SPRING 2014
ANNUAL AWARDS ISSUE OUR BENEFIT FROM NATURE DROUGHT & WATER CONSERVATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS SPRING 2014
FEATURE: 2014 AzASLA AWARDS
20
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE AARON ALLAN
03
IN THE NEWS AZASLA EVENTS
04
MEMBER PROFILE MEET CRAIG CORONATO
07
DROUGHT & WATER CONSERVATION ED MULREAN
08
STUDENT CORNER NEWS FROM ASU AND U OF A
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GREEN TOOLS FOR FUNDING URBAN TRANSFORMATION JOY LYNDES
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O U R B E N E F IT F R O M E N C OU N T ERS W ITH NATURE MARK SODEN
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AzASLA SPONSORS THREE SCIENCE EVENTS MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE OLYMPIAD
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2012 LEGACY PROJECT UPDATE A HUERTA FOR METRO TECH
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C O V E R : M O N U M E N T VA L L E Y
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Aaron Allan President-Elect Karen Cesare Treasurer Rick Campbell
MEMBER AT LARGE EX-OFFICIO Central Section Chair Elect Allyce Hargrove Southern Section Chair Lauren Harvey
Secretary Laura Paty
Southern Section Chair Elect Laura Mielcarek
Trustee Jim Coffman
Chapter Administrator Karla Hunt
Central Section Chair Duane Blossom 2 | MESQUITE JOURNAL
Advocacy Chair Craig Coronato
Public Awareness Irene Ogata
Chapter Archivist Kathy Emery
University Relations Rebecca Fish-Ewan - ASU
Communications Chair Taylor Hawkins
University Relations Lauri Johnson - U of A
HALS Gina Chorover Fellows Chair Jason Harrington
ASU Student Chapter President Jesse Westad/Alex Buckley U of A Student Chapter President Bri Lehman
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” - Benjamin Franklin
AARON ALLAN, RLA, ASLA
Perhaps this is an odd quote to see in the Mesquite Journal under
the President’s address but let me weave my way through and around these words of wisdom from one of the great founding fathers. First, this quote plain and simply always brings a smile to my face. I can just picture Ben sitting around with George, Thomas, and who knows, maybe they even let John Hancock join them, sharing in a celebratory beer. And what could be more worth celebrating than a final draft of the Declaration of Independence; I’m sure that more than a couple of beers probably helped with the creative aspect writing of that very document. But the point is that they had been through a tough time, knew that they still had a tough road ahead, but they took the time to celebrate with good friends and fellow companions of a like cause. Some of my fondest memories have been celebrating good news, small victories, and life in general over a pint of finely crafted microbrew. Our profession, our work lives, our home lives, the rest of the world’s lives for that matter, were terribly impacted by a downright crappy economy over the past few years. Well good news! Things are picking up. I’ve spoken with contractors, city employees, developers, and other practitioners and outlooks are, dare I say it, optimistic. People are becoming busy again. Graduating students are actually finding jobs, in this profession and not at some mall pretzel cart. If that isn’t news worthy of celebrating I’m not sure what is. This 2014 Gala was able to showcase several “victories”, great projects that came to fruition even during tough times. As we move forward into this next year and years to come. Let’s not forget to celebrate the good times, the victories, the happy moments of life together. Another thing about this quote is that supposedly its actually a mis-quote or a misunderstanding of the actual phrasing. Some folks state that it actually said “wine” instead of “beer.” That’s okay because I like a good glass of Pinot Noir just as well as an IPA, but it brings to light the issue of being misunderstood. Unfortunately as a profession we are quite misunderstood. I did a Google image search of “Landscape Architect” one day and do you know what came up? Lots, and lots, and lots of pictures of plans. They were nice plans, don’t get me wrong, rendered very nicely, but it appears that we are a faceless profession. Conversely do a Google image
FELLOWS Theodore Walker E. Lynn Miller William Havens Katherine Emery Steve Martino Kenneth Brooks James Wheat Heather Kinkade Janice Cervelli Kristina Floor Christopher Brown Richard Mayer H. Duane Blossom Ronald Royce Stoltz
search on “Doctor” or “Lawyer” or “Architect” for that matter and you actually get pictures of people showing up. Hopefully this is something we can begin to change. It always amazes me when you get someone’s “story” of how they came to landscape architecture; I say “came” to landscape architecture because it always seems that we find ourselves here by some circuitous route. I personally was on my way to becoming a doctor, about two years into a biochemistry degree, when I diverged down the LA path by taking a botany class as an elective. One class led to another, then another, and before you know it I was a landscape architect junkie. But my point is that many of us never even heard of this wonderful career path until well after high school and this needs to change. We have the opportunity as individuals to further the education of the public at large with every meeting we attend; at every family gathering when we get to explain to uncle Jim that “no, we don’t spray weeds” we help to create the built environment and these wonderful public and private spaces that he enjoys everyday. As a Chapter at the local level we have begun to take some steps to further this public education with a rotating display of projects that have an impact on the local community. At a National level the Advocacy Day in May will be taking issues such as small business and complete streets to our Senators and Representatives to let them know the transformation that can occur to a community by the touch of a landscape architect. My goal over the next year is to reach a younger generation of students; be it at the high school, junior high school, or elementary level, and let them know how they can meld their love of art and science into a truly fulfilling career path. So, we dove down the rabbit hole and hopefully you followed the trail back out with me. Let’s not forget where we came from, have the courage to face the future, and be inspired by the next generation. Here’s to a wonderful and prosperous 2014.
Aaron Allan AzASLA President (2014-15)
MEMBERSHIP ANNIVERSARIES 50 YEARS Theodore Walker
Michael Park
30 YEARS Nicholas Blake
Michael Buschbacher
25 YEARS Barton Brown Kristina Floor T. Barnabas Kane Jackie Keller 20 YEARS John Douglas John Hucko
15 YEARS
Russell Greey John Gilmore Seth Placko Darlene Showalter Seth Placo Andrew Staples Robert Watkins 10 YEARS Denise Dunlop
Craig Johnson Zac Koceja Larry Kornegay Walt Kinsler Michelle Madsen Jerry Moar Lan Nguyen Laura Wehler Donna Winters 5 YEARS Ellen Alster Andrew Baron Rebecca Blacher
Gail Brinkmann Kaylee Colter Helen Erickson
Bethany Johannessen Ron Landon Karen Nyhus
Irene Ogata Ran Ran Rayka Robrecht Jeff Stein Philip Van Wyck Gary Worth Yenniffer Yarosz
MESQUITE JOURNAL | 3
AzASLA IN THE NEWS
05.21.13
F E L L O W S C O M M I T T E E F O R 2 0 1 4 C R E AT E D Jason Harrington, RLA, ASLA accepts the role as Chair of the Fellows Committee for the Arizona Chapter. Goals include growing the list of Arizona Fellows from the current number of 16. ASLA has 4 categories of Fellowship which include Works, Leadership / Management, Knowledge, and Service, which starts with nomination at the local level to those who meet the eligibility requirements. The Fellow’s committee will annually nominate local candidates who then prepare a 5 page application that is submitted
11.17.13
TWO FELLOW INDUCTEES At the Annual Meeting held in Boston two Arizona chapter members, Duane Blossom and Ronald Stoltz, were elevated to the Council of Fellows. For much of Duane’s professional career of nearly 50 years, he has focused his attention on place-making for projects that make a significant contribution to the community at large. His role has been that of leader of the design process using critical thinking and visual communication graphics as tools to define the program and establish goals and objectives that are unique to each project.
