ASLA Oregon

April 15, 2012 Edit

in Sustainability

EP Summer Greenroof Tour

Summer 2012 Emerging Professionals (EP) 101 Series:

Local Innovation in Greenroofs: Wildlife, Plants and Technology
A Green Roof Tour and Roundtable Discussion

6:00-8:30pm
June 13*, 2012 (tentative as we confirm roof tour availability, check back for updates!)
$20 non-member / $15 members / $10 students and emerging professionals
PDH's available!

Hosted by the ASLA EP Committee and Columbia Green this summer's EP 101 Series Event offers a guided green roof tour, showcasing three of Portland’s most noteworthy ecoroofs, followed by a roundtable discussion touching on wildlife, plants and technology. Space is limited to 25 attendees so RSVP today! Attendees will be eligible to receive PDH credits. All are encouraged and welcomed to attend!

Tour stops may include: The Indigo + Multnomah County Library + Ecotrust Building + Ladd Tower
A Portion of this event is a walking tour – bring appropriate footwear and keep an eye on the forecast!

*Note: Date has been changed from June 14 to June 13!

Register as an Emerging Professional (link coming soon)

RSVP Today! (link coming soon)

DONATE $150 to support this event as an EP Continuing ED Sponsor

Contact Christopher Olin for more information

November 27, 2011 Edit

in Sustainability

Phytoremediation in Landscape Architecture

ASLA Oregon LANDbytes NOVEMBER 2011 Feature:

Phytoremediation in Landscape Architecture:  It’s a Park, It’s a Wetland, It’s a…..?
By Jeff Boggess, Landscape Designer from GreenWorks 

Many common everyday trees, shrubs, perennials, and even invasive weeds like Indian Mustard and Pennycress have the remarkable ability to absorb and chemically breakdown nutrients like nitrate and ammonia, and even harmful elements like lead and arsenic. These plants concentrate and remove pollutants that would otherwise potentially continue to spread through soil, air, and groundwater. For example, arsenic is sometimes left behind in agricultural soils by herbicides and pesticides, but can be remediated by Chinese Brake Fern, which is able to absorb large amounts of arsenic within its fronds. Although plants and the micro-organisms that inhabit their roots have been providing this service since the beginning of time (most notably through the absorption of CO2 gas and release of breathable oxygen), only recently have these cleansing abilities become an established science and designated ‘phytoremediation’ - the process of using plant-based strategies to clean air, water, and soil.

Instead of relying on conventional methods that can be environmentally disruptive, financially costly and energy intensive, phytoremediation simply capitalizes upon basic plant biological processes, and the constant natural flow of elements from soil to roots as food. Luckily for us, many plants aren’t particular about whether these elements are found naturally occurring in the soil or added by humans. Pollutants are taken up by the plants roots where they are chemically modified through the plant’s metabolism and evapotranspired as harmless gas, or they are stored within the plant’s biomass which can then be harvested and processed. With the removal of harmful substances, we are able to benefit not only from cleaner air, water, soil but also prolonged habitat improvement, and the enhancement of diversity and vitality in urban and rural areas by integrating phytoremediation into public space.

Portland and the Willamette Valley offer many outstanding case-studies where landscape architects and engineers have collaborated to integrate phytoremediation sensitively into both urban and rural contexts. From “Green Street” stormwater facilities, to first-of-their-kind, large-scale poplar plantations, projects in this region explore the boundary between functional facilities and designed public amenities. In Portland, the abundance of curbside stormwater planters, like those that can be found along bike boulevards, validate the design ability of Oregon landscape architects and engineers, who depend on support from the local government and from Portlander´s unique willingness to invite these features into their daily lives for the sake of the common good. With that said, it’s no wonder that the International Phytotechnology Society chose Portland this year as its venue for the 8th Annual International Conference.

Portland´s reputation for visionary stormwater and wastewater management has reached an audience extending well beyond the Northwest, being confirmed by the enthusiastic scientists, practitioners and government officials who were in attendance at the Conference coming from faraway places like the Netherlands, India and Malaysia. The idea of ¨Portland Sustainable Design¨ in the minds of these individuals seemed almost like a brand in itself, akin to ¨German Precision¨ that they had come to soak up and take home for application in their own cities and towns.

