January 10, 2012
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Elevate your understanding of landscape by taking it to a higher level. ASLA Oregon invites you to expand your thinking over two days of inspired guest speakers, discussions and a design charrette. Join us for learning and networking opportunities, as well as the opportunity to earn valuable professional development hours (PDH’s).
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2012 sponsorship opportunities
2012 supporting sponsor - only $100!
Your company name will be featured on the event program!
January 10, 2012
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via ASLA Nationals
Each year, the ASLA Professional Awards honor the best in landscape architecture from around the globe, while the ASLA Student Awards give us a glimpse into the future of the profession.
Award recipients receive featured coverage in Landscape Architecture Magazine, the magazine of ASLA, and
in many other design and construction industry and general interest media. Award recipients, their clients,
and advisors will be honored at the awards presentation ceremony during the ASLA Annual Meeting and EXPO
in Phoenix, September 28–October 1, 2012.
For more information and to register CLICK HERE
January 10, 2012
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In 2011, ASLA successfully worked with federal legislators and other policymakers on a number of issues that benefit landscape architects and their small businesses. As the first session of the 112th Congress concluded, ASLA celebrated a number of legislative victories and set the stage for future policy successes on behalf of the landscape architecture profession.
Economic Recovery for Landscape Architects
One of the most important legislative victories for ASLA came on November 19, 2011, when President Barack Obama signed into law H.R. 674, legislation to repeal the law that required a 3 percent withholding on all payments from federal, state, and local government. With the repeal of this law, businesses, including landscape architecture firms, will not be forced to forfeit 3 percent of all payments received from federal, state, and local governments for services rendered under government contracts. As a member of the Government Withholding Relief Coalition, ASLA worked diligently to repeal this law that would have been onerous for many landscape architecture firms, including restricting the much-needed cash flow of these firms.
In 2011, ASLA also urged the Small Business Administration (SBA) not to increase the cap for gross annual revenues for consideration as a small landscape architecture business for federal government contracting purposes from $7 million to $19 million. With 80 percent of all landscape architecture firms having less than $1 million in gross annual revenue, raising the dollar amount to $19 million for consideration as a small business could severely disadvantage nearly all landscape architecture firms in the country. Currently, SBA is reviewing ASLA’s recommendation not to increase the dollar amount and will respond in the near future.
Transportation Planning and Design
Federal transportation policy was an important priority for ASLA in 2011. ASLA Government Affairs worked diligently to protect and preserve transportation programs critical to landscape architects, including the Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails programs, while also advocating for a new federal Complete Streets policy.
In 2011, ASLA staved off several attacks to the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program when U.S. Senators Tom Coburn (OK), John McCain (AZ), and Rand Paul (KY) each offered an amendment to various transportation bills to eliminate or gut the highly successful TE program. During consideration of each of these amendments, ASLA and its grassroots activists urged their senators to reject these amendments and pointed out the myriad of benefits provided by the TE program, including the economic benefits to communities and critical jobs for landscape architects. As a result of these advocacy efforts, the Senate rejected these amendments and left the TE program intact for now.
After years of consistent advocacy efforts by ASLA Government Affairs and the ASLA grass roots, another important legislative victory came on December 14, 2011, when the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously adopted an amendment authored by Senators Mark Begich (AK) and John Thune (SD) to establish a federal Complete Streets policy. Specifically, the Begich/Thune amendment would call on the Secretary of Transportation to “establish standards to ensure that the design of federal surface transportation projects provides for the safe and adequate accommodation, in all phases of project planning, development, and operation, of users of the transportation network, including motorized and nonmotorized users.” Under the amendment, states with their own Complete Streets policies would get a waiver from the federal policy. The Begich/Thune amendment was adopted as part of S. 1950, the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Enhancement Act, which is the Senate Commerce Committee’s portion of the reauthorization of the surface transportation law that addresses freight and safety issues. This is the first time that a federal Complete Streets policy has been included in a major piece of federal legislation.
While these are important successes for the landscape architecture profession, ASLA will continue its efforts in 2012 to ensure that the final reauthorization of the surface transportation law includes a federal Complete Streets policy and robust TE, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails programs.