11.19.13
Ron has seamlessly integrated his career and personal outreach to build better communities through his service of promoting the education of landscape architecture and also educating the communities where he has lived about how landscape architecture affects our lives daily. His leadership, mentorship and guidance has tirelessly and effectively planted seeds of community improvement and betterment through affecting policy change to providing landscape design communication nexus with on-the-ground implementation.
AARON ALLAN BECOMES PRESIDENT OF AzASLA Aaron Allan from J2 Engineering and Environmental Design became the Arizona ASLA president after a special election. Aaron’s learning curve for presidency was acute due to a shortened President-Elect term. The Executive Committee revised the term for presidency from past terms to be one year as president elect, one year as president, and one year as past president. Aaron will be the first AzASLA president to serve with the new shortened term. The Executive Committee’s
03.01.14
to National every Spring. Approved candidates will receive notification of their acceptance to the Council of Fellows and are inducted at each National Conference and are then entitled to use the credentials FASLA to reflect this recognition of exceptional accomplishments. With Jason’s guidance the Arizona Chapter can look forward to growing the list of Arizona Fellows and building our State’s recognition as a community of leaders of the Landscape Architecture profession.
goal in shortening the term was to encourage greater participation in the governance of AzASLA as well to ensure the influx of fresh ideas to the chapter.
ADVOCACY BOARD TOUR The Arizona ASLA advocacy projects, specifically those committee hosted a rotating highlighting: Innovative Water exhibit throughout the state and Stormwater Solutions. of Arizona from July, 2013 to Sustainable Design and March, 2014 in preparation Energy Conservation. for a collaborative alliance Land Conservation and legislative brunch at the Historic Preservation. Green capital. The exhibits included Infrastructure / Complete 20 boards showcasing Streets. Safe Routes to firms, organizations, and/ School. Livable Communities. or individuals and their Park Revitalization. work related to public works Transportation.
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MEMBER PROFILE CRAIG CORONATO, FASLA, LEED-AP LOGAN SIMPSON DESIGN, INC. ASLA MEMBER SINCE: 1987 BIRTHDAY: April 25 HOMETOWN: Huntington, NY YEARS IN ARIZONA: 1 Years FIRST JOB: JBK Landscape, Denver, CO
Why did you become a landscape architect? My career in landscape architecture has been a journey that I would gladly do over again. I was inspired to get a BLA at Syracuse after neither “getting” civil engineering (calculus really) nor getting really excited about biology as a major. The combination of applying creative solutions in the outdoors was, and still is, compelling, and motivates me to this day. After graduating college I bought a one way ticket to Denver, a place that I wanted to live ever since visiting as a kid. It was what I perceived to be a laid back and creative culture, as well as unparalleled access to the outdoors that attracted me there. Work in design/build only lasted for about 1-1/2 years before the economy tanked. My wife and I were offered an opportunity to move back to Long Island, NY, where I was able to begin my career in design at Ward Associates, a small LA-multi-disciplinary firm. What types of work do you do? After 14 years in NY designing mostly parks, athletic facilities and playgrounds, and in an improving economy, we moved back to Colorado, where we wanted to raise our two children. In Denver I had the privilege of working with some great firms doing nationally recognized work, including EDAW/AECOM, BRW/URS and Wenk Associates. During that time I managed multidisciplinary teams on such projects as the Stapleton and Lowry redevelopments in Denver (EDAW and Wenk), the Woonbuk Cityscape in Incheon, S Korea, and Yangtze Riverfront Master Plan in Chong Ching, China (EDAW), the Great River Passage Master Plan in St. Paul, MN and Confluence Park in Denver (Wenk). Each of these projects applied sustainable principles to complex development problems, with strong stakeholder and/or public input. How long have you been in Arizona? Although I had travelled to all 50 states, and spent a good part of a year working in China, I had never visited the Valley before my wife accepted a promotion at her company in 2012. At that time I was able to reach out to some of my talented former EDAW/AECOM colleagues and find a great home at Logan Simpson Design in Tempe. Built on a solid foundation of design and environmental and cultural
resource planning, LSD has a unique interdisciplinary work environment, a regional practice and a wide variety of projects and clients, both public and private. The firm is driven to provide high quality, responsive design, in a collaborative environment. What has been on of your biggest challenges in your career? I’ve been active in ASLA since I lived in New York, serving as Chapter President there in 1998. After moving to Colorado I became interested in a nascent chapter initiative to regain licensure (which it had lost after a Sunset Review in the mid ‘70s). For about 7 years I coordinated the effort to muster support, raise money, hire lobbyists and write legislation that, eventually resulted in Colorado becoming one of the last states to require a license to practice. This effort required extraordinary support from the chapter, national ASLA, firms, landscape architects, and even other professional organizations such as AIA. It also required patience and persistence. First we developed a Sunrise proposal that was screened by the state’s regulatory authority. This required us to demonstrate how the practice of landscape architecture affects the health, safety and welfare of the general public. Despite the regulator’s opposition, we were able to secure the support of several key legislators and put together a bill. The first bill was killed in committee. After waiting out a year the next bill made it though both house and senate, only to be vetoed by the governor. We had to get a new governor before we were finally able to run a successful bill in 2007. It was a great lesson on how our government works and how we can influence it. What do you enjoy most about being a landscape architect? What I enjoy most about my work as a landscape architect is the wide range of ways that we can affect the outcome of issues and challenges. Our Clients appreciate how we develop solutions that add value and improve quality of life. Our gift is the ability to study, define, and execute each project in a unique way, translating imagination into reality, and integrating art and science. MESQUITE JOURNAL | 7
F E AT U R E
DROUGHT & WATER CONSERVATION IN THE DES E RT S O U T H W EST B Y: E D M U L R E A N , P h . D .
A famous quote goes, “the West
grows where the water flows”. The sweeping ground water laws enacted by the Arizona legislature in the late 1970’s forced communities to examine the ways water was used in our homes and businesses and to look for ways to conserve this precious and critical
natural resource. Since the mid 1980’s landscape professionals (landscape architects, growers, contractors, and water conservation officials) have worked to develop educational materials, new technologies, native plant pallets and new methods for planting and irrigation. Part of this effort has been driven by a genuine desire to create a sense of place in desert communities, to develop a landscape aesthetic that reflects and compliments the beauty of the surrounding desert. The specter of significant water shortages and the potential economic consequences of a catastrophic drought certainly provided additional motivation. The term “drought tolerant” has been used to describe a wide assortment of trees and shrubs, yet few, other than those indigenous to desert habitats, have been truly tested. Drought tolerant has always been a descriptive term more than a technical or scientific one and has generally been used to describe plant materials that tolerate desert conditions with moderate irrigation. In the years immediately following the implementation of stringent water conservation measures, Tucson residents learned firsthand how quickly and severely landscape planting could be adversely affected by true 8 | MESQUITE JOURNAL
“drought” conditions. Criteria used to develop the various regional and state wide “approved” tree and shrub lists assumed that the species were drought tolerant based on their historic use in the landscape with little scientific data and, with the exception of desert natives, limited field or observational data under real drought conditions.
influence over the final composition of the landscape. If landscapes are to be a proud legacy of the builders, designers, contractors and their communities, they must be durable and retain their beauty and vitality in what can be, at times, an extremely harsh environment.