Where other workshops during the week focused on smaller scale examples of phytoremediation like green roofs, rain gardens and other forms of urban stormwater facilities within the Portland area , the one in which I took part traveled into the Willamette Valley and visited 5 large-scale wastewater treatment applications. Renee Stoops of SPROut (The Sustainable Plant Research and Outreach Center, the hosting organization of the Conference for the week) guided our group by bus to two Poplar Remediation Plantations; Woodburn Waste Water Treatment Plant, and the Riverbend Landfill which treats effluent/biosolids and landfill leachate respectively, and three constructed wetland projects treating effluent coming from wastewater treatment facilities (Albany Talking Water Gardens, Willowlake Treatment Plant, and the Oregon Garden). The facilities represented an interesting progression over the course of the day from purely pragmatic places of remediation in the form of row after row of poplars growing behind chain link security fences and going quietly about their business of absorbing wastewater, biosolids and leachate; to constructed wetlands that were functional not only in their treatment capabilities, but also invited the public with pathways, waterfalls, seating areas, and interpretive signage.

Bringing phytoremediation into the public realm blurs the boundary between science and design and becomes an intriguing point-of-connection between biology and landscape architecture. Although this was done voluntarily in the projects visited during the workshop, in the future, particularly in urban areas, this approach will likely become a necessity as open spaces that can serve these two invaluable purposes (remediation and public amenity) independently become scarcer. Leading international landscape architects like Michael Van Valkenburgh and James Corner are two of many that are already capitalizing on this relationship, bringing a new layer of credibility to the holistic, contextual, stewardship-driven approach which the landscape architecture profession prides itself on. Parks, streets and gardens must continue to be designed for human-friendly enjoyment and retreat, but they also have the potential for meaningful enrichment by becoming places of sustainable renewal and investigation.

With local projects like those showcased at the Phytotechnology Society Conference demonstrating Portland as an international leader in the field, what better place than here to continue to promote the ¨blurred¨ landscapes that combine science and design? The Northwest region is recognized as a hub of sustainable design and we should consider the role landscape architects might play in the advocacy and distribution of these visionary ideas. Along with the landscape architect’s understanding of space, circulation, programming, planning, ecology and plants, phytoremediation adds the next layer of significance to the landscape and may push us into a new chapter of the profession.

Whitney Water Purification Facility, by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc.

with Steven Holl Architects, New Haven CT

Poplar Remediation Plantation, Woodburn Wastewater Treatment Plant, Woodburn OR

Albany Talking Water Gardens, Willowlake Water Treatment Plant, Albany OR

October 20, 2011 Edit

in Sustainability

SSI Survey - Win an Amazon Gift Card!

September 14, 2011 Edit

in Sustainability

The Coalition for a Livable Future

About CLF

The Coalition for a Livable Future is a partnership of over 100 diverse organizations and thousands of individuals working together to create a more equitable and sustainable Portland metropolitan region.

Learn more and join the CLF email list!

July 19, 2011 Edit

in Sustainability

Designing for Sustainability in a Growing Environment

via Robin Gyorgyfalvy, ASLA

A ribbon-cutting event that took place on June 28, 2011 at the newly-minted Kansas Avenue Learning Garden was one of many steps being taken to make sustainability a part of daily life in central Oregon. Exactly one year ago, a design charrette led by ASLA High Desert Chapter’s Chelsea Schneider and Brian Caldwell, set out to transform a contaminated vacant lot that was formerly an old drycleaning site into a vibrant and interactive living classroom and learning garden. This challenging site is adjacent to The Environmental Center and within walking distance to the Boys & Girls Club and Amity Creek Elementary School. This unique project for teaching sustainability in an outdoor classroom was made possible through a partnership that was created between an environmental center, educators, and local landscape architects.

