InSites Magazine 2025

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING

INSITES 2025

Building the Future through Teaching, Research, and Community Engagement

What's Inside?

Message from the Department Head

Impact Report

Sustainability Moves Forward

Caroline Lavoie Named CELA 2025 Class of Fellows

Thesis Project Leads to Recognition of Spiral Jetty on National Register

A Legacy of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Stewardship

Reflections of the Legacy and Future of Landscape Architecture Gathered Along the Way

Students Engage in Zoo Charrette

Immersed in Italian Landscapes

Baku Revitalizing the Historic Core

Real-World Planning of Garden City

Inspiring Projects of E-Studio

Planning and Design: A Collaborative Journey

Certifying Sustainability: How Students are Shaping Salt Lake City's Future

Student Scholarships

Student Theses and Dissertations

to Planning Better

Message from Department Head

As landscape architects are apt to do, I’ve been thinking a lot about trees lately, specifically the quaking aspen. If you’ve spent time in the mountains surrounding Cache Valley, you’ve likely stood among quaking aspen trees. At first glance, they appear as individual trees, but beneath the surface, they tell a different story—one of extraordinary connection. Quaking aspens grow in stands of interconnected trees that are not just communities, but a single organism. These trees are quite literally rooted together, drawing strength from each other, growing in unison, and weathering storms as one.

I can’t think of a better metaphor for our department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning.

At LAEP, we thrive not in isolation but through connection. Like aspen trees, our strength lies in our shared root system—our students, faculty, alumni, and community partners—who nourish, support, and inspire one another. We’ve seen it this year in the resilience of our students, the mentorship of our alumni, the collaborations among faculty, and the ideas that take root in our classrooms and studios.

And like a stand of aspen, our department continues to grow. We are engaged in research that is influencing how communities plan for resilience, inclusion, and justice. We are integrating new technologies into our curriculum—this year introducing a course on artificial intelligence and generative design. And we are revisiting the values and mission that bring us together.

But the quaking aspen teaches us that growth is not always about reaching higher— it’s about holding each other up. During storms, it is their interconnected roots that sustain them. In our department, that same interdependence has sustained us through challenges and lifted us in moments of uncertainty. When one student struggles, a classmate reaches out. When a faculty member needs inspiration, colleagues step in. When alumni share their journey, our students see new paths forward. This is what it means to be rooted together.

As you read this, I hope you’ll reflect on your time in LAEP as part of this living, growing stand. Your roots are still here. And we would love nothing more than to reconnect—to know where you’ve grown, what storms you’ve weathered, and what you’re reaching for next.

Come back and visit. Share your story with our students. And help us continue to grow stronger together.

Keith Christensen, Department Head Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning

Impact Report 2024-2025

Sustainability Moves Forward

Landscape Architecture and the New European Bauhaus

Written by Carlos Licon, Associate Professor

In our current time of great and complex challenges, the need to understand and act upon the long-term effects of our development is increasingly urgent. Among the various frameworks guiding design and planning practices, a new initiative has emerged, supported by the European Union, to fund and shape the next generation of development in an era of climate adaptation and resilience.

Inspired by the Bauhaus movement of the early 20th century, which aspired to unify artistic vision with function, the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative “seeks to bring together sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusivity while promoting interdisciplinary collaborations and participatory urban projects” (Siatitsa, 2025, p.273). This provides a framework for designers and planners to support planning and design projects with innovative and creative efforts towards a more sustainable and inclusive future. The NEB is an ambitious policy and funding initiative to guide development in a more holistic direction. It embraces principles of inclusivity, justice, awareness, and interconnectedness, framing environmental sustainability, economic responsibility, and culturally meaningful aesthetics as integral components of development. The initiative seeks to align efforts toward long-term coexistence and a genuine response to the consequences of human development, grounded in a realistic and future-oriented vision.

This is not the only or first initiative of its kind. While some models are more conceptual and others more prescriptive and action-

Top photo: Bauhaus building

Bottom photo: Carlos Licon in front of Bauhaus

oriented, NEB aligns with ambitious and integrative efforts such as the IUCN’s Nature-Based Solutions, which positions development and design as explicitly restorative, aiming to build healthy ecosystems that can support human activity. Similarly, it echoes the regenerative design approach of the Living Building Challenge by the Living Future Institute. Also in this context, Indigenous frameworks and traditional knowledge encode aesthetic principles with spiritual meanings, blending culture, lifestyle, and environmental awareness.

How well does this NEB model engage with Landscape Architecture (LA) and, by extension, Environmental Planning (EP)? Can this guide to practice and assessment of design and planning contributions be as ambitious and inclusive as proposed? Do our professions have something to add to this effort? Are these professions well represented? What are the challenges and opportunities for landscape architects to be part of the NEB paradigm?

From Vision to Implementation: The Strategic Framework of the New European Bauhaus

The NEB was adopted by the European Council in September 2021 as an initiative that integrates cultural and creative dimensions into the broader objectives of the European Green Deal (European Commission, 2021). It emphasizes a transition from conceptualization to implementation, as underscored by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: “The New European Bauhaus combines the big vision of the European Green Deal with tangible change on the ground. Change that improves our daily life and that people can touch and feel – in buildings, in public spaces, but also in fashion or furniture. The New European Bauhaus aims at creating a new lifestyle that matches sustainability with good design, that needs less carbon and that is inclusive and affordable for all” (EC Press Release, 2021).

The NEB promotes a development vision

The initiative seeks to align efforts toward long-term coexistence and a genuine response to the consequences of human development, grounded in a realistic and future-oriented vision.

rooted in sustainability, aesthetic quality, cultural heritage, inclusivity, accessibility, and affordability, while maintaining respect for Europe’s cultural diversity (European Council, 2025; European Commission, 2025). Central to this effort is the NEB Facility, which provides both financial support and a strategic framework to advance and materialize these goals (NEB Roadmap, 2025). The NEB has also been conceptualized as a “school of thought and practice” that supports the European Green Deal, which aims to achieve a climateneutral economy by mid-century, through innovative and participatory design processes (Bason, 2020). Rather than prescribing fixed solutions, the NEB fosters an open-ended, interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving, grounded in core principles that inform team formation and project development.

According to the European Commission’s Office of the NEB, the initiative functions as a multifaceted platform that includes a space for public discourse, artistic and cultural expression, experimentation, innovation acceleration, international collaboration, and civic engagement (EC Fact sheet, 2020). The initiative welcomes a wide range of professionals and disciplines, from architecture and the arts to science and engineering.

Originally structured in two phases—a preparatory phase focusing on research and innovation, followed by an implementation phase—the NEB is currently entering an expanded implementation period for 2025–2027. To ensure that the NEB Facility aligns with implementation needs, the European Commission conducted extensive public consultations in 2024 with Member States, Horizon Europe-associated countries, and

other stakeholders. These consultations informed the priorities and structure of the 2025–2027 NEB Facility.

According to the 2025 NEB Roadmap, the initiative now pursues three long-term objectives:

• Addressing spatial and social inequalities within communities,

• Promoting the development of regenerative built and natural environments, and

• Enhancing overall well-being and social cohesion.

To support these goals, a dedicated NEB Facility Expert Group has been established to provide strategic guidance and technical expertise during the implementation process.

The NEB Framework: Values, Ambitions, and Evaluation

The New European Bauhaus framework is structured around three core values that guide its conceptualization, assessment, and implementation processes: sustainability,

aesthetics, and inclusiveness. These values encompass a broad vision of development that is economically and environmentally sustainable at both local and global scales; culturally enriching and experientially sensitive; and socially equitable, with a strong emphasis on accessibility and affordability.

Each of these core values is operationalized through a three-tiered system of “ambitions,” which indicate the extent to which the values are realized within a project (see Figure 1). For a project to be recognized under the NEB framework, it must fulfill at least the first ambition level in each value domain. The evaluation process is articulated in detail within the NEB Compass, a self-assessment guide developed by the European Commission (2022).

In addition to its value-based structure, the NEB framework is governed by three procedural principles: participatory processes, multilevel engagement, and a transdisciplinary approach (EC, 2022). These principles are intended to foster dialogue among a wide range of stakeholders across diverse scales and knowledge domains. Although the framework may appear technically complex or reductionist at times, the NEB self-assessment process offers a highly detailed methodology for evaluating all components of the model. Siatitsa (2025) notes that it effectively integrates European Union values, strategic objectives, targets, standards, regulations, and directives into a comprehensive, multilayered evaluative structure.

The NEB Project Assessment: Quantifying Quality

The assessment of New European Bauhaus projects is structured around its three core values: sustainability, beauty, and togetherness. Each of these values is operationalized through a series of thematic categories, which are further broken down into specific key performance indicators (KPIs). These KPIs are designed to evaluate various dimensions of project performance, with each indicator

Figure 1. The NEB core values (adapted from BNEB Compass, 2022)

scored on a scale from 0 to 100. The aggregated performance within each category or value is typically calculated as an average of the individual KPI scores.

The NEB framework employs a wide range of indicators, encompassing both quantitative and qualitative metrics. These include measurable outputs, compliance with regulatory codes, expert evaluations, and the adoption of relevant policies and initiatives. Based on their numeric scores, KPIs are classified into four qualitative performance tiers: low, acceptable, good, and excellent (Siatitsa, 2025). The Compass Handbook (EC, 2022) functions as a practical manual, offering detailed instructions and illustrative examples for each KPI. According to Siatitsa (2025), the NEB Compass assessment requires an “acceptable” score. However, in line with the participatory and interdisciplinary nature of the NEB, the methodology acknowledges that priorities may change in accordance with participant input.

