2013 AzASLA Mesquite Journal by Kaylee Colter

SPRING 2013

ANNUAL AWARDS ISSUE ACE LEGACY PROJECT THE CONSCIENCE OF TALIESIN

TABLE OF CONTENTS SPRING 2013

FEATURE: 2013 AzASLA AWARDS

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE IRENE OGATA

IN THE NEWS AZASLA EVENTS

MEMBER PROFILE MEET MARY SHEEDY

UP NORTH: STONE BALANCING PIETER SCHAAFSMA

STUDENTS CORNER NEWS FROM ASU AND U OF A

ASU GARDEN WINS BIG GEORGE HULL

THE SPIRIT MOVED HER: CORNELIA BRIERLY CARYN LOGAN HEAPS

2012 LEGACY PROJECT UPDATE A HUERTA FOR METRO TECH

C O V E R : G E O R G E ‘ D O C ’ C AVA L L I E R E PA R K PHOTO BY: BILL TIMMERMAN

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Irene Ogata President-Elect Aaron Allan Treasurer Rick Campbell

MEMBER AT LARGE EX-OFFICIO Central Section Vice President Elect Duane Blossom Southern Section Vice President Rebeca Field

Secretary Laura Paty

Southern Section Vice President Elect Lauren Harvey

Trustee Jim Coffman

Member At Large Dean Chambers

Central Section Vice President Valerie Ahyong 2 | MESQUITE JOURNAL

Chapter Administrator Karla Hunt

Advocacy Chair Valerie Ahyong

Public Awareness Irene Ogata

Chapter Archivist Kathy Emery

University Relations Joseph Ewan - ASU

Community Alliance Todd Briggs Roger Socha

University Relations Lauri Johnson - U of A

Communications Chair Kaylee Colter HALS Gina Chorover

ASU Student Chapter President Jake Miller U of A Student Chapter President Daniel Morgan

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE I R E N E O G ATA , R L A , A S L A

This past year has been a year of accomplishments and

successes. The year was capstoned by the Arizona Chapter hosting and showing off the beauty of the Sonoran Desert, and the changing urban form of Phoenix to attendees of the National ASLA Annual Meeting & Expo. A huge shout-out of thanks to all the members, educators, and professional landscape architects in Arizona who welcomed the thousands of visitors, organized field sessions, manned the host booth, and were selected to present an educational session or two! The residual effects continue to linger on. New and old members have continued to be engaged and involved with membership activities: emerging professionals are finding time to connect and network, the advocacy group continues to seek partnership with other organizations to develop relationships with our elected officials, and this is the year for a national Public Service campaign. If you haven’t visited the AzASLA website (azasla.org), take a peek at the new look and the continually updated information, check the monthly calendar for a list of activities—or add an event or two inviting members, and join the AzASLA LinkedIn to keep up with the latest information and happenings. Our sponsors and affiliate members also continue to make this a great networking organization in which to learn, participate, and develop friendships.

committee juried both the Texas and the Central State’s chapter award submittals. It is a fascinating opportunity to jury the awards submittals. If you would like to engage in such an opportunity, please let us know; we are always looking to bring members into the fold of activity. Excellence also extends to our emerging professionals. The professors and lecturers in the universities programs continue to challenge the students to think holistically and develop skills leading to creative problem-solving techniques. We are living in quickly changing times— technology has changed communication and information exchange; the virtual world within our computers are models for future realities—yet we know, intuitively and scientifically, our outdoor environment affects our sense of well-being. I am honored to be a member of this society of landscape architects. You comprise a gathering of exceptional individuals who are passionate about what you do, about the environment in which we all call home, and value the priceless camaraderie of all professionals involved in community building. Thank you for making a difference in how our desert cities are taking shape.

We continue to foster excellence and reach across state boundaries to share professional dialogue. This year, Arizona’s award submittals were judged by a jury consisting of members from the Texas ASLA Chapter. In turn, the gala Irene Ogata AzASLA President (2012-13)

FELLOWS Theodore Walker E. Lynn Miller William Havens Katherine Emery Steve Martino Kenneth Brooks James Wheat Heather Kinkade Janice Cervelli Kristina Floor Christopher Brown Richard Mayer

MEMBERSHIP ANNIVERSARIES 30 YEARS Gage Davis Richard C. Davis Donald McGann

Janice Cervelli James D. Coffman Wayne Colebank Val L. Little Steven J. Voss

25 YEARS Jeffrey Engelmann Diane SimpsonColebank Robert Thompson Steven Vollmer

15 YEARS Jeff Berghoff Sandra L. Bolduc Edward Corral Michael S. Eagan Mary L. Estes Adam C. Perillo Steven C. Rogers

20 YEARS John E. Barker

Pieter Schaafsma Mark Swartz Roger M. Tornow 10 YEARS Aaron A. Allan Gina Chorover Eric M. Gilliland Jay V. Hicks Matthew T. Horne Caryn Logan Heaps Timothy McQueen Davis Robinson Amy E. Schuchert

5 YEARS Valerie Ahyong Allison Colwell Gabriel DiazMontemayor Lauri M. Johnson Lora Martens Kathrine M. Nunn Eric M. Scharff Sasha Stevens Sharon Zimmerman

MESQUITE JOURNAL | 3

AzASLA IN THE NEWS 09.30.12

C H R I S TO P H E R B R O W N E L E VAT E D TO F E L L O W S H I P At the Annual Meeting held in Phoenix another Arizona chapter member was elevated to the Council of Fellows. Christoper Brown, Floor & Associates, was nominated by the Arizona Chapter in the Works Category. An innovator throughout his nearly 30-year career, Chris has become a national leader in sustainable design and restoration, continually developing and advancing new techniques and approaches for site and landscape design in an arid environment. His deep love and respect for native landscape, native materials, and a native vernacular

are consistently expressed in beautiful, award-winning works that inspire, educate, and authentically embody their environment. Chris’ work transcends its Southwest desert context to provide a national precedent for the role that landscape architects can and should be playing in sustainable design and ecological restoration. He received his BS in Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture from Arizona State University and MS in Real Estate Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