The main concept for the Learning Garden is to create a place where children can witness the growth of the seeds they plant and learn how gardens require care, hard work, and patience. Contact with the outdoors and making discoveries with weekly observations is a hands-on way to learn more about how communities and the environment can be sustained through growing your own food. Denise Rowcroft, sustainability educator for The Environmental Center says “It’s important that kids participate in building the garden so that they feel like they have ownership of it. We’re trying to get them involved in all aspects of the garden, from building fences, to showing them where food comes from – to teaching them about the health of the environment.”

The design charrette began with understanding the constraints of the site, its history, and ownership. Amber Hudspeth, an environmental professional explained the pollutants and a decision was made to cap contaminants on site and to build up the garden beds. Educators were an integral part of the charrette describing what elements and features were needed to form a learning landscape to best teach in an outdoor setting. The Environmental Center needed to have this place convey its mission to “embed sustainability into daily life in central Oregon.” A wish list was composed for what would be desirable on the site, opportunities were discussed for the outdoor rooms and the different amenities in each room, and priorities were determined for phasing.

Chelsea Schneider, ASLA of WH Pacific in Bend developed conceptual images for the group to develop further. Chelsea says “With a personal interest in environmental education, it is really important for me to see that learning landscapes become a reality through a community process such as this one.” The results are stunning with volunteers providing their energy and talent, their labor, donations, and materials for construction and planting. Incredible highlights of this project are the garden art mural paintings created by the Boys & Girls Club that decorate garden boxes lining the neighborhood street and the growing plants that were started as seedlings in the Amity Elementary School classrooms. These “pick me beds” are free for the community to harvest, a great way to encourage community interaction and involvement in central Oregon at the Kansas Avenue Learning Garden located at 16 NW Kansas Avenue in Bend, Oregon.

Pictured: Chelsea Schneider, ASLA and the Garden Box Mural Paintings

June 16, 2011 Edit

in Sustainability

June 2011 Newswire

 

June 2011

Upcoming Chapter Events 09.09 | Willamette Valley Section Gopher Green Golf Tournament (Registration is Open!) 10.01 | 2011 Design Awards (Submissions Due August 5th, 2011) Additional Opportunities 06.17 | Walk Around Portland Event with Dan Burden 07.22 | Berkeley, CA LARE Prep Course: July 22-24 08.11 | ISA Soils & Trees Workshops: August 11th & August 17th Announcements Emerging Professionals 101 Series Recap Landscape Fusion Symposium + Design Charette Recap Dangerous by Design 2011 Report Released! ASLA Membership Qualifications Discussion May 2011 Trustee's Report New Job Posting: PP&R Capital Project Manager Calling all Authors, Columnists, Photojournalists, Bloggers, Reporters and Critics! More Information Newswire Submittal Requirements KEEPING YOURSELF CURRENT Please help us keep our mailing list current. Send updates or corrections of your contact information to info@aslaoregon.org. Contact Us Executive Committee and other contact information is available at the Chapter Website. For mailing and other administrative inquiries about the chapter, contact: ASLA Oregon Chapter 147 SE 102nd Avenue Portland, Oregon 97216 phone: 503.227.6156 fax: 503.253.9172 info@aslaoregon.org Follow Us Oregon ASLA Facebook Page: NEW! Come LIKE us on Facebook! Oregon ASLA on Twitter Oregon ASLA Blog Event Calendar Check out the online Calendar of Events for the most up-to-date listing of opportunities!

