2020 Annual WASLA Conference

Adapting the practice of Landscape Architecture through Social Science; PLAYCE

Session Description:

Joy Kuebler has focused her work on the human experience in the landscape, integrating the outdoors and architecture to create unique and inspiring environments. Kuebler has insightfully adapted her firm’s practice to foster the community’s participation and understanding of their site, and their community, through a methodology she calls PLAYCE. PLAYCE blends the empowerment of play found in team-building and social science games with the vital design component of site analysis, creating unique community engagement and public participation for both public and private sector projects. Kuebler has written “PLAYCE Placemaking through Play, a Playbook to Community Visioning” and has shared her experience of empowerment through play from the TEDxstage. In 2019, Kuebler was recognized as a Woman of Influence in the Western New York region for her role as a landscape architect in empowering communities through their connections to nature, and through play as public health. Join us for a demonstration of Kuebler’s perceptive process, and an exciting opportunity to learn increasingly in-demand skills!

Speaker Bio:

Joy Kuebler, PLA, ASLA, President - Joy Kuebler Landscape Architect, PC.

Joy Kuebler, PLA, ASLA serves on the Board of Trustees for ASLA, representing the NY Upstate chapter, and is President of Joy Kuebler Landscape Architect, PC.

Joy Kuebler was born and raised in Western NY, and returned in 1998 to be part of Buffalo’s Renaissance. A graduate of Cornell University, Joy was recognized as the 2016 Ellen Shipman Distinguished Private Practitioner by the Upstate NY Chapter ASLA.

Ms. Kuebler has focused her work on the human experience in the landscape, integrating the outdoors and architecture to create unique and inspiring environments. She formed Joy Kuebler Landscape Architect, PC in 2003 to have a positive impact on the quality of life for people through sensitive and responsible designs. 

Joy has insightfully adapted her firm’s practice to foster the community’s participation and understanding of their site, and their community, through a methodology she calls PLAYCE. PLAYCE blends the empowerment of play found in team-building and social science games with the vital design component of site analysis, creating unique community engagement and public participation for both public and private sector projects. Joy Kuebler Landscape Architect, PC’s work using PLAYCE has been honored with awards from both the American Society of Landscape Architects and the American Planning Associations’ NY Chapters.

Joy has written “PLAYCE Placemaking through Play, a Playbook to Community Visioning” and has shared her experience of empowerment through play from the TEDxstage.

In 2019, Joy was recognized as a Woman of Influence in the Western New York region for her role as a landscape architect in empowering communities through their connections to nature, through play as public health and as a co-discoverer and explorer of what is possible for the communities she serves.