01.01.13

2013 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

01.12.13

A z A S L A H O S T S U R B A N A G R I C U LT U R E T O U R

Do you know someone who is considering joining ASLA? Encourage them to join and you may be eligible to win an 8 GB Nook HD. Between January 1 and August 31, the current member who encourages the most new members to join ASLA will be the winner. New members must designate the AZ Chapter as their local affiliate In January AzASLA hosted an Urban Agriculture tour of the Phoenix area. Tour guide, Lora Martens, summarized the event: “On January 12, AzASLA hosted a tour of urban agriculture sites in Phoenix for a wonderful group of AZ ASLA members. In spite of the 30 degree weather, the group huddled with their coffees at the Growhouse on Roosevelt Row for our first stop. Kenny Barrett, from the Roosevelt Row CDC, led a tour of this house-turnedurban farm with veggies planted next to the sidewalks, chickens, an apiary, a truck-farm, and colorful compost bin. Next the group traveled to “The Garden of Tomorrow” in South Phoenix, run by the Tiger Mountain Foundation. The lively host for this stop was the Foundation’s director, Darren Chapman, whose infectious energy invigorates all who surround him. It was a work day at the garden and many generations were helping at the farm, from an 87-year-old grandmother who greeted us at the gate to a 2-year-old toddler who was scooping leaves into a wheelbarrow for composting.

chapter and notify AzASLA who ‘invited’ them to join. Additionally, all new members joining between January 1 and August 31 will be added to a drawing to win a second Nook HD. But there are many more benefits to joining ASLA than possibly winning a technotoy. Visit www.azasla.org/join.php to learn more. Just a short drive away was our next stop: The Farm at South Mountain. The owner, Pat Cristofolo greeted us with fresh sandwiches and hot soup from their kitchen and she had set up a lunchtime talk by a young drystone mason that was working on a beautiful wall project at the farm. After lunch we had a tour of Maya’s organic farm by Sally LaPlace, an expert in organic farming. Our last stop was at Escalante Community Garden, part of Tempe Community Action Agency’s program to help underserved community members in Tempe. Dave Talley and his team met us and showed us what they had accomplished in just a few years on this small site. The best part of this visit was when we got to meet the ten friendly chickens that Escalante keeps on the site— these chickens get first pick of the compostables from the food pantry and their eggs go out in boxes every week to the needy. The tour returned downtown with market bags full with veggies they purchased at Tiger Mountain Foundation’s farm in time to cook up what they had collected for dinner. Thanks to all who attended!”

02.11.13

AARON ALLAN VOTED PRESIDENT-ELECT

04.19.13

STUDENT CHAPTERS ELECT NEW OFFICERS

This past January, former Chapter President, Joy Lyndes stepped down as President due to her relocating to San Diego. The Executive Committee voted Irene Ogata in to fill the President position until a newly elected President steps in after the National meeting this fall in Boston. A Special Election was held in February to fill the vacant President- Elect position. Out of several excellent candidates, Aaron Allan was selected to serve

as President-Elect. Aaron is a registered Landscape Architect in the States of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Kansas. He holds a BS of Landscape Architecture from Arizona State University and has been a Project Landscape Architect at J2 Engineering & Environmental Design, LLC for over ten years. We look forward to Aaron’s contributions and to another year of advocacy, networking, and fun!

As the school year came to a close, both of the student ASLA Chapters held elections to select the next year’s class of officers. Congratulations to the new officers and

thank you to the outgoing officers! We look forward to continued engagement with both student chapters throughout next year.

Arizona State University Jess Westad - President Skyler Flood - Vice President Maurillio Rico - Treasurer Alex Buckley - Communications Director Clemente Rico - Graphic Designer Alejandra Osuna – Historian

University of Arizona Bri Lehman - President Katie Laughlin - Vice President Janelle Lotzgesell - Treasurer Malorie Gamboa - Secretary

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MEMBER PROFILE MARY SHEEDY, RLA, ASLA CITY OF PHOENIX ASLA MEMBER SINCE: 1980 BIRTHDAY: March 23 HOMETOWN: Syracuse, NY YEARS IN ARIZONA: 34 Years FIRST JOB: El Conquistador in Tucson

How long have you been living in Arizona? I started out in Upstate New York and lived in the country. Our old farm house was surrounded by fields, forest, and rolling hills. That was my playground. When I was in the sixth grade, my family moved to the Space Coast of Florida. That was a cultural shock, but I learned to appreciate the subtropical climate. We lived on the Intercostal waterway and would watch the sun rise over the water during breakfast. I’ve been in Arizona for about 34 years. I moved to Tucson in 1979 to attend the University of Arizona. A quick visit to Bear Canyon in the Catalina foothills convinced me to relocate to Arizona. I probably would have wandered off but I married a native Phoenician whose roots were here. What led you to become a landscape architect? I was an art major before moving to Arizona. After researching careers, I liked the combination of art, architecture, psychology, and science, and I loved the idea of combining the natural and built environments. The undergraduate program was a five year adventure at the time. What has been one of the biggest challenges in your career? Always the Budget! It is difficult to build an easily maintained bullet-proof public space on a low budget. In other cultures, for example in Japan, I saw public places of great beauty where vandalism was not a concern. It is heartbreaking to see how our parks are abused. What led you to your position with City of Phoenix? And what are some of the different experiences you have had as a public sector employee? I worked for the City of Palm Bay, Florida as a student intern. I helped create the Turkey Creek Sanctuary Park, spoke at public meetings, and negotiated an additional five-acre buffer from a developer to protect the park. I enjoyed the opportunities available in the public sector and eventually was hired on at the City of Phoenix.