Promoting Green Infrastructure
In the 112th Congress, ASLA Government Affairs continued its work to promote the use of green infrastructure to address a number of national issues, including managing water. In 2011, ASLA submitted 479 case studies on landscape architecture projects that successfully and sustainably manage stormwater to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As EPA prepares to unveil a proposed rule to strengthen the national stormwater program, these projects will demonstrate the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of using green infrastructure to help manage our nation’s stormwater. To further highlight green infrastructure and landscape architecture design techniques, on May 26, 2011, ASLA hosted more than 60 congressional, administration, and affiliated organization staff for the ASLA congressional briefing, tour, and reception on our award-winning green roof.
ASLA also worked with Congresswoman Donna Edwards (MD) and Senator Tom Udall (NM) to reintroduce the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act (H.R. 2030, S. 1115) ( http://www.asla.org/FederalGovernmentAffairs.aspx?id=25688), which would provide assistance to communities that want to employ green infrastructure projects to address their water quality and quantity needs. ASLA is working to gain cosponsors for the measures and move them through the legislative process.
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January 10, 2012
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ASLA has announced the call for presentations for the 2012 Annual Meeting and EXPO, to be held September 28–October 1 in Phoenix at the Phoenix Convention Center. The deadline for education session proposals is January 20, and detailed information is available online.
More than 6,000 attendees are expected, and the meeting will feature a diverse spectrum of industry experts speaking on a wide range of subjects, from sustainable design to active living to best practices and new technologies. More than 130 education sessions and field sessions will be presented during the meeting, providing attendees with the opportunity to earn up to 21 professional development hours under the Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System. Many of the sessions will also qualify for continuing education credit with the Green Building Certification Institute (toward LEED AP credential maintenance), the American Institute of Architects, the American Institute of Certified Planners, and other allied professional organizations and state registration boards.
The 2011 Annual Meeting and EXPO in San Diego featured more than 460 exhibits as well as 135 education sessions for the 5,571 registered attendees—the second-largest attendance in ASLA history. For an overview of the 2011 sessions, see http://www.asla.org/2011meeting/EdOverview.html.
January 10, 2012
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An open letter from José Almiñana, FASLA, ASLA Professional Awards Jury Chair
The ASLA 2012 awards call for entries is currently accepting submissions for professionals and students. As a jury member and chair, I’ve seen thousands of entries and would like to offer these strategies for success:
Commit to a great submission.
A winning submission takes time. If it is put together quickly at the last minute, it probably will not win. Submissions take twice as long as anticipated; for that reason, do not delay, and allow more time than you think it will take. The more time invested is clearly seen by the jurors and sets your project apart.
Design your presentation.
Treat the submittal like the design of any project. It needs to be clear, concise, and beautiful, yet simple and easy for the jury to digest. Do the drawings and the photographs communicate your concepts and ideas? How do the colors work with the photographs? How do you start the story and how do you end it? The presentation design needs to be as thoughtful as the project. The jury sees many submittals; make sure the jury understands why your submission is worthy of consideration.
Tell your story clearly.
What are the important ideas? Why should this project win? You need to tell the jury clearly through diagrams, narrative, and photographs. Idea and concept drawings are extremely helpful. A concise project description is appreciated. Explain how the goals of the project are resolved through the design. Provide the jury with adequate diagrams to explain your design concept. Locus plans or an overall site aerial view photograph help the jury understand your design concepts immediately.
Hire a professional photographer.
Your work is worthy of great photography. It makes a difference and pays back. Take the time to research and find a good photographer. It is better to have a few great photographs than several insignificant photos. Do not settle for mediocre photographs due to time, money, or ease. Edit the shots, decide which tell the best story, and invest in keeping good images of the work you have spent so much energy to create. If you cannot afford a photographer, make sure your pictures are the highest digital quality.
Get a crit before you submit.
Have a professional peer who is not familiar with the project critique your submittal. Listen carefully to the comments. Is the story clear? Did he or she understand quickly? How would the peer improve the submittal? Take the comments seriously. The jury process is the same as having your peers review the submittal and evaluate your work. Be sure to benefit from a “pre-jury.”
Submit on time.
The most important piece of advice for a successful entry is to submit it on time. The 2012 entry deadlines are:
Entry forms and payment must be received by:
Friday, February 3, 2012, for Professional Awards
Friday, April 27, 2012, for Student Awards.
Submission binders must be received by:
Friday, February 17, 2012, for Professional Awards
Friday, May 11, 2012, for Student Awards.
In need of inspiration? View the ASLA 2011 Professional and Student award-winning projects.
José Almiñana, FASLA
ASLA Professional Awards Jury Chair
Andropogon Associates Ltd.