Register for the First NCASLA Legilative Affairs Lunchtime Chat

Join NCASLA Trustee Brian Starkey and NCASLA government relations attorney Whitney Campbell Christensen as they discuss the history of landscape architect licensure in our state and why it is critical that we stay engaged with our Legislature to protect it. They will provide an overview of NCASLA’s important work at the Capitol and tips that all members can use to stay engaged in the legislative process.

If you have questions, you can submit them in advance or ask them during the webinar. 

We look forward to seeing you at our first quarterly Legislative Affairs Lunch Time Chat!

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS LUNCHTIME CHAT
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
12 - 1 pm ET

Registration is open now through 10am on the day of the event, July 28, 2020.

This virtual event will be through Zoom, and a calendar item will be sent after registration information is confirmed.  Use THIS FORM to register.

ASLA and CELA Oppose Trump Administration Nonimmigrant Student Exemption Modifications

 The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) strongly oppose the United States Department of Homeland Security’s modification of temporary exemptions for nonimmigrant students taking online courses during the fall 2020 semester.

Please read the full press release here

NCASLA Announces 2020 Landscape Architecture Project Award Winners

RALEIGH, NC - The North Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (NCASLA) is pleased to announce the winners of the annual, state-wide professional awards for landscape architecture projects in the categories of Research, Analysis & Planning, Communication, and General Design. Auggie Wong, the NCASLA Awards Chair announced that “we are proud of award-winning projects, which speak to ecological resiliency, cultural celebration, and equity in our communities. We are also extremely pleased with the quality of the projects submitted.”

One Award of Excellence was presented to the Coastal Dynamics Design Lab at NC State University for the Twin Creeks project in the Research Category. The project team said, “If programmed appropriately as a conservation development, this property will provide a wide range of transformative, quality-of-life experiences for the residents of Creedmoor and the general public of the greater Raleigh-Durham region.”

Additionally, four Honor Awards were presented to projects throughout the state or to firms within the state, including the Cherokee Cultural Corridor Master Plan in Cherokee, NC  by IBI Group; Sycamore Creek in Hurt, VA by Coastal Dynamics Design Lab at NC State University; NC Coastal Planting Template in Coastal NC by Coastal Dynamics Design Lab at NC State University; and the BB&T Leadership Institute in Greensboro, NC by Surface 678.

IBI defined in their project summary that, “the Cherokee Cultural Corridor Master Plan (CCCMP) is a detailed analysis and intimate charrette with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) to plan and strategize the growth and development of Cherokee, NC (their tribal lands). This master planning exercise is unique in that an explicit focus was put on maintaining, strengthening, and promoting the culture, history, and community of the EBCI.”

A full list of award winners includes:

Research

Award of Excellence

·         Twin Creeks in Creedmoor, NC: Coastal Dynamics Design Lab at NC State University

Analysis & Planning

Honor Awards

·         Cherokee Cultural Corridor Master Plan in Cherokee, NC: IBI Group

·         Sycamore Creek in Hurt, VA: Coastal Dynamics Design Lab at NC State University

Merit Award

·         Beech Bluff County Park Master Plan in Raleigh, NC: Surface 678

Recognition Award

·         Restoration of the South Ellerbe Tributaries in Durham, NC: Surface 678

Communication

Honor Award

·         NC Coastal Planting Template in Coastal NC: Coastal Dynamics Design Lab at NC State University

Merit Award

·         A Watershed Improvement Study for Laurel Park in Laurel Park, NC: Roots First Design, LLC

General Design

Honor Award

·         BB&T Leadership Institute in Greensboro, NC: Surface 678

Merit Award

·         Reconnect, Disconnect, and Protect: Duke University Student Health & Wellness Center: Stewart

·         Chimney Rock State Park Trail Structure in Chimney Rock, NC: Stewart

·         Global Flora Conservatory at the Margaret C. Ferguson Greenhouses in Wellesley, MA: Andropogon

NCASLA plans to celebrate these accomplishments during an awards ceremony on August 20, 2020. More information can be found at NCASLA.org.  

About NCASLA

The North Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (NCASLA) aims to advance the profession of landscape architecture in North Carolina through advocacy, communication, education, and fellowship. For more information about NCASLA, please visit www.ncasla.org.