Expanding the NEB into Landscape Architecture

The NEB framework shares conceptual alignment with ongoing efforts in landscape architecture to promote sustainability and quality in the built and natural environment. Landscape architects have developed several rating and assessment systems to support and recognize best practices in sustainable design. To evaluate the overlaps and distinctions between NEB and these systems, four prominent landscape-focused rating frameworks were reviewed by a research team composed of faculty and graduate students from Anhalt University of Applied Sciences and Utah State University.

The selected systems include:

• SITES Rating System (Sustainable SITES Initiative)

• LAF Performance Series (Landscape Architecture Foundation)

• FLL Guidelines (published by the German Landscape Research, Development and Construction

Society: Forschungsgesellschaft Landschaftsentwicklung Landschaftsbau)

• SLRT (Sustainable Landscapes Rating Tool), developed by the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Alliance and supported by IUCN.

All of the reviewed rating systems share a broadly comparable organizational structure. Typically, these systems are organized around thematic areas, similar to the New European Bauhaus (NEB) framework, which is structured around the core values of sustainability, beauty, and togetherness. In landscape architecturespecific systems, thematic areas commonly include dimensions such as site context, vegetation, water management, and social considerations.

Within each thematic area, more specific categories are defined, grouping together a set of indicators. These indicators, similar to the NEB framework KPIs constitute the measurable criteria by which project performance is evaluated. Indicator scores ultimately contribute to the overall assessment or certification level a given project achieves in each category and area.

Some structural variations are worth noting. For instance, the SITES Rating System organizes its framework around categories and indicators but does not include a higherlevel area classification. Likewise, the German FLL system includes an additional layer of evaluative questions attached to each indicator, providing further guidance and specificity in the assessment process.

Table 1. Summary of the number of core areas (values), categories, and indicators utilized across the NEB and the four LA rating frameworks:

The analysis of the NEB assessment structure, particularly KPIs, reveals that while the NEB self-assessment tool provides a comprehensive evaluation structure, it is predominantly oriented toward the built environment and reflects a methodology rooted in architectural practice. As noted in the NEB documentation, several existing rating systems were consulted during its development; however, landscape architecture frameworks seem largely underrepresented.

The comparison with LA rating systems suggests a critical need to adapt and expand the NEB assessment methodology to more explicitly incorporate the values, criteria, and project scales relevant to landscape architecture. Such an evolution would enhance the framework’s capacity to assess projects that engage with ecological systems, open spaces, and broader territorial strategies—domains in which landscape architects have developed extensive expertise.

Is there LA in NEB? How much LA is NEB?

Landscape architecture rating systems reveal notable differences in structure, thematic focus, and evaluative priorities with the NEB framework. They also differ among themselves. Each system, including the NEB framework, adopts a distinct methodology for project assessment, reflecting its disciplinary orientation and intended application.

As mentioned earlier, the NEB framework appears heavily influenced by architectural and built environment rating systems, with limited integration of methodologies tailored to open space and landscape architecture assessment. This orientation creates a conceptual and practical gap between the aspirational values of the NEB—sustainability, beauty, and inclusion— and the technical, performance-based indicators used for project evaluation in the NEB SelfAssessment Guide (EC, 2022). While the framework articulates a visionary set of principles, its implementation relies on highly structured and quantifiable metrics, which may not fully capture the nuanced, context-specific qualities central to landscape architecture practice.

An indicator-level comparison between the NEB framework and the four LA rating systems

selected reveals a limited degree of overlap. Particularly underrepresented in the NEB are indicators addressing site-specific issues, such as soil management and stormwater systems, which are central to landscape architecture practice. Table 2 presents the percentage of shared indicators between the NEB and each system. Overall overlap remains around 30%, with SITES showing the largest disparity— demonstrating a 57% alignment with NEB’s sustainability dimension but only 19% alignment with its inclusion (togetherness) component. The German FLL system exhibited the smallest gaps, suggesting a closer methodological alignment with NEB.

Table 2. Percentage of NEB indicators covered by each rating system:

To better understand the differences, a comparative classification was conducted based on eight common thematic areas identified across all rating systems (Figure 2). These themes served as a basis for categorizing indicators in each system, including those not overlapping with the NEB framework. This classification enabled the construction of rating system-specific profiles that highlight strengths, gaps, and thematic emphases. For instance, while the NEB identifies its core areas as aesthetic value, economic and environmental sustainability, and meaningful social participation, other frameworks employ different terminology and structure, reflecting varying disciplinary priorities.

Differences underscore key opportunities for enhancing the NEB framework to better accommodate landscape architecture’s knowledge base and design practices. More robust integration of ecological, contextual, and site-responsive measures would not only align the NEB more closely with landscape-based approaches but also strengthen its capacity to

address the multidimensional challenges of sustainable development.

This comparative analysis of rating systems’ indicators reveals significant disparities in thematic focus and evaluative emphasis. The German FLL system demonstrates the broadest thematic coverage and exhibits a relatively balanced distribution across all categories. In contrast, the SITES rating system concentrates approximately two-thirds of its focus on sitespecific and implementation-related aspects while notably lacking explicit indicators for ecological and habitat-related conditions.

The Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) Performance Series emphasizes project performance by measuring the economic and social impacts of LA interventions, including explicit indicators related to ecology and habitat, features largely absent in the SITES framework. The NEB system, being interdisciplinary in scope and not developed initially from within the landscape architecture field, omits indicators for site-specific features altogether and instead emphasizes social, participatory, and planning-related measures. A more detailed classification needs to focus on

water, stormwater management, soils, and other elements.

The Role of Landscape Architecture in the NEB Framework

Is there space for landscape architecture and environmental planning within the NEB initiative? Empirically, the answer seems encouraging. A review of NEB Award recipients from 2021 to 2024 shows a growing presence of landscape-focused projects—rising from 25% in 2021 to approximately 65% in 2024. This trend suggests a meaningful alignment between the landscape architecture profession and the values promoted by the NEB.

However, the NEB framework remains incomplete from a landscape architecture perspective. While it offers a visionary platform for sustainable development, its assessment instruments lack several essential dimensions that define landscape architectural practice. Notably, the NEB Practical Guide operationalizes core values—such as sustainability, beauty, and inclusion—through detailed performance indicators. Yet, these indicators may oversimplify complex qualities,

Figure 2. Proportional composition of NEB and LA rating systems in common categories common to all systems

such as beauty, by reducing them to processrelated metrics (e.g., degree of professional engagement or design articulation), potentially ignoring aesthetic outcomes and experiential dimensions.

Moreover, there is a disconnect between the values espoused by the NEB and the procedural principles guiding its implementation. As noted in the over 400-page self-assessment guide (European Commission, 2022), references to the foundational NEB principles appear only once, raising questions about the consistency between aspirational rhetoric and technical evaluation.

Critics have pointed to this inconsistency. Volgger (2022, p.1) argues that the technical apparatus of the NEB “depoliticizes the ecological” and “culturalizes the political,” thereby undermining the transformative aspirations of the initiative. Similarly, Siatitsa (2025) cautions that converting values such as inclusion, culture, and aesthetic perception into rigid standards risks eroding their conceptual richness, reducing them to checklists that may result in systemic inequities. She further warns of contradictions arising when greening or beautification efforts exacerbate issues like gentrification, access inequality, or displacement.

Despite these critiques, the NEB offers many opportunities. Bason (2020) suggests three pathways through which the NEB can

meaningfully engage with design and planning disciplines:

• It enables imaginative capacities through art, design, and architecture to envision alternative futures.

• It fosters design literacy and accessible toolkits, empowering clients, communities, and professionals alike.

• It provides a platform for cultural transformation, supporting civic institutions in delivering equitable and resilient public environments while embracing complexity and contestation.

Moving forward

Though limited to the European context for now, the NEB represents a significant conceptual and operational framework aimed at advancing sustainability in a holistic, inclusive, and culturally grounded manner. It is not an ideological imposition but a pragmatic recognition that achieving a stable, just, and resilient society demands interdisciplinary cooperation and shared values.

For landscape architects and environmental planners, the NEB presents both a challenge and an opportunity. It challenges the profession to advocate for a broader integration of site-responsive, ecological, and aesthetic considerations within policyoriented sustainability agendas. At the same time, it offers a compelling platform for

transdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in design contexts where culture, climate adaptation, and civic engagement intersect.

While the NEB may not constitute a comprehensive model for landscape architecture, it aligns with broader frameworks such as the Living Building Challenge or NatureBased Solutions—initiatives that prioritize longterm impact, cultural meaning, and systemic integration. Maintaining a critical stance toward any model is necessary, given their partial and context-dependent nature. Nevertheless, the NEB opens a crucial space for cross-disciplinary

Bibliography

• Bason, C., Conway, R., Hill, D., & Mazzucato, M. (2020). A New Bauhaus for a Green Deal. Retrieved from discovery.ucl.ac.uk

• CCBA. (2018). Sustainable Landscapes Rating Tool Version 1.1 with Additional Guidance. Retrieved from https://www. climate-standards.org/sustainable-landscapes-rating-tool/

• European Commission. (2020). A New European Bauhaus Fact sheet.

• European Commission. (2021). New European Bauhaus: New Actions and Funding to Link Sustainability to Style and Inclusion [Press release]. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/ commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_4626

• European Commission. (2022). New European Bauhaus Compass: A Guiding Framework for Decision and Project Makers Wishing to Apply the Neb Principles and Criteria to Their Activities. Retrieved from https://new-europeanbauhaus.europa.eu/tools-and-resources/use-compass_en.

• European Commission. (2024). New European Bauhaus Investment Guidelines. Retrieved from https://new-europeanbauhaus.europa.eu/tools-and-resources/neb-investmentguidelines_en.

• European Commission. (2025). Roadmap for the New European Bauhaus Facility. Retrieved from https://new-europeanbauhaus.europa.eu/funding/new-european-bauhaus-facility_ en.