In the Spring 2004 issue of The Plant Press, Nancy Morin writes in her article titled, “The Implications of a Long-term Drought on Arizona Flora,” that the last 200 years in the American Southwest have been uncharacteristically wet, especially the last 20. By contrast, she reports that based on tree ring data from Northern Arizona, 2002 was the driest year in 1700 years. This research found the southwest has experienced dry periods lasting for 20 years and within these dry periods are sporadic wet interludes. From a historical prospective, it’s believed that drought contributed to the demise of the Casa Grande/Hohokam cultures in the 1400’s and prior to that the “Great Drought” which began in the late 1200’s lasted nearly a century.
Desert dwellers have always understood aridity, the natural and often severe heat and dryness associated with their surroundings. Less appreciated is the fact that, even in these austere conditions, significant and protracted drought can and will occur. In the decades since the Arizona Ground Water Laws were enacted, Arizona’s professional horticulture community has worked diligently and made enormous strides in the effort to conserve water use in our landscape. From 2000 to 2013, depending on who is doing the reporting, rainfall data across the desert southwest has, typically, been below (or well below) historic averages and frequently approached drought conditions. If a sense of complacency or indifference has crept into our view of water conservation in the landscape, it has come at the worst possible time.
While landscape architecture is a unique combination of fine art, design, horticulture and construction, the business of ornamental horticulture, including landscape design, is ultimately a service industry. Clients, whether commercial, residential or municipal, exert enormous
Water is, and always will be, a precious commodity in desert communities. The fact that we are in the midst of one of the longest droughts since the dust bowl era of the 1920 and 30s, further underscores the wisdom of desert-adapted landscape themes. Continued on Page 11
student
CORNER
FROM THE VOICES OF ASU AND UofA
ASU By: Jesse Westad, ASU Student ASLA President
Some people may point to the Lamborghini that sits in Ted Cook’s driveway, the Ferrari that Joe Ewan cruises down Apache Blvd in, or Jim Coffman’s private jet and say that the faculty at Arizona State are more than compensated for their obligations to the students as well as to the University. I merely reply with the fact that you have never had to spend three weeks with me in Central America or field three plus year’s worth of calls and emails about my extracurricular activities. In my opinion the faculty and supporting staff at least deserve a new house to go along with their brand new ride. The strength of the faculty lies in the conglomeration of both full time educators and local professionals. Through this team, students are able to develop a well rounded skill set. ASU faculty bring in real clients and real projects to help push the students past their comfort level and think beyond just an idealistic solution. For example, Kristian Kelley’s class is working with the City of Goodyear on a demonstration research garden and Ted Cook’s class worked with the City of Mesa on solutions to their downtown area to name a few. This year the student chapter has brought in guest speakers ranging from technical experts like Mike Lin and Adam Tate to local nonprofit leaders like Ryan Wood from Watershed Management Group. Upon the success of last year’s mentorship program, Denise Dunlop has again donated her time to help organize this mammoth undertaking as well as the countless hours local professionals have devoted to keep the program going outside of their busy work schedule. Apart from these amazing resources, students have also taken it upon themselves to supplement their education through the Cooperative Extension office in courses such as Master Watershed Steward Program and Advanced Smartscape, as well as certifications in the Permaculture Drylands Course through the VPA.
attendance and took home another national award. George Hull has his San Francisco Garden Show crew geared up for another amazing design-build. The MicroDwell Showcase provided an opportunity for many students to design and build their own environmentally friendly space. Landscape architecture proved to be a winning design of the SHADE house in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon competition. Also, if you look towards the roof of the design school you can see the beginnings of a green wall research project taking form to test the viability they can play in the arid southwest. Most importantly with all the opportunities given to the students in the landscape architecture program they still feel their biggest goal is to use their knowledge and tools to give back to the community through volunteer work. New trees are currently in the ground due to work with the Citizen Forestry Program, Boyce Thompson Arboretum has felt the clean up from students and is looking forward to a design competition for a new addition. Graduate students have been heavily involved on Centennial Trail and teaming with the Three Rivers Historical Society on finding a design solution to their project. Also thousands of gallons of polluted stormwater are now being cleaned and helping to provide habitat due to countless sweat equity hours with Watershed Management Group. So here we are, coming to another end of a school year, the 22nd class of BSLA students and relatively new 4th class of MLA students will hit the streets upon graduation to carve their own niche in the field of landscape architecture. Through our journey we have shared tears, laughter, and maybe just a couple of hours of sleep if we were lucky. The economy finally seems on the upturn and the potential is far brighter with the collection of minds, hope, and determination that make up the landscape architecture program at Arizona State University. GO SUN DEVILS!
UofA By:Bri Lehman, UofA Student ASLA President
The students at the University of Arizona have had a busy year, stretching our imaginations and design skills to address new problems and ideas. Since last year’s AzASLA gala, an interdisciplinary group of landscape architecture and architecture students traveled over the summer to Hong Kong for an urban design practicum, addressing the unique problems and needs of the last remaining fishing village in Hong Kong. Our studio outreach program, 3rd Floor Studio, had the opportunity to work with Tumamoc Hill in designing an entry garden for a proposed tea room and visitor’s center. 3rd Floor Studio also worked with Kellond Elementary school in Tucson to redesign some of their outdoor spaces in an effort to create more learning and recreational opportunities for the students as part of the annual Cats in the Community, a university-wide outreach day. 3rd Floor Studio is currently working on a Demonstration Garden Competition with ASU and MCC at Boyce Thompson Arboretum to show homeowners the potential they have for sustainable design in their own yards. Community outreach continued in a planting design course, with students proposing solutions for a little-used courtyard at a new experiential charter school, Sky Islands High School, as well as a new design for the entry of Himmel Park Library. One studio addressed the EPA’s annual Campus RainWorks Challenge, while another studio is currently working on the proposed I-11 corridor, reimagining infrastructure for the 21st century. Our 3rd year students are hard at work on their master’s reports, investigating topics ranging from green infrastructure and urban agriculture to reconnecting fragmented communities and reimagining historic landscapes. Our program is striving to connect more with the professional community, and our students are looking forward to that continued interaction.