NCASLA 2020 Candidates Announced

2020 NCASLA Candidate Bios

President-Elect (one candidate)

                Hollie Colony

Hollie Colony is an Associate and Studio Manager at Urban Design Partners. She graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture and has been practicing in Charlotte, NC since 2010. Hollie is a licensed landscape architect whose planning and design experience includes adaptive re-use, residential and multi-family design, and urban infill projects. She is the previous Charlotte Section Chair. Her hopes are to continue to bring more opportunities for professionals to engage with each other through events that are both social and engage the community like Park(ing) Day. She is particularly passionate about professionals engaging with students to learn about what landscape architecture is and grow the profession. In her spare time, Hollie enjoys traveling, going to concerts, being actively involved in the local Purdue Alumni Association, and spending time with her husband, Eric, and their two dogs, Jax and Remy.

Hollie Colony

Trustee (two candidates)

                Emily Blackwell

Emily is dedicated to the profession of landscape architecture and has nine years of experience, including over six at Stewart in Charlotte. Emily’s portfolio includes many successful parks and recreation projects, from conceptual design and public involvement through construction to opening day. Emily has been an active member of ASLA since 2007. She served as NCASLA's Secretary from 2013 to 2016 during which she was a strong, involved member and attended the Public Relations Summit in 2016. Emily began her presidency tenure in Fall of 2016 when she was voted as President-Elect. During her 2016-2017 year as President-Elect, she led the planning team for the first Southeast Regional ASLA Conference in 2017. Emily led the NCASLA ExCom as President in 2017-2018, implementing the annual multi-day ExCom planning retreat in January of 2018 so that the board can set the tone and schedule for the year and grow as a team. As Past President, Emily assisted with the planning for the 2019 SERC, served as the liaison to the NC Board of Landscape Architects, and has become involved at the National level. She served on the Leadership Development Committee in 2018-2019 and is in her second year on the Government Affairs Advisory Committee (2018-present). Emily continues to support NCASLA and its leadership.

Emily Blackwell

                Brian Starkey

For the past 3 years it has been my privilege to represent NC on the Board of Trustees. These are challenging times for ASLA and I would like to continue my service by serving one more term. Climate change, licensure and membership concerns top my list of issues that are critical to the organization and the profession. While there are leadership changes coming and financial challenges to overcome, we as a profession cannot loose sight of the climatic issues and our national leadership role.

I serve on the ASLA Licensure Committee as well and my commitment in protecting licensure stems from my previous involvement in NCBLA. We are membership organization. While I am confident we have much to offer a potential member, we need to better communicate the benefits of membership. I am committed to identifying and implementing measures to maintain and increase membership. It would be an honor to continue to represent NC and my commitment is genuine.

Brian Starkey

Treasurer- (one candidate)

                Crystal Ross

For the last year, Crystal has served as the interim treasurer for the NC Chapter of North Carolina and would like to continue in this role for the next coming term. She is a licensed landscape architect who focuses her design strategy on having a positive impact on the communities she works in by creating healthier, safer, more enjoyable outdoor spaces that respond to social needs as they evolve. With passions for art, pattern, materiality, horticulture and cultural celebration, Crystal produces colorful, lively and environmentally conscientious design concepts. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cornell University and now has over eight years of professional experience working on a wide range of projects. She enjoys working through a collaborative design process with other design professionals to consider new ideas and ways of thinking about design solutions. Her own expertise lies in quality designs through construction documentation and implementation. Crystal currently works with the Stewart team in Raleigh. She previously served as Secretary for the Boston Society of Landscape Architects and was actively involved in the Emerging Professionals group. Crystal looks forward to continuing to advocate for the landscape architecture profession in North Carolina through communication and education.

Crystal Ross

Associate Member at Large (one candidate)

                Saeideh Teymouri

Saeideh Teymouri is a landscape designer with a bachelor's degree in architecture and a 2017 graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture from NCSU. She has worked in the landscape and architecture fields for seven years. Currently, she works at the CLH Design P.A. for ~4 years, where she collaborates on different scale community projects from pocket parks to nature preserves, schools, museums, and libraries. Her interests lie in studying the socio-cultural and artistic aspects of design, where she collaborates with professionals on the topic of social and gender justice. She is a 2019-2021 ASLA WiLA PPN co-chair and one of the recipients of the 2019 WxLA scholarship.

