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WASLA Board of Directors
President
Mike Faulkner, ASLA
Past President
Nicholas Zurlini, ASLA
Trustee
Tim Slazinik, ASLA
Treasurer
Su Wanqin, ASLA
Secretary
Zach Thomas, ASLA
Member at Large
Cresha Wee, ASLA
Member at Large, Eastern WA
Michael Sanchez, ASLA
Member at Large, Western WA
Rhiannon Neuville, ASLA
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Dear WASLA Members and Readers,
First, I’d like to thank our outgoing board members, Jason Henry and Harley Pan, for their efforts and dedication. As I step into the role of president, I look forward to working with Nick Zurlini and our new and returning board members.
With the arrival of autumn, we marvel at the fall colors and are reminded of the beauty and significance of our vibrant forests and scenic landscapes. We’re fortunate to live in a place where nature is so close to our doorstep. Since 1946, WASLA has played a vital role in advancing the profession—securing licensure, establishing professional standards, and building a strong community. Year after year, Washington’s landscape architects have worked tirelessly alongside these efforts, creating trails, parks, and outdoor spaces that connect us to one another and the natural splendor surrounding us. While there is much to be proud of, we also face immense challenges as the world rapidly changes, and we seek opportunities to build upon our past efforts.
Hopefully, you had the chance to attend the WASLA Conference or the ASLA National Conference. These gatherings are always inspiring, providing opportunities to connect, share knowledge, and learn from one another. Looking ahead, we carry this inspiration with us, along with new ideas, as we chart our course for the year.
Finally, there are countless ways to get involved, whether you’re a student, an emerging professional, or passionate about any aspect of this diverse profession. We encourage you to reach out—your ideas are always welcome as we continue to collaborate and build upon WASLA’s legacy.
Thank you for your continued support.
Mike Faulkner
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Here’s What You Missed at #ASLA2024!
Over 6,500 landscape architecture professionals and students, and 315+ exhibitors gathered in Washington, D.C. to celebrate ASLA’s 125th anniversary. Attendees experienced four days filled with education opportunities, special events, EXPO hall exhibits/sessions, and exploring D.C. with their peers.
Get a glimpse of the fun by viewing the ASLA Conference Recap video, photographer gallery, and selfie robot gallery.
Photographer Gallery Selfie Robot Gallery
Save the date for the ASLA 2025 Conference on Landscape Architecture in New Orleans, Louisiana; October 10-13, 2025!
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Welcome WASLA New Board Members
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The WASLA Board recently gathered in person, where returning board members connected with new members as we begin planning the exciting year ahead. A special thank you to Anchor QEA for hosting the meeting.
Please join us in welcoming the 2024-2005 Board Members.
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WASLA Statewide Member at Large: Cresha Wee, ASLA
Cresha Wee is a landscape architect with 7 years of experience focusing on habitat restoration and public access. She grew up in a Detroit metro-area suburb, where she worked at a civil and environmental engineering consulting firm before moving to Seattle and beginning work at Anchor QEA in 2019. Cresha participates in all phases of a variety of public and private projects, from preparing concepts and drafting permit applications, to completing final design documents and providing construction oversight. She specializes in designing around environmentally sensitive issues, including restoring shorelines and habitats across Washington. Cresha has had the privilege of working on multidisciplinary teams while collaborating with engineers, planners, geologists, and archaeologists. Her experience emphasizes the importance of landscape architects as leaders, and she welcomes the opportunity to elevate her leadership and skillset to the next level by representing WASLA’s Statewide Member at Large position.
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WASLA Secretary: Zach Thomas, PLA, ASLA
Zack is a Landscape Architect who loves design leadership, collaboration, and proactive management. He brings these values to his role at Board & Vellum where he centers his approach on unraveling the complexities of each project’s design, permitting, construction, and sustainability goals. Zack delights in working at the neighborhood scale — designing beautiful, usable, and ecologically minded solutions that engage and enrich — but also loves the unique challenges and opportunity for intimate detail of a single-family residential landscape.
Zack holds Master’s degrees in Ecology and Landscape Architecture. With over 20 years of project experience, Zack has led projects of varying scope and scales including parks, urban design, commercial work, art coordination, education, mobility planning, and private gardens. His projects include high-profile and award-winning designs, such as the first Living Building project in Washington State.
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Once again, we want to thank every sponsor and exhibitor who participated in the 2024 annual WASLA conference! Your partnership and support of the Washington Chapter of ASLA is vital!
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ADA Compliant vs Inclusive Playgrounds: Play for All Webinar
ADA Compliant vs Inclusive Playgrounds: Play For All
While ADA compliance ensures that playgrounds meet minimum accessibility standards for individuals with disabilities, inclusive playgrounds go beyond these requirements. Inclusive playgrounds are designed to accommodate a wider range of abilities and needs, fostering a sense of belonging and participation for everyone. They often incorporate features like ramps, transfer boards, and sensory elements to create a truly welcoming and enjoyable space for all children.
Learn more and get your questions answered during this live webinar hosted by Buell Recreation.
Date: Tuesday, November 12th
Time: 12:00 PM-1:00 PM PST
Online Event
Register Here
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Landscape Architecture Foundation Survey
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The Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) invites landscape architecture professionals to complete their 2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Survey for Landscape Architects and Designers.
This survey mirrors a 2019 effort by LAF to conduct the first discipline-wide individual and organizational surveys addressing DEI issues. This new survey will allow LAF to compare results to understand whether and how things have changed over the last 5 years.
As the expert on your own experiences, LAF wants to hear from you. Your participation is voluntary, and all responses will be anonymous. Note that this survey is for individuals who are landscape architecture professionals, not students or educators. (If you are not a trained landscape architect by experience or education, please do not complete the survey.)
The survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. LAF hopes to learn whether you feel supported, represented, and included in your workplace and how inclusive you find your workplace and the profession overall to be. LAF is also interested in what resources you think might be helpful to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in your workplace and in the profession as a whole.
The survey closes November 22.
In addition to this survey of individuals, LAF will conduct a separate DEI survey of firms/organizations. If you are in a leadership role and interested in participating on behalf of your firm/organization, please reach out to Rachel Booher at [email protected].
Next year, LAF will publish an executive summary with the results and insights from the surveys. The findings will help to inform LAF’s programs and future initiatives. LAF will also share the data with landscape architecture capacity organizations, including the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), to support continued collaboration around these important issues.
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Members now have access to free monthly PDH live webinars and recordings via ASLA Online Learning. | Read More
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A very warm welcome to our new and renewing WASLA Members:
Ashley Rodriguez | Caitlin Moorleghen | Camryn Machado | Emma Diaconu | Katia Montes | Katrina Golladay | Kayla Powlesland | Maria Lupercio | Miriam Padilla Castaneda | Patricia Santana | Victoria Weingarz
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- November 12, 2024 - ADA Compliant vs Inclusive Playgrounds: Play for All Webinar - Register
Click here to view all upcoming WASLA and affiliate events.
Do you have an upcoming event or continuing education opportunity you'd like to share? Click here to share.
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