As a project manager for the City, I’ve been able to work on restoring historic buildings and be on a team developing an award winning-senior center. I feel I’ve been able to work in a broader capacity in a municipal position than in the private sector. What do you enjoy most about being a landscape architect? Although a lot of my work has been plan review, paperwork, contracts, and pay requests, I have to say that being an active steward of the public land is the most satisfying. Of the projects you have worked on, what stands out as one of your favorites? Phase two of The Japanese Friendship Garden in Phoenix was definitely one of my favorites. The teamwork and cooperation across disciplines was just amazing. Everyone involved gave 110 percent. We worked with Studio4Design as the Architect of Record and Mr. Tendo, a Japanese architect. We were able to have a master carpenter from Japan visit several times, great carpenters, and a very flexible builder, Jim Bishop with BRC. I’ve always been grateful for the opportunity to make such wonderful friends.

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MESQUITE JOURNAL | 7

U P N O RT H

STONE BALANCING:

C E LE B RAT I N G T H E A RT I N F L AGSTAF F B Y: P I E T E R S C H A A F S M A , R L A , A S L A

I was first introduced to the art of Stone

Balancing by a group of Italian artists who created a Facebook page dedicated to this environmental art. I was amazed to see how ordinary rocks could be arranged and balanced to create art. To balance several stones takes concentration, focus, and the idea that what you originally thought was impossible is possible. This is a very meditative exercise and as one begins to balance the stones, it is almost as if the stones tell the artist how far they can push the envelope to create an amazing piece of art with a great amount of satisfaction. As I began to practice making Stone Balances and sharing them on Facebook, I noticed how other people were creating

grounds, camps, and other important points along the way. The ancient art of stone balancing is being molded into new ways of expression through photography and the ability to share on the Internet. Last spring, my wife and I traveled to Italy for a vacation. While in Rome, we met with stone balancers that I met through Facebook. This group of artists had formed an organization called Balanced Art World International (BAWI). One artist, Robert Kauffman from New York, was just returning from a trip to Portonovo with fellow stone balancer, Nella Failla. They were organizing an event that would take place the following month on the Adriatic Sea with artist, Carlo Pietrarossi,

and named the event The Back West Celebration of Stone Balancing. I found great support from the Arizona Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, who helped me market the event, as well as from Flagstaff Cultural Partners and The Arboretum at Flagstaff. On September 23, 2012, six months after the meeting in Rome, the Stone Balancing Celebration took place in Flagstaff. The celebration at the Arboretum was attended by 140 people. Stone balancers from five different states arrived, including Robert Kauffman, who I had met in Rome, and many people from around the State of Arizona. With my friends from BAWI, we encouraged artists from around the From left to right: (1) Stone Balance created in a collaborative effort by Pieter Schaafsma, Robert Kauffman and Mark Austin at The Arboretum at Flagstaff. (2) Stone Balance created by Robert Kauffman at The Back West Celebration. (3) The first day of the Back West Celebration was enthusiastically embraced by artists. Photos Courtesy: Robert Mark

this art and in different forms—from multiple stone balanced upon one another, to arches made between boulders on the beach. Not only were these stone balances incredibly creative, but the photographs were equally stunning. I realized that this art form, for me, was a great segue between Landscape Architecture and Fine Art. The creation of these temporary expressions of art could be made and photographed, and then shared around the world within seconds on Facebook. It is not unusual for mankind to be attracted to working with stone, touching stones, and creating functional and nonfunctional expressions with this material. People pile up rocks to create cairns, which can mark a place or a path; others create humanoid figures called Inukshuk’s, which were used by Native Americans within the arctic regions of North America to mark paths, hunting 8 | MESQUITE JOURNAL

and others, which they named Portonovo BAWI 2012. John Felice Ceprano, a prominent Canadian fine artist and stone balancer, attended the event in Italy which precipitated the Ottawa BAWI 2012 in John’s hometown in Ontario. This stone balancing event was held in the Kiwi Gardens and along the stony banks of the Ottawa River at Remic Rapids.

world to create Stone Balances on this day dedicated to Peace and Harmony. Artists responded with amazing creations from five different continents and a great showing of support for this idea.

The enthusiasm that followed The Back West Celebration of Stone Balancing and the other events of this year brought about plans for similar events next year as I became aware of other groups and well as several publications dedicated to people from Korea, Japan, and New this art in the form of books and calendars Zealand practicing the art of stone available through the publishing company balancing and sharing on Facebook. Artist Blub. Nella Failla has been a major Leandro Tamayo Inocencio formed a group promoter of printed material promoting called Rock Balancing Philippines, where this craft. She has created a daily planner he uses this art form to bring awareness dedicated to The Day of Peace and the to environmental issues facing his country. Back West Celebration using the photos of stone balances made that day around With the growing enthusiasm for this the world. The Second Annual Back West art form, I decided that this would be a Celebration of Stone Balancing is already great time to introduce stone balancing scheduled at The Arboretum at Flagstaff to the American West. I coordinated my for September 21, 2013. effort with The Arboretum at Flagstaff

student

CORNER

FROM THE VOICES OF ASU AND UofA

ASU

Beyer, Todd Briggs, Allison Colwell, Dan Maldenado, Michele Shelor, Roger Socha, and Shari Zimmerman, most of whom are BSLA alumni with their own local firms. In 2009, the MLA program was granted initial accreditation through the Landscape Architecture Accrediting Board (LAAB). Next fall, LAAB will conduct a site visit to review the BSLA program as part of the standard continuing accreditation process. We

Rebecca Fish Ewan, Landscape Architecture Program Coordinator and Associate Professor Jacob Miller, ASU ASLA Student Chapter President and 3rd Year BSLA Student This year the BSLA turned 21 and is heading into adulthood as the only fully accredited undergraduate landscape architecture degree program in Arizona. As such, the program has helped develop a substantial presence within the local professional community. Many ASU BSLA alums work for, or own, award-winning landscape architecture firms, and are actively engaged in building a rich and diverse professional community here and beyond. This year we will also be graduating our third class of MLA students. While the MLA student and alumni population is still small, they have been recognized nationally and locally for their achievements. Together these degree programs have a large and active student body.

look forward to the review since it will give us an opportunity to reconnect with alumni and highlight the many accomplishments of our students.

