You Can Make a Difference- Support NC A&T

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T) is a public, historically black (HBCU) research university in Greensboro, North Carolina serving over 12,500 high-performing students and is one of only two HBUCs with a degree program in landscape architecture.

NC A&T has produced more African American landscape architects than any other accredited degree program in the nation and the world and has been instrumental in advancing diversity within the profession.

NC A&T needs your help to sustain their landscape architecture program and has an immediate need of $40,000 to purchase laptops for students. Donate now to help students continue their education during this time of distanced learning.

Earlier this year, NC A&T launched an emergency fund to help the general student body purchase basic necessities. The University’s hardships were then further compounded by COVID-19 and the pivot to distanced learning formats.

These unforeseen circumstances have drastically hit the Department of Landscape Architecture and are threatening the participation of its students. The Department is in desperate need of laptops for its students. Rather than being able to complete assignments in the studio, students must now have personal computers that can support the required software programs to complete their degree.

Donate now to help a student purchase a laptop that will help them graduate as a landscape architect.

NCASLA’s mission is to advance landscape architecture through advocacy, communication, education, and fellowship. We are committed to fostering equity and inclusion within our profession, membership, and leadership.

Providing support to NC A&T is one of the single most important and tangible steps NCASLA can take to grow the profession, increase diversity, and strengthen the pipeline of representation of Black landscape architects.

NC A&T has an immediate need for $40,000 to purchase laptops. How much support can you give? Donate now.

Call for Action From VA ASLA Gov't Affairs Committee - BPOR Study of the Regulatory Status of Landscape Architects

We understand that there are NCASLA members who are also licensed in the state of Virginia. We want to pass along this information from our colleagues at the Virginia and Potomac Chapters.

CALL FOR ACTION!

BPOR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS OPEN 9/1 - 9/30

BPOR is currently undertaking a study to determine if landscape architects should continue to be licensed. The study will be completed in December 2020. BPOR is inviting public comments regarding the regulatory status of landscape architects.

Please see the BPOR Notice for Public Comments on the need to regulate select professions/occupations including landscape architects.

Public Comment is open through 9/30/20. 

ASLA Virginia and ASLA Potomac are calling on Virginia and Potomac chapter members as well as non-ASLA landscape architects to:

1. Contact your clients, architects and engineers that you work with, developers, government officials, and others who value the work of licensed landscape architects and ask them to submit their comments including stating support for continued licensure of landscape architects. Include this link: Notice for Public Comments to access the General Notice. The General Notice includes a link “Comment Forum” that provides access to the Public Comment portal; and

2. Please enter your personal statement of support for continued licensure of landscape architects via the Public Comment Portal.

Click Here for more information regarding the Impacts of Deregulation of Landscape Architects in Virginia.

Click Here for public hearing talking points to use in your public comments as well as share with your colleagues, clients, architects, engineers, and others who you are requesting to make a public comment.

https://www.vaasla.org/

Remembering Jerry Turner

Remembering Jerry Turner (1935-2020)

It is with a heavy heart to announce the passing of Jerry Mitchell Turner at the age of 84.  Jerry passed away at his home in Highland Beach, Florida, on July 21, 2020.  Jerry was brought back to North Carolina, his home, for burial by his family. 

Jerry was born on December 20, 1935 in Winston Salem, NC, the son of Vardy Mitchell and Mattie Irvin Turner.  He grew up in Fayetteville, NC where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Mary Vann MacLaughlin in 1954.  Jerry enrolled at North Carolina State University graduating in 1959, one of a graduating class of three, with a degree in Landscape Architecture. Upon graduating he and Mary made Raleigh their home.  In 1969 Jerry founded Jerry Turner and Associates, Landscape Architects and Land Planners, otherwise known as JTA,  Over the next 51 years as President of JTA he oversaw the planning and design of hundreds of development projects ranging in size from several hundred acres for a master plan community, to small intricate designs of a residential client’s backyard. Jerry was a licensed professional in several states throughout southeastern United States but focused most of his career in the Raleigh and Cary area. He was a Planning Consultant to the Town of Cary prior to Town’s creation of a Planning Department. In 1975 he served as president of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. He was on the Board of Directors of NC Design Foundation (1987-1988), The Home Builders Association of Raleigh and Wake County (1987-1988) and the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce (1985-1986). He was also a founding member of the City of Raleigh Greenway Commission.  In 1997 he was honored as a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects that he proudly accepted at its annual convention held in Atlanta, GA.

Jerry had many other interests as well. He was active in the Raleigh Lions Club and an avid Jaguar enthusiast owning at least 20 different Jaguars throughout the years.  His model Jaguar car collection surpassed all others. He could slalom water ski and snow ski with the best of them. For a while he had a pilot’s license and flew his own plan.