May 9, 2011 Edit

in Sustainability

Newswire - May 2011

May 2011
Upcoming Chapter Events 08.17 | Public Awareness Summit 2011 10.01 | Design Awards Announcements Thank You Symposium Sponsors Thank You Symposium Exhibitors GI Case Studies April 2011 Trustee's Report	Event Calendar Check out the online Calendar of Events for the most up-to-date listing of opportunities! Additional Opportunities 05.25 | Architects in Schools: Eugene 05.26 | Landscape Legacies Lecture 06.01 | Architects in Schools: Salem More Information Job Listings Newswire Submittal Requirements Keeping Yourself Current Contact Us Follow Us
Upcoming Chapter Events Public Awareness summit 2011 National and the State Chapters are partnering to accomplish some specific goals related to public awareness.  Recent survey results indicate that the biggest general public misconception about the landscape architecture profession is that landscape architects are landscapers who deal mostly with designing planting plans and installing plant materials. As stated by one survey participant, "People don’t understand the breadth, complexity and technical rigor that goes into our work." Each State Chapter has appointed a Public Relations Advocate, who will work directly with National to develop this program.  The Public Relations Advocates will meet at the Summit in July to fill in the initial framework for the program and flush out additional ideas and actions. There will be two separate messages - an internal one for ASLA members and an external one for the public (such as "Saving the Earth: Site by Site" type of ideas). The main goal of the Public Awareness Summit 2011 is to engage the public through coordinated public outreach between National and all State Chapters - this is the first time ever. A "Launch Event" is scheduled for August 17 at lunch time.  Stay tuned for more information coming soon! ASLA Oregon Chapter 2011 Design Awards Announcements APRIL 15-16, 2011 Landscape Fusion Symposium Sponsors & Exhibitors By sponsoring you provided high quality opportunities and products to the Oregon Landscape Architectural community. You also allowed companies to become involved with landscape architects and related professionals through quality, high profile programs and services. Networking with ASLA Oregon chapter members and their affiliates provides an opportunity for your company to share industry changes, product and service upgrades as well as other information that affects the current and future design and installation of significant projects. We hope to continue our partnerships with you in providing high quality opportunities and products to the Oregon Landscape Architectural community. Thank you to our ASLA Oregon 2011 Symposium Sponsors! Portland State University Facility Sponsor The Western Group AM Break Sponsor Teufel Landscape Lanyard Sponsor The Daily Journal of Commerce General Program Sponsor landscapeforms PM Break Sponsor Additional sponsorship opportunities... If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, sponsoring and event, or advertising on the website or other materials, we have a range of potential opportunities that will fit your needs: View Available Sponsorship Opportunities for 2011 Thank you to our ASLA Oregon 2011 Symposium Exhibitors! Cascade Recreation, Inc. Cold Spring Granite Company Columbia Cascade/Timber Form Harry L. Stearns, Inc. JP Stone Contractors, Inc. Northwest Playground Equipment Northwest Recreation NWR & Associates Oregon Association of Nurseries Parkforms/Wildwood Playgrounds Regional Water Providers Consortium SiteLines Park & Playground Products The Western Group GI Case Studies Thank you to those who submitted projects and case studies for review by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in preparation for its upcoming national proposed rulemaking to strengthen the stormwater management program. Thanks to your hard work, ASLA far exceeded its goal of 300 cases, and submitted 459 projects. ASLA appreciates the membership’s continued efforts in promoting green infrastructure practices in communities across the country and for demonstrating that landscape architects have been, and will continue to be, national leaders on green infrastructure and stormwater management. Thank you. Roxanne Blackwell, Esq. Federal Government Affairs Manager American Society of Landscape Architects 636 Eye Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-216-2334 rblackwell@asla.org April 2011 Trustees Report Some of the highlights from our National Office the past month are as follows: Governance and Administration ASLA is the recipient of the District of Columbia Department of the Environment Partner of the Year! This award is given to an organization that promotes environmental practices on behalf of the District of Columbia and its residents. The award will be conferred by D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray on April 20. ASLA participated in today’s Architect of the Capitol-U.S. Senate’s Spring Environmental and Energy Showcase. This event, held annually in a Capitol Hill Senate office building, focuses on environmental and energy conservation awareness. Special Assistant Swann and Professional Practice Networks Coordinator Kasha Helget provided handouts on the green roof and the Sustainable Sites Initiativeâ„¢ (SITESâ„¢), presented a PowerPoint to promote the green roof, and showed off the website animations that demonstrate the benefits of landscape architecture. Government Affairs We Did It! Thanks to your efforts, ASLA collected 470 green infrastructure projects to submit to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ASLA