Saeideh Teymouri

Member at Large- Awards (one candidate)

                Dan Lambert

Dan Lambert is a Senior Landscape Architect with McAdams in their Charlotte office. Dan has twenty years of wide-ranging experience the last 17 of which have been spent in the Carolinas. He has been a dedicated member of ASLA since his student days. His focus is on urban design and streetscapes and in recent years he has become an advocate and expert in the realm of inclusive play parks for children of all abilities. His projects span 13 states, Canada, and the Bahamas. Dan has several award-winning projects including the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, Savannah’s Playground (An Enabling Park), and the planning of Georgetown County Parks. Mr. Lambert is active on the NCASLA 2020 Conference Committee and has also dedicated time helping to organize the last two Urban Land Institute Carolinas Spring Conferences. Mr. Lambert has been an invited conference speaker for the ASLA North Carolina and South Carolina chapters at their annual conferences as well as for the North Carolina Main Street Conference. Dan holds licensure in four states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and his (original) home state of Colorado. Mr. Lambert has spent his career dedicated to advancing the image of Landscape Architecture within the professional world.

Dan Lambert

Member at Large- Communications (one candidate)

                Emily Rothrock

Before moving to Raleigh, Emily spent almost 7 years in Virginia Beach at WPL. Her experience was built with a foundation of waterfront projects requiring layered solutions ensuring long term resiliency. Currently with Andropogon Associates, Emily has found her niche in the ecological world. Her previous time at Site Collaborative focused on solutions that engaged users and advocated for the collaborative design process. Consistently involved in VA & NC, Emily participates in school career days or design charrettes. She works to build the relationship to landscape architecture in children’s’ younger years. Emily is a panel member for thesis review each spring at Virginia Tech. She strives to promote connection of professional practice & design education through consistent support of their program. Over 10 years ago, Emily found herself in Hawai’i. Though only a short time, her experience with mentors Leland Miyano and Jason Umemoto lit a fire that she continues to fuel. Her found respect for the land and its natural systems has carved a path forward. She is a potter reforming the earth into functional elements and a volunteer for regenerative agriculture farmers. Her research continues as she learns the science of rebuilding our world in a responsible way.

Emily Rothrock

Charlotte Section Chair (one candidate)

                Darneka Waters

Darneka Waters graduated from NC State University in 2013, and she is an active member of ASLA. Waters is a Planner for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and pursuing licensure in North Carolina. She volunteers in many community outreach and engagement organizations as a design educator and facilitator. Waters has participated in ASLA's Diversity Summit whose goal was, and is, to increase and promote diversity and inclusion within landscape architecture. Currently, she's a member of ASLA's LARE Prep Committee and serves as a Strategic Advisor for the Charlotte Planning, Design, and Development Department. She has years of experience in conceptual, community, and infill design via her college and professional career. Education and mentorship are some of the pay-it-forward principles that have provided the main foundation for her continued success.

Darneka Waters

Triangle Section Chair (one candidate)

                Bentley Ruggles

Bentley Ruggles is a practicing landscape architect with Dewberry in Raleigh, North Carolina. Raised in the Southeast, he received his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia. He is CLARB certified and currently licensed to practice in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Bentley has been practicing for 6 years and his professional portfolio includes multi-family projects, mixed-use projects, private estates, and fine garden designs. Currently, his skills are focused on public projects, including civic campuses and master planning efforts. Driven by a passion to create unique spaces, Bentley is dedicated to creating works of art. When he is not in the studio, he is spending time with his wife and two daughters.

As a member of the ASLA, I believe our greatest strength is our community of members. I would be humbled to serve the ASLA community in the Triangle. My desire is to find additional members of the ASLA, within the Triangle, to partner with. Together, we would work towards developing an engaging program for the rest of our members. The goal is to provide value to our members through social events and providing continuing education opportunities.

Bentley Ruggles

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Voting members will be sent a link to participate in the process, which will be open until July 15, 2020 at 5pm ET.

Black Lives Matter.

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

- Archbishop Desmond Tutu 

In the wake that has followed the tragic death of George Floyd, and so many others, we can no longer remain silent about the systemic racism and injustices that people of color are facing.