UofA Daniel Morgan, UofA ASLA Student Chapter President and MLA Candidate This past April, the U of A Student ASLA Chapter highlighted the best and brightest of student work in the 2013 Graduate Student Expo. This annual event in April focused on an MLA conference of third-year student presentations of masters reports, theses, and a Design Excellence Exhibit. Local professionals James DeRoussel, of Watershed Management Group; Heidi Flugstad, of Wheat Scharf Associates; Maria Voris of Petrichor; and Daniel Bradshaw from The Planning Center all served on the jury committee. The work reviewed included first-year students’ redevelopment of the Tucson Convention Center and third-year group competition submissions to the EPA Campus RainWorks Challenge (with one group placing second nationally). Oral presentations covered a wide range of work such as childrens’ healing spaces, a reenvisioned dog park design, and retrofitting golf courses for multiuse needs.

One of the strengths Presentations and ceremony from the of the LA program The expo ended with University of Arizona Graduate Student Expo. at ASU is in the an awards ceremony Photos Courtesy: Daniel Morgan high quality and that reinvigorated the commitment of our feeling of community here at the University Faculty Associates, professionals in the One of the best things students can do of Arizona. It was a brief moment of escape local community who take time out of their is become active in the professional from seemingly endless work this spring busy schedules to share their professional organization. When the National ASLA where students, faculty, family, alumni, and wisdom with students in the classroom. Meeting came to Phoenix last fall, 47 community professionals could bond and This year we enjoyed the insights of Dean ASU students volunteered, prompting simply enjoy the time together. Below is a list Chambers, James Coffman, Jack Gilcrest, Joyce DePass, the National ASLA Director of the Design Excellence winners: Rachel Green Rasmussen, Allyce Hargrove, of Meetings and Special Programs, to George Hull, Kristian Kelley, Heather comment “Arizona State knows how to First year: Kinkade, Lynn Miller, Cynthia Ruehl, and do this right!” The student chapter at Individual Professional /Sandra Garcia Mclean Byron Sampson. The list of professionals ASU has also been extremely active this Individual Student /Malorie Gamboa who contribute to the program as mentors, year. Its 56 member organization hosted jurors, and critics is too long to note here. five presentations, including one by ASU Second Year: The LA program is much richer for the BSLA alums Todd Briggs and Roger Socha Individual Professional/Yongkuan Ye efforts of all these dedicated professionals who have just established the landscape Individual Student/Yuan Gong and we are always grateful. architecture firm, TRUEForm. The student Group Professional/Karen Costello & Quin Qi chapter hosted technical workshops also, Group Student/Karen Costello & Quin Qi As happens in life sometimes, people move one in photography with Steve Martino, and on or away. This is the final semester for three in graphics and digital technology. Third Year: Visit their website (http://aslaasu.wordpress. Associate Professor Kimberley Steele, Individual Professional/Deryn Davidson and visiting Assistant Professors Charles com/) to see what they have been up to. Individual Student/Kawthar Al Rayyan Anderson and Kevin Kellogg. All three In order to become better connected to Group Professional/Aaron Liggett & Sara Sullivan faculty members have been wonderful the profession, the student chapter has Group Student/Deryn Davidson & Kelly Van Den colleagues and great teachers. While we worked with Denise Dunlop, BSLA alum Berg are sorry to see them go, we know they will at J2 Engineering, to develop mentorship continue to make great contributions to the opportunities. To date, thirty students have Best Physical Model Professional/Timothy discipline and we wish them well in their been paired with professionals. This group Winstanley future endeavors. meets monthly for social mixers hosted in the 3rd year LA studio to help students Best Physical Model Student/Daniel Morgan 2012-2013 has been a full and busy gain insight into the practice of landscape and Katia Gedrath-Smith academic year. Before you know it, we’ll be architecture. The Design School also welcoming a new class of MLA students in hosted the annual Studio Nights to connect Best Digital Submission/Christian Pedersen the three-plus program and thinking about graduate students with professionals. The what to pack for Boston. LA participants were Jeff Anderson, Marc Congratulations to all the winners! MESQUITE JOURNAL | 9

F E AT U R E

ASU GARDEN WINS BIG

ST UDE NT D E S I G N S H I N E S AT F L OWER SHOW B Y: G E O R G E H U L L

Landscape architecture students from

Arizona State University have again struck gold in California at the largest garden and flower show in the United States. The venue in San Mateo is annually visited by more than 70,000 gardeners looking for the new and different. The overall theme this year was ‘Gardens Make The World Go Around’, and the Arizona team chose Mexico to represent. The garden constructed was a contemporary urban garden that might be built in Mexico. In addition to the Gold Medal, they received the Alumni Garden Creators’ Award judged by previous garden creators; the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers Award for the garden that illustrated the dynamic scope of the nursery industry by integrating a broad range of plant material supported by garden accessories; the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers Award for the garden connecting people and plants in a place of exceptional beauty —a garden that welcomes people in and surrounds them with beauty; the American Society of Landscape Architects Award given to the garden that excels in artful and sustainable design while demonstrating the stewardship of our cultural and natural environments; the American Horticultural Society Environmental Award; the San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum Society Award for the garden which best demonstrates best practices in sustainable materials, water use, and design; the People’s Choice Award voted on as the favorite by attendees; and the Golden Gate Cup for the best, most overall meritorious exhibit. Never has an educational institution captured as much attention and recognition. The project began as a studio project at the start of the fall semester with a theme and statement of intent. All of the plant materials were donated by V&P Nurseries in Queen Creek, and Jim Sudal of Scottsdale created a giant Agave ceramic piece for inclusion in the garden. The project was self-funded, with the students looking for materials available to anyone in constructing the garden. Over a five-day period, the students traveled to San Francisco, built the garden, and then presented it to the attendees. 10 | MESQUITE JOURNAL