has posted a preliminary analysis of the projects and, in the coming months, ASLA will share these individual projects with our members and the public on the ASLA website. EPA’s Office of Water has already begun to review the projects and analyze the associated data. Upon reviewing ASLA’s submitted projects, along with data and information from other stakeholders, EPA will issue a proposed rule in September 2011 and is expected to issue a final rule in December 2011. For more information, ASLA has created an issue brief on the proposed rulemaking. ASLA sent a letter to Senators John Kerry (MA), Tom Udall (NM), and Bill Nelson (FL) thanking them for introducing S. Res. 126, a resolution recognizing UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention and celebrating the 2011 International Day for Monuments and Sites. This celebration recognizes the important natural and cultural contributions of sites. Publishing and Resource Development The link to the April free digital issue was sent to more than 40,000 contacts, posted on ASLA’s social networking sites, and “tweeted” on the Twitter accounts. Visits to the online edition are approaching 20,000. Page views total 213,939 and the average time spent viewing each page is three minutes. Professional Practice The Sustainable Urban Forest Coalition is holding its annual meeting April 12 – 13 in Washington, DC. Federal government affairs and professional practice staff are participating and representing ASLA. Public Relations and Communications ASLA’s Green Roof Experience subsite on asla.org is a finalist for the Webby Awards, the most prestigious award in the world for all things Internet. While just being a finalist is a huge accomplishment, voting is underway for the People’s Choice Webby Award. Sign up and vote for ASLA in the Associations category, using either Facebook, Twitter, or email. ASLA’s YouTube Channel has surpassed 100,000 total views, making it one of the most popular within the entire design and construction industry. View and share the videos at www.youtube.com/landscapearchitects. Additional Opportunities Architects in Schools: Eugene Exhibits Wednesday, May 25 4:30-6:30pm Eugene Arts & Technology Academy, 1650 West 22nd in Gym 3 Landscape Legacies Lecture - Don't Miss Out!  Only One Lecture Left in Series. Architects in Schools: Salem Exhibits First Wednesday, June 1 5:00-7:30pm Where the Sidewalk Begins, 233 Commercial St. NE More Information Job Listings Landscape architecture firms can reach landscape architects across Oregon with an advertisement in NewsWire or on our website. Details click here. Landscape Designer/Architect BergerABAM is seeking an experienced professional to support ongoing design and production within our landscape architecture and urban design team. This person will be located in the BergerABAM office in Vancouver, Washington and support existing Pacific Northwest projects. The ideal candidate will have 5 to 8 years of professional experience with strong design, production, and communication skills. This candidate will have excellent design and CAD production abilities, including construction drawings, details, and graphics. Candidates should have a basic knowledge of urban design, Northwest landscape plants, low impact development (LID), and LEED. The duties of this position include: • Working under the direction of senior staff to assist in the master planning, design, and development of open space, streetscape, and public facility projects. • Providing AutoCAD design and production support during concept and schematic design, design development, and construction document phases. • Providing drafting and graphic support for the BergerABAM engineering, public involvement, natural resource, and planning teams as required. • Other duties as required. Requirements • Bachelor’s or master’s degree in landscape architecture from an accredited program • Minimum 5 to 8 years of professional experience • Proficiency in AutoCAD and ability to work in fast-paced, deadline-driven work environment • Technical knowledge and experience preparing landscape construction documents for planting, irrigation, and hardscape using the principles of sustainable stormwater solutions/LID • ArcGIS, Adobe Creative Suite, and SketchUp knowledge a plus • Strong written, graphic, and verbal communication skills • Highly organized, detail-oriented, self-directed, and capable of working collaboratively with multi-discipline teams • State registration as a landscape architect and/or LEED accreditation preferred • Digital portfolio in .pdf format to accompany cover letter and resume Position location: Vancouver, Washington Position closes: 13 May 2011 Job #11-LA-02 Newswire Submittal Requirements NewsWire is a publication of the Oregon Chapter ASLA. NewsWire is published at the beginning of each month for annoucing information for the following month. All ads and information must be received by noon of the previous Friday for inclusion Please send all submissions questions and comments to Dana Baisden. Keeping Yourself Current Please help us keep our mailing list current. Send updates or corrections of your contact information to info@aslaoregon.org. Contact Us Executive Committee and other contact information is available at the Chapter Website For mailing and other administrative inquiries about the chapter, contact: ASLA Oregon Chapter 147 SE 102nd Avenue Portland, Oregon 97216 phone: 503.227.6156 fax: 503.253.9172 info@aslaoregon.org Follow Us Oregon ASLA Facebook Page Oregon ASLA Emerging Professionals Facebook Page Oregon ASLA on Twitter Oregon ASLA Blog