As you can tell with such a light workload and available billable hours remaining for a typical 50 hour work day, ASU students still look into filling up their time by flexing their muscle in competitions. At the national conference in Boston, ASU students had another strong showing both with MESQUITE JOURNAL | 9
F E AT U R E
Green Tools for Fundin g Ur ban Tr ansf or m at i on Ke eping an E y e o n Wh a t ’s Ou tsid e th e Bo x B Y: J o y Ly n d e s , R L A , A S L A , A I A
Did you know that a recent National
Research Council study concluded that 42% of all urban land will be redeveloped by the year 2030? The Census Department also reports that by 2030, our population will grow by 20% and by 40% by the year 2050. Our opportunity is here - to advance green infrastructure as an important component in shaping community urban redevelopment – and to improve community health. Let’s ask these questions: Does our community have a greenprint or green infrastructure plan? What are the new ideas that will guide policy? Who is funding change, and are we at the table driving decisions? “Just as you would not build a house without a Blueprint, we should not continue to build our communities without a Greenprint,” said Chuck Flink, FASLA, Founder and President of Greenways Incorporated and co-author of two awardwinning books about greenways and trails. Urban redevelopment will be driven by policy and funding. Learn the language of policy and funding, and use it to build green infrastructure. If you understand the tools and are engaged, you will make a difference. TOOL #1: Red Fields to Green Fields (RF2GF) is an innovative funding model, developed out of Georgia Tech Research Institute with support from the Speedwell Foundation. It’s exploring the feasibility of turning real estate that is “in the red” into green parks using innovative funding strategies for the acquisition of underutilized and vacant commercial properties, and eventual conversion to parks and open space or redevelopment to relieve banks of their bad assets. The objective: provide low-cost loans via a land bank and parkland acquisition fund provided by the nation’s banking system and led by the Federal Reserve, Treasury, and FDIC. Funding could also come from creative financing options such as tax credits, leveraged with local equity capital. In 2011 the City of Phoenix RF2GF program was presented by Chris Ewell, City of Phoenix Landscape Architect, at an Educational Session
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at the ASLA AZ Chapter Annual Gala. Phoenix is one of the 11 cities identified to implement signature pilot projects, and even though according to Chris it has not advanced significantly over the past year, an assessment report has been completed which identifies opportunities http://rftgf.org/PP/pdf-presentations/ CityStudies/Phoenix.pdf In 2012 a RF2GF presentation was led by Catherine Nagel, City Parks Alliance Executive Director, at the ASLA National Conference. Since then according to Catherine, the cities involved in the research have been pushing projects forward, and the Federal Reserve and land bank community have been recently re-engaged. For more go to www. redfieldstogreenfields.org TOOL #2: For the past few years the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Wastewater Management has awarded grants to communities to implement green infrastructure, to protect water quality and build more sustainable communities. The EPA Green Infrastructure Technical Assistance Program (GITP) provides assistance to help communities overcome the most significant barriers to green infrastructure, and to develop innovative approaches to implementation. This assistance helps cities meet multiple environmental, social, and economic goals and is expected to produce valuable policy
and finding tools. Pima County Regional Flood Control District was awarded one of these grants in 2013 for assistance completing a green infrastructure guidance manual addressing selection, design, construction, and maintenance of green infrastructure practices. The City of Phoenix was awarded one of these grants in 2012 for the report: Green Infrastructure Barriers and Opportunities in Phoenix, Arizona (PDF), which examines the compatibility of green infrastructure practices with zoning and development codes in an urban, arid environment. This report identifies provisions in Phoenix’s plans, policies, and codes that either support or present barriers to green infrastructure, recommends code changes that address barriers to green infrastructure and strengthen opportunities for green infrastructure implementation. For more information http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/ greeninfrastructure/gi_support. cfm#2014TechnicalAssistance Our opportunity to lead the transformation of our Cities is here. Continue to drive the discussion about green infrastructure. Build the greenprint legacy and transform our urban landscape.
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Continued from Page 8. The beauty of these designs, when well executed, speaks for themselves. While some designs clearly need to consider adjacent landscapes, desert trees and plants, when utilized properly, blend seamlessly with any surroundings. In recent decades increasing numbers of local, regional and national design award programs have recognized the beauty, creativity, originality and appropriateness of desert adapted landscapes with their highest honors. Developments should always consider the advantages of desert themed designs when selecting landscape palettes for public and private projects.
The desert we call home is intrinsically beautiful. Desert trees and shrubs, which are more acclimated and drought tolerant, reflect this beauty and a sense of place not otherwise attainable. In the Southwest, we all share the opportunity to celebrate and embrace our desert surroundings by fostering and creating landscape designs that reflect this uniquely beautiful region. These landscapes can either be a testament to our aesthetic, wisdom and stewardship of a precious resource in a harsh and challenging environment or an indication of our failure to plan.
M E S Q U I T E J O U R N A L | 11
F E AT U R E
Our Health, Well-being and Spirit Benefit from Encounters with Nature B Y: M a r k S o d e n
In Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, people
stresses of urban life. A growing body of recent research confirms Olmsted’s belief and shows that contact with the natural world improves physical and psychological health. Spending time outside in a garden or other nature area has been shown to positively affect a person’s emotions and improve their sense of well-being. Access to nature balances circadian rhythms, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress and increases absorption of Vitamin D. Nature has been shown to be beneficial for our overall health and well-being.
sense can help strengthen the activities of the right hemisphere of the brain, and trek into the heart of the forest to take a restore harmony to the functions of the “forest bath” by breathing in the volatile brain as a whole”. Two professors of substances, called phytoncides (wood psychology at the University of Michigan, essential oils), which are antimicrobial Rachel and Stephen Kaplan, wrote in a organic compounds derived from trees. paper entitled The Experience of nature: A Forest bathing is a recognized relaxation Psychological Perspective, (1989), people and/or stress management activity in have a more positive outlook on life and Japan. In Germany, children attend “forest higher life satisfaction when in proximity to kindergartens” where they spend all or nature, particularly in urban areas.” Even most of the day outside because it has with the significant amount of research on been shown to have a positive impact on the subject, Robert Louv in his book, The their development. As of 2005, there were Nature Principle states: “we have yet to over 450 forest kindergartens in Germany. Edward O. Wilson, in his book, Biophilia fully realize, or even adequately study, the These activities exemplify some innovative (1984) popularized the “biophilia enhancement of human capacities through ways people are becoming reconnected hypothesis” suggesting there is an the power of nature”. If the research that’s to nature. Our affinity for nature and our instinctive bond between human beings currently available is correct, homes understanding of the benefits it provides is and other living systems. He defines neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, not new. Central Park in New York was built biophilia as “the urge to affiliate with other suburbs and communities should be in part, due to Frederick Law Olmsted’s forms of life”. The Deakin University School designed to provide more opportunities for convincing arguments related to the many of Health and Social Development, issued people to connect with nature. positive impacts parks have on the lives a report entitled: “Healthy Parks, Healthy of urban dwellers. He believed the park People” in 2008. The report concluded that Hospitals and other healthcare facilities would improve public health and relieve the “the experience of nature in a neurological such as skilled nursing homes, assisted
The view to nature from the lobby Vi Living, Scottsdale 12 | MESQUITE JOURNAL
In the book Healing Gardens: Therapeutic Benefits and Design Recommendations, by Clare Cooper Marcus and Marni Barnes (1999), the authors claim the importance of using nature as a healing environment is even spreading beyond individual healthcare facilities. “The organization that accredits 85 percent of U.S. acute-care hospitals now requires that for certain patient groups (pediatrics, long-term care)
and those experiencing long stays, the hospital provide “access to the outdoors through appropriate use of hospital grounds, nearby parks and playgrounds, and adjacent countryside”.