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THE SPIRIT MOVED HER CO RNE LI A B R I E R LY A N D TAL IESIN

B Y: C A RY N L O G A N H E A P S , R L A , A S L A

B orn April 12, 1913, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cornelia Brierly set her sights

early on becoming an architect, encouraged by her aunts. She attended Cornell, the University of Pittsburgh, and then Carnegie Tech, where she was one of five pioneering women architectural students. At Tech, Cornelia became disillusioned with the field, noting that design innovation was not encouraged and that students were expected to copy old styles of architecture. In 1934, after she read the autobiography of Frank Lloyd Wright, she immediately sent him a letter. “I was astonished that a man could have such creative ideas, not just for buildings, but for people. When I heard he was having a group, I was determined to be a part of it.” Mr. Wright invited her to Taliesin, near Madison, Wisconsin, where he had founded his “Fellowship” in 1932. His welcome reply to her request to join was, “Come when the spirit moves.” She joined in the fall of 1934, as one of three women. Mr. Wright had pronounced “A girl is a Fellow here,” meaning that work was equally shared between the apprentices, no matter their gender, so Cornelia found herself cutting down trees for wood to build the school, helping with the farm work, and working in the kitchen and drafting room. Cornelia first came to Arizona when the Fellowship came in the winter of 1934-35 to help build the large Broadacre City model and the models of individual buildings, where they stayed on Dr. Alexander Chandler’s (the namesake of the Arizona city) property. She then was sent by Mr. Wright to take the models to various venues in Pittsburgh and Washington, DC , to explain the concepts to the public. In 1937, Mr. Wright bought some property in Arizona, and the Fellowship, Cornelia included, went out to survey, layout, and build what would later become Taliesin West. She lived in a tent, as did the other apprentices, for four years, clearing and building, until permanent quarters were built. She considered both Taliesins home for the rest of her life. Cornelia studied with Frank Lloyd Wright for ten years. During that time, with Mr. Wright’s help, she designed the Notz House and grounds (1939, Pittsburgh) for her beloved aunts. She also met and married fellow apprentice Peter Berndtson, and they had two daughters, Anna and Indira. After the Berndtsons left the Fellowship in 1946, they established their own architectural practice near Pittsburgh. Their practice 12 | MESQUITE JOURNAL

was primarily residential, of the “organic” style, and several homes of their successful teamwork remain, such as the Steinberg house (1951) and the Lipkind House (1954). Eight of their collaborative houses have been awarded special landmark plaques by the City of Pittsburgh, and another is under consideration. In their 1980 book about Berndtson, Organic Vision, Donald Miller and Aaron Sheon wrote: “In the case of the Lipkinds, there was an innovative plan on a limited budget. Conceived by Cornelia, the circular plan was designed for a wooded lot set high on a hillside. Perhaps inspired by plans for the David Wright House (1950) by Frank Lloyd Wright.” They continue, “The impression one has inside is of a cozy chalet set in wild nature. In fact, the home is not far from a major

expressway, yet the design has taken that into account and there is little exterior noise.” The homes are much valued by the community; so much so that in 1999 Cornelia received an award from the City of Pittsburgh for their body of work. After a divorce in 1956, Cornelia returned to continue work with Mr. Wright. After his death, she specialized in landscape architecture and interior design, which she practiced and taught at both Taliesins. She constantly championed the principles and ideals of the Wrights and was considered by some as “the conscience of Taliesin,” as her friend Effi Casey recounted. Cornelia helped keep alive traditions such as the Fellowship daily gatherings for 4pm tea, as a wonderful raconteur and hostess. In the late 1960s, she was introduced by Mrs. Frank Lloyd Wright to another

On June 27, 1969, she was granted registration as a Landscape Architect (07235). In those days, a part of the process of becoming a registrant was successfully completing a personal interview by the members of the State Board. Cornelia loved to tell apprentices about one question she was asked that the Board must have been

sure she couldn’t answer: what did she know about the kareez, or in Arabic, the ganat? (These are hand-dug canals found in arid countries, often deeply underground.) Having just returned from Iran, she replied, “Know anything? I’ve been in one!” She continued to practice both landscape architecture and interior design, and teach and mentor the students and interns (and faculty) at both Taliesins, including being deeply involved with the care of the grounds. She took visitors on tours of the acreage, offering “A Desert Walk” as well as numerous field trips with the Taliesin apprentices. In 1999 she finished writing her book Tales of Taliesin. Until the very last days of her life, Cornelia lived in a real “studio apartment” with her

own garden at Taliesin West, and a small apartment at Taliesin, Wisconsin, in the summer. Always involved, one of her latest projects was designing and fundraising for the renovation of the Taliesin Entry Garden. She also took up watercolor painting and yarn design and read extensively, even after macular degeneration changed “reading” to listening to books on tape.

FA C E T S

independent woman, the Princess Shams Pahlavi, elder sister of the Shah of Iran. Taliesin architect William Wesley Peters designed a beautiful palace —the Pearl (Morvarid) Palace —for the Princess near Tehran, and Cornelia was one of the Taliesin staff who assisted in designing the palace interiors and gardens. She wrote about her experiences in Iran in lively letters to her Taliesin friends, and later in her book Tales of Taliesin.

