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WASLA Board of Directors
President
Rachel Gleeson, ASLA
Past President
Michael Faulkner, ASLA
Trustee
Tim Slazinik, ASLA
Secretary
Rhiannon Neuville, ASLA
Treasurer
Lauren Konney, ASLA
Member at Large
Cresha Wee, ASLA
Member at Large, Eastern WA
Dan Cronan, ASLA
Member at Large, Western WA
Sheryl Fishel, ASLA
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Dear WASLA Members,
I’d like to start out my very first WASLA newsletter by thanking my predecessor, Mike Faulkner. Mike has been a terrific leader of our organization, helping initiate our first Field Day, among other accomplishments. He has been a great mentor over the course of the past year and I look forward to continuing to work closely with him as he steps into the role of Past President.
The most enjoyable aspect of serving as WASLA President-elect this past year has been the opportunity to meet up with fellow landscape architects and affiliated professions at social events, our spring conference, the national ASLA conference, and Field Day, not to mention Trivia Night. I’m excited to take on the role of President and I hope to meet more of you in the year ahead and learn about the work that you do. Our next big opportunity to get together in person is at the 2026 WASLA Awards Celebration on October 21st, at the Georgetown Ballroom.
WASLA just hosted our annualon-line membership meeting this past Friday, September 25th, where we shared our accomplishments from the last year and looked forward to the next. One piece of member feedback included the need to re-establish our Government Affairs and Advocacy Committee, which has been less active in recent years – there was widespread agreement on this, and we’ll share more information with you as plans on that progress.If you weren’t able to make it to the WASLA Membership meeting but are hoping to get more involved this year, then please reach out to [email protected] and we will be happy to connect you with committees and events that suit your interests.
The national ASLA conference earlier this month brought many landscape architects together in Los Angeles. I attended, along with Mike Faulkner (now WASLA Past President), and chapter Trustee Tim Slazinik, representing Washington State at the ASLA Chapter President’s Council (CPC) and the Board of Trustees. One exciting piece of news shared at the conference was the launch of a new “CLARB Exam Success Grants” program, administered through the ASLA Fund, to help eligible L.A.R.E. candidates cover exam costs. The new ASLA 2040: Guide to Site Carbon Assessment v. 1, was launched at the conference, as was the Section 106 Action Toolkit, provided as a resource to practitioners who are concerned about proposed changes to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The ASLA Awards program will also be undergoing substantial changes this next year, with new categories for awards in Historic Preservation, Small Project/Big Impact, Pro Bono work, and Community Service, among other updates meant to broaden the types of projects that can be recognized.
One of the highlights of the conference for both me and Mike was our lunch with the WASLA Conference Stipend recipients: Ella Roney (BLA, WSU), Kathryn Harvey (MLA, UW), and Charlie Wakenshaw (MLA, UW). We talked about all of the great education sessions and field sessions that we had been attending, and also about what the future of the profession looks like for those who are just starting out in it. As our state schools continue to be pressed for resources, WASLA will look for ways to support the professional landscape architecture programs.
If you’ve been thinking about getting more involved in WASLA (as many people have told me they are!), now is an excellent moment to do so. We’ve just seated new board this month and are kicking off a new cycle of committees and events. The potential impact of our organization is much greater with active member participation – consider yourself invited!
Many thanks,
Rachel
Rachel Gleeson, PLA, ASLA
WASLA President
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Call for 2026 Award Reception & Ceremony
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Photo credit: Meghan Montgomery, Built Work Photography
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October 21, 2026 | 5:30pm to 9:30pm
Join us in celebrating our local landscape architects and firms during our 2026 WASLA Awards Ceremony and Reception. Don't miss this evening of good food, libations, and an opportunity to mix and mingle!
Date: Wednesday, October 21st, 2026
Location: Georgetown Ballroom, 5623 Airport S, Seattle, WA 98108
Time: 5:30-9:30pm
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Join the WASLA Climate Action Committee for an evening of dinner, conversation, and new research at Fora Landscape Architects in Seattle. Fora will share findings on the carbon footprint of K-12 school landscapes, based on baseline data from real campuses. They'll also cover what that data means for climate-positive design. Come connect with colleagues working on climate action across the profession.