FA C E T S
living residences, continuing care retirement communities, out-patient cancer centers, hospice residences have been the first to respond to the research on the benefits of interacting with nature by developing gardens designed to promote mental or physical health and healing as well as specialized gardens that benefit people with Alzheimer’s, dementia, cancer, and post-traumatic stress syndrome. A considerable amount of research supports the position that views of or access to, nature has a positive effect on health outcomes and physical and visual connections to the natural environment provide social, psychological and physical benefits for hospital patients, staff and visitors.
As opportunities to experience nature are becoming harder to find, our lives are becoming more dominated by technology. Richard Louv in his 2005 book Last Child in the Woods coined the phrase “nature deficit disorder” to describe how human beings, especially children, are spending less time outdoors resulting in a wide range of behavioral problems. He said the causes are the loss of natural surroundings in a child’s neighborhood and city and the increased draw to spend more time inside. With the advent of the computer, video games, and television children give kids more and more reasons to stay inside - the average American child spends 44 hours a week with electronic media. Continued on Page 15
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AzASLA Sponsors Three Science Events Middle S c h o o l S c i e n c e O l y m p ia d B Y: K A R E N C E S A R E , R L A
What happens to the landscape when glaciers retreat? How does acidification of the oceans impact coral reefs? Questions like these were part of events at the 2014 Arizona Science Olympiad recently.
the first place trophy. All together over 1000 people, students, parents and volunteers participated in this event. Individual event winners received medals or ribbons and earn points for their school.
As part of AZASLA’s continuing outreach and education efforts, the Executive Committee agreed to sponsor three events in the 2014 Arizona Science Olympiad State Tournament for Division B (Middle School.) The Tournament was held March 1, 2014 at Mountainside Middle School in Scottsdale.
AZASLA’s sponsorship included providing cash prizes for the first and second place teams in ewach sponsored event. First place teams received $50.00 for each member and second place teams received $25.00 for each member. One hundred percent of our sponsorship money went directly to the students. In addition, the students received a Certificate of Achievement signed by both Aaron Allan, President, and Karen Cesare, President-elect.
Science Olympiad is a national program that attracts the best and brightest students for academic competitions around STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) subjects. Science Olympiad involves students teaming up to compete in several of the twentythree events offered each year. Events are designed around the topics of genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, mechanical engineering and technology. (Source: Science Olympiad website) As the first year of involvement, AZASLA sponsored three events: •
Dynamic Planet, which involved glaciers;
•
Road Scholar, which included map reading and interpretation and;
•
Water Quality, which applied ecological principals to estuaries and marine ecosystems.
AZASLA received special recognition at the awards ceremony and Karen Cesare was able to introduce AZASLA to over 1000 people in attendance. AZASLA was recognized with each sponsored event. Just as landscape architects know that many of our projects can take years before their full potential is realized, so it is with this new relationship. It is important to realize the benefit of continuous sponsorship of this event over time will help develop a new generation of young students who have heard about landscape architecture at an age when they are still forming their ideas for their future.
For More information about Science Olympiad visit the website www.soinc.org . Winners of AZASLA Sponsored Events: Dynamic Planet: •
1st: Paragon Science Academy Maddie Pangan and Rifa Vhora
•
2nd: Estrella Mountain Elementary School Jordan McKelvey and Emily Homes
Road Scholar: •
1st: Estrella Mountain Elementary School Simur Khurana and Seth Filo
•
2nd: Paragon Science Academy Hudhayfa Rathore and Kender Vargas
Water Quality: •
1st: Acceraled Learning Lab – Omega Andrew Rhonehouse and Cooper Fraser
•
2nd: Esperero Canyon MiddleSchool Courtney Henderson and Anu Sethuraman
Side Note: Karen Cesare has been involved as a volunteer with Science Olympiad for several years as a coach and Event Supervisor for Forestry in 2013 and Entomology in 2014.
The events were selected because they all have a connection to the practice of Landscape Architecture. By sponsoring these events AZASLA promotes the profession to the students, as well as their parents, teachers and other volunteer participants. The goal is to broaden the general public’s view of our profession by associating Landscape Architecture with events like Science Olympiad. Additionally, by exposing middle school students to the profession, they may be more likely to consider majors in Landscape Architecture when they get to college. (Which will be in five to seven years for these students.) Thirty-two schools from all over Arizona participated in this year’s tournament. Approximately 500 students spent a rainy Saturday competing in teams of two in up to 5 events each to see which school would win 14 | MESQUITE JOURNAL
Top row: Science Olympiad group photo; 1st place Dynamic Planet award winners. Bottom Row: 1st & 2nd place Water Quality award winners; 1st & 2nd place Road Scholar award winners.
Continued from Page 13.
for nature in our daily lives and the renature movement by expressing a new Louv believes that attention disorders and sense of purpose when designing trails, depression may develop from the loss of paths, gardens and parks. We should natural surroundings and the increased be leaders in educating clients and the amount of time spent indoors. He states: general public regarding the importance “It’s a problem because kids who don’t get of providing opportunities for people to nature-time seem more prone to anxiety, access and reconnect with nature in our depression and attention-deficit problems”. neighborhoods, schools, workplaces and Louv suggests that going outside and being our communities. Landscape architects in the quiet and calm can help greatly. should promote natural corridors for animal According to a University of Illinois study, migration, protect endangered species, interaction with nature has proven to integrate gardens that produce local food, reduce symptoms of ADD in children. The and begin to think about building natureresearch concluded: “Overall, our findings focused neighborhoods and greening older indicate that exposure to ordinary natural neighborhoods. Look for opportunities settings in the course of common afterto volunteer for efforts to count, chart, school and weekend activities may be map, collect, protect, tag, track, heal, widely effective in reducing attention deficit and generally get to know countless symptoms in children”. species of plants and animals in the wild, in backyards, the desert, national parks The movement to re-nature cities is or at the end of the alley in an inner-city underway. Timothy Beatley, in his book neighborhood. We must create or retrofit Green Urbanism: Learning from European whole communities in which humans, wild gardens and a two-mile trail through the Cities, points to several ecovillages and animals, along with native vegetation, community park. In Sacramento, the urban plans that are transforming parts live in kinship. Strengthen the diversity Sacramento Tree Foundation launched an of older European urban areas. The of human settlements and the planet. initiative in 2005 to plant five million new Cleveland EcoVillage includes an organic The most vibrant cities in the twenty first trees in twenty-two cities and four counties garden, on what had been unmaintained century will be those that integrate the by 2025. It’s estimated that meeting that vacant lots, offers abundant produce from population into an urban environment goal would mean a three-degree drop in the raised beds. And the community includes enriched by both natural and re-natured city of Sacramento’s average temperature a park on a former gas station site, now habitat. during summer months and an estimated planted with drought-resistant species. $7 billion in long-term savings on energy, Not far from downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, “Nature is not a place to visit, it is home”. – air-pollution clean-up, and stormwater Enright Ridge Urban Ecovillage includes a Gary Snyder sixteen-acre nature preserve, a community management. greenhouse, residential and community A noteworthy local project is Vi Living at Silverstone, a continuing care retirement community in Scottsdale, SmithGroupJJR’s landscape architects created beautiful gardens and outdoor spaces in which to place the 200 assisted living units, a 57,000 sf skilled nursing and memory care center, and 65 villa homes. Numerous gardens, terraces and private patios create a thoughtful balance of social interaction and privacy, as well as promote an active community walking experience. Each home is oriented for optimal views to distant mountains and internal gardens. Although front yards are minimized, backyards reach out to expansive open space. Whether part of the 18-hole putting course or the community’s Longview Garden, these project amenities provide abundant views to nature, in keeping with evidence-based research that shows a correlation to positive psychological and physiological effects.