Jerry’s legacy lives on in not only the projects he was involved in, but in the people that associated with him.  His ability to express and challenge designers to develop good design solutions, to think outside the box, to follow environmentally sustainable design practices even before it was acceptable, to test planning ordinances and zoning guidelines to create communities that value the principles of health, safety and welfare of their residence.  These standard principals were just a part of professional experiences he fostered.  He was a humble man, very accessible to everyone.  He led a very family-oriented firm where every employee was part of that family.  In good years Jerry would take the entire office and their spouses on an excursion to warmer weather in the Caribbean or on a trip to the ASLA National Convention. It was fun and exciting to work for him and with him. He will always be my Mentor.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary M. Turner, three children, Debora Turner Oster ASLA and husband Clint of Boca Raton, FL, Gregory Mitchell Turner and wife Dawn of Mt. Ulla, NC and Karen Turner Roberson and husband Keith of Cary, NC. He has four grandchildren, Carey Mitchell Oster and wife Coral, Christopher Lewis Oster, Dylan Mitchell Turner, Kasey Van Norris Turner and two great grandchildren, Pearl Vanda Oster and Clint Finn Oster.

NCASLA Election Results Announced

The North Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (NCASLA) is pleased to announce the results of the recent election.

Elected to the one-year term of President Elect is Hollie Colony, ASLA.  Brian Starkey, ASLA, was elected to a three-year term as Trustee.  The Treasurer position, a two-year term, will be held by Crystal Ross, ASLA.   Associate Member at Large will be occupied by Saeideh Teymouri, Associate ASLA. Member at Large- Communications is to be filled by Emily Rothrock, ASLA, while Dan Lambert, ASLA, will round out the Member at Large- Awards position. Two section chairs were also elected: Charlotte- Darneka Waters, ASLA, and Triangle- Bentley Ruggles, ASLA. 

“We're thrilled to welcome these new members to the NCASLA Executive Committee! These individuals have already proven their dedication to landscape architecture throughout their professional careers. I'm looking forward to the expertise they're bringing to the Executive Committee, and I'm excited about the ways they'll advance the mission of NCASLA," said Kevin Barnes, 2019-20 NCASLA President.

Incoming members of the Executive Committee shall assume office in October 2020.

ASLA Elevates Two NCASLA Members to Council of Fellows

Please join us in congratulating NCASLA Members Kofi Boone and Matthew Langston, for receiving the honor of being elevated to Council of Fellows!

Kofi Boone, ASLA

North Carolina State University

Kofi Boone, ASLA
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

Nomination in Knowledge by the North Carolina Chapter

Kofi Boone has made significant contributions toward the collective knowledge and understanding of community-engaged design and social equity through his leadership in both academia and practice for over two decades. From popularizing the correlation between race and attitude as a landscape analysis factor to pioneering the use of mobile technology to document landscapes, he has laid a foundation for the pursuit of environmental justice and social equity through design. Kofi’s scholarship on cross-cultural engagement methods has expanded the toolkit available for landscape architects working in communities different from their own, and he has become a leading voice challenging the historical legacy of colonization and championing the contributions African Americans have made in shaping and maintaining the American landscape. Kofi has a sustained record of award-winning and nationally recognized scholarship in equitable community-based design strategies, focusing his work on ecological and human-made disasters, ranging from rebuilding flood-damaged landscapes to supporting communities that have been marginalized by structural inequality, urban renewal, and displacement. Through collaborative engagements with communities recovering from hurricanes and flood damage, Kofi applies equitable community design practices to resilient design strategies. Kofi’s commitment to education earned him the 2019 Most Admired Educator in Landscape Architecture by Design Intelligence.

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Matthew D. Langston, ASLA

Landworks Design Group

Matthew D. Langston, ASLA
Landworks Design Group, Charlotte, NC

Nomination in Service by the North Carolina Chapter

Matt Langston has led the profession at every level, effectively developing and defending policies to enhance the status of landscape architects statewide and nationally. His leadership on North Carolina’s Landscape Architecture Practice Act was critical to its success and he became a sought-after adviser for other states’ licensure efforts. Matt served as member-at-large for legislative affairs in the state chapter for many years. He founded and was treasurer of the North Carolina Landscape Architects Political Action Committee for sixteen years. At the national level, during his time as an ASLA trustee, Matt served on and chaired the Government Affairs Advisory Committee. His leadership extends to his work in building bridges with allied professional organizations, such as the North Carolina Bar and Design Professionals Liaison Committee, the North Carolina Recovery Coalition, and the Wildlife Friendly Development Program. His valuable insights and practical solutions to the urban forestry staff were instrumental in updating the City of Charlotte Tree Ordinance. In addition to his extensive work at a policy leadership level, Matt cofounded and serves as president of Landworks Design Group, a multidisciplinary design firm, where he manages operations and mentors young landscape architects.

LEARN ABOUT ALL 19 NEW MEMBERS OF THE ASLA COUNCIL OF FELLOWS

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.