• European Commission. (2025). Supporting the Development of a Roadmap for the New European Bauhaus Facility. Retrieved from https://new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu/funding/ new-european-bauhaus-facility_en.

dialogue and co-creation, offering landscape professionals a unique role in shaping the future of sustainable development.

The NEB in action

The BUGA Pavilion, relocated to Mannheim, Germany in 2023, is a 100-foot wooden structure creating a unique public space. The pavilion can be dismantled, reassembled, and recycled. The Pavilion achieved the highest ratings in aesthetics and sustainable values. It also obtained high ratings for its interdisciplinary work (NEB Compass 2022).

• European Council. (2025, Last review: 21 February 2025). European Green Deal. Retrieved from https://www.consilium. europa.eu/en/policies/european-green-deal/

• FLL. (2018). Guidelines for Sustainable Outdoor Facilities. Retrieved from https://www.fll.de

• Gkatzogias, K., Romano, E., & Negro, P. (2024). A Practical Guide to the New European Bauhaus: Self-Assessment Method and Tool. Retrieved from https://joint-research-centre. ec.europa.eu

• Green Business Certification Inc. (2014). Sites V2 Rating System. Retrieved from https://www.usgbc.org/resources/ sites-rating-system-and-scorecard

• International Living Future Institute. (2025). Living Building Challenge® 4.1: Program Manual, a Visionary Path to a Regenerative Future. Portland, OR: ILFI.

• International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. (2020). Ensuring Effective Nature-Based Solutions. Retrieved from Gland, Switzerland: www.iucn.org/issues-briefs

• Sadowski, K. (2021). Implementation of the New European Bauhaus Principles as a Context for Teaching Sustainable Architecture. Sustainability, 13(19).

• Siatitsa, D. (2025). Measuring Sustainability, Beauty and Inclusiveness Towards a Shared Vision for Cities and Urban Projects. Nature Cities, 2, 273-276.

• Volgger, P. (2022). The New European Bauhaus - a Fatal Affair? Paper presented at the ARCHTHEO’21 - XV. International Theory and History of Architecture Conference, Istanbul.

Caroline Lavoie Named Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture’s 2025 Class of Fellows

Professor Caroline Lavoie has received the highest honor as part of the 2025 Class of Fellows from the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA). This prestigious designation recognizes nearly three decades of exceptional contributions to teaching, research, and service in landscape architecture education. Lavoie’s impressive portfolio includes more than 30 peer-reviewed publications, 18 national and international art exhibitions, and numerous research grants. As both a scholar and an artist, she seamlessly combines creativity with design expertise.

Her most recent solo exhibition, Crossing Borders: The Landscapes and Communities of Highway 89, had more than 4,000 visitors at the Livingston Depot Museum in Montana. This exhibition showcased her ability to capture the essence of "place" in her art.

“I draw inspiration from the moments shaped by movement, light, wind, color, texture, and the framing of a scene,” Lavoie said. “I’m especially moved by how people engage with my work.”

As a dedicated educator,

Lavoie is known for her innovative teaching, creative research, and commitment to service. At USU, she has designed and taught over 15 courses, including faculty-led study abroad programs to Germany, France, Italy and an upcoming trip to Argentina in 2026. Her guidance through E-Studio has helped students earn awards in national and state competitions, inspiring thousands throughout her career.

As a Fulbright Specialist, Lavoie facilitated a major urban design collaboration project with students and faculty from Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction in 2024.

During her 2020 sabbatical, she collaborated on a project with Dr Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture in Pune, India.

Lavoie has made significant contributions to the field of landscape architecture as a peer reviewer for national and international journals, as a juror for design competitions, and leading students in collaborations with communities and

municipalities on impactful design projects, making her CELA Fellow designation a welldeserved honor.

Through her career, Lavoie’s achievements have made a lasting impact on the field.

“Professor Lavoie exemplifies excellence in education, research, and mentorship,” said one of her nominators. “Her work reconnects people with their landscapes, emphasizing the vital relationship between communities and their environment.”

Artwork for Crossing Borders: The Landscape and Communities of Highway 89

Caroline Lavoie working with students in Azerbaijan

Amy Reid, MLA '24 at the Spiral Jetty

Stock photo of Spiral Jetty

Thesis Project Leads to Recognition of Spiral Jetty on National Register of Historic Places

The Spiral Jetty, a 1,500-foot-long basalt rock coil on the northeast shore of the Great Salt Lake, has captivated visitors since its creation by Robert Smithson in 1970. Alternately submerged and exposed, it reflects the lake’s fluctuating water levels and is recognized as one of the most significant works of Land Art.

Amy Reid, a Utah State University graduate student in Landscape Architecture, first heard about the Jetty in 2002 when her sister, an art history student, traveled from California to see it after the receding lake revealed it for the first time in years. “I knew it had to be pretty special for her to make that effort,” Reid said. Years later, during the COVID-19 lock down, she visited the site for the first time initially among crowds, then alone, as Smithson had intended.

The visit deepened Reid’s appreciation for Smithson’s philosophy. “He didn’t like things that were perfect in terms of the landscape,” Reid noted. “He liked some grit, and that there’s, like, this pull between the beauty of it… and the decay almost. He called it a ‘dialectic’ between man and nature.”

While studying the Great Salt Lake, Reid became determined to secure formal recognition for the Spiral Jetty, making its inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places the focus of her master’s thesis. “I started thinking, ‘Where do people go today to connect with the lake?’” She said, “I really came to this nomination wanting to do something positive for the lake and wanting to celebrate places where people can go to

I wanted to celebrate places where people can go to connect with that astounding beauty and this really unique feature that we have right here.

-Amy Reid, MLA ‘24

connect with that astounding beauty and this really unique feature that we have right here.”

With approval from her advisors, Reid began advocating for the Jetty’s inclusion, working with the Dia Art Foundation (the artwork’s owner), the Utah Department of Natural Resources, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, and the Holt/Smithson Foundation. “It took several months of work, just connecting with all the partners,” Reid stated. “I wanted to do it right and make sure no one was surprised by the designation.”

After defending her thesis in May 2024, Reid’s efforts culminated in a major milestone: on December 24, 2024, the Spiral Jetty officially joined the National Register of Historic Places, becoming one of the first Land Art pieces from the 1960s and 1970s to be listed despite the usual 50-year age requirement. Paving the way for future Land Art preservation.

Reid clarified that the designation does not advocate for intervention of the site but serves as a historical record. “It really is to provide a formal record of this site in a way that has not been done before,” she said. “We now have a very complete view of the landscape, the natural forces, the man-made impacts on the landscape—all these things that influenced Smithson to choose this site.”

A Legacy of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Stewardship

Meet Callie Davis, a passionate 22-yearold student at USU, beginning her third year in the LAEP department. Growing up in Herriman, Utah, Callie has always been drawn to the beauty of the outdoors and the world of art. Her love for drawing, ceramics, and painting, combined with her enthusiasm for hiking, fishing, and hunting, naturally led her to the field of landscape architecture. Callie's connection to landscape architecture runs deep, thanks to her parents, Jackie Davis (BLA ‘98) and Jeff Davis (MLA ‘00), both LAEP alums with successful careers in the field. Callie shared, “I was constantly inspired by their passion for shaping and preserving the natural world. This blend of creativity and environmental stewardship motivated me to pursue a career in landscape architecture.”

Twenty-seven years ago, Jackie and Jeff worked with Nancy Brunswick (MLA ‘94), an LAEP alumna and then Regional Landscape Architect for the Intermountain Region of the US Forest Service. They conducted a Scenery Management System inventory for all the districts on the Dixie National Forest, assessing view sheds and scenic integrity throughout the forest. They documented

their findings, took GPS points, and captured photographs.

Inspired by her parents' work and eager to deepen her knowledge while gaining practical experience, Callie decided to build upon their project. As a LAEP student, she has access to professionals and their insights, which she leveraged to document the changes that have occurred since her parents' initial work. Callie recreated and analyzed historical photographs using their GPS coordinates. She explained, “The project provides a foundation for future research and supports the development of informed management strategies for the forest’s preservation and sustainability.”

Through this research, Callie learned about the significant impact of human activity and natural processes on the environment. She observed community growth, bark beetle damage on spruce species, fire damage, logging effects, and other natural and man-made changes, highlighting the need for thoughtful land management.

“These insights have deepened my understanding of the delicate balance required to preserve natural spaces and inspired me to think critically about future strategies for conservation

Callie Davis at Duck Creek Visitor Center

Jackie and Jeff Davis

and sustainable development,” she says.

Callie received tremendous support and mentorship throughout the project, including from Brunswick, who secured funding for both the past and present work. Learning from Brunswick provided Callie with constant inspiration and furthered her learning. Her parents, Jeff and Jackie, have been lifelong supporters and continue to inspire her through their careers. One of the most memorable parts of the project for Callie was revisiting the places her parents had photographed 27 years prior. It was a unique and special experience for her to connect with their efforts and contribute her own work to the ongoing story of the forest.

I was constantly inspired by their passion for shaping and preserving the natural world.

-Callie Davis, BLA student

Callie hopes this project will inspire the community to care for federal lands and ensure their preservation for future generations. She also hopes that research on the Dixie National Forest will continue and that her insights will contribute to effective strategies for preservation and longterm conservation.

Taken by Jackie and Jeff Davis 27 years ago

Taken by Callie Davis in 2024

Taken by Callie Davis in 2024

Taken by Jackie and Jeff Davis 27 years ago

Reflections on the Legacy and Future of Landscape Architecture Gathered Along the Way

2024 ASLA Keynote Address

by Professor Emeritus Craig Johnson

I’ll begin this with a narrative stroll down memory lane. Elders believe this provides context for the origin and evolution of their beliefs, how those beliefs influence their life’s work, mistakes made, and lessons learned. For me, I hope to share tidbits with the next generation of landscape architects.