When: Thursday, October 22, 5:30pm (presentation at 6:00pm)
Where: Fora Landscape Architects, 1430 NE 65th Street, Seattle
Cost: Free, dinner included
RSVP Here by Monday, October 19
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2026 ASLA National Student Awards
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WASLA congratulates the students recognized through the 2026 ASLA National Student Awards. These awards celebrate outstanding student achievement and design excellence and provide an opportunity for emerging landscape architects to present their work to a jury of practicing professionals from across Washington State.We would like to thank our National Awards jury members for volunteering their time, engaging with the students, and providing thoughtful feedback and written comments:
Sarah Maas | HDR
Erin Kerney | Bruce Dees & Associates
Ana Cristina Garcia | Mithun
Noriko Marshall | Noriko Marshal Landscape Architecture
Morteza Behrooz | Seattle Parks + Recreation
Michael Lipko | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Sheryl Fishel | Flecktura
University of Washington – Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)
Honor Awards
- Anna Hatcher
- MacKenzie Keen
Merit Awards
- Madison Tenney
- Piper Sallquist
University of Washington – Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA)
Certificates of Recognition
- Emma Weir
- Jazzmyn Wittrell
Washington State University – Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA)
Merit Award
Certificate of Recognition
Awards recognize outstanding scholarship; skill in the art and technology of landscape architecture; design ability; and personal qualities and interpersonal skills. Nominees presented a 20-minute narrative of their projects and student journey to a jury of WASLA members.
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2026 WASLA Local Student Awards
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WASLA congratulates the recipients of the 2026 WASLA Local Student Awards, a juried competition recognizing outstanding student work from the University of Washington and Washington State University. Student projects were reviewed by juries of professional landscape architects, with awards recognizing excellence in design, research, communication, technical exploration, and creative thinking.
We would like to thank our Local Awards jury members for the many hours they spent thoughtfully reviewing the student work:
Advanced / Intermediate Studio Jury
Amy Wolfe | ARW Landscape Design
Jan Satterthwaite | Vireo Design Studio
Gauri Patel | Osborn Consulting
Foundation / Beginning Studio + Technical Course Jury
Karen Kiest | Karen Kiest Landscape Architects
Scott Radford | Stantec
Michael Terrell | Michael Terrell Landscape Architecture
Advanced / Intermediate Studio
Honor Awards
Merit Awards
Special Mentions
Foundation / Beginning Studio
Honor Awards
Merit Awards
Special Mention
Thank you to everyone who participated, and congratulations to all of our award recipients and new graduates!
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Congratulations to the 2026 ASLA Stipend Winners! We hope you had a great time attending the conference in LA!
Ella Roney, Class of 2026 Emerging Professional
Kathryn Harvey, University of Washington MLA
Charlie Wakenshaw, Class of 2026 Emerging Professional
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Upcoming Open House at Woodland Park Zoo
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Open House Invitation for Contractors & Design Professionals
CALLING ALL CONTRACTORS, ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS & DESIGN PROFESSIONALS
Zoo Projects, Maintenance, and Exhibits Open House
Explore Upcoming Opportunities to Help Shape the Future of the Zoo
Join us for an exclusive Open House designed for contractors, consultants, architects, engineers, landscape architects, specialty exhibit designers, and construction partners interested in supporting upcoming zoo development, renovation, infrastructure, and habitat enhancement projects.
This event provides an opportunity to:
- Learn about upcoming capital improvement and construction projects
- Meet the Zoo's Facilities, Habitats, Maintenance, and Project Management team
- Understand procurement and contracting processes
- Network with fellow industry professionals
- Explore partnership opportunities for future design and construction work
- Gain insight into the Zoo's vision for creating exceptional animal habitats and guest experiences
Event Details
? Date: October 6th, 2026
? Time: 4:00-6:00 PM
? Location: CWC- 5500 Phinney Avenue North, Seattle WA 98103
Who Should Attend?
- General Contractors
- Specialty Contractors
- Architects
- Engineers (Civil, Structural, MEP)
- Landscape Architects
- Exhibit and Habitat Designers and Fabricators
- Construction Management Firms
- Sustainable Design Professionals
- WMBE firms highly encouraged to attend
What to Expect
- Overview of upcoming projects and capital investments
- Procurement and bidding process information
- Q&A with Zoo’s building development team and project stakeholders
- Networking reception
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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:
Dylan Bailey | Jon Champlin | Kimia Jouyandeh | Mami Hara | Michael Lipko | Tess Schiavone
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Interested in becoming a member?
Learn more about benefits of membership.
Join today!
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Looking for the perfect job candidate?
Did you know that you can create a new job listing online on the WASLA website?
All job postings appear on the WASLA website AND are included in WASLA's monthly newsletter that goes out to over 2,000 subscribers!
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- October 21st - WASLA Annual Awards - Georgetown Ballroom - Register
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Click here to view all upcoming WASLA and affiliate events.
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