Cornelia Brierly, RLA, passed away in sound mind, after a short illness, on August 24, 2012, at age 99. ¹ Irvin, Steve. February 14, 2012. “Taliesin: Witness to Arizona growth, history”. From an interview. www.abc15. com/dpp/news/state/Taliesin-Witness-to-Arizona-growthhistory ² August, 2012. “Pioneering Architect Cornelia Brierly dies at 99”. Anecdote in response to news of CB’s death. www. savewright.org/wright_chat/viewtopic.php?t=6523

CORNELIA’S AWARDS AND PUBLICATIONS 1982, Interior Plantscape Association award for Interior Design of Mercedes Benz/New York showroom, an original Frank Lloyd Wright design renovated by Taliesin West 1988, Desert Life, Desert Foliage at Taliesin West 2000, Tales of Taliesin, now in its 3rd printing

2004, the “Wright Spirit Award – Special Honors Category”, given by the FLW Building Conservancy for “Outstanding individuals or organizations whose work represents a unique contribution to the preservation of the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright.” Special thanks to Indira Berndtson, The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation

Left to right (top row): (1) Cornelia, seated at center, at Carnegie 1933 (2) Cornelia with Broadacre City model 1935 (3) Cornelia, far right, with other Fellows at Taliesin 1939 (4) Cornelia in studio at Taliesin 1959. Left to right (bottom row): (1) Lipkind House 1954 (2) Steinberg House 1950-51 (3) Notz House 1939 (4) Cornelia at Taliesin West Easter 2011. Photos Courtesy: Indira Berndtson

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F E AT U R E

2012 LEGACY PROJECT UPDATE A HUE RTA F O R M E T R O T ECH LEGACY PROJECT COMMITTEE

AzASLA is pleased to partner with the

ACE Mentor program as part of the 2012 ASLA National’s effort to give back to the community that helped host its annual meeting.

In the past few months, students and ASLA volunteers have been working hard to turn their creative vision into reality. Construction of the new garden began in February, with volunteers installing pavers, demolishing concrete, installing irrigation, planting, and much more to prepare the garden for its debut in May.

This year the Arizona Host Chapter has teamed up with the local affiliate of the ACE Mentor Program to design a project at Metro Tech High School in Phoenix, using A record number of participants— over generous donations from EXPO exhibitors. 45 Metro Tech students, faculty, and Metro Tech High School, located on 19th volunteers—have begun the ground work Avenue and Thomas Road, provides vocational training to students from 15 high schools in the Phoenix Union High School District.

for the future upgrade to their campus. More importantly the enthusiasm, learned skills, and involvement have become an experience and avenue toward their future. We would like to thank the donors, the Phoenix Union School District, faculty, students, and volunteers for allowing us to work on this program. All of your efforts, material and time will be celebrated with this Legacy Project.

The project will upgrade the horticulture department’s greenhouse, and build a courtyard garden for all of its students to work in, enjoy, and experience. The horticulture department works with culinary classes to provide edibles for their program. The new design, “Huerta” (a kitchen garden), will help expand that concept and allow for a future outdoor kitchen, larger garden area, and more citrus plantings, in addition to the existing fish hatchery. The garden area has already made efforts toward sustainability through composting and a rainwater harvesting system to supplement their irrigation. This will continue in the new design with the use of permeable pavers, recycled site furnishings, and solar lighting—all creating an outdoor classroom, benefiting both the culinary and horticulture students. AzASLA Arizona Chapter, ACE Mentor participants, and Metro Tech students, and staff will work together to upgrade the facility. This coordinated effort incorporates function and learning as the drafting, engineering, construction, culinary, and horticulture students have all participated in the conceptual design, and will again work together as construction begins. Developed over a series of workshops and lesson plans, the students learned how to survey grades, develop a base map, and begin their design on paper. Seven designs were developed by student teams with concepts from each incorporated into the final design. 14 | MESQUITE JOURNAL

Top row: Metro Tech Students at work constructing the new Huerta Garden. Bottom Row: Renderings of the proposed kitchen and garden spaces at the Huerta Garden. Photos Courtesy: Adam Hawkins

DESIGN for COMMUNITY

SDC-36 Side-Door Receptacle with Optional Plaques, Thunder Bay, Canada.

George Blevins | 1.800.368.2573 | www.victorstanley.com

LARKSPUR D E S I G N . C U LT U R E . C R A F T.

2013 AzASLA AWARDS The Projects and People Pushing the Profession Forward This year the Arizona ASLA Chapter acknowledges eighteen outstanding projects that represent the talented work of our local professionals and students; including our first ever Landmark Award. In addition to the

design awards, the chapter also presented five awards of recognition to recognize outstanding local professionals, educators, community service projects, and firms that contribute to the local profession.

Landscape Architect of the Year Galen Drake, ASLA, CPESC, Leed-AP Stantec Educator of the Year Dr. Margaret Livingston, University of Arizona, CAPLA Volunteer of the Year Kaylee Colter, Associate ASLA Alliance of the Year Arizona Nursery Association Office of the Year J2 Engineering & Environmental Design

George ‘Doc’ Cavalliere Park JJR Floor President’s Award Preserving open space, respecting existing neighborhoods, and creating a demonstration project for sustainability, were the primary guiding principles in the design of George “Doc” Cavalliere Park. Cavalliere Park is the result of over 20-years of planning and is a product of not only extensive community input, but also overcoming the significant challenges of integrating a community park into a regional storm water detention facility, all set into the rugged desert terrain of north Scottsdale. The resulting project has established a new standard for the design and implementation of a truly sustainable community park for the City of Scottsdale. The project’s commitment to honoring the site’s natural desert resources, while at the same time creating a sustainable modern aesthetic, successfully bridges the history of north Scottsdale with its future. In recognition of this accomplishment, the park was chosen as the site for north Scottsdale’s celebration of Arizona’s Centennial in 2012.

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After an extensive renovation the once grimy and lackluster bus transfer station in the heart of downtown Phoenix is now lively, dynamic, and highlights Phoenix’s commitment to sustainability. Many noteworthy environmental benefits are showcased on this LEED EBOM project: adaptive re-use of bus shelters, energyefficient LED lighting, bike lockers and racks, and use of reclaimed concrete for seating. The landscape architects provided a variety of seating experiences, as well as vertical shade elements, overhead structures with solid or filtered light and large shade trees to reduce the heat island effect. The irrigation system has several features that will save water and energy. 100% pervious paving increases infiltration by capturing the first flush of rainfall; the pattern is representative of a carpet, weaving the captivating civic space park to the north with the plaza and acts as wayfinding between the north and southbound light rail trains.