March 10, 2011 Edit

in Sustainability

Green Infrastructure + Landscape Architects = Green Jobs?

Via ASLA Advocacy Network:

Landscape Architects Own Water.
Now Is the Time to Prove It!

Dear Colleagues,

Landscape architects are on the design front lines using green infrastructure technologies to address stormwater management issues in communities everywhere. Now it’s time to share your story. It was said recently that, “landscape architects own water”, now it’s time to step up and prove it. Submit your case studies today to ensure that landscape architects will continue to “own water” tomorrow.

EPA is seeking at least 300 of your green infrastructure/low impact development case studies to demonstrate the capacity and expertise on the ground to implement a new national stormwater management rule. To date we are well short of this goal.

The March 31st deadline is fast-approaching. Please take the time to help provide this critical data. There are powerful groups mobilizing to ensure this rule is either defeated or watered down. EPA is looking to landscape architects to prove that green infrastructure technologies are efficient and cost effective. Help provide the data and rationale for moving the country’s stormwater management infrastructure into the 21st Century.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR CASE STUDY.

Thank you for your efforts to help your communities and build the profession!

Sincerely,

Jonathan Mueller, FASLA
President, American Society of Landscape Architects

For more on ASLA Advocacy
asla.org/advocacy

January 28, 2011 Edit

in Sustainability

Sustainable City Year - Salem

An update on the work of the Sustainable Cities Initiative work in Salem, Oregon as this years focus of activity.

The Sustainable City Year concluded fall term work in December, with reviews and presentations by 275 students in fifteen classes across eight departments and programs. Members of Salem’s professional community (traffic engineers, planners, architects, and others) and interested citizens volunteered their time to provide students with feedback on:

• designs for a potential new police facility
• ideas for redesigning the city’s Civic Center offices
• engineering concepts to improve some areas of downtown’s traffic circulation
• north downtown redevelopment schemes
• design guidelines for the area south of Mission Street along Commercial
• methods to enhance connectivity between downtown parks and other community destinations
• a vision for Salem Housing Authority’s Orchard Village site within the context of the surrounding community
• cultural asset mapping in northeast Salem
• plans for enhanced civic engagement and internal staff communication
• recycling and reduction of food and biofuel processing waste
• downtown parking standards
• an interpretive trails plan for Minto Brown Island Park

In January, winter term work will include building designs for the North Downtown area, civic engagement strategies, architectural projects for the Orchard Village site and possible infill development opportunities at other SHA properties, redevelopment studies for specific sites in multiple urban renewal areas, and a sustainable streetlights project focused on developing a more efficient design for lighting and identifying alternative sources of revenue to fund Salem’s streetlights.

Read more about what's been happening in the Sustainable Cities Initiative here.

December 27, 2010 Edit

in Sustainability

Designing for Environment and Community

Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 7-9 PM
Ecotrust Building, Billy Frank Jr. Conference Rm., 721 NW 9th Avenue

Through the Portland Plan – Inspiring Communities Series we will learn about how other cities are tackling economic development, community health, education and equity. We’ll also be exploring how to create complete communities and make the most of our natural systems. Listen to some innovative ideas from the world's best and brightest thinkers, a panel of local experts and your fellow Portlanders. Have your questions ready!  Cynthia Girling and Ronald Kellett will discuss Designing for Environment and Community.

   

Cynthia Girling is a professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on neighborhood scale planning, and design for open spaces with naturally based stormwater. With Professor Ronald Kellett, she co-directs the elementsLAB, a research group that creates tools and processes for designing and measuring low environmental impact neighborhoods.