NCASLA is committed to join with many other voices to denounce racism, bigotry, and oppression.

We affirm that Black Lives Matter. People of color matter. 

We recognize that we have a long journey ahead of us to see diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we do not yet fully reflect the communities in which we work. Per ASLA data, only 3% of landscape architects identify as African American.

As Kofi Boone stated in his important article, “It may be time to not only think about how Landscape Architecture can better serve Black communities, but also to be honest about the need to begin a radical rethink of the profession.”

We believe that education is vitally important to making real change happen both in ourselves and in our organization. In addition to Kofi’s article, some resources for further learning include:

·         Black Landscape Architects Network Statement

·         A Detailed List of Anti-Racism Resources

·         Anti-racism Resources

·         Historian Ibram X. Kendi On 'How To Be An Antiracist'

Additionally, if you are able, please consider donating to these organizations to support their work.

·         Black Lives Matter

·         NAACP

We are committed to using our voice to reach our sphere of influence.

And we are committed to listening.

Please join with us.

Remembering Charles A. Musser Jr, RLA, ASLA

Charlie Musser, Jr, RLA, ASLA passed away on Thursday, May 28, 2020 at the home he shared with his beloved wife Wendy Musser. Charlie as a landscape architect and ASLA member had provided professional design services and contributions to the North Carolina community for over 30 years.

I first heard about Charlie Musser very early in my career when he led Wake County’s Sedimentation & Erosion Control Department. In the 80’s, Wake County was the regulatory agency that reviewed the bulk of projects since most  municipalities were still very small. Charlie was the “go-to” authority not only erosion control, but also stormwater management at a time when water quality was just becoming a subject of environmental and economic concern. He garnered the respect of landscape architects and civil engineers alike by helping to elevate Wake County’s standards to protect water resources.

In order to practice what he preached, he helped found Sungate Design Group in 1991 as a firm specializing in protecting water resources through sustainable design practices. Once again, establishing himself as an innovator in a sustainable movement that was just getting its feet off the ground.

Combining his extensive knowledge of soil science, stormwater quality measures and erosion control, Charlie was a constant influencer on our profession in how to approach site design, garnering the respect not only from his landscape architecture peers, but engineers and architects as well. Charlie excelled at building quality relationships through his work with clients and partners. Those relationships extended to contractors in the field, especially when explaining how an innovative design element should function and look.

To say Charlie was detail oriented would be an understatement, as he noted everything. Whether at a project site or in the office, Charlie would observed something that needed to be addressed and then work with others on how best to resolved it. This attention to detail, combined with his understated intelligence, was reflected throughout his work.

Charlie’s propensity for field data gathering was legendary and was instrumental in his site design. This approach and his fusion of the natural environment, stormwater management and sustainable design help to continuously push his professional peers in the way they thought and practice.

Many of the projects that Charlie had been involved with over years demonstrated his ability to blend this push for new ways to address water quality and sustainable site design. The stormwater “treatment train” at NC Wildlife Resources Commission Headquarters on Centennial Campus along with the site’s educational aspect continues to serve as a benchmark for urban design.

Survey: Shaping the Political Landscape

It’s that time again—time for the biennial Federal and State Legislative Priorities Survey!

Help determine ASLA’s federal legislative agenda and state advocacy activities for 2021-2022. As the national voice for the landscape architecture profession, we want to hear from you on what you think are the most important policy issues.

The current federal priorities for 2019-2020 are transportation planning and design, stormwater management, community and national parks, and planning for climate change and resilience, all with an emphasis on equity and environmental justice.

Over the past few years ASLA has achieved enormous legislative successes. On the federal side ASLA Government Affairs recently helped write and introduce multiple pieces of legislation including The Residential Energy and Economic Savings (TREES) Act. Additionally, the Living Shorelines Act, which ASLA endorsed and helped draft, passed the U.S. House of Representatives and awaits Senate action.

Through ASLA’s efforts and two outstanding years of iAdvocate participation, the Land and Water Conservation Fund is permanently authorized and on its way to being fully funded, while national parks and public lands have received record appropriations and may soon have funding to address their deferred maintenance backlog. After nearly a decade of advocacy, ASLA achieved a big green-infrastructure win with the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act becoming law.