Central Station

A.Dye Design & Colwell Shelor Landscape Architecture Award of Excellence - General Design

A new community garden has changed the behavior of residents in a low-income housing neighborhood and created a source of nourishment in a food desert. The Blue Moon Community Garden site previously served as an overflow parking lot for the Tucson House, a complex which houses over 600 low-income, disabled, and elderly residents. It is the first fully-accessible community garden in Tucson. The landscape architect took this project from conception to implementation, including finding an appropriate site, designing the garden, raising funds, and identifying a management organization. An active and passive rainwater harvesting system was designed by the landscape architect and team, providing water for the native plants and fruit tress. Interpretive signage provides information and education to visitors. The garden is now at capacity, flourishing in the desert.

Blue Moon Community Garden

Rio Salado College Café Patio represents an imaginative use of a small restrictive site. The design weaves innovative stormwater management with creative hardscape design to enhance the image for the College, and provides enjoyable multi-use spaces, while preserving stormwater storage, and incorporating environmentally friendly features that reflect the values and goals of the College.

Rio Salado College Café Patio

The College’s purpose for the project was to provide a pedestrian connection between campus buildings that were separated by a retention basin. In addition to providing connected shaded walkways, the design accomplished so much more, by creating an outdoor environment that maximizes the use of the site, adding colorful plants and hardscape materials, and creating an outdoor ambience for the Café @ Rio, the college’s sustainable kitchen and cafe.

Norris Design Honor Award - General Design

Gavan & Barker, Inc. Honor Award - General Design

Prescott Residence

Colwell Shelor Landscape Architecture Award of Excellence - Residential Design

The project is sited on a unique 2-1/2 acre parcel situated in the Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands plant community northwest of Prescott, Arizona. The elevation of the lot rises and falls, sometimes steeply, and features picturesque granite outcroppings, a natural wash, seasonal creek bed, and stands of Pinyon and Juniper trees with an understory of native shrubs and grasses. Preserving the remarkable ecological integrity of the site was key to the success of the landscape design. The outdoor spaces are purposely simply designed and nestled into the natural topography. Long-range views have been carefully preserved. The built landscape surrounding the building is comprised of a backbone of monochromatic indigenous species interwoven with native shrubs and colorful wildflowers, complementing and gracefully unifying the contemporary language of the architecture to the site.

Scottsdale Garden

Steve Martino & Associates Honor Award - Residential Design

The landscape architect created a new colorful desert environment for this 50-year-old house. A new front courtyard wall provides privacy from the street while relating to the midcentury architecture. The native plants create food and shelter for wildlife while creating a colorful garden on the street. The backyard had severe privacy challenges—the existing subdivision alley wall allowed views into the neighbors’ houses. A section of the alley wall at the pool was replaced with an 8-foot wall and the other sections were raised with metal panels. Free standing shoji screens of cement board were placed for privacy from the adjacent house. The house demonstrates sustainability by remodeling an existing house, incorporating existing elements, and using native plants that tie the project to the region.

Underwood Garden Sonora Landscape Laboratory

School of Landscape Architecture & Planning, University of Arizona Award of Excellence - Research & Communications

This communication/interpretation project fulfills the last major objective of the 2009 AZ ASLA President’s Award and the 2010 ASLA General Honor Award winning Underwood Family Sonoran Landscape Laboratory at the University of Arizona—that of an interpretive oasis. The educational and communication component highlights the extraordinary aspects of this Ten Eyck Landscape Architects design. Through a grant from the Technology Research Initiative Fund (TRIF), a coordinated combination of interpretive materials was developed that make explicit the five major design principles demonstrated within the project for the 3000+ site.

One of eight interpretive signs - signs are placed in locations demonstrating the design’s guiding principles

The new University of Arizona Environment + Natural Resource Phase II project borrows from the iconic imagery of our region, with purpose and fundamental response to the site and setting. The building is comprised of five stories of over-structure garden terraces. Each stratum represents the different native plant communities encompassing the Tucson area. All landscape beds and water feature/tinajas will be irrigated with stored condensate from adjacent buildings and rainwater runoff.

U of A Environment & Natural Resources Bldg McGann & Associates, Colwell Shelor Landscape Architecture Honor Award - Unbuilt

A two-year study is being developed to study each of the native plants and their adaptability to the different, soil types, soil depths, and light conditions in order to implement a successful project. These test plots will be on the project site, monitored by the landscape architect, and will become a student project for the U of A College of Architecture + Planning + Landscape Architecture.

Landmark Award City Boundary Steve Martino & Associates, Jody Pinto This project was a national public art competition. The environmental sculpture depicts a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tree of Lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; made of stacked field stones and seven towers whose shadows align at sunrise on the summer solstice. The central trunk channels rainwater to seven terraces, regenerating the desert and restoring natural plant and animal life to this previously damaged area. The project celebrates agriculture and demonstrates how all cultures here have depended on intercepting the flow of rainwater for their survival. After 22 years, this project has become more powerful with time, a legacy to the original vision of the designers. The towers are now icons in Papago Park. Native plants, fed only by rainwater captured in the structured terraces, have grown around the stone walls, transforming the site into an active desert garden. A visitor can sense the elemental forces of nature at work through the size and density of the native plants.