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Contact George Blevins at georgeb@victorstanley.com.
Landscape architects should review the research and respond to the need MESQUITE JOURNAL | 15
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Call for Entries
2014 S c ott s d a l e E n v i r o n m en ta l De sig n Awa r d s ( SEDA) B Y: S T E V E V E N K E R , A S L A , R L A , L E E D A P
Design professionals, owners, contractors, and residents are invited to submit entries for SEDA (Scottsdale Environmental Design Awards). No fee is required for submittal. The Scottsdale Environmental Design Awards is a biennial awards program, initiated in 2010, that provides recognition of design quality and public education, by focusing on built projects that are located in the City of Scottsdale. The awards program serves to educate the public and acknowledge design quality that engages in the challenges of our environmental climate. The goal of the SEDA Program is to encourage and recognize aesthetically expressive, sustainable designs that are appropriate to the upper Sonoran Desert environment. Environmentally-sensitive residential and non-residential structures, major renovations or additions, landscape and site design, urban design, and other environmentally sustainable projects are eligible for nomination. Projects will be judged on their merits of aesthetics,
16 | MESQUITE JOURNAL
environmentally sensitive solutions, and their response to the Scottsdale Sensitive Design Principles, which can be found at http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/planning/ general/sensitivedesign/designprin. Projects must have been completed before January 1, 2014. The submittal deadline is May 16, 2014.
There is not a fee to nominate, or submit an entry for, a project. For specific eligibility and submission requirements, visit http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/ departments/planning/OEI/SEDA.
Past winners can be viewed at the following webpages: http://www. scottsdaleaz.gov/departments/planning/ OEI/SEDA/SEDA_2010_Winners; and http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/ departments/planning/OEI/SEDA/ Winners.
Former Winners: Doc Cavalliere Park (top) and Edible Landscape Herb Garden (bottom)
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2012 LEGACY PROJECT UPDATE A HUE RTA F O R M E T R O T E CH LEGACY PROJECT
A
zASLA is pleased to have partnered with the ACE Mentor program as part of the 2012 ASLA National’s effort to give back to the community that helped host its annual meeting. Over the past year Arizona Host Chapter has teamed up with the local affiliate of the ACE Mentor Program to design a project at Metro Tech High School in Phoenix, using generous donations from EXPO exhibitors. Metro Tech High School, located on 19th Avenue and Thomas Road, provides vocational training to students from 15 high schools in the Phoenix Union High School District. This project upgraded the horticulture department’s greenhouse, and build a courtyard garden for all of its students to work in, enjoy, and experience. The horticulture department works with culinary classes to provide edibles for their program. The new design, “Huerta” (a kitchen garden), will help expand that concept and allow for a future outdoor kitchen, larger garden area, and more citrus plantings, in addition to the existing fish hatchery. Students and ASLA volunteers have worked hard to turn their creative vision into reality. Construction of the new garden began last year, with volunteers installing pavers, demolishing concrete, installing irrigation, planting, and much more to prepare the garden for its debut. A record number of participants— hundred of hours and time spent by Metro Tech students, faculty, and volunteers— has begun the ground work for future upgrades to their campus which will also include a new shade structure, outdoor grill and raised planter beds. More importantly the enthusiasm, learned skills, and involvement have become an experience and avenue toward their future. We would like to thank the donors, the Phoenix Union School District, faculty, students, and volunteers for allowing us to work on this program. All of your efforts, material and time will be celebrated with this Legacy Project.
“Doing nothing for others is the undoing of ourselves” Horace Mann 18 | MESQUITE JOURNAL
Top row: Metro Tech Student Volunteers. Middle row: Completed Huerta Garden. Bottom Row: Metro Tech Student Volunteers . Photos Courtesy: Adam Hawkins
2014 AZASLA KEYNOTE SPEAKER & JURY Keynote Speaker - Thomas Tavella, FASLA, PLA, LEED AP Mr. Tavella is a licensed landscape Architect and a LEED Accredited Professional with over 26 years in private practice. He is currently the President of Tavella Design Group, LLC, which has a diverse portfolio of awardwinning projects from across the nation. Even before LEED and sustainable design were common practice, Tom’s projects consistently embraced these philosophies and technologies. From industrial greening projects to incorporating pervious pavements, biofiltration swales and urban rain gardens, Tom has been recognized as a leader and advocate for sustainable design and planning.
Tom has also dedicated much of his time to advancing the profession of Landscape Architecture. He currently serving as immediate past President of American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and has served as Vice President of Communications for (ASLA), as well as both President and Trustee for the Connecticut ASLA chapter. He was elevated to Fellow of the society in 2008. He has taught classes at the New York Botanic Garden and Southern Connecticut State University and frequently is a guest lecturer at the Universities of Connecticut and Massachusetts.
The Jury - Colorado Chapter ASLA Lynn Moore, FASLA, PLA is a principal in the Colorado multidisciplinary design firm Davis Partnership. Lynn directs the Planning and Landscape Architectural studio for the Denver and Vail offices where she leads all master planning and site development efforts. Her design and leadership abilities have been recognized by design awards and through her election to Design Review Boards and Commissions.
Kelly Curl, ASLA, is an Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture and joined CSU in 2010. Prior to joining academia, she was extending her professional practice as an Associate with Peter Walker and Partners LA in Berkeley, CA. Her past national and international projects included the World Trade Center Memorial, Raleigh MOA, UC in Merced, and the Cleveland Clinic.
Heath Mizer, PLA, ASLA, has over 10 years of profesional practice in LA, Urban Design, and Planning. Heath currently enjoys a part-time appointment teaching Urban Design and LA in the College of Architecture and Planning at CU Denver. He recently won an ASLA National Honor Award as the faculty advisor for a design/ build studio “Shadeworks: Designing and Building community shade in Bluff, UT.”
Robert Fitzgerald, AIA, NCARB, has 33 years of architectural experienace in a variety of building types and styles. In 2007, Fitz and his current business parter started a firm called NAKA Design, LLC. Fitz has become widely recongaized for his work with Ranch Stewardship projects in Steamboat, Meeker, La Veta, Durango, and Westcliffe, CO, and Mountain Resort Master Planning and Architecture.