ASLA government affairs has also taken action to oppose regulations that aim to rollback our bedrock environmental protection regulations, to oppose standardized design guidelines, and to urge global leaders to make green infrastructure and nature-based solutions a priority in addressing the climate crisis.

On the state side, ASLA government affairs in conjunction with chapters has successfully defended hundreds of threats to licensure. ASLA has also worked with chapters to host successful advocacy summits to help train chapter leaders in state and local advocacy.

We also saw the implementation of a highly effective Site Tour Month with many chapters inviting their state, local, and federal public officials to tour sites and learn about the importance of landscape architecture to their communities.

Two years ago we broke all our previous response records when over 1,100 ASLA members took our priorities survey. However, we know that we can do better this year. Help us double this record by not only taking this survey, but by encouraging your friends, colleagues, chapter members, and all landscape architects to participate. Every voice matters, and we want to make sure as many people participate as possible.

We thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts with us. Please complete your survey by Friday, May 15. With your input, ASLA will continue to succeed in our mission to advocate for you and your profession.

7 Ways to participate in #WLAM2020 in North Carolina

Happy World Landscape Architecture Month! Though we can't gather to celebrate in person this year, here are a few ways we can virtually acknowledge and applaud the incredible work of North Carolina Landscape Architects.

1.       Check out and share NCASLA’s new video that answers that illusive question: #WhatIsLandscapeArchitecture? Tell your friends, ya’ll.

2.       Follow us on Instagram and see what our state’s firms have been working on through NCASLA’s second annual WLAM Instagram Takeover! Our handle is @ncasla_landarch.

3.       Check out @vaeraleigh’s Toilet Paper Art benefit Auction to raise money for the NC Artist Relief Fund. Though submissions were due on April 1, NCASLA wants to keep the fun going! Use the hashtags #ncaslasketchasquare, #aslasketchasquare, and #sketchasquare to showcase your sketches of favorite North Carolina projects.

4.       Isolation got you feeling down? Join your landscape architecture colleagues in a virtual happy hour! Grab a screen shot of your group enjoying your favorite beverages and tag us on social.

5.       Follow along with NCASLA’s Member Spotlight program! We post one member highlight per week on social media.

6.       Go for a walk. Post pictures of your favorite landscape architecture designed spaces and tag us  and share with the hashtag #LifeGrowsHere and #WLAM2020

7.       Check out these other ways to participate from National ASLA.

What is Landscape Architecture?

WATCH OUR NEW VIDEO

Have you ever been asked, “What is landscape architecture?” Do you find this difficult to answer? Is it even possible to sum up everything we do?

In honor of World Landscape Architecture Month, we’re excited to release our new video that answers this complicated question. Watch it now to hear stories about landscape architecture from our great state!

Now, we want to hear from you.

Tag us on social media with a link to the video and let us know your answers to the question “What is landscape architecture?” Make sure to use the hashtags #WhatIsLandscapeArchitecture and #WLAM2020.

It’s about time your grandparents, friends, and kids knew exactly what you do. We’re thrilled to share this video with you so everyone can know the incredible impact you’ve had on North Carolina!

An Update on the 2020 NC Conference on Landscape Architecture

We know there have been a lot of questions about the NCASLA 2020 Conference on Landscape Architecture scheduled for June 4-6 in Wilmington, NC. We sincerely appreciate your patience as we worked to determine the best option for you and your safety.

The decision has been made to postpone the conference. We'll reach out to attendees, sponsors, and potential speakers with more information soon.

Regarding CEUs, the NCASLA Executive Committee and Conference Committee will be exploring options for promoting and providing virtual CEUs before the 2020 NCBLA reporting deadline on September 30.

Though we’re sad we won’t be able to get see each other face-to-face this June, we’re looking forward to the day we can gather together again.

In the meantime, if you’re missing your NCASLA community, check out our Instagram page. To celebrate World Landscape Architecture month, a different member is taking over the account each day. Make sure to stop by and say hello!

We’re so fortunate to be a part of this incredible community of landscape architects. If the association can assist you in any way during this time, please email info@ncasla.org to let us know how we can help.

Sincerely,

Kevin Barnes, NCASLA President
Courtney Landoll, NCASLA President Elect and Conference Committee Chair