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Before After

Guidelines of Creating a Healthy Environment for Children in Phoenix Johnna Lee Arizona State University Award of Excellence - Student Individual

The first objective of the project was to create design guidelines for healthy environments for children in a Phoenix neighborhood, which in turn resolves the current five issues. The design guidelines are based on the integrative consideration of the whole-child development, childrens’ characteristics, and the specific environmental condition of Phoenix. The whole-child development refers to growth in all dimensions of child development: physical, psychological, social, and cognitive. The second objective was to apply the design guidelines in the selected Phoenix neighborhood in order to revitalize the community. The significance of the study is to develop community sustainably in environmental quality, safety, social interaction, and economics.

LoPiano Abert’s Towhee Preserve Christopher Ford Arizona State University Honor Award - Student Individual The LoPiano Abert’s Towhee Preserve is a sustainable habitat for the species of bird known as the Abert’s Towhee. Because the Abert’s Towhee spends most of its time foraging on the ground for food, the preserve includes a sunken viewing platform designed for optimal viewing of the bird’s. The sunken viewing platform utilizes the dense native canopy to allow the user to connect with the Abert’s Towhee on both a physical and emotional level.

Saguaro Way Aaron Liggett & Sara Sullivan; University of Arizona Award of Excellence - Student Collaborative

Organisms in the Sonoran Desert have evolved distinct adaptations to survive the intense climatic conditions. Organisms in the Sonoran Desert were observed to understand these adaptations; specifically, the ability to capture and use rain water efficiently. These processes are abstracted and applied in a design that improves stormwater management for a large asphalt parking lot on the University of Arizona campus. Inspired by the saguaro cactus, the design maximizes the collection and storage of stormwater and demonstrates how efficient use of this resource can manifest a site to function as a whole system and come alive during a monsoon. Taking what was once a problem for the campus, stormwater is now reused to create an amenity, restore natural habitat, and transform the project site into an educational and comfortable space for visitors.

Peritoneum is a shade structure designed by the minds of six students in four different disciplines: landscape architecture, art-drawing, visual communication, and dance. Each member contributed equally to the design. which has allowed for a richer built that also provides a cool, comfortable environment. Originally located on the ASU campus in Tempe as a result of an annual competition, the project has moved into the heart of the Roosevelt Row Art District in Phoenix, Arizona. It is located in a pocket park and has engaged the community in a variety of ways including guest artists, group murals, and community events. Peritoneumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s placement in Phoenix has had political impacts as well, leading to a proposal for new approaches to public art on vacant lots, which the City Council voted upon on January 16, 2013 (Agenda Item 104). Peritoneumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal is for positive engagement in this emerging city.

Peritoneum

Kyle Fiano, Erica MacKenzie, Anna Christy, Courtney Larsen, Josh Gallagher, Erin Giordano; Arizona State University Honor Award - Student Collaborative

PLAntFORM Erica MacKenzie, Kyle Fiano, Ashley Kaminsky, Jesse Westad, Colin Hanson, Dian Yu, David Sodemann; Arizona State University Honor Award - Student Collaborative PLAnTFORM introduced a new approach to using available space to create a garden setting in urban and suburban environments. This vision renovates the existing landscape by allocating a new dimension of space and plantable areas. The goal of PLAnTFORM is to benefit the environment by creating more absorbable surfaces, reducing runoff, and providing a new way to plant our surroundings.

Urban sprawl continuously occupies natural areas. As the green sponge, natural areas play the most important role in ecosystem health. Losing these natural areas causes many issues such as urban flooding, air pollution, and urban heat islands. But the conflict between urban development and nature conservation is hard to avoid. Can we find a way to create and protect nature habitats as well as foster urban development? This project overlays the grid (urban) and the ephemeral riparian system (nature) to create urban-nature interface spaces which mix both urban and natural characteristics and provide benefits and values for both urban development and nature protection such as reducing the runoff, reusing stormwater, and restoring the riparian habitat.

The Urban-Nature Interface Yuxin Wang & Li Lu; University of Arizona Honor Award - Student Collaborative

SOPHX Ashley Brenden & Thomas Fischer; Arizona State University Honor Award - Student Collaborative

The project addresses a range of problems within the social, agricultural, and ecological network matrix, while simultaneously offering the potential to address problems of contemporary sustainability in areas of suburban sprawl. The project functions within the context of ‘real’ sustainability, to include not only the natural environment, but also livelihoods, health, development, and infrastructure. The project scope is wide, but fundamentally establishes a framework whereby several problems under various contexts can be investigated simultaneously.

Mount Lemmon Children’s Forest Kelly VanDenBerg, Becky Blacher, Autumn Ela, Deryn Davidson, Katia Gedrath-Smith; University of Arizona Student Community Service

The Mount Lemmon Children’s Forest conceptual idea book, designed for the US Forest Service, the University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) is meant to guide future decision making. The Faul property, located in the heart of the mountain town of Summerhaven, was donated to the University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources. The property is intended to function as a public park, complete with interpretive trails and seating. However, the school’s main goal is to provide a natural area where TUSD students can learn about their environment and current environmental research in conjunction with students studying at the University of Arizona. The Mount Lemmon Children’s Forest is a place where children can connect with nature in hopes of instilling a commitment to life-long learning and environmental stewardship.

Silvercroft Community Park Jason Satterly, Kelly VanDenBerg, Deryn Davidson, Desneige Hallbert, Kexin Zhao; University of Arizona Student Community Service

Silvercroft Community Park is a desertinspired neighborhood park resulting from the collaboration of a neighborhood association, a mother who lost her son on this vacant land, and a group of landscape architecture students. The land is located adjacent to Joaquin Murrieta Northwest Park. The neighborhood wanted a park that contrasted with the sport fields found next door. Inspired by rainwater harvesting, the neighborhood had already begun building berms, making benches, and gathering donations for the park when they realized they needed a plan. The ASLA student outreach organization was contacted to help the neighborhood. Several meetings later, a creative and resourceful design has emerged that combines the previous efforts of the community, the existing materials, and the diverse wishes of the community.

A S P E C I AL THANK YOU TO ALL O F O UR 2013 SPO N S O R S PL AT I N U M

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