ASLA CENTRAL STATES AWARDS

Eight projects by students and faculty in the Department of Landscape Architecture were recognized in the 2023 Central States Awards program by the Central States region of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

In all, 27 design projects were selected for honors out of 103 entries from students, faculty and design professionals. The categories this year were expanded to promote a broader recognition of landscape architectural practice and its impact on quality of life.

“The portfolio of works from the Department of Landscape Architecture students, faculty and alumni demonstrate a passion for helping human and natural communities through sustainability and ecological justice,” said Ken McCown, professor and head of the department. “These projects show how landscape architecture professionals are at the forefront of making great places for people while protecting and enhancing ecological resilience through nature-based solutions.”

Two student projects received Honor Awards, which recognize superior professional accomplishment.

Hagen Rushing won an Honor Award in Commercial Design (Student) for “Café Rue” in Fayetteville, a commercial design project with a focus on biophilia and ecosystem services.

Emily Finley and Lillyan Priest won an Honor Award in Analysis and Planning (Student) for “Sutures of the Rio Grande / Bravo: Restoring Access Through History & Ecology” in the Lower Rio Grande / Rio Bravo Valley along the border of Texas and Mexico. The project aims to heal the regional divide between the United States and Mexico by restoring and reconnecting access to the river through historic landscape geometries.

Gabriel Diaz Montemayor, assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion and associate professor of landscape architecture, said that these projects winning Honor Awards is an important recognition for the program and the school.

“It demonstrates the collaborative rewards through disciplines and programs, while advancing critical aspects related to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in the built environment,” Montemayor said. “An Honor Award in the ASLA Central States’ student awards program is certainly proof of the quality of the work produced by our students.”

Six projects from Fay Jones School students and faculty received Merit Awards, which recognize outstanding accomplishment.

Charles Goodgame won a Merit Award in Parks, Recreation and Open Space Design (Student) for “ReConnection: AGFC” in Springdale.

Landyn Green won a Merit Award in Parks, Recreation and Open Space Design (Student) for “Reconcile + Renew: J.B. & Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center” in Springdale.

Joiner Dotson and Saba Rostami-Shirazi won a Merit Award in Parks, Recreation and Open Space Design (Student) for “Habitat Loops: Regenerating the Urban Meanders of the Rio Grande / Bravo” in the binational metropolitan area of Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoros, Tamaulipas.

Kimball Erdman, professor of landscape architecture, and Jordan Cook, a former student (who graduated in May 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architectural Studies), won a Merit Award in Research: Historic Preservation for “Historic American Landscapes Survey Documentation: Oakland & Magnolia Plantations” in the Cane River Creole National Park, Louisiana.

Emily Booth, Cada Fischer, Noah Geels, Charles Goodgame, Landyn Green, John Ivy, Dawson Oakley, Brett Paris, Hagen Rushing, Aaron Schlosser, Celstene Sebag, Jessica Shearman, Winnie Vanlandingham, Kobee Wade and Reed Waters won a Merit Award in Analysis and Planning (Student) for “Remediate & Renew: The Campus Resource for Water, Food, and Engagement” in Fayetteville.

Oliver Right, Kaiden Couffer and Isaiah Wright won a Merit Award in Analysis and Planning (Student) for “Eureka Springs School of the Arts Site Revitalization” in Eureka Springs.

The Central States comprises six chapters that represent North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas.