sons excited is the prospect for outdoor ice rinks and the feeling of “skating on open ice.” Jones adds, “the cold and snow will be fine so long as we can all get out for a little pond hockey to burn off some energy every now and then.” About the University of Oregon The University of Oregon is a world-class teaching and research institution and Oregon's flagship public university. The UO is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization made up of the 62 leading public and private research institutions in the United States and Canada. The University of Oregon is one of only two AAU members in the Pacific Northwest. Contact: Karen Johnson, AAA communications, 541-346-3603, karenjj@uoregon.edu Links: landarch.uoregon.edu