Girling and Kellett are co-authors of Skinny Streets and Green Neighborhoods: Design for Environment and Community (Island Press, 2005), and she is an author of Yard, Street, Park: the Design of Suburban Open Space (with Kenneth Helphand, Wiley, 1994).

Ronald Kellett is a professor of Landscape Architecture in the School of Architecture + Landscape Architecture at the University of British Columbia. His research links issues of environment and sustainability to the form and spatial patterns of cities. He holds degrees in Environmental Studies and Architecture and has practiced and taught architecture and urban design at the Universities of Oregon and British Columbia. His work has contributed to the development of environment- and sustainability-oriented urban design knowledge, prototypes, standards, guidelines, design tools and indicators.

October 29, 2010 Edit

in Sustainability

Landscape Leaders Roundtable

On May 11, 2010 twenty four leaders in landscape architecture gathered at the Elysian Hotel in Chicago for a moderated roundtable discussion sponsored by Landscape Forms and the Landscape Architecture Foundation. The purpose was to share ideas on how current economic realities are impacting landscape architecture practice, how firms are responding to the challenge, and how participants see the prospects for the profession. Guests came from fifteen states and all regions of the country, from small proprietor-led practices and large interdisciplinary firms.

Hosts for the event were Bill Main, President, Landscape Forms and Barbara Deutsch, Executive Director, Landscape Architecture Foundation. The roundtable was moderated by Edward Uhlir, the Director of Chicago’s Millennium Park, who oversaw construction and completion of the widely celebrated 24-acre park, coordinating the efforts of numerous design teams, and acting as liaison to municipal agencies and the philanthropic community.

Asked to provide one word to describe the state of the profession today participants offered:

“improving…stressful…challenging…hopeful…frustrating…sleep-deprived… optimistic…opportunistic…transitional…and…It’s the S word, but it’s not sustainable.”

Download the entire report

October 4, 2010 Edit

in Sustainability

Designing Our Future: Sustainable Landscapes

Landscape architects have been “Green Since 1899,” but now we have the Internet to show everyone just how green you are. ASLA has expanded a new online tool designed to educate the general public, government officials, clients, and the media about the work of landscape architects and the social, economic and environmental benefits of sustainable design. Called “Designing Our Future: Sustainable Landscapes,” this interactive learning tool uses 20 case studies that include image slide shows, descriptions, project facts, and downloadable one-page briefs to help answer the question, “What do landscape architects do?”

The site reflects more than a year’s work of research and writing, partially supported with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Explore the case studies below, check out all the resources at www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes, and use these examples to help tell the profession’s story.

• The High Line Park (New York City) 
• Nueva School (Hillsborough, California) 
• The Red Ribbon, Tang He River Park (Qinghuangdao City, Hebei Province, China)
• Underwood Sonoran Family Landscape Laboratory (Tucson, Arizona)
• Washington Mutual Center Green Roof (Seattle) 
• Kresge Foundation Headquarters (Troy, Michigan)
• The Crack Garden (San Francisco) 
• HtO Park (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) 
• Viet Village Urban Farm (New Orleans) 
• Transformative Water (Pitkin County, Colorado) 
• Mount Tabor Middle School Rain Garden (Portland, Oregon) 
• Transit Revitalization Investment District (TRID) Master Plan (Philadelphia)
• From Brownfield to Greenfield (Wellesley, Massachusetts) 
• Bryant Park (New York City) 
• Greensburg Sustainable Master Plan (Greensburg, Kansas) 
• Rooftop Haven for Urban Agriculture (Chicago) 
• NE Siskiyou Green Street (Portland, Oregon) 
• Pacific Cannery Lofts (Oakland, California) 
• High Point (Seattle) 
• Park 20/20: A Cradle to Cradle-inspired Master Plan 

More information: Terence Poltrack Director, Public Relations and Communications American Society of Landscape Architects 636 Eye St., NW Washington, DC 20001 202.216.7852 tpoltrack@asla.org www.asla.org