ASLA UTAH APRIL 2020 NEWSLETTER

UPCOMING EVENTS

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Victor Stanley: Virtual LA CES™ Webinars
Utilizing Site Furnishings to Enhance Open Spaces.
Credits: 1.0 PDH – HSW, Thursdays, 12:00PM MST
REGISTER HERE

NEW DATE: ASLA Utah Conference on Landscape Architecture,
Friday, 11th of September
Gateway Mall, SLC
REGISTER HERE!

Leadership Express

Lauren Smith, Chapter President

Office Mate/Pet ‘Joey’ enjoying lunch in the lawn

Dear ASLA Utah Members,

Well, we’ve made it another month. I hope you and all of your families are holding up well and staying safe. Finally, the weather is getting warmer and blooming trees are in full effect, meaning it’s beginning to my my favorite time of year! Which also means: it’s election time! You should have all received a call for nominations, if you’re interested in volunteering or know someone who would be good for the job, reach out to Seth Bockholt, nominations are due May 29th by 5pm!

ASLA Utah is working in the background on getting more virtual resources available for your use during this time as well as in the future. Chapter President Elect, Seth Bockholt, Executive Direction, Jenny Sonntag and I participated in the first virtual Chapter Presidency Council meetings just last week. We missed being in the same room as all the other Chapter Presidents, in our nations capitol, however the meetings were extremely smooth and productive from afar. We were able to brainstorm ideas and get implementation advice from other chapters around the country on how they’ve implemented virtual continuing education sessions, socials, as well as resources that may be useful during this time.

As a reminder, ASLA National has a webpage set up with a lot of COVID-19 Resources (located here). Check it out, you might find something useful that you didn’t even know you were looking for. I, in particular, found the webinar “Out of Office: Tools, Teams, and Togetherness for WFH” to be interesting and helpful. As always, please reach out to me, or any of the Executive Committee Members if there’s something we can do for you. We’re here to help.

Stay safe, stay healthy,

Lauren K. Smith, PLA, ASLA

World Landscape Architecture Month - #WLAM

**Bryce Ward, ASLA Strategic Plan Advisor - ASLA Utah Sub-Committee**

Since April is WLAM where we try to enlighten those not familiar with what we do as Landscape Architects, I'd like to propose that we, ASLA members explain what is landscape architecture in two sentences. We invite you to share your definition during the WLAM Campaign (and beyond) showing your own professional experience. Since everything is virtual now, please post this to your social media accounts and don't forget to @ASLAUtah and #WLM2020. We look forward to seeing your definitions!

Advocacy Update — Ali Lewis, Vice President Advocacy

Screen%2BShot%2B2020-04-27%2Bat%2B6.42.08%2BPM.jpg — EXCITING NEWS! Please read & take action!

**The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is** **currently accepting nominations, for the first time in over a decade, to the National Scenic Byway program. This exciting development is a result of your successful advocacy for this important national status.**

TAKE ACTION NOW

Under the National Scenic Byways Program, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation recognizes certain roads as National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads based on their intrinsic qualities. FHWA promotes the collection as America's Byways. To be designated a National Scenic Byway, a road must possess characteristics of regional significance within at least one of the intrinsic qualities, including archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, or scenic.

As you know landscape architects help to preserve and enhance many of our community’s public spaces, including special roadways, but public officials are often not aware of it. So in an effort to celebrate World Landscape Architecture Month we urge you to contact your governor to support your state’s efforts to nominate a roadway to the National Scenic Byways Program.

All nominations must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation by May 15, 2020.

http://www.victorstanley.com/pittcasestudy. — The City of Pittsburgh Modernizes Their Waste Collection Process While Combating Climate Change

**—VICTOR STANLEY**

When Pittsburgh’s city leaders sought a more efficient waste collection process, they turned to the Victor Stanley Relay™ smart waste management system. This data-driven solution fit hand-in-glove with their ambitious goals in the fight against climate change – to reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gases, increase renewable energy use, and attempt to achieve Zero Waste.

With no way of knowing when each of the city’s 2,000 litter receptacles needed collection, crews had to drive the full collection routes every day. Inevitably, some would already be overflowing by the time they arrived, while others might still be almost empty.

Relay data showed that, on any given day, only about 13% of the city’s containers would reach the 90%-full threshold representing critical need for collection.

With Relay, sensors embedded in litter receptacles measure how full they are. This dramatically reduces unnecessary collection runs, which saves fuel, time, and lowers emissions. Thanks to Relay’s data, 16 of Pittsburgh’s 25 public works employees previously assigned solely to trash collection have been reassigned to higher priority tasks. This more efficient system helps the city reduce its carbon footprint and re-engage with deferred public works responsibilities, while saving millions of dollars in the process.

With the Relay system’s data, Pittsburgh is well positioned to lead the way on two fronts – the global, ongoing battle against climate change, and improving the seemingly simple task of collecting the trash.

Read the full report online at http://www.victorstanley.com/pittcasestudy.

Read Utah’s Landscape Architect JAN STREIFEL’s article in Devour Magazine!

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“We want it “locally grown” but how much of our food actually is?”

In Memoriam:
Brent Morris

**“Life is too serios to be taken seriously” --- words often spoken by Brent D. Morris who peacefully passed away April 5, 2020.**
**As a Landscape Architect, graduating from Utah StateUniversity in 1973, his philosophy was “the best time to plant a tree was yesterday.”**

Brent had a passion for making the environment more inviting, creating beautiful and functional designs throughout his long and successful career. Brent had the opportunity to work on various projects which included university campus Master Plans, designing the first skateboard park within the state of Utah, projects for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, collaborations with UDOT, parks in southern Utah, numerous projects with the State of Utah, and working with teams to create LEED driven projects. With Zero Scaping, he became a maven of rock placement, using he favorite Utah red sandstone. His talent resulted in several awards for his firm, Brent Morris Associates which he directed for over 40 years, leaving a legacy of design excellence in the field of Landscape Architecture.

Brent was a world traveler, always ready for a new port-of-call and loved experiencing new cuisines. Other actives which brought him joy, were a day on the water or skiing in the mountains and later a quick game of pickleball with family and friends. In his spare time, he was a perpetual builder, always looking forward to the next opportunity to improve his home or yard.

Brent will be remembered for his vibrant personality, his enthusiasm, integrity, commitment to do what’s right, dedication and leadership as a husband, father, friend and professional. He and his wife, Shauna, were always active with family, friends, church, youth, scouts, and community. Brent was very enthusiastic about being a Landscape Architect and he will be deeply missed.

Thank you to our Newsletter Sponsors for their continued support!

Special Thanks to ASLA Utah Sponsors