My Story Begins

My brothers and I grew up in a small Minnesota town. Our parents raised us as 1940s free-range chickens—out the door after breakfast, back home for supper. We explored nature, crafted rafts, examined muskrat houses, caught frogs and turtles, and hid among cattails to watch redwing blackbirds. Those experiences fostered my lifelong love of nature. My mother nurtured this by guiding me to books on Minnesota native plants, which I devoured, and Boy Scouts refined my ethics to three words: protect, conserve, restore. Our summer cabin stood on land grazed by sheep for decades, with a bluegrass understory and a basswood canopy, plus a few birch planted near the lake. Even as a teenager, I knew this wasn’t ideal for wildlife. I asked my parents if I could improve it by transplanting shrubs from the woods. Reluctantly, they agreed. That summer, I moved dozens of gooseberries and prickly ash to

the back of the lot.

However, caterpillars destroyed the gooseberries, and prickly ash became invasive. I spent the next summer removing sick gooseberries and invasive prickly ash instead of fishing. As an idealistic neophyte, I learned there was so much more to understand about the environment—and, eighty-plus years later, that still holds true.

Joining an Order of the Arrow Native American dance team with other boy scouts expanded my connection to nature. We practiced Lakota dance, learning the storylines of each dance and how often they connected to Mother Earth from our coach who was part Native American.

After high school, I attended Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, majoring in pre-architecture. Serendipity struck when my mother attended a lecture on gardening that mentioned landscape architecture, she got great advice from the speaker for me. I transferred

Courtesy photo of Craig Johnson

to Michigan State, where modernist mentors nurtured my critical thinking and creativity. My passion for nature and newfound skills in planning and design culminated in landscape architecture, becoming a lifelong vocation.

During summers, I interned with the National Park Service at Wind Cave National Park, assisting with construction drawings and fieldwork for the park’s first campground. My mentor exemplified the credo: “Fit the project to the land. Preserve, protect, and restore what you disturbed.”

Furthering Education and Opportunity

After completing my undergraduate studies, I attended graduate school at the University of Illinois (UofI) with a two-year research scholarship from the National Sand and Gravel Association (NSGA) for mine land reclamation research. In the 1960s, land reclamation science was in its infancy, offering opportunities for innovation. My research addressed planning and mining procedures to extract sand and gravel while restoring mined areas. Field trips and meetings with miners and equipment manufacturers complemented the project. NSGA published the results, revealing disturbed landscapes rarely regain ecological structure or functional capacity and require long-term care. Aldo Leopold’s words in Sand County Almanac, “The key to responsible tinkering in the landscape is to save the pieces,” underscored my findings: tread lightly on the land! In my second year, a colleague informed me of a faculty opening at

Utah State University’s LAEP department. With letters of support, I secured the position and joined USU.

Practicing Landscape Architecture and Teaching the Next Generation

In 1966, the LAEP faculty included the department head, two assistant professors— including me—and two adjunct professors. With 60 students, the department lacked diversity. Housed in Old Main’s basement, rumors suggested studio spaces had once been a dairy milking parlor. During the 1970s environmental movement, enrollment surged, we relocated, and the undergraduate program gained accreditation.

Basic design sections had over 40 students, many using hollow core doors on wooden saw horses as workspaces. The faculty fostered an electrifying studio atmosphere. They crafted new curricula emphasizing critical and creative thinking, planning, design, technical competence, beauty, sustainability, applied research, public outreach, and connectedness which are foundations of today’s LAEP program.

As a practicing landscape architect, I sought functionality, social viability, joy, environmental and economic responsibility, and beauty in my work, reflecting my understanding of nature and fellow citizens. As an educator, I aimed to nurture LAEP majors, challenge them, and instill lifelong environmental stewardship. As a researcher, I wanted to fund graduate students through an applied research program focused on ecosystems, wetlands, riparian areas, shrub-steppe, and case studies. My goal was to be the department’s fisheries and wildlife expert, achieved with help from colleagues and friends.

I applauded the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) and American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) for advancing environmental ethics in conferences and publications. I urged their memberships to increase environmentally focused field projects.

Recognizing the need for scientific understanding of species biology, habitat, and management, I returned to school. After prerequisites at USU, I joined South Dakota State

Courtesy

Photo: Craig Johnson

University’s Wildlife Biology program. Two years of coursework, field studies, wetland research, and thesis defense prepared me to teach at USU.

My course, "Panning for Wildlife," focused on biological principles applied to plans and designs. Students tackled real projects with real stakeholders, resolving wildlife habitat issues. Submissions came from Utah DNR, cities, counties, and conservation organizations. Students researched individual topics and habitat models, producing final wildlife habitat plans and reports, culminating in public presentations.

In October 1997, the director of the NRCS’s Watershed Science Institute, invited me to collaborate with NRCS biologists and ecologists on a technical manual for conservation corridor planning for wildlife. It was an incredible opportunity that aligned with my upcoming sabbatical. Serendipity! The manual was intended for NRCS field offices and their conservation partners, serving as a source book of ideas, examples, and wildlife corridor principles at areawide and conservation plan scales. Reviewing research literature on landscape ecology, biogeography, and restoration ecology was a gift.

And so the End of the Saga

My wife, Judy and I retired in 2008 to Minnesota lakes country, where I grew up. We remodeled a lake home by 1,000 acres of ginclear water teeming with bass and bluegill. Together, we designed an eclectic perennial cottage garden and restored the shoreline's natural plant community. Retirement means every day is Saturday, but fishing 150 days a year, including ice fishing. Special landscapes, family, friends, mentors, authors, artists, colleagues, and students enriched my professional saga. For some of you, the saga is just beginning; for others, it continues. Choosing environmental stewardship is yours to make. As the Native American Proverb says, “Your children...down to the seventh generation are depending on us.” Chief Seattle reminds us: “Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons and daughters of Earth.” Mother Earth needs us all!

Questions and Answers

What have you learned from the twists and turns in your personal career?

Landscape architecture is an amazing niche and rich profession, limited only by imagination. It allowed me to shift focus mid-career and add wildlife habitat planning and design to the LAEP curriculum.

What global and local challenges has the profession faced during the span of your career?

From my perspective as a late 20th-century landscape architect, educator, researcher, and practitioner, two challenges stand out.

One, responding to the environmental movement, which profoundly impacted landscape architecture practice, education, and research. Before the movement, the profession focused on site planning and design for estates, campuses, parks, highways, and urban projects, with curricula emphasizing horticulture, grading, site engineering, construction, and design. Environmental science courses were uncommon. The environmental movement sparked conservation biology as a discipline, a surge of literature, and a push to integrate environmental variables into planning. Landscape architecture assumed a stewardship role during the Dust Bowl in the 1930s and is needed again today to confront Utah’s climate challenges.

Two, responding to USU’s mandated calendar change from quarters to semesters, requiring merging or dropping courses and revising curricula. Graduate and undergraduate programs were redesigned to emphasize critical and creative thinking, planning, beauty, sustainability, technical competence, and connectedness. Enrollment surged requiring new studio spaces, faculty, and designing environmental courses. Maintaining accreditation required a 20:1 studentto-faculty ratio, which added stress.

What challenges does the profession need to address?

The rapid decline of natural ecosystems and biodiversity is largely due to human activity,

including climate change, abuse, and neglect. Many organisms cannot adapt fast enough, and much of the damage is irreversible. The urgency is clear with key environmental issues. Landscape architects have best management practices (BMPs) to help address these issues, often requiring collaboration with engineering and environmental firms.

What advice would you give?

Adopt the process of “Gleaning” which involves collecting facts slowly, often leading to valuable discoveries, and works best with focused attention, an open mind, and thorough note-taking. Rest and recharge as needed, then organize, review, and summarize your notes. Finnish architect Eero Saarinen emphasizes examining the next largest thing, such as adjacent properties, and the next smallest thing, like ground cover. Key attitudes for gleaning include being inquisitive, perceptive, and examining both the next biggest and smallest things.

Advice for Those Interested in Landscape Architecture

Elementary, middle school, and high school students:

It’s never too early to get children outdoors, our foundational home for eons. Raising kids like free-range chickens, as my brothers and I were 75 years ago, would be illegal today. Not to worry; great options remain, starting with your home landscape. The National Wildlife Federation offers programs and resources for creating wildlifefriendly gardens.

Many students will find summer jobs in landscape construction, gaining valuable experience. With Utah's growth rate showing no signs of slowing, these opportunities will remain abundant.

College Students:

Focus on graduating, build your portfolio as your legacy foundation, and reflect on your journey. Seek faculty advice, define your goals, and express gratitude to those who have

supported you. The profession offers diverse opportunities in specialized niches and general practice. As Joseph Campbell said, “Follow your bliss.” Also, consider joining ASLA for its resources, contacts, and friendships.

Advice for Professionals

New Practitioners:

Give your best effort, gain experience across the profession by asking, observing, listening, and being a team player. After two years, assess satisfaction: discuss future options with your employer or explore other opportunities in public or private practice, landscape architecture, environmental engineering, architecture, or development firms. Many graduates consider graduate school within two to four years. Crucial early career steps include building peer relationships, reading, attending conferences, spending time outdoors, and studying for licensure exams.

Mid-Career Practitioners:

Research suggests mid-career years are the most productive. Many stay in their current jobs to leverage networks, reputation, and loyalty to a place. My mid-career dream was to earn a second master's degree in wildlife biology and focus on habitat planning and design, alongside teaching planting design. Staying current in your field is crucial to extend your productivity, whether you stay or move on.

Someone Eying Retirement:

Share your knowledge with the next generation. Keep nurturing the things you love. Stay physically active and mentally engaged. I’ve enjoyed retirement activities such as shoreline restoration, Master Gardener programs, serving on boards, canoeing, teaching, conservation, and volunteering for various causes. Your involvement can contribute to sustainable gardens and a healthier Mother Earth.