Paul Stewart, PLA, has a range of experience in Landscape Architecture, Planning, and Urban Design. His experience focuses on project visioning, and design for residential, cultural, institutional, and resort projects in the US and abroad. In addition to professional work, he gives his time to ASLA CO chapter and real estate development and finance.
Todd Wenskoski, PLA, is an urban designer and LA with expertise in city building, urban redevelopment, and public spaces. He has planned & designed urban redevelopments, waterfronts, parks, plazas and private landscapes. Todd serves as Deputy Manager of the North Denver Cornerstone Collaborative and is charged with building collaboration on the six major projects north of downtown Denver.
Ann Komara, ASLA, is an Assoc. Professor and Chair of the Department of LA at UC Denver. She teaches design studios, and classes on landscape history and theory. A Fulbright and Dumbarton Oaks Fellow, Ms. Komara’s scholarship is typically interdisciplinary, merging landscape architecture with civil engineering, history and the humanities.
Special Note of Thanks The Arizona ASLA Chapter Gala Committee would like to thank the Colorado ASLA Chapter for their contribution in volunteering for this year’s awards selection process.
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2014 AzASLA AWARDS The Projects and People Pushing the Profession Forward
The Sustainable Journey of Beauty-
Regional Sustainable Community Master Plan for the Navajo Nation
Swaback Partners, PLLC President’s Award The Navajo Nation has embarked on an unprecedented undertaking over the past three years to consider future development across the entire Nation (26,000 square miles/ over 19 million acres) in a more comprehensive, coordinated, and socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable manner. Over an 18-month period, the Landscape Architecture staff worked closely with the Navajo Nation, as well as its communities and citizenry to create a dynamic road map for future development at the local and regional levels. The process, methodology and recommendations have resulted in the adoption of an encompassing planning effort that has led to a series of initiatives including; regional land management policies and coordinated local development best practice strategies as well as planning and design standards and guidelines for implementing new zoning, codes and ordinances. The completed Regional Plan provides all Navajo communities, legislative bodies, and tribal organizations with the tools to establish a new and exciting future for thoughtful growth in both the most urban and rural areas across the Navajo Nation. MESQUITE JOURNAL | 21
Phase 3A of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Tres Rios project improved river hydraulics, the ecosystem, wildlife habitat, and recreation opportunities for a 650-acre, 1.5-mile effluent-fed reach of the Salt and Gila Rivers in southwestern Phoenix. The landscape architect worked with Corps; City of Phoenix; and the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) to create new naturally-functioning channels and open water, remove an extensive salt cedar invasion that restricted river flows, and restore an appropriate riparian vegetation ecosystem. The result provides improved flood control and created bald eagle, Southwestern willow flycatcher, and Yuma clapper rail habitat. The landscape architect’s planning also provided for the re-establishment of AGFD’s Tres Rios recreation area. In addition to rehabilitating the riparian ecosystem, a five-year monitoring effort and adaptive management plan will determine long-term compliance with the project’s objectives. The site design for the GateWay IEB transforms the campus and a blighted urban neighborhood into a revitalized landscape which embraces the desert environment by minimizing heat-island effect and acknowledging shade and water issues. Entry points, drop-offs, and pedestrian malls provide connectivity which encourages student light rail use and cycling to reinforce circulation. An integrated design maximizes shade and flexibility. Architectural overhangs cast deep shadows onto gathering areas while ironwood trees grow in planters on the overhead terrace. Outdoor learning spaces provided on three levels create an extension of the amphitheater at the campus quadrangle. A combination of hardscape materials and desert plant palette exhibit striking colors and texture defining programmed outdoor spaces. A site Water Score metric compares the project to pre-settlement conditions, scoring 100% as every drop of storm water is cleansed and handled on-site through the use of regenerated soils, native vegetation, permeable paving and infiltration chambers. CANVAS is in the heart of the Roosevelt Row Arts District. This visually prominent corner site and derelict building, surrounded by a chain-linkfence, had been abandoned for years. Along with architectural upgrades to the existing building, the primary goal transformed the site into a vibrant pedestrian plaza. Organized to serve three restaurant tenants, the plaza provides dedicated dining patios and waiting rooms. With their integrated seat-walls, these rooms create intimate areas within the overall plaza, which double as flexible spaces for the First Friday Art Walk and other Community events. Elevated planters screen the busy streets, and within each planter trees deliver much-needed shade. In a salute to the City of Phoenix and their alternative transportation goals, a colorful fence of recycled bicycles emerges from mass perimeter plantings. Painters and enthusiasts within the Arts District are commissioned for rotating graffiti works on the multiple masonry surfaces.
Tres Rios Environmetal Restoration
Logan Simpson Design Award of Excellence - General Design
Maricopa Community CollegesGateway Integrated Education Building SmithGroup Honor Award - General Design
CANVAS
inDIGenous mINds Honor Award - General Design
Apache Wash Trailhead
Apache Wash Trailhead provides safe and convenient access to the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve. The environmentally sensitive design took advantage of a previously disturbed area in the Preserve to provide parking for 223 cars and 6 horse trailers, while the trailhead’s rest area was located in a beautiful hillside area to enhance the visitor’s experience. The rest area was designed on a radial pattern, originating from a compass point which orients visitors to regional landmarks. The landscape architecture team worked with a structural engineer in the design of unique shade canopies that blend timeless materials with the site, and provide windows to the environment. The Trailhead incorporated 26 small water harvesting basins to provide storm water retention and to enrich the site’s vegetation. Designed to minimize staff management, the entry gate, lighting, irrigation, and restroom door locks are all automatically controlled and the project is completely off the grid; utilizing solar power, an irrigation cistern, and an evaporative vault restroom.
Estrella Hall
The landscape contiguous to Estrealla Mountain Community College’s new Library and Community Room establishes a central core for the campus, including a grand lawn with stage for graduation ceremonies, outdoor movies or informal play, outdoor break-out areas for group work, a sculpture garden at the community room, pocket gardens for intimate social interaction respite and a deeply shaded Palo Verde grove. Natural steel cisterns designed by the landscape architect collect roof rainwater for the transference through the landscape. The land formations act as a sculptural expression of water movement; landforms of positive and negative relief orchestrate water flow from high points to low points of collection and conveyance, and serve to screen and enclose more intimate areas. Plant species within the low points, or bio swales, thrive in occasional excess water, while the plant species on the berms depend on a drier microclimate.
The Colony House
The landscape architect worked closely with the owners of this patio home to create spaces that were multi-functional, seamlessly flowed between indoors and outdoors, and provided a strong focal point to draw people through the home to the outdoor rooms. The design provides distinct, connected spaces: a dining room, living room, fire pit deck, and bedroom lounge. Providing maximum flexibility and choice, exposure to the sun ranges from full shade to filtered shade to open sky. Materials were simple but varied allowing sight lines, colors and focal points to be the dominant features. Bold colors were drawn from favorite paintings of the owners. Three yellow feature walls were placed to define individual rooms. Low voltage lighting enlivens the entire yard. The turf front yard was converted to a water sensitive design. Rusticated steel planters, grasses, agaves, cacti, perennials and a mix of rock sizes add structure, texture and interest.
