2026 WASLA Field DayFEATURED SPEAKER: Kristine Kenney
Speaker Bio: Kristine Kenney, ASLA, LEED AP University Landscape Architect & Director of Campus Planning + Architecture University of Washington Kristine is an accomplished and dedicated steward of the University of Washington campus, where she directs the planning and physical development of the built environment, both inside and out. With a strong commitment to solving complex issues through creative solutions, Kristine is adept at strategically navigating and cultivating cross-functional discourse amongst campus leaders, trade experts, and design professionals to effectively balance limited resources with unlimited ambitions. Throughout her career, she has been recognized by her peers with professional awards commending the positive and inclusive culture she fosters, resulting in high-impact, results-oriented teams. Within the design profession, she has earned great respect for her tenacious advocacy and encouragement to continually strive for design excellence, resulting in numerous project design awards at the University of Washington. One of her proudest accomplishments is the vision and insight she provided over a ten-year timeframe, resulting in the re-envisioned lower Rainer Vista, an iconic and campus-defining landscape. In her free time, Kristine enjoys relishing in the seasonal beauty of the Pacific Northwest, whether that’s getting her hands dirty in the garden or actively immersing herself in nature with family and friends. Balancing Ambition and Stewardship: Two Decades of Shaping a Campus Environment This presentation explores how campus landscapes are shaped over time through the balance of ambition and stewardship. Drawing on two decades of work across multiple campuses, it examines how long-term planning, incremental capital projects, and ecological systems collectively form coherent and resilient environments. Rather than treating landscape as a backdrop to development, the discussion positions it as the organizing framework that connects buildings, infrastructure, and human experience. It highlights how landscape architects guide change in ways that strengthen identity, ecological performance, and everyday usability across evolving campus contexts.
Key Themes & Discussion Points
This session qualifies for 1 LA CES HSW credit. |