Students Engage in Zoo Charrette

Our department held a special Charrette focused on zoo design, led by Benjamin George, LAEP associate professor, and Studio Hanson Roberts (SHR), a renowned zoo design firm. The workshop provided key insights from SHR founders Becca Hanson and David Roberts, along with Susan Murray, former SHR landscape architect and now adjunct professor at Colorado State University. With projects spanning the globe, they brought their extensive experience to the students participating in Zoo Charrette. SHR’s approach focuses on creating environments that ensure the welfare of animals while providing an educational and engaging experience for visitors.

In recent years, zoos have increasingly emphasized conservation, evolving from mere displays of animals to centers of education and conservation efforts. Becca Hanson emphasized the collaborative nature of zoo design, stating, “You’re bringing people in to join hands, who love nature, love animals, and want to work together to conserve them.” She addressed common misconceptions about zoos, explaining that many

You're bringing people in to join hands, who love nature, love animals, and want to work together to conserve them.

-Becca Hanson, SHR founder

animals in zoos have been bred in captivity and are accustomed to human presence. The goal of zoo designers is to provide these animals with enriching environments that mimic their natural behaviors.

During Zoo Charrette, students were divided into four groups where each designed a habitat for Humboldt penguins. Using real-life examples from the Woodland Park Zoo, students tackled the complexities of creating an environment that meets the needs of the animals, visitors, and staff. They were required to balance water and land requirements, ensure animal welfare and enrichment, and create an immersive experience for visitors. Students had three days to bring their concepts to life and present their ideas for valuable feedback.

Ben George, Becca Hanson, David Roberts, and Susan Murray with LAEP students during Zoo Charrette

SHR believes modern zoo design is about more than housing animals; it’s about fostering a connection between people and wildlife. Zoos serve as a community center for education and conservation awareness, as most people will not have the opportunity to see animals in the wild. LAEP’s Zoo Charrette highlighted the importance of collaboration among various experts including animal behaviorists, landscape architects, conservationists, business managers, and marketers.

Zoo design is multifaceted and requires designers to absorb expertise in various areas and adapt to the rapid changes in the field. Designers must consider the welfare of animals, staff, and visitors while staying current with technological advancements and sustainability practices. The Zoo Charrette emphasized the need of creative students to bring fresh perspectives and talent to the field of zoo design.

Hearing the students’ innovative ideas and discussions over the course of the workshop was particularly gratifying for the SHR team. This Charrette gave students an opportunity to feel inspired, present for experts in the field, and be challenged in new ways. By involving students in real-world zoo projects, SHR hopes to change the narrative around zoo design and inspire the next generation of professionals in landscape architecture. They plan to host another Zoo Charrette with LAEP during Fall 2025.

David Roberts gives suggestions on students work

Becca Hanson gives feedback during presentation

Students working on design

Immersed in Italian Landscapes: Faculty-led Study Abroad Experience

Agroup of 51 students and six leaders arrived in Rome at the beginning of Spring Break greeted by sunshine and a packed itinerary. Their goal: to experience some of the world’s most historically significant and culturally rich sites including Piazza Navona, the Roman Colosseum, and the Forum. That same day, the group visited the Pantheon, where a live performance happened to be underway adding a layer of unexpected beauty to the experience of standing inside a secondcentury Roman temple that's served as a Catholic basilica since AD 609.

Rolling with Rome

Students quickly practiced the art of adaptability. The Trevi Fountain was packed with tourists, so some students returned early the next morning on electric scooters to visit the fountain in near solitude. Later that day, their visit to Piazza del Campidoglio was slightly underwhelming, as renovations had obscured the perimeter facades.

One day’s itinerary included a long walk to the Spanish Steps on the way to the Villa Medici, where the group enjoyed a quiet, intimate guided tour of the famous 16th-century villa and gardens built by Fernando de Medici. Since 1803, it has been home to the French Academy in Rome, hosting artists-in-residence each year. After the tour, students had ample time to roam the Piazza del Popolo and explore Villa Borghese, now a beloved public park nestled in the heart of the city.

Colosseum in Rome, Italy

Group representing USU in front of Pantheon in Rome

Vatican City Views

Their visit to Vatican City was packed with highlights: exploring the vast Vatican Museums, strolling through the Pope’s garden, and standing in the grandeur of St. Peter’s Square. Some students climbed the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica and enjoyed the breathtaking view.

Medieval Adventure

The famous hilltop Tuscan town of Siena did not disappoint. This medieval city is a maze of narrow, winding streets and is famous for many things including the arc-shaped central main square, II Campo and its striking white-anddark-green-striped Duomo, set on the city’s highest point and visible for miles.

In Pompeii, students were especially captivated by the ancient adornments. They participated in a competitive scavenger hunt, photo documenting and sharing their research findings via GroupMe. Which was a fun way to experience the city.

Art and Atmosphere of Florence

Florence’s delightful statuary and humanscale forms provided reminders of humankind’s relationship to design across time and space. The urban environment’s scale and walkability invited stark contrasting experience to Utah’s automobile-centric design. As the Arno river swelled, our plans changed. Museums closed, crowds turned away.

Near the historic Ponte Vecchio, the famed

Uffizi Galleries welcomed students with an almost overwhelming array of masterpieces of architecture, Greek and Roman sculpture, and works by Michelangelo, Raphael, da Vinci, and others that left no shortage of inspiration.

Lesson of Letting Go

The Villa d’Este was on the bucket list for many faculty and students, who had studied its water follies, fountains, water sprouts, and the famed Valley of 300 Fountains in landscape history books and lectures. Having flown across the globe to see it in person, they were filled with anticipation. But upon arrival, the water had been shut off for the day due to the chance of rain. Yet again, the group found themselves learning a quiet lesson in resilience, adaptability, and managing expectations.

Wandering, Weather, and Wonder

Every day involved miles of walking, bathed in the fragrance of the urban environment while we perused street vendors’ wares and leather goods. In Rome, they walked under the sun. In Florence, they walked through rain. And through it all, the students and faculty were struck by Italian culture’s leisurely pace, warm hospitality, and efficiency plus the phenomenal food! More than anything, the trip was inspiring and memorable.

Students gearing up as gladiators

Students test out their gladiator skills

Representing USU in front of Roman ruins

Students posing under Roman ruins

Students sketching on Colosseum seats

Baku Revitalizing the Historic Core

Written by Aishwarya Korkode, PhD student Urban Theory, Systems, Design taught by Caroline Lavoie, Professor

Baku, a city on the shores of the Caspian Sea, is a place where East and West come together. Its rich history and vibrant culture blend with the challenges of modern development. The LAEP department’s Urban Design Studio embraced this complexity through an exciting collaboration with the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction (AzUAC).

Guided by the overarching theme of revitalizing Baku’s historic core, the studio offered an immersive exploration of urban design at the intersection of local identity and global challenges. This unique partnership, made possible through Professor Caroline Lavoie’s Fulbright opportunity, served as a bridge between continents, disciplines, and perspectives. It was more than a design studio, it was a chance to understand the heart of a city through its people and places.

The studio was structured into three phases, each building on the previous one, guiding students from foundational research to detailed design proposals.

Phase 1: Exploring the Context

The first phase laid the groundwork for the semester by examining the broader regional and urban context of Baku and Azerbaijan. Divided into eight teams, students explored various topics, including Azerbaijan’s history, ecological systems, topography, architectural influences, neighborhood districts, the network of green spaces, the historic district, and Baku’s intricate transportation network. This comprehensive exploration provided students with a wellrounded understanding of the city's complexities, preparing them for the collaborative and designfocused phases to come.

Students planning out design

Group photo with AzUAC on Zoom

Phase 2: Collaborative Workshop

The second phase was a two-week collaborative workshop that brought together 63 participants from LAEP and AzUAC. Working across time zones, these synchronized teams bridged the fields of architecture, urbanism, and landscape architecture, supported by ten faculty advisors and guest professionals from Azerbaijan, the United States, and Turkey.

Students were divided into nine teams, each tasked with analyzing specific conditions in historic neighborhoods north of Baku’s Old City. These areas face the pressures of urban growth, as new construction reshapes the neighborhoods, presenting both social and physical challenges for residents. Over two weeks, the teams conducted urban analyses, developed conceptual urban frameworks, and addressed these challenges. The collaborative process was a valuable cultural exchange, bringing together different ideas and disciplines. On the final day of the workshop, teams presented their proposals, showcasing the results of their hard work and collaboration.

Good design, whether local or global, begins with empathy and curiosity to understand diverse lived experiences and discover solutions that serve the people and species inhabiting the space.

— Karen Del Fante, BLA student

Phase 3: Design Development

The final phase focused on developing detailed design proposals. Building on the knowledge and insights gained from the earlier phases, students expanded their focus to include Baku’s urban boundaries, enhancing connectivity between its northern neighborhoods, the waterfront, and east-west corridors. Working in teams, they continued collaborating with their Baku colleagues to ensure their proposals reflected both local realities and innovative design strategies

Overcoming Challenges Through Collaboration

One of the most significant challenges for USU students was understanding a distant and unfamiliar urban context. Without direct access to the site, they relied on guidance from Professor Lavoie, insights from their Baku colleagues, and extensive secondary research. Despite these limitations, the collaborative framework enabled students to create meaningful, well-informed proposals, blending local knowledge with their analytical and design skills.

The Baku: Revitalizing the Historic Core project exemplifies the transformative power of interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaboration in urban design. By engaging in a complex and unique urban context, students cultivated empathy, innovation, and a deep appreciation for collaborative problem-solving. The experience not only honed their professional skills but also underscored the importance of cultural exchange in addressing the global challenges of urbanization.

Real-World Planning of Garden City

The LAEP Charrette has been hosted annually by Utah State University's Department of LAEP for over two decades. The charrette is a dynamic, weeklong collaborative design effort that brings together students, faculty, and community stakeholders to address real-world planning and design challenges, a tradition that continued in the 2025 Charrette.

Building from the work of the 2024 LAEP Charrette that covered the entire Bear Lake Valley, this year students were invited by the Garden City Chamber of Commerce to focus wholly on the community of Garden City. The city is the primary gateway to the Bear Lake Valley. Like many rural gateway communities across the west, it is experiencing tremendous growth pressures and the subsequent ecological, economic, and social challenges that come with them. Working with Garden City presented an amazing opportunity for students to dive headfirst into these issues and provide Garden City with a vision for a

brighter future.

This year additional emphasis was placed on the importance of community engagement and an opportunity for students to prepare meaningful engagement meetings and hone their community outreach skills. Students held a community outreach event at the Bear Lake Winterfest and participated in the polar bear plunge and the cardboard boat race on a very cold and windy January morning.

During the Charrette week students hosted three community open houses in Garden City to solicit community member feedback and present their design ideas. This experience was a new and impactful experience for most students, one student reflected, “One of the most valuable aspects of this experience was getting to talk with local stakeholders. Each person had a different perspective based on their role in the community, and their feedback shaped our work in ways that a typical studio project never could. It wasn’t just about creating something that looked

LAEP Charrette group

Being a landscape architect means more than designing landscapes, it means facilitating conversations, building trust, and making space for others in the process.

-LAEP Student and Charrette participant

good, but making sure it was something that worked for the people who live and work there every day”.

Senior team leaders organized and led nine teams that focused on discreet geographic areas of concern and their design proposals identified critical issues with the physical organization of the community and ultimate legibility of Garden City. These ideas were presented to the community at the conclusion of the Charrette week, and the ideas that resonated with the community became the basis of the Senior Capstone course that continued the work of the Charrette through the duration of the Spring 2025 semester.

As with previous Charrettes, the experience was transformative for many. One student reflected on their experience saying, “We learned that being a landscape architect means more than designing landscapes, it means facilitating conversations, building trust, and making space for others in the process”.

Monster Plunge in Bear Lake at Winterfest

Booth at Winterfest

Inspiring Projects from E-Studio

A Threshold Between Worlds

Student Submits Odin’s Wolves: A Mystical Habitat for

TParkitecture

he 2025 Parkitecture Competition, hosted by Cal Poly Amusement Park Engineers and Designers (CAPED), invites university students to showcase their talent in Themed Entertainment design. This year’s challenge, Mystical Creatures, asked participants to craft an immersive zoological habitat with a fantasy theme for the San Diego Zoo. Submissions were reviewed by a panel of industry judges.

Julie Estes, BLA ‘25, entered a submission entitled Odin’s Wolves, a design that blends Norse mythology with wolf conservation efforts. This enclosure offers visitors a glimpse into Scandinavian landscapes — fields, forests, and cliffs — reminiscent of the Viking world. The habitat supports wilderness reintroduction while educating guests on the importance of protecting wolf populations. Through ancient stories, Estes seeks to rebuild respect for these creatures, demonstrating their role in both nature and mythology.

In Norse legend, the All-father Odin relied on his wolves, Geri and Freki, to watch over Midgard — our world. Estes’ vision immerses visitors in this ancient tale, encouraging them to see wolves not just as fierce predators but as guardians of the wild. Odin’s Wolves is a narrative-driven experience that bridges history, conservation, and immersive design, ensuring these majestic creatures remain revered for generations.

LAEP Students Excel at Utah Real Estate Challenge

LAEP students made a strong impact at the Utah Real Estate Challenge (UREC) in April, securing impressive wins.

UREC, a prestigious intercollegiate competition, invites undergraduate and graduate students across Utah to develop and pitch innovative real estate proposals. Participants first submit five-page proposals, with the top three teams advancing to the finals, where they expand their concepts into comprehensive business plans. The winning project earns a $20,000 grand prize, with support from the Ivory-Boyer Real Estate Center Board, sponsors, mentors, judges, and faculty.

Among the finalists, The Atlas Development Group, composed of LAEP students Jessica Zuban and Calli Glazier, and USU Huntsman students Brandon Reese, Dawson Kearns, and Raef Thomas, presented WestEnd, an affordable mixeduse residential development for teachers near West High School in Salt Lake City. Their proposal transforms a parking lot into a dynamic hub featuring retail, outdoor spaces, apartments, and amenities like a café, food court, doggy daycare and more. The project promotes community engagement, sustainability, and a carfree lifestyle while generating additional income for the Salt Lake City School District.

At the UREC Banquet in Salt Lake City, finalists presented their projects, judged on business viability, presentation quality, and audience votes. Atlas Development Group emerged victorious, securing the $20,000 grand prize for their innovative and community-driven proposal.

Master Student's 'Waking Water' Project Wins Prestigious JSR Scholarship and BLT Built Design Award

Bailey Guinn, a master’s student in LAEP, was awarded the prestigious JSR scholarship and BLT Built Design Award for her innovative 'Waking Water' project. Her project aims to heal the Warm Springs and North Gateway parks in Salt Lake City, areas with a rich history dating back to 10,000 BCE. The park’s warm springs have supported many people, including nomadic tribes, the Ute Tribe, early settlers, and

Pacific Islanders. However, the area has faced prolonged periods of time being unsettled due to social and environmental challenges. Guinn's 'Waking Water' project focuses on restoring the water and enhancing these parks both environmentally and socially. Through extensive cultural and landscape architecture research, she is developing programs that draw from community traditions and practices,

Rendering of WestEnd from proposal

Bird’s eye view of rooftop amenities

resonating with the existing community. The JSR foundation supports landscape architecture students in the Rocky Mountain Region and recognizes exceptional projects like Guinn’s. This scholarship will aid her commute to the project site and the hours spent working on these spaces. The BLT Built Design Awards celebrate outstanding projects worldwide in landscape architecture, interior design, architecture, and construction. Upon learning she was selected for the scholarship and award, Guinn felt the parks were finally getting the recognition they deserved.

Vision for Aleppo’s Citadel by LAEP Student Wins Certificate of Merit

Rendering of Waking Water park

Clay model

Planning and Design: A Collaborative Journey

Written by Alanna Nafziger, MLA ‘25

LAEP 6200 (Bioregional Analysis and Planning) taught by Todd Johnson, Professional Practice Associate Professor

At the beginning of the semester, Associate Professor Todd Johnson introduced students to the Green Loop initiative in Salt Lake City (SLC), an effort to daylight creeks within the urban fabric. The announcement of the Winter Olympics returning to SLC in 2034 has generated excitement, inspiring discussions on strategic investment and the expansion of the Green

Loop. A group of students advocated for the Logan River in Cache Valley, highlighting how the region's history of burying waterways mirrors similar challenges in Salt Lake City. The class was divided into two groups: the SLC Green Loop and the Cache Valley River Confluence, each with dedicated planning and design teams. Both Salt Lake City and Cache Valley, uniquely positioned within the

Todd Johnson with LAEP 6200 students

Great Basin and its internal drainage system, emphasize the critical importance of water conservation.

Historically, Indigenous peoples interacted with water and land across vast territories with fluid boundaries, enabling reciprocal, seasonal ways of living. However, with the arrival of pioneers in Utah, these interactions changed. Boundaries became rigid, often disregarding natural systems, leading to consolidated growth at the base of the mountains, spreading north to south.

This shift away from natural systems led to the alteration of waterways for infrastructure, diverting them from their paths, covering them, and diminishing their ecological functions. Today, the consequences of these decisions—including the drying of the Great Salt Lake—pose significant challenges that require innovative solutions.

Analyzing Salt Lake City and Cache Valley provides an opportunity to explore these solutions. Salt Lake City, which historically covered its waterways, has embarked on a long, expensive, and complex process of uncovering them and reconnecting their

hydrology with the Jordan River. As part of an effort to enhance greenspace accessibility, the city is developing a Green Loop trail system and public park within its densely developed core.

Cache Valley, with its similar landscape and waterways, stands on the brink of rapid development. The region has an opportunity to learn from Salt Lake City's mistakes. By managing natural resources through modern and practical techniques, its waterways can remain open, flowing, and interconnected. As stewards of the Bear River—the largest tributary to the Great Salt Lake—decisions made in Cache Valley impact not only local residents but also the entire state of Utah.

The Bioregional Analysis and Planning class explored interventions in both regions, seeking solutions that foster human connection, protect vulnerable populations, and celebrate one of the most valuable resources: water. The course provided students with invaluable hands-on experience, preparing them for their future careers and equipping them with the skills to address the complex challenges facing their communities.

Certifying Sustainability: How Students are Shaping Salt Lake City’s Future

Written by Vann Clark, BsEP ‘25 LAEP 6210 (Bioregional Management) taught by Daniella Hirschfield, Assistant Professor

Salt Lake City is experiencing rapid growth and aims to proactively address Utah’s climate and heat-related challenges for its residents. In January 2024, the city adopted a policy requiring all new infrastructure projects exceeding two million dollars to achieve thirdparty sustainability certifications, including Sustainable SITES and LEED certifications. After discussions with city officials and certification experts, students from the Bioregional Management & Planning course developed and voted on proposals focused on either SITES or LEED for Cities certification. Two standout projects were selected and are highlighted below.

Project 1: LEED for Cities & Communities + SITES: Synergies in SLC

Three students investigated synergies between two certification programs offered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): LEED for Cities & Communities and Sustainable SITES. While the USGBC typically provides crosswalk documentation to simplify connections among its certifications, there are no existing guidelines bridging these two systems The students analyzed these alignments, specifically exploring how certain LEED credits can inform

Students visiting Salt Lake City

This studio was one of my favorites in all my years in LAEP.

-Mary Claire Jennings BLA + MsEP

SITES projects and how SITES credits can support LEED certification. Their documentation provides recommended synergies between systems for the USGBC to use in their next public forum concerning changes to their systems.

Salt Lake City is implementing the Green Loop, an initiative designed to connect downtown parks through greenways and public spaces. In alignment with the city's recent sustainability policy, the Green Loop project will pursue SITES certification. Students used this initiative as a practical lens to explore how the Green Loop’s SITES certification could also support Salt Lake City’s progress toward achieving LEED certification.

Project 2: Biochar – Urban Forestry Strategy

Four students explored biochar as a strategic solution to support urban forestry goals and address wood waste issues in Salt Lake City. Biochar, produced by heating organic biomass in lowoxygen conditions through pyrolysis, offers benefits such as carbon sequestration, improved water retention, nutrient enhancement, and pollutant filtering.

The team examined both domestic and international examples of urban biochar programs, exploring different production methods. With insights from the Department of Urban Forestry and the Utah Biomass Resource Group, they identified local demand, estimated costs, and proposed suitable locations for biochar production and educational outreach. Their strategy included actionable recommendations for Salt Lake City, particularly highlighting opportunities for strategic partnerships, as well as the possibility for integrating biochar use into LEED and SITES certification frameworks.

Students presenting in Taggart Student Center at USU

Scholarships 2024-2025

Alanna Nafziger 75th Anniversary Scholarship

Hailey Hicken

Huculak Aggie Family Scholarship

Cameron Hill Craig Johnson Scholarship

Hadley Ocheltree Jackson Family Scholarship

Bolton Midgley

Professor A.A. Heravi LAEP Faculty

Mary Claire Jennings David Bell Scholarship

Mary Claire Jennings Kenji Shiozawa Scholarship

Amaya SimmonsSecord

Professor A.A. Heravi LAEP Faculty Scholarship

Jordan Taft Diversity in LA Scholarship

Sara Harris MLA Class of 1981 Scholarship

Christopher Wilson Utah ASLA Memorial Scholarship

Student Theses and Dissertations

Corinne Bahr, BLA + MsEP '24

The Restorative Design Scale (RDS) An Assessment Guide: Measuring the Potential for Mental Restoration in Urban Green Spaces

Joseph Pancoast, MLA '24

Introduction to Landscape Architecture State Standards and Curriculum for Utah High Schools

Addison Martin, MLA '24

A Framework to Unveil Design Decisions in Ecological Urbanism

Amy Reid, MLA '24

Reframing the Landscape: Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty

Conner Smith, MsEP '24

Examining Support by Residents for Community Scale Wildfire Mitigation Strategies in the Wasatch Front

Randy Smith, MLA '24

The Sustainable Sites Initiative as it Applies to Existing Parks in Logan Utah

Mickey Vigil, MLA '24

Physical Activity in Play Environments Inclusively Designed for Children With and Without Disabilities

Kori Ann Kurtzeborn, MsEP '25

Sustainable Planning in Gateway Natural Amenity Region Communities

Mary Claire Jennings, MsEP '25

Water Efficient Landscaping at Utah State University: Evaluating the “True” Value of the Landscape Resiliency and Drought Plan

From Student to Planner: Creating Better Futures for Small Towns

When Christopher Wilson, MLA ‘25, first heard about Fort Collins, Colorado, he was drawn in by its reputation as a vibrant community. That curiosity led him to pursue an externship there during his third year of school—a decision that would shape the course of Christopher’s career. While networking with local design firms, he stumbled upon an opportunity at Ayres Associates through LinkedIn. Today, Christopher is proud to call himself a community planner with their Fort Collins office.

What makes this role so fulfilling for Christopher, is the blend of planning and design work he gets to do every day. At Ayres, they focus on serving small and rural municipalities across Colorado and Wyoming. These are places where thoughtful planning can make a real, tangible difference. Whether it’s revitalizing a downtown corridor or helping a neighborhood envision a more connected future, he loves knowing that his work is helping improve the quality of life in communities that are often overlooked. In a world that often centers on big cities, Christopher has found purpose in helping small towns dream big.

Chris at the Ayres office

Stock photo of Fort Collins, Colorado

Chris

Internship Experiences

Hailey Hicken, BsEP ‘25 Intern for UDOT

Iinterned for UDOT in the Trails Division. This division was started in 2023 and is focused on planning, designing, and constructing the Utah Trail Network. A network of paved shared-use pathways for anyone of any age or ability.

I learned a lot about the collaborative process of planning. A project of this scale can't be done at solely a state level. It's vital to get local governments and people involved so we can make sure we're fulfilling their needs and creating the best routes possible.

Working for UDOT has solidified my interest in active transportation. It's also given me the unique perspective of seeing a network from a statewide perspective. This will help with seeing outside the scope of a project and looking into how it connects into a broader network.

Lauren Fern Heaton, BLA Student Intern for Green Print Partners in Chicago, Illinois

Iam so excited about the work I will be doing in this internship because of the impact it has. Mainly working with green stormwater infrastructure, this company is able to help communities who need help and are excited about the impact of these systems! I connect with my workplace fully through the people. Having an open and supportive team truly changes the game with opportunity for growth and impact of design. I have applied the technical skills learned in LAEP, but most of all my critical thinking and problem solving skills. I have learned that the professional world doesn’t feel as scary as it looks! Ask questions and learn, learn, learn!

Special Thanks

Jeffrey Datwyler, MLA '92 generously donated twelve boxes of his personal book collection to the department. These resources are a valuable addition to the common studio library, offering students a rich resource for learning and inspiration. We deeply appreciate his generosity and ongoing support for the next generation of landscape architects and environmental planners.

American Planning Association Student Chapter

Written by Vann Clark, APA Student Chapter President

The 2024–2025 academic year marked exciting growth for USU’s student chapter of the American Planning Association (APA). We launched the fall semester with opening socials, campus-wide outreach, and a wellattended BBQ with the ASLA student chapter. In the fall, our Planning Panel featured experts offering invaluable guidance. We welcomed Heather Goetsch from the U.S. Green Building Council, who shared insights into sustainability certification and collaboration, concluding her visit with a scenic Crimson Trail hike alongside chapter members.

Not only did I make new friends but also connected with professionals that I ultimately landed an internship with.

-Cam Hill, BLA student

A highlight of the year was hosting Angela Brooks, National APA President, who discussed national housing issues, participated in a panel, and served as the WiLA+P guest speaker.

We proudly sent five students and our faculty advisor, Daniella, to Denver, where we connected with chapters from across the country and engaged with professionals, including a reunion with Angela. Meeting the University of Utah’s chapter was especially meaningful, allowing us to exchange ideas and strengthen regional connections.

Spring introduced APA Studio Hours, a casual gathering space for planning students. Recognizing the challenges of identifying peers in a dispersed campus setting, since studio classes aren’t as common. We aim to expand these efforts and foster stronger connections.

As a new chapter, this year was full of growth and learning. Looking ahead, we plan to deepen our ASLA partnership, collaborate with more student organizations, and strengthen ties with the Logan community. Alongside attending Utah APA conferences and hosting professional speakers, we’re excited to pursue student-led creative and collaborative projects in the coming year.

APA members and Daniella Hirschfeld with Angela Brooks

Hiking Crimson Trail with Heather Goetsch

Students and Daniella Hirschfeld in Denver

American Society of Landscape Architecture Student Chapter

Written by Kate van der Zalm, ASLA Student Chapter President

This year has been transformative for USU’s Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Student Chapter, from expanding campus outreach to strengthening professional development opportunities.

We kicked off the fall semester with an Opening Social and a hugely successful BBQ at Adams Park, drawing over 100 students – a promising start that set the tone for the year. One of our major goals this year was to increase visibility and participation across campus. For the first time, we participated in the Day on the Quad. We also made appearances at the CAAS BBQ and the Sustainability Fair, allowing us to engage with students from many disciplines.

Professional development was a big focus this year through a series of Lunch and Learn sessions, featuring professionals who shared insights on portfolios, interviewing, and navigating the transition from school to professional practice. We also introduced several new initiatives including organizing professional headshots for members, promoting attendance at Utah ASLA events, and continuing our Snack 101 series, peer-led tutorials on essential tools like Photoshop, InDesign, and LinkedIn.

A major highlight of the year was sending over 25 students to the National ASLA Conference in Washington, D.C, where we networked with peers and professionals nationwide. In keeping with ASLA tradition, we hosted our annual Design Competition, where students submitted crewneck sweatshirt designs. We continued other traditions including our much-loved Holiday party and Portfolio Review night. The latter being one of our most successful events this year. We hope to expand it by inviting more faculty and local professionals to participate. April’s ASLA Week as part of World Landscape Architecture Month included a campus sketch

crawl, a propagation event, a collaborative CREATE brainstorming session, and a canal cleanup in partnership with the City of Logan. We capped off the week with the Utah ASLA Conference in St. George. Our WiLA leadership continued, with Fern Heaton coordinating several successful events including our WiLA panel. We hope to push this position further as a larger role within our department.

Looking forward, we are committed to building on the momentum of this year through expanding participation in CAAS week and Park(ing) Day. The ASLA community here is one that uplifts, inspires, and motivates, and I am proud to call LAEP my home!

Students and faculty at National ASLA Conference in D.C.

Members cleaning up Logan canal

Faculty Updates

David Anderson | Professional Practice Professor & Associate Provost for Community Engagement

Dave continues to coordinate the curriculum for the popular Introduction to Landscape Architecture course. This year, LAEP 1030 was taught face-to-face in two high schools as well as to over 70 students in an online concurrent enrollment format. It’s exciting to share information about LAEP with students in remote rural areas such as Monument Valley, Manila, and Duchesne. In his role in the provost’s office, Dave led the preparation of the Carnegie Community Engaged Institution application.

Brent Chamberlain | Associate Professor

Brent enjoyed his first sabbatical as a visiting professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and as a 2024-2025 Fulbright Scholar in Portugal at the University of Lisbon. He continued working with research assistants on projects funded by the National Science Foundation, The Army Research Laboratory, and the Utah Department of Transportation. His students have published and submitted nine articles and several grants–with four new awards. His team works on vertiport planning (urban air mobility), AI-based mapping to support transportation for persons living with disabilities, landscape perception and planning, and more!

Keith Christensen | Department Head & Co-Interim Department Head for Technology, Design and Technical Education

Keith continues to pursue his lifelong goal of finding satisfaction in administrative paperwork. In addition to serving as Department Head, he remains the Principal Investigator of a major federally funded research initiative examining how the built environment supports community living and participation for individuals with disabilities. Keith also taught landscape grading and drainage, thesis proposal development, and is contributing to several collaborative research efforts exploring the intersection of AI, accessibility, and environmental planning.

Dave

Evans | Professional Practice Professor

Dave teaches foundational graphics and site design courses which emphasize the link between hand graphics and form giving. Dave's Intro to Graphics course emphasizes line hierarchy, grayscale, and mastery of conventions in design and storytelling. In Analysis and Design II, students compete in the annual Dean’s Prize juried competition, which, in its 10th year, focused on planning and design for two projects—Frog Bench Farm, a 5-acre food production facility in Garden City, and the Logan Recreation Complex, a 40-acre site in Logan. The top two teams for each project shared a total award of $4,000.

Benjamin H. George | Associate Professor

Benjamin has continued to research the use of emerging technologies of AI and virtual reality in landscape architecture. He has presented this work at ASLA and international conferences while also mentoring MLA students in both areas. Ben has been visiting zoos as he finalizes his book, Kingdoms of Artifice: Disney's Animal Kingdom and the Contemporary Zoo. He organized the zoo design Charrette in partnership with Studio Hanson | Roberts. Based on that success, plans are already underway to host another zoo design Charrette this fall.

Daniella Hirschfeld | Associate Professor

Daniella's work this year focused on moving existing grants forward and on dissemination of her work at conferences. She made meaningful progress in setting up her work with TreeUtah to support tree plantings in underserved communities throughout Utah. Daniella co-hosted a panel at Utah's ASLA conference. She continued to advance her work on adaptation to sea-level rise and presented at two conferences. Daniella also published an article titled "Practitioners’ Needs for Addressing the Challenges of Sea‐Level Rise—A Qualitative Assessment" in Earth's Future, based on her collaboration with the Aspen Global Change Institute.

Todd Johnson | Associate Professor

Todd provided environmental planning students the opportunity to explore planning and design issues during graduate studio. In the Spring Capstone/Charrette Studio students delved deeply into the growth-driven planning and design issues in Garden City. Todd emphasized community engagement with a commitment to raising awareness of the precious resource that is Bear Lake. E-Studio students took first and third place at the Utah Real Estate Challenge, while other teams placed first in Parkitecture Zoo Competition and submitted to the Museum of Outdoor Art National Parks Competition – expanding the list of competitions garnering student interest and affirming the quality of our students and studio culture.

Caroline Lavoie | Professor

Caroline engages students through immersive, hands-on studio courses. She led Revitalizing Baku’s Historic Quarters, an urban design studio that included a two-week Charrette with 63 students from LAEP and the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction. Caroline was inducted as a Fellow of CELA. She also contributed two chapters—on drawing and exhibition work—to Fieldwork in Landscape Architecture: Methods, Actions, Tools (eds. Thomas Oles and

Carlos V. Licon | Associate Professor & Graduate Program Director

Carlos Licon spent most of his sabbatical year in town, making unexpected appearances in studios and classes throughout the school year. During this time, Carlos worked with graduate students and continued participating in the disability policy and planning project with USU colleagues. Carlos visited Anhalt University of Applied Sciences in Bernburg, Germany in the spring. He co-taught a design studio and lectured in other courses and program seminars. He also participated in a research project on the New European Bauhaus Assessment. After this, Carlos participated in the Digital Landscape Architecture Conference in Dessau.

Sean Michael | Professor

Sean serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the CELA’s Academy of Fellows and oversaw the organization’s first endowment fund to underwrite keynote speakers and awards. He presented at CELA’s Portland conference and co-led a workshop for new academic administrators. His Business Foundations class created business plans and case studies of firms. Sean’s joint appointment in USU’s Outdoor Product Design & Development program involved off-grid travel for over a month in Mexico, where he was immersed in ecotourism and adventure travel economy. He was invited to teach on best practices for backcountry human waste disposal during the Overland Expo trade shows, and was on the Slow Baja podcast and YouTube channel.

Jake Powell | Associate Professor & Extension Specialist

Jake co-instructed the Capstone course and worked to connect students with the residents, visitors, and stakeholders in Garden City through multiple community engagement events and experiences. He taught multiple community workshops on waterwise landscape design principles, permaculture design, and trail design, construction, and maintenance. His efforts to co-direct the Gateway and Natural Amenity Region (GNAR) Initiative were recognized by the National Association of Community Development Professionals through their 2025 National Innovation and Creativity award.

Ole Russell Sleipness | Associate Professor

Ole expanded community engaged projects in studios and was part of the faculty-led study abroad to Italy. He refined two new courses, published several journal articles and conference presentations, and mentored research assistants and students. With colleagues from USU's College of Engineering, he received NSF funding to study planning and design considerations for electric vehicle charging stations, and electric micromobility in national parks and gateway communities. Completing his service as Board Member of the Utah Landscape Architecture Licensing Board, Ole was elected Vice President of Communication for CELA.

Huaqing Wang | Assistant Professor

Huaqing had a productive 2024–25 academic year. She published four peer-reviewed articles, including studies in Landscape and Urban Planning, Environmental Health Perspectives, and The Lancet Planetary Health. She was elected CoChair Elect of the AGU GeoHealth Early Career Committee and served as a guest editor for Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. Her teaching in LAEP 6210 was recognized with the Utah ASLA Award of Excellence. She also became an AICP-certified

Distinguished Alumni 2025

Cari L. Goetcheus, BLA '87

Cari is a historical landscape architect whose career spans over three decades in cultural heritage, specializing in cultural landscape research, documentation, and project management. She’s worked at The Architect’s Collaborative in Boston and held positions with the National Park Service in Atlanta, DC, and Anchorage, where she advanced the Cultural Landscape Inventory program across 396 national parks.

In private practice, Goetcheus contributed to master plans, site designs, construction documents,

initiatives—especially projects involving National Heritage Areas. Her academic career includes teaching landscape architecture and historic preservation at Clemson University and the University of Georgia, with course topics ranging from garden history and rural preservation to cultural landscape conservation and climate heritage.

A key figure in launching the Historic American Landscape Survey (HALS), she has also represented the U.S. on the ICOMOS-IFLA International Scientific Committee on Cultural Landscapes, collaborating globally on heritage issues. Her latest endeavor: co-editing The Routledge Handbook of Cultural Landscape Practice (2023), which explores the intersection of cultural heritage and climate change.

Cover photo from Routledge Handbook

Stephanie

Stephanie, ASLA, AICP is a licensed landscape architect, certified planner, and design leader focused on connecting people, nature, and place.

As a Principal at Design Workshop and a graduate of USU’s MLA program, she brings over 20 years of experience across scales through an approach rooted in ecology, community, and placemaking.

Her award-winning portfolio includes the Dennis T. Machida Memorial Greenway in South Lake Tahoe, which provides critical bike and pedestrian connectivity with ecological restoration, and Cornerstone Park in Henderson, Nevada, a 100-acre public space

that transformed a former gravel pit into a hub for habitat, water quality, and civic life.

She has led planning and design efforts across some of California’s most ecologically and politically complex regions. Her leadership has shaped recreation and resiliency strategies for Mariposa County and Nevada County, advancing wildfireready, equitable access to public lands. In Big Sur, her planning work addresses the environmental pressures of overtourism while safeguarding one of California’s most iconic landscapes.

As a member of the ASLA Climate Action and Biodiversity Committee, serving on the Climate Agency & Community Resilience Subcommittee, she helps guide national approaches to climate adaptation, with a particular focus around climate justice.

Grigsby, MLA '00

South Lake Tahoe's Dennis T Machida Greenway

Speaker Series 2024-2025

James M. Hyatt

Founding Principal at JamesHyatt Studio

Distinguished Alumni Lecture

Therese Graf Design Director at MASS Design Group

Craig Johnson Lecture

David Evans

LAEP Professional Practice Associate Professor at USU

Heather Goetsch Director of Operations and Enablement at USGBC

The Planning Lecture sponsored by Student APA

Angela Brooks, FAICP Director of Corporation for Supportive Housing (Illinois ) and President of American Planning Association

Women in Landscape Architecture Lecture

For speaker information, to join a live lecture, or watch a past lecture visit our website.

David Anderson

LAEP Professional Practice Professor and Associate Provost for Community Engagement at USU

Distinguished Alumni Lecture

Simon Bussiere Associate Professor at University of Hawai'i and Region II Director for CELA

Canyon House Visiting Professor Lecture

Todd Mead Senior Technical Lead at SCAPE

Vern Budge Business Lecture

Joy Kuebler, FASLA & Cheryl Salazar, MPA, CPRP PLAYCE Studio

Heather Henry Vice President of Housing and Childcare at Aspen One

Class of 2025

In Memoriam

A wise man plants trees in shade he will never sit. -Greek Proverb

Jesse Bell

BLA '04

William "Bill" Curran

BLA '71

Blaise Grden

MLA '78

Merritt Wayne Paice

BLA '90

Russell Richards

MLA '68

Jack Zunino

MLA '85

Please note, this list was provided by the Office of Advancement at Utah State University, and includes individuals with a recorded death date between July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025.

QANR.USU.EDU/LAEP