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Redesigning Home By Zac Lemoine
“The opportunity to design something special for Louisiana, where our roots run deep, was truly a dream come true“
Incorporating fun with functionality can be a challenge, but one LSU alumna is doing just that by applying her expertise in Jefferson Parish. Rebecca Bradley graduated from LSU’s Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture in 2001 and co-founded Cadence, a full-service planning and landscape architecture firm headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Although based in Florida, Bradley, a native of Shreveport, La., keeps close ties to home. She recently won the first prize of $30,000 in a national design competition in Jefferson Parish, La., for the redesign of the West Esplanade Drainage Canal – beating seven other design firms from around the country with her plan to convert the canal into a usable green space. “For this specific project, we sought to utilize the same creative approach that we offer all our clients,” said Bradley. “But the opportunity to design something special for Louisiana, where our roots run deep, was truly a dream come true.” The canal, which was functional but not very attractive, spans a 2.4 mile long stretch in Jefferson Parish and is surrounded by residential and commercial land. Cadence’s comprehensive solution provided space for community events, a playground and several educational components including a pilot bioswale program that filters stormwater runoff, minimizing the contaminants drained into the canal. Rebecca Bradley “It was essential that we create a responsible design solution that incorporated components of fun,” said Bradley. “Louisiana’s unique culture emphasizes the joy of life, so we wanted to provide Jefferson Parish with an environmental asset to display that.” The plan strives to unite the strengths of the project site with the vivacity of the local community and inspire a renewed sense of pride in the West Esplanade Canal. “Louisiana has a unique culture,” said Bradley. “We do like to socialize and have a good time.” Bradley is keeping busy. Cadence is currently working on residential and commercial design projects throughout Louisiana, Florida, and the Bahamas. Zac Lemoine, a May 2010 mass communication graduate, is a student writer in the Office of Communications & University Relations. ON THE WEB www.landscape.lsu.edu
Several other Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture alums also garnered high honors in the Jefferson Parish project competition. Winners of the second prize of $5,000 were Dana Brown (1979 BACH A&D), Chris Africh (2009 BACH A&D), and Madeline Suba Ellis (2006 BACH A&D) of Baton Rouge-based Brown Danos Land Design. Winners of the third prize of $5,000 were Christine Forsman (1999 MAST A&D), Brian Goad (2003 BACH A&D), Jenny Harbourt (2002 BACH A&D), Stephen Rust (2007 BACH A&D), Beth Sansovich (2008 BACH A&D), and Bill Reich (1976 BACH A&D), of Reich Associates of Baton Rouge; Max Conrad, professor of landscape architecture; Alissa Gros (2004 BACH A&D) and Scott Nesbit (19897 BACH AGR, 1991 MAST AGR) of the Baton Rouge firm Natural Resource Professionals.
74 LSU Alumni Magazine | Fall 2011