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President's Remarks
Laura Thompson
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Hello WASLA Membership! I figured that for my first entry as Chapter President I would let you all know a little bit about myself. I was born and raised in Spokane, which is where I live and work today. I work for a landscape architectural firm called SPVV Landscape Architects, co-owned by principals Tom Sherry and Ken VanVoorhis (I have to give them a major shout out since they have been super supportive of my involvement in WASLA). Before work-life, I was a Coug at Washington State University. I still fondly remember those late nights in studio, and those early morning study sessions, cramming in those last few botanical names into my brain before the big horticulture exam. I think many of you can relate. Taking things back even further, I started my collegiate journey as a fine arts major - really not knowing what I wanted to do for a "forever" career. Luckily for me, I was introduced to the beautiful world of landscape architecture by a mutual friend my freshmen year and promptly changed my major. Like many landscape architects, I didn't even know this profession existed until I was already in college. How many of you can relate to that as well? More on this later...
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Editor's Note
Stephanie Stroud
As our nation stands divided, and our communities grapple with transition, it gives me great solace to think of the benefits of being outdoors, in the landscapes that we create. In a recent article entitled, Heal the Landscapes and Ourselves, author Heidi Petersen describes the healing benefits of nature, which you are probably familiar with, "a 5-minute-a-day walk in a natural environment can lead to decreased levels of depression and stress. For children with ADHD, 20-minutes in a park can result in fewer symptoms with results similar to a dose of Ritalin." But she also mentions that in order for these landscapes to heal us, we must first heal them.
As designers, we must understand how a landscape needs healing, how the land is "wounded." Once we identify those wounds, we can begin the healing process by providing an abundance of life, drawing direction from guiding sources like the SITES initiative, and using a holistic approach to understand how each landscape functions, and what it will need to thrive. Landscape architects are trained to use intuition and data, art and technology, and these are the tools we can use as we inspect our landscapes and see what needs attention and mending.
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2017 WASLA Conference - Where History Meets Nature - Call for Proposals!
Where History Meets Nature celebrates city planning that exemplifies an essential sensitivity to each site's distinct history, its future potential, and the natural processes that shape it. The unique and rich history of a place, the beauty and grit of its surrounds, and the opportunities it makes possible all define the essence that landscape architects work to protect, restore and enhance. Inspired by this year's conference city, Spokane, Washington, the WASLA 2017 Annual Conference seeks discussions about place-shaping as it relates to intertwining natural assets and the built environment, historical preservation and planning the future, city centers and city perimeters, and other topics that explore our history, challenges, opportunities, and responsibilities when shaping nature.
Conference educational sessions will be 60 and 90 minutes in length with the option for two-part sessions for more detailed topics. Pre- and post-conference socials will be announced soon.
Proposals are due by 5:00pm on Friday, November 18, 2016.
View the Call for Proposals
2016 WASLA Professional Award Winners
The 2016 WASLA Professional Awards were held on November 3rd at the Januik Novelty Hill Winery in Woodinville, WA. The Colorado-based jury consisted of a diverse, allied profession panel that included: Jonathan Cappelli, Nancy Locke, Jeremy Ehly, Laurel Raines, and Ken Schroeppel. The jury bestowed nineteen awards to Washington Landscape Architects for their outstanding work. This year 51 submissions were received. Projects had to be completed by a landscape architect registered in Washington State. The work could be completed anywhere. Projects were submitted in January and adjudicated in February. The Professional Awards have been ongoing for the past 30 years, and are now held every year.
Learn more about the award winners.
Kate Orff: Toward an Urban Ecology
November 17th, 2016
Thursday, 6:30PM
University of Washington, Gould Court
Kate Orff, Founder and Partner of SCAPE / LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, will present her new book Toward an Urban Ecology, and the work of her New York-based firm.
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National Park Services is Cheering for the American Society of Landscape Architects!
ASLA is among the recipients of a 2016 Director's Partnership Award from the National Park Service. The award recognized the volunteer support provided by ASLA chapters and members to more than 60 projects from the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA). RTCA has had projects with local chapters of ASLA, including WASLA, across the country over the last 18 years. Superintendent Lance Hatten (Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve/New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park) presented the award on behalf of Director Jarvis, to ASLA president Chad Danos at the annual meeting of ASLA's Board of Trustees and Chapter Presidents Council, when they gathered last month in New Orleans.
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The New Landscape Declaration: Guiding LAs Boldly Into the Future
Fifty years ago, landscape architects wrote a Declaration of Concern to capture and express their fears of irreparable environmental harm, and share how landscape architects are uniquely qualified to create creative solutions and positive change. This year, that declaration was re-created for a new generation of landscape architects.
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Landscapes on the Edge: Design and Implementation of Landscape and Restoration Projects on Puget Sound Shorelines and Urban Ravines
November 15-16, 2016
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
University of Washington Botanic Gardens Center for Urban Horticulture: 3501 NE 41st St, Seattle, WA 98105
This program is designed to educate landscape professionals about the vulnerable nature of marine shorelines and provide guidance and instruction on how to better initiate, design, and implement successful landscape and restoration projects on upland buffers, shorelines, steep slopes, and beaches. Expanding your skill set in this area will allow you to meet the growing demand for this type of service, implement successful projects, create happy customers and positive word-of-mouth, increase your company's market share, avoid regulatory problems, fines, and lawsuits, and improve public trust in the landscape industry to meet these environmental needs.
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Need a Job? Take a Look at the WSU Job Board!
The WSU School of Design and Construction (SDC) has a job board on its website. See http://sdc.wsu.edu/overview/student-jobs/.
Positions are listed by discipline (landscape architecture, architecture, interior design, or construction management) or as "multidisciplinary" if a position applies to students in several majors. If you would like to post an internship or job opportunity, please contact Jaime Rice at [email protected].
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Ken Struckmeyer Student Scholarship Endowment Fund
After 40+ years of service to Washington State University and his students, Ken Struckmeyer has retired. His jovial and caring presence on campus is greatly missed. To honor Ken's career as professor, coach, mentor, and colleague; an endowment has been established in his name, the Ken Struckmeyer Student Scholarship Endowment Fund. The endowment is awarded to students who are aspiring declared majors in landscape architecture.
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Support the Kenichi Nakano Endowed Scholarship Fund for Landscape Architecture
 For over four decades, Kenichi Nakano graced the Pacific Northwest with exceptionally subtle and inviting modernist design, generously contributed to community and civic life, and mentored generations of students and professionals of all disciplines.
On August 8, 2012, we lost our teacher, mentor, and friend all too soon.
Your gift in memory of Kenichi to the Kenichi Nakano Endowed Scholarship Fund will leave a lasting legacy and support outstanding students in the University of Washington's Department of Landscape Architecture.
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UW Landscape Architecture Internship/ Practicum Portal
UWLA PAC, Internship + Research Committee
The Landscape Department at the University of Washington has been working hard on providing its students with valuable resources that can better connect them with local employers for internships and practicum opportunities.
Prior to developing these resources we sent a survey to our local employer list to get feedback on what firms wanted and if they would use specific resources. We took this information and over the summer developed a space where employers can submit internships and practicums and positions to a page that is only accessible by our students.
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