Gavan & Barker Honor Award - General Design
Colwell Shelor Honor Award - General Design
Coffman Studio Award of Excellence - Residential Design
This small garden, located next to a popular park trailhead was 7 feet below the adjacent city sidewalk, creating major privacy problems. On weekends, a steady flow of cars and pedestrians on their way to the trailhead looked down into the client’s house; as a result their curtains were never opened. Zoning limits fences to 6 feet in height. The designer knew that ‘sheds’ could be built 2 ½ times higher than a fence and also in the required setbacks. He utilized this zoning option to create the 13 foot tall screening walls. The client had a sophisticated understanding of design and wanted a simple yet dramatic desert garden. The ‘sheds’ make the street activity totally disappear and are the dramatic background to this outdoor living space. The roof deck rises above the street for mountain views while providing bonus views to downtown. No more closed curtains for this client.
South Mountain Residence
Nestled in between Scottsdale and Paradise Valley the recent renovation of this home provides an opportunity for genuine indoor/outdoor living. The landscape architect worked closely with the client to create a design that needed to captured outdoor winter living, as well as a singular view of Camelback Mountain. The design complements the recently renovated interior/exterior architecture and the bold sculptural vegetation enhances the strong architectural forms of the house as well as the minimal hardscape. The two distinct garden areas were designed so the client could find solitude in his garden, as well as entertain friends and family. The main garden has a large reflective lap pool as the focal point in the space, flanked on each end with outdoor entertainment spaces. The west garden is a solitude/contemplation garden which has a minimal feel with a small turf area with fragrant citrus trees aligning the edge for screening as well as juicing. In addition, universal design was incorporated into the hardscape and landscape allowing easy access in and out of the house for the client.
Pollack Residence
“SHADE” stands for “Solar Homes Adapting for Desert Equilibrium” and is the 2013 entry from Arizona State University for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. The landscape strategy of SHADE is designed to act as an interpretive garden to help educate the public about the diversity, flexibility, and the beauty of desert environments. It is required that the site be socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. Shading the home is the main concept. The detached solar canopy along with vertical screens and trellis systems that surround the home help to passively shade the exterior spaces. The plant materials were carefully selected to depict the variety of flora that are native to the Sonoran and Chihuahuan desert so that the water use on site is minimized. The patio space that surrounds the house is an extension of the interior, promoting comfortable outdoor living and a healthy way of life.
Steve Martino & Associates Honor Award - Residential Design
Colwell Shelor Honor Award - Residential Design
The Landscape Strategy of Shade
Ali Abbaszadegan Arizona State University Award of Excellence - Student Individual
Integrating Biophilic Principles
Al-Hamriya Vocational School
There is currently a renaissance in the health care industry looking at the importance of incorporating gardens into the design of health care facilities. The concept of this project is to create a site-specific design that integrates elements and principles of biophilic design and therapeutic landscape design to maximize the beneficial effects the outdoor space has on the users. Bringing regional ecology into the urban context of the facility is an important facet of the design. Special attention was paid to the young target population of child patients, as well as the medical context of the site.
Nestled within the heart of Muscat, Al-Hamriya is one of the early developments in the Ruwi district of the city. The valley shows major concern for past and future issues of flood and drainage control. The intent is to offer a sustainable approach toward the urban revitalization of this low income district. The proposal is to convert the inner core of this area into a vocational school for the expatriate workers within the community. This need for education stands to reason as the workers learn new skills to be employed towards the re-development of Al-Hamriya.
Dentro Por Fuera
The Hydro Gene
“Dentro Por Fuera” was an entry at the 2013 San Francisco Flower and Garden Show designed and constructed solely by numerous students from varying disciplines, grade levels, and institutions. Using inspiration from urban Mexican culture, a combination of elements creates an appealing outdoor room while the introduction of new plant material, original lighting strategies, and sculptural water showcases the innovative functionality and showmanship intimate residential gardens can possess. This space achieves the comfort of an interior that sparks intrigue due to its placement of elements to be discovered, not simply seen.
The Hydro Gene celebrates the most elemental sources of life, by bringing the sciences of the abutting academic buildings into the landscape, and simultaneously celebrating water’s power and life-giving force in our arid climate. The design emphasizes the building blocks of life - DNA and water – through the shape of the double helix. Through an immersive experience, the campus community is able to witness the multitude of green infrastructure practices that allow the university to capitalize on this extremely valuable and limited resource.
Deryn Davidson University of Arizona Honor Award - Student Individual
Chris Ford Arizona State University Honor Award - Student Collaborative
Daniel Aros University of Arizona Honor Award - Student Individual
Daniel Morgan / Katia Gedrath-Smith / Yang Yang University of Arizona Honor Award - Student Collaborative
The Community Action Toolkit Program
Tumamoc Hill Sykes House Welcome Center & Gardens
Tucson has a strong community-building spirit. Neighborhood associations, non-profit organizations, and local governmental agencies collaborate on a range of progressive projects. The Community Action Toolkit Program, developed by Ironwood Tree Experience, was created to help make more community-based projects possible.
The community outreach arm of the University of Arizona MLA program proposed a concept to acknowledge the role of the Sykes House in the development of Tumamoc Hill that references the area’s pre-history. The design creates a destination that attracts people to the gardens and tea room. The design merges education, ecological design and integrated use for a functional, beautiful, and sustainable destination for the local community.
Rachel Glass / Ironwood Tree Experience Student Community Service
Katia Gedrath-Smith / Brianna Lehman / Daniel Morgan Student Community Service
Landscape Architect of the Year Kristina Floor, RLA, FASLA
Volunteer of the Year Adam Hawkins, RLA, ASLA
Educators of the Year James Coffman, RLA, ASLA, Arizona State University Lauri Johnson, ASLA, University of Arizona
Sage Katherine Emery, FASLA
Friend of Landscape Architecture Valley Rain Construction Corporation
Scholarship Program Ari z ona Nurs e r y A s s o c i a t i o n
The Arizona Nursery Association Foundation (ANAFUND) awards scholarships to worthy students each year. Last year, scholarships totaled over $20,000 to 17 deserving students. Within ANAFUND, the AzASLA established a fund specifically for students studying landscape architecture. The fund was established with $5,000 and has grown over the past two years. A scholarship in the amount of $1,000 was presented last year.
Applicants must be: • A resident of Arizona currently or planning to be enrolled in a horticultural related curriculum at a university, community college or continuing education program • be currently employed in or have an interest in the nursery industry as a career • have an above average scholastic achievement or at least two years work experience in the industry; and, • display involvement in extra-curricular activities related to the industry. • Scholarship are available in amounts from $500 – $3,000. Award winners are notified in July of each year with scholarships made available from the fall semester.
Deadline for submission is April 15th of each year. Please visit http://azna.org/scholarship-program/ for scholarship application.
MESQUITE JOURNAL | 27
A S P E CIAL THANK YOU TO ALL O F O UR 2014 SPO N S O R S PL AT I N U M
B R ONZE
COPPER
G O LD
S I LVE R
C O P PER
GALA
Arizona Chapter ASLA PO Box 28393 Tempe, Az 85285
To: