December 2020 Newsletter

December 04, 2020 by ASLA Utah

ASLA UTAH DECEMBER 2020 NEWSLETTER

UPCOMING EVENTS

ASCE: New Year’s Happy Hour Wednesday, January 20th, 6:00 - 7:00pm
REGISTER HERE

Victor Stanley: Virtual LA CES™ Webinar Public and the Pandemic Speakers: Gina Ford and Brie Hensold
Credits: 1.5 PDH-HSW On-Demand. REGISTER HERE

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Leadership Express

Seth Bockholt, Chapter President

reVISION - ASLA National Conference Recap

Lauren Smith, Chapter Past President

ASLA National hosted their first virtual conference November 16-18th. There was the opportunity to get up to 25 professional development hours at 75% of the regular price. Just like everyone, ASLA had to get creative to provide members with education sessions, networking opportunities, social interaction and field sessions.

In preparation of the conference, there were several virtual celebratory events held on the evenings of November 9th - 13th. These events were to recognize honorary members, professional and student awards, council of fellows, and award medals. Though everyone is disappointed we could not meet in person it's important that these events were able to be celebrated.

reVISION was kicked off by a discussion with ASLA's new CEO Torey Carter-Conneen, Majora Carter and Walter Hood. This discussion set the stage for the conference and addressed current events and the direction of our profession. Next up was the first series of Education Sessions to choose from, followed up a short 30 minute session then a break. The afternoon started with the second series of Education Sessions, another 30 minute sessions, Reflections by President Wendy Miller and ending with Happy Hour Networking discussions. The networking session had a panel and moderator that participants could communicate with via a chat function.

Day two was Design Day! Kicked off by President Wendy Miller and followed up with Education Sessions pertaining to design. There were also 'Behind the Scenes - Inside the LA Studio' sessions, where you can get an inside look at some well known Landscape Architecture Studios from around the country.

The last day, day three, started off with an inspiring Expression of Hope from Kimberly Garza, Diana Fernadez, Jose de Jesus, Andrew Sargent and Kona Gray. The day consisted of education sessions, virtual field sessions, and ended with a Call to Action presented to us by Elizabeth Kennedy, Katya Crawford, Ignacio, Keith Bowers, Ernie Wong and Torey Carter-Conneen. Overall reVISION 2020 was a huge success.

NEW Corporate Partnership Opportunity with ASLA UT

Brady Pitcher, Sponsorship Committee Chair

We are excited to offer corporate partnerships for firms desiring greater exposure and also for vendor’s who would like to participate with the ASLA UT Chapter at an entry level . This partnership affords corporations great marketing opportunities including: the company’s logo and link on the ASLA Utah website, a listing in the monthly newsletter, company contact information in the annual conference brochure, and up to four job listings per year using the ASLA Utah email blast. This is a great way to support the Chapter while gaining marketing exposure.

In addition to the new Corporate Partnership, there is also a menu of A la carte opportunities that are available to Sponsors and Corporate Sponsors to enhance their involvement with the Chapter.

If you are interested in these opportunities or have any questions, please contact Jenny Sonntag (uaslaexecutivedirector@gmail.com) or Brady Pitcher(bpitcher@sprinklersupplyco.com).

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Get to know our newest Executive Sub-Committee Member

Survier Castillo - Membership Sub-Committee

UASLA: Why did you choose Landscape Architecture as your profession?

SURVIER: Originally landscape architecture was going to be a stepping stone to residential/commercial architecture. As I learned more about the social and environmental justice factors in design, the more passionate I became in landscape architecture.

UASLA: Tell us about your educational background and any past professional experience.

SURVIER: In May of 2020 I graduated from Utah State University with a bachelor of landscape architecture. Promptly following graduation, I assisted in the campus plan of Hope Haven Rwanda in Kabuga, Rwanda.

UASLA: How do you presently practice Landscape Architecture?

SURVIER: Currently, I freelance in residential design.

UASLA: What project have you been involved in that you take great accomplishment in and why?

SURVIER: While at Utah State University I was fortunate to be part of a team that worked with the city of Helper, Utah to explore and complete a city master plan. This project resonated with me as I saw how good design can positively impact a community.

UASLA: What is a project outside your design influence that impacted you greatly and inspires you?

SURVIER: The projects that inspire me are the projects that focus on assisting lower-income communities, such as the work outlined by Barbara Brown Wilson.

UASLA: What are your top three goals that you would like to accomplish while serving on the ExCom Board?

SURVIER: The three things I would like to accomplish while serving on the ExCom Board are to bring greater awareness to the field of landscape architecture, assist others in receiving recognition for their work, and my personal goal is to connect with and learn from other professionals in landscape architecture.

Screen Shot 2020-11-23 at 1.41.39 PM.png — Winter Food Growing

**By:** Ashley Saulsberry

Just because winter is coming, doesn’t mean you have to give up on growing your own food. During these stressful times, many people have taken comfort in some casual horticulture or fungiculture, and here are some ways you can start or continue from the coziness of your home.

• Herbs – plants such as rosemary, mint, thyme, and oregano can all be grown well in pots indoors. Will need at least 6 hours of sun per day, so preferably choose a sunny, south-facing window or use a grow light.

• Microgreens – lettuces, arugula, spinach, and even seeds and harvested as microgreens. Just soak your seeds to get them germinating, plant in a little soil in seed-starting trays, keep moist, and harvest by cutting just above the soil once the first leaves appear. Will grow better with 4-6 hours of sunlight per day

• Sprouts – even quicker than microgreens, soak your mung bean, alfalfa, or sunflower seeds for at least 8 hours to start, then drain and rinse daily until sprouts are ready. Seeds can be placed in an upside down jar with a fine mesh top for drainage or you can purchase a sprouting kit. No direct sunlight is required, just be sure to rinse well at least once a day for best hygiene.

• Mushrooms – Since mushrooms do not photosynthe size, no light is needed for cultivation but you will want to keep a mister on hand for adding moisture. The eas iest way to start is to buy a mushroom growing kit, but forgoing the kit oyster mushrooms are some of the easiest with which to start your fungiculture journey. You will need to buy spawn and appropriately treat your substrate for success. Find a whole tutorial here https://blog.freshcapmushrooms.com/learn/a-simple way-to-grow-mushrooms-indoors/

Special Thanks to ASLA Utah 2020 Sponsors

Learn More About Our Sponsors

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A 2021 SPONSOR

November 2020 Newsletter

November 28, 2020 by ASLA Utah

ASLA UTAH NOVEMBER 2020 NEWSLETTER

UPCOMING EVENTS

ANOVA: Virtual LA CES™ Webinar Inclusive Design for Outdoor Furniture Thursday, December 3rd, 12:00pm
Credits: 1.5 PDH-HSW REGISTER HERE

CONGRATULATIONS! 2020 ASLA Annual Professional Awards Program. CLICK HERE to see Awards Video

Victor Stanley: Virtual LA CES™ Webinar Public and the Pandemic Speakers: Gina Ford and Brie Hensold
Credits: 1.5 PDH-HSW On-Demand. REGISTER HERE

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Leadership Express

Seth Bockholt, Chapter President

I am very happy to be writing my first newsletter as President of the Utah Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects! I am very honored to be allowed to serve you in this role and grateful to have learned from so many great leaders that have come before me. Thank you Lauren Smith, Colin Olsen, Bryce Ward, and Tina Gillman especially for your professional example, mentorship, and encouragement to get involved! It has been a lot of fun so far, and I am very excited to keep the momentum!

I also want to give my thanks to a few friends and colleagues who helped me establish a career in this profession. Thank you Greg Graves, Jeremy Fillmore, and Bruce Maw for all you have taught me, and continue to teach by example through your work!

To all our members let me say, I hope that the coming year will be a transformative time for our chapter. We will continue to adapt! Our Virtual Conference was a resounding success! Thanks Colin!. Lauren Smith has also adapted with all the uncertainty and presided over the Executive Committee with great results. Our Chapter Is stronger than ever, and finally positioned to do some heavy lifting. As incoming President it will be a lot of work to meet our potential. I ask each of you to consider volunteering more of your time to our cause. We need you now. What is our cause, you may ask? I ran for this position with an agenda to return to the basics, reminding us all why ASLA exists in the first place. Remembering our 'Why', and where we have come from will help us safely adapt to a new environment as we chart our path towards the future in 2021. You may be surprised to know that in 2022 AIA will be celebrating their 100 year anniversary. Founded in 1899 ASLA is now over 120 years old! Also in 1899 the use of voting machines were approved by the US congress and the cholera pandemic broke out of Russia and began to spread throughout the world. Sounds slightly familiar. Also in that year, Marshall Walter Taylor “Major” won the sprint event in cycling at the World Track Championships in Montreal Canada becoming the first African American to be recognized as a World Champion in any sport!

The stated purpose of the Society at its founding in 1899 was for the "…advancement of knowledge, education, and skill in the art and science of landscape architecture as an instrument of service in the public welfare. To this end the Society shall promote the profession of landscape architecture and advance the practice through advocacy, education, communication, and fellowship." This ‘purpose’ is our ASLA “Why” statement. It is why we are each members, and as members each of us has made a pledge to this end.

You may not recall but when one joins our society one is asked to read, sign and date this statement on the application: “I hereby agree to abide by the principles contained in the Society’s Constitution, Bylaws, and Code of Professional Ethics and affirm that the information contained in this application is true, correct, and accurate to the best of my knowledge.”

I plan to have more engaging discussions around this foundation of our society in the coming years; individually and as a group. I also hope you will have a moment during the coming holiday breaks to re-visit the commitment you have made as a member of this organization.

You can find the ASLA Code of Ethics here: ASLA Code of Professional Ethics & ASLA Code of Environmental Ethics

There is a lot of work for us to do in order to advance this practice through advocacy, education, communication and fellowship. Especially in Utah where an Engineer or Architect can stamp a planting plan in lieu of a Landscape Architects stamp. We need your help to move the needle in this effort! In the past year we have made a lot of progress in forging strategic relationships with ULI, AIA, ASCE and UNLA. We want to continue to foster these connections, while building new ones with more affiliated organizations. With your help we will be in a positions to propose changes to the laws in this state that will carve out more space for our expertise allowing us to improve the built and natural environments for our communities.

Please consider getting more involved! I can tell you from personal experience that your membership will be more rewarding and you will make lasting friendships by serving on a Committee or running for office within our ASLA Utah.

This year I hope there will be a few positive changes to the governance of the Utah Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Here is an outline of what is on the near-term agenda for the Executive Committee:

1. Approval of a 2021 Budget in December, funding our committees. Executive Committee will discuss and vote on the adoption of a new budget that will give discretionary funding to our Committees. This will push our resources to the front-line and allow our volunteer leaders to create and fund projects to the betterment of our members!

2. There are currently 8 committee positions available for appointment. I want to fill all of these roles by the new year. So, if you wish to get involved please reach out to me! I may be coming after some of you too!

Alison Lewis, VP of the Education and Licensure will be joined by Cameron Blakely serving as Member at Large for the Emerging Professionals Committee which will also be changed to the 'Advocacy Committee'. This committee also needs +1.
JoEllen Grandy, VP of Membership & Member Services will be joined by Tyler Smithson as the Member at Large for that committee and will head up the Awards Committee. This committee also needs +1.
Creation of a Sponsorship Committee that will be chaired by outgoing Treasurer Brady Pitcher. This is vital to our financial success as a chapter as sponsors account for over 70% of our revenue. I hope this committee can change our market strategy to capture more diversity in our sponsors. Keeping exclusivity for some of our long standing sponsors while providing more opportunities for our sponsors to connect in a meaningful way with our members.

3. Once committees are filled in January we have some amendments to the Bylaws that need to be looked at that will mainly change the nomenclature of the committees.

I want you to know, that during my term as president any changes to how we as a chapter operate will be guided by our Societies core values. I also want there to be openness and transparency. We work for you! Please know that you can call or connect with me anytime to discuss your concerns or ideas.

Thanks for reading and I hope you and your family have a wonderful Holiday Season! - Seth

Get to know our newest Executive Committee Members

Cameron Blakely - Emerging Professionals Chair

Tyler Smithson - Awards Committee Chair

UASLA: Why did you choose Landscape Architecture as your profession?

CAMERON: For as long as I can remember, I have a passion for design and for urban landscapes. I grew up in rural Idaho, which gave me a deep love for the outdoors and for how society interacts with nature. Since pursuing the profession, I have become increasingly invested in social issues and how landscape architecture can help address some of the problems we face in the world.

TYLER: I chose this profession because of a mentor I had growing up who was a Landscape Architect. Throughout my life, I was actively recruited to help out on various design + build projects around the neighborhood. These experiences taught me the value of improving our connection with the world around us and the importance to be good stewards of the land.

UASLA: Tell us about your educational background and any past professional experience.

CAMERON: I graduated from Utah State in 2011 and worked at Design West in Logan while attending school. I interned with Design Workshop in Tahoe, WOW Architects in SLC, and currently work at LOCI.

TYLER: I attended Auburn University in Alabama. There I had an amazing opportunity to study emergence theory in Landscape Architecture. This informed my thesis research of brownfield regeneration through topographical disturbance which leads to creation of microclimates. This research was informed by the sustainable principles of remediating industrial sites with ecological interventions rather than hauling off contaminants and capping with engineered fill. This background has greatly influenced my professional practice by directing a “do it there” approach to projects by using salvaged materials and on-site elements as the basis of design for the various program elements.

UASLA: How do you presently practice Landscape Architecture?

CAMERON: I am currently a designer at LOCI. I have had the opportunity to work at a variety of scales and project types such as community planning, park design, development guidelines, and site design. I am passionate about growth and development along the Wasatch Front and hope to continue finding ways to make a positive impact here.

TYLER: I have a broad platform of experience in my practice that extends from single-family residential to transportation oriented development planning projects throughout Utah. This ability to have a spectrum of clients across multiple disciplines is thoroughly engaging and keeps professional practice interesting. In the past few years, I have increasingly been drawn to regenerative design through urban agriculture. This has resulted in a greater understanding on how improving soil biodiversity and our relationship to the food web can have lasting impacts on your health and lifestyle.

UASLA: What project have you been involved in that you take great accomplishment in and why?

CAMERON: The first project I was placed on upon arriving at LOCI was the Village 9 Masterplan at Daybreak. I was sort of thrown right into the middle of it all and asked to start documenting the design, creating 3D models of the project, and designing and redesigning areas as the project progressed. It will probably be one of the first projects built that I have been able to work on. I am incredibly proud of the collaborative work that we did on it as an office; it ultimately resulting in an honor award with the ASLA.

TYLER: Recently, I was involved in the construction of a tiny home that was built using red list free materials and passive solar design methods. This was a collaboration between Architectural Nexus, who designed and built the residence and a non-profit called Fresh Start Ventures, who helps place former inmates into accessory dwelling unit housing and facilitates their reintegration back into society. The home was designed to meet the standards of the Living Building Challenge which promotes the most advanced measurement of sustainability in the built environment.

UASLA: What is a project outside your design influence that impacted you greatly and inspires you?

Screen Shot 2020-11-28 at 9.39.11 AM.png — **CAMERON:** This could be a dangerous rabbit-hole to go down, so I will pick one of the most recent projects to inspire me. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Washington DC after many years. I was able to see and appreciate with new eyes the planning and design of the mall space and adjoining public areas. The Vietnam memorial struck me as I had recently learned about the process it took to build it. It is such a profoundly simple design, but probably the most impactful memorial I visited. I hope to find ways to bring that same powerful simplicity to projects I work on.

Screen Shot 2020-11-28 at 9.35.29 AM.png — **TYLER:** The Rural Studio in Hale County, Alabama empowers citizen architects and volunteer architecture students to build sustainable housing using local materials. The project that I find most inspiring is the Mason Bend Community Center which features an atrium constructed using car windows as glazing. This sparked my interest in salvaging atypical construction materials and using them in ways that are innovative. “Proceed and be bold.” Sam Mockbee

UASLA: What are your top three goals that you would like to accomplish while serving on the ExCom Board?

CAMERON: I hope to find ways of creating a stronger community of emerging professionals and students. I look forward to creating a committee that can help create solutions and offer support for the struggles that recent graduates often face. And lastly, I want to find ways of connecting emerging professionals with the local community to make a positive impact.

TYLER: 1. To recognize and celebrate Landscape Architectural project excellence and the people behind them for ASLA Utah. 2. To help promote the profession by highlighting winning projects that demonstrate outstanding quality, leadership, and initiative. 3. Facilitate connections amongst Landscape Architects to promote inspiration for tomorrow's design challenges.

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Screen Shot 2020-11-23 at 1.02.42 PM.png — Messy yards = happy birds (and insects!)

**By: Cooper Farr Tracy Aviary Director of Conservation**

For those of you who have been putting off raking leaves, pulling old plants, and cleaning up your brush piles: I have some good news for you. Keeping your yard in a slightly “messy” state is actually a great way to help out local in sects and birds. Here are a few things you can do this fall and winter to maintain an ecologically healthy yard:

1. Leave the leaves! If you can, avoid raking altogether. Leaf litter provides important winter cover for many in sects. Butterflies, moths, bees, spiders, snails, worms, bee tles, millipedes (and more) all live inside and under fallen leaves. These insects are important food sources for birds, amphibians, turtles, and small mammals. Check out Xerces.org for more information about insects, leaf litter, and their #LeaveTheLeaves campaign.

2. Don’t send leaves to the landfill: If you do decide you need to rake up leaves in your yard, don’t bag them and send them to the landfill. Instead, drop them in a flower bed or around your landscaping shrubs. Leaves help fertilize the soil as they break down.

3. Build a brush pile: Keep fallen branches around and build a brush pile for birds and other wildlife. You can even add your Christmas tree to the pile. Birds will use the pile to take cover from predators, find protection from the elements, and use as a staging area while feed ing at your bird feeders.

4. Keep native perennials standing: Even though they might not look as pretty into fall and winter, try and leave your native perennial plants standing in the yard. Gold finches and other birds will spend the winter feeding off of seed heads from plants such as Sunflowers if they are left standing in the yard.

In this instance, doing less work is actually better for the environment. Be lazy this winter and keep those leaves and plants around!

Special Thanks to ASLA Utah 2020 Sponsors

Learn More About Our Sponsors

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A 2021 SPONSOR

October 2020 Newsletter

October 29, 2020 by ASLA Utah

ASLA UTAH OCTOBER 2020 NEWSLETTER

UPCOMING EVENTS

reVISION ASLA 2020 November 16th thru 18th Reimagined, virtual experience for an evolving profession where you will get the opportunity to learn, connect, and celebrate landscape architecture. REGISTER HERE

ANOVA: Virtual LA CES™ Webinar Inclusive Design for Outdoor Furniture Thursday, December 3rd, 12:00pm
Credits: 1.5 PDH-HSW REGISTER HERE

CONGRATULATIONS! 2020 ASLA Annual Professional Awards Program. CLICK HERE to see Awards Video

Victor Stanley: Virtual LA CES™ Webinar Public and the Pandemic Speakers: Gina Ford and Brie Hensold
Credits: 1.5 PDH-HSW On-Demand. REGISTER HERE

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Leadership Express

Lauren Smith, Chapter President

Hi all!

The time has come for me to pass the torch. Seeing as the national conference is coming up, I’ll be moving along to Past President and Seth Bockholt, President Elect, will be taking over the reigns. Meaning, this is my last leadership express! As many of you know, Seth has been President Elect for the past year and he is excited to take over. You’ll be in good hands with Seth and I’m looking forward to what he has in store for our chapter.

I’d like to thank all of our members for the opportunity to lead our chapter over the past year. It’ hasn’t quite been the year I expected, but nonetheless it’s been a pleasure! I also owe a big thank you to all of the Executive Committee Members and our Executive Director for keeping out chapter afloat this year. We’ve worked hard to be able to provide resourses through this year’s challenges. I look forward to planning the 2021 ASLA Utah Conference as Past President.

I do have a couple reminders for this month before I head out:

#LandscapeArchitectsVote
- Hopefully everyone has voted already. For those of you who haven’t please make sure you have a plan to get your vote counted. If you need more information on how to cast your vote and/or your polling location please find more information here: https://vote.utah.gov/
reVISION ASLA 2020 Register Today!
- When a landscape architect faces a change in conditions for their project, they have to revise the plans—just as we’ve had to do with the conference when faced with the COVID-19 crisis. reVISION ASLA 2020 is a reimagined, virtual experience for an evolving profession where you will get the opportunity to learn, connect, and celebrate landscape architecture—all from the safety of your own home. Let’s make 2020 a year to remember for all the right reasons—join us at reVISION ASLA 2020, from November 16-18, and make your mark on the future of our profession.
New LARE Workshops! (only $34.99 each!)
- ASLA National will host virtual L.A.R.E. Prep Workshops for Section 1 and Section 2, on November 13. Each session is priced at $34.99. Workshop instructors, comprised of ASLA L.A.R.E. Prep Committee members, will review the content and format of the exams, share study strategies and test taking tips, and engage in Q&A with the participants. Instructors include seasoned professionals that have long been engaged in L.A.R.E. prep support, as well as recent L.A.R.E. test takers. ASLA also has online learning webinars, with member pricing of $29.99, to help prepare candidates for Section 3—Design and Section 4—Grading, Drainage, and Construction Documents.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to one of us, our contact information can be found on the Executive Committee page.

Stay safe and healthy. Cheers,

Lauren

Get to know our newest Executive Committee Members

John Gottfredson - Treasurer

Aaron Johnson - VP Visibility & Public Affairs

UASLA: Why did you choose Landscape Architecture as your profession?

JOHN: Got into the green industry as a way to pay for college, found out I loved it. The blend of creativity, analytical rigor, connection with nature, and opportunity to work for myself is the perfect storm of awesome.
AARON: I love the idea of creating beautiful, functional and ecologically sensitive spaces for people. I have always been fascinated with the urban and natural environment and how complex they are, and I love how it creates a great opportunity for us as designers.

UASLA: Tell us about your educational background and any past professional experience.

JOHN: My goal, in hot youth, was to be a lawyer. So while I studied political science at UVU, I worked for a tree nursery, and did some amatuer design work. After graduation, I attended Washington and Lee law School in Virginia. After one year, I came to my senses and switched over to the MLA program at Utah State, where I graduated in 2012. Following graduation, and feeling the pressure to pay off some student loans, I relegated landscape design to the side hustle while I worked for a life flight company as the director of marketing. I then went on to work for RidgeView Capital, a private equity group. One of our acquisitions I worked on was Intermountain Plantings, the largest commercial landscape installation company in the Intermountain West. Following the acquisition, I stayed on for a time as senior manager. In December of 2017 I left to make the side hustle the main hustle, and have been designing full-time since then.

AARON: I grew up with a strong background in art and design. I have a bachelors degree in Urban Ecology from the University of Utah with a minor in Product Design. After I got my bachelors degree I moved to Tucson, AZ where I got my masters degree in Landscape Architecture at the University of Arizona. During school I began working with Psomas, a multi-disciplinary engineering firm, as an Urban and Landscape Designer. At Psomas we value the importance of our role with the natural environment and works to hard to promote sustainability in all we do, which I love.

UASLA: How do you presently practice Landscape Architecture?

JOHN: I do residential landscape design. Currently we are a small outfit with myself and two employees, and we service clients mainly in SL and Utah counties, but have done projects in Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, St. George, Oregon, and Alaska.

AARON: I currently work on everything from conceptual park design to detailed planting and irrigation plans. We work for a variety of clients including commercial, multi-family properties as well as some revegetation plans throughout the western United States.

UASLA: What project have you been involved in that you take great accomplishment in and why?

JOHN: In 2014 I designed and managed the installation of a seven figure project in Farmington. It was a residential landscape renovation. Not only was I pleased with how the project turned out, being able to manage every detail of the installation was invaluable for helping understand the construction process, coordination requirements between trades, costs, timelines, permitting, etc. I think every landscape architect should look for opportunities like that.

AARON: I was able to be involved in the planning of three mobility hub sites on the U of U campus. We were on the project team that provided studies of possible mobility hub locations on campus, and a comprehensive document showcasing the design concepts for each site. I will always value the opportunity to work on this project because I know it will be a guiding document promoting alternative transportation options for years to come.

UASLA: What is a project outside your design influence that impacted you greatly and inspires you?

JOHN: After that first year of law school, I initially enrolled into the MBA program at the UofU. In taking a summer pre-requisite, I arrived early and decided to go visit Red Butte Gardens. It was sitting on a bench, and overwhelmed by the beautifully created gardens surrounding me I was overcome with the desire to learn how to create the kind of places that elicit that same reaction. I didn't attend class that day, or at all after that, but I enrolled up at USU for landscape architecture.

AARON: Really any project with Piet Oudolf. I love the way he promotes the natural environment in his landscapes. Utilizing native plants and the naturalistic style of plantings creates such a unique but functional landscape.

UASLA: What are your top three goals that you would like to accomplish while serving on the ExCom Board?

JOHN: 1. As treasurer, ensure financial stability of the organization. 2. Participate in meaningful conversations regarding the identity and vitality of ASLA UT in the lives of landscape architects in our state. 3. Participate in meaningful action resulting from goal #2.

AARON: 1. Promote the profession of landscape architecture in Utah through community outreach and highlighting the amazing work we do everyday. 2. Promote communication between disciplines through a variety of ways. Strengthening the traditional ways of communication but also finding new ways to communicate with each other. 3. Bring awareness to the importance of landscape architecture in the context of the urban environment promoting plant and species diversity.

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Exam Section 1 & Section 2 — Friday, November 13

Each workshop is priced at an unbelievable value of $34.99!

Are you planning to take a L.A.R.E. exam this December, but don’t feel fully prepared? Or are you thinking about taking L.A.R.E. exams in 2021? If you need some extra help, ASLA National has you covered!

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VIEW CASE STUDY

Special Thanks to ASLA Utah 2020 Sponsors

Learn More About Our Sponsors

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A 2021 SPONSOR

reVISION ASLA 2020

October 14, 2020 by ASLA Utah

reVISION ASLA 2020

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September 2020 Newsletter

September 30, 2020 by ASLA Utah

ASLA UTAH SEPTEMBER 2020 NEWSLETTER

UPCOMING EVENTS

LuckyDog Recreation presents Berliner Rope Play & 3-Dimensional Net Systems $10 gift card for each person attending. Tuesday, October 22th, 10:00am REGISTER HERE

Victor Stanley: Virtual LA CES™ Webinar Public and the Pandemic
Speakers: Gina Ford and Brie Hensold
Credits: 1.5 PDH-HSW On-Demand. REGISTER HERE

Save the Date: reVISION ASLA 2020. November 16th thru 18th Reimagined, virtual experience for an evolving profession where you will get the opportunity to learn, connect, and celebrate landscape architecture. More Info Here

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Leadership Express

Lauren Smith, Chapter President

Happy Fall!

I hope everyone is holding up well and enjoying the cooler weather. As someone who loves the heat, I’m always sad for summer to end but I’m looking forward to these upcoming fall temperatures! Here’s a summary of what’s happening with ASLA this fall:

Top Left: Ricardo Austrich; Top Middle: Lina Maria Escobar Ocampo; Top Right: Ricardo Riveros Bottom Left: Maria Bellalta; Bottom Right: Saul Alcantara Onofre

ASLA Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month! ASLA is excited to offer a multi-part webinar series in celebration of #HispanicHeritageMonth. Explore cultural diversity in #LandArch and ancient Mexico nature, learn about social urbanism and reframing spatial design in LATAM, and more.

The Spectacular Nature of the Ancient Mexico Thursday, October 1, 2020 at 3:00 pm ET Description: In this webinar, Saúl Alcántara Onofre—Professor, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, and President, International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), México—will present the rich aspects of the Mesoamerican Pre-Hispanic people and their thoughts regarding the sacred vision of nature.

On Social Urbanism and Reframing Spatial Design in Latin America Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 3:00 pm ET Description: Through her upcoming publication, Social Urbanism: Reframing Spatial Design: Discourses from Latin America, María Bellalta, ASLA offers a comprehensive analysis of the foundational geography of Latin American landscapes as the instigator for urbanization processes that have impacted the continent over centuries. By tracing the historical patterns of colonization and modern planning strategies that have promoted a legacy of exploitation, Bellalta presents an alternative view that reveals the Latin American landscape as a potent “cultural space.”

Climate Change, Landscape, Cultural and Natural Heritage Thursday, October 15, 2020 at 3:00 pm ET Description: By reviewing a fire disaster caused by climate change in the context of a heritage port city (Valparaíso in Chile), Ricardo Riveros proposes ways to expose the current challenges of landscape architecture in processes of reconstruction of cities, regeneration of identity, and of mitigation strategies to prevent future natural disasters.

ASLA Mentorship Program! It’s not too late to get involved with the newly launched mentorship program! You can find more information and the sign-up link on the ASLA Mentorship webpage. The sign-up survey for mentors and mentees is the same.

Have you heard of Climate Positive Design’s Pathfinder? Pathfinder is a free online landscape carbon calculator that educates designers on how to reduce carbon footprints and sequester more carbon. New features of the updated Pathfinder include capability to compare design alternatives, analyze existing conditions, understand site impacts, and more customization. To learn more check out this upcoming webinar. Climate Positive Design’s Pathfinder 2.0 Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at 2:00 pm ET.

Save the date! reVISION ASLA 2020 coming November 16-18. More information to come!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to one of us, our contact information can be found on the Executive Committee page.

Stay safe and healthy. Cheers,
Lauren

CONGRATULATIONS!

To all the Awards Recipients of the 2020 ASLA Utah Annual Professional Awards Program!

We hope you enjoy the Annual Awards Video this year!

—JoEllen Grandy, VP of Membership and Member Services

ASLA Utah Annual Conference

Colin Olson, Past President

Do you hear that?

That's me still exhaling. It's with a long sigh of relief that I thank all of you who participated in this year's conference. Thank you to everyone who made the effort to get with the vendors during the maiden voyage of our virtual expo. I have much gratitude toward our executive director, Jenny Sonntag, for planning the expo out from scratch and for all the effort she put into its execution. Thanks to each of you for sticking with us through a tough year of unwanted improvisation. And thank you all for your patience and grace while we navigated our first ever conference via Zoom.

As I'm sure many of you do, I deeply regret we couldn't gather in person and socialize and network as peers. It's crazy to think that the wind storm leaving much of downtown SLC without power could have actually left us scrambling to somehow salvage pieces of an in-person conference.

Planning the conference was a daunting task for me. Knowing that landscape architecture is a far reaching discipline and that we have members covering all of those bases made it hard to choose where or how to focus the content. Considering that a lot of my background and passion lie in urban design and city planning, a lot of it ended up aiming in that direction. I regret that we didn't have the time to touch on other areas of specialization. As a reminder, ASLA National provides us with a lot of specialized continuing education resources. If you're interested, go to the Professional Practice Resource Guides where you can spend some time on any of the below topic areas:

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I have read most of the survey responses and wanted to respond to one of the sentiments that came through in a few comments. As we all know, community building is a web of complex processes. One component in that web is accounting for the needs and situations of the many people who are impacted by the results of our work. Our speakers discussed the very real social, economic and environmental challenges that various individuals in our communities face. Many of these challenges relate to - or are - issues that come up in political discourse. I felt the speakers did well at addressing these topics through their individual professional and personal lenses while keeping specific political views out of it as much as that is possible. If we desire to work on projects that affect the public, we must be willing to have such discussions and do so with open minds. The human experience is vast and varied and we need this type of discourse in order to better serve the citizens whose quality of life we are impacting with our work.

Thanks to all of you who filled out the survey. We really appreciate both the compliments and the constructive criticism. I know Lauren and the conference planning committee (email Lauren if you want to be part of that - laurenksmith.asla@gmail.com) will take all of it into consideration while planning a valuable conference for next year. I hope to see you all there in person.

Sincerely,
Colin Olson
ASLA Utah Past President

VENDOR EXPO RAFFLE WINNERS

GRAND PRIZE: Mike McClellan, Kristina Ainsworth, Dan Sonntag

Victor Stanley - Bruce Brown
BioGrass - Alison Gowan
RainBird - Nathan Jaramillo
Live Earth - Cable Jones
Anova - Ladd Scheiss
Hunter/FX Lumiere - Eric Lyman, Cody Brazell, Kris Kvarfordt
Landscape Forms - Bronson Tatton
LuckyDog Recreation -
Amiad - Hailey Wall
Confluence Products - Bronson Tatton, Dan Sonntag, Hailey Wall, Brandon Ruiz
Contech - Hailey Wall
Downs & Assoc - Brandon Ruiz
Forms+Surfaces - Alison Gowan
Garrett & Company - Jon Ruedas
Omega II - JoEllen Grandy, Tyler Smithson, Julian Rosario
Playspace Designs - Troy Sanders
StoneCover - Liz Best

LARE Prep

Kyle Funk, Emerging Professionals Chair

Need to prepare for the LARE exams in your state? Help is here!

Register for SGLA Technical Training’s popular LARE Preparatory Courses, now available as live, online classes for candidates across the US and Canada.

SGLA Technical Training is pleased to be able to continue offering Freeman & Jewell’s preparatory courses for candidates taking the Landscape Architect Registration Examination. These courses have historically been in-person, on-site bootcamps over several weekends in Berkeley, CA. Ray Freeman’s courses attracted students from 46 states, five Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico and DC.

SGLA Technical Training has now evolved and can deliver Ray’s content through live, online classes, open to the entire US and Canada. This meets the challenge of the current worldwide pandemic --- while also giving students across the country greater flexibility and access to this powerful learning community.

October round of prep courses will provide a review of the content for Sections 1 and 2 combined in one weekend, and a grading and drainage intensive for Section 4.

The courses are taught by Sarah Gronquest, licensed Landscape Architect with decades of experience. Sarah Gronquist has taught exam preparation and university level courses at UC Berkeley and Merritt College for 15 years, including grading and drainage, construction detailing, planting design, business practices, and professional practice.

For complete information on the upcoming course offering and to register, CLICK HERE.

Special Thanks to ASLA Utah Sponsors

Learn More About Our Sponsors

**Click Here to become a 2021 Sponsor

August 2020 Newsletter

August 31, 2020 by ASLA Utah

ASLA UTAH AUGUST 2020 NEWSLETTER

UPCOMING EVENTS

ASLA Utah VIRTUAL Conference on Landscape Architecture - Sept. 10th to 11th *Green Infrastructure Sessions September 10th, 1:00pm to 3:30pm *Adaptable Communities Sessions September 11th, 8:30am to 12:00pm Sketch Tour September 11th, 1:30pm to 3:00pm REGISTER HERE!

ASLA UT Virtual Vendor Expo
September 8th-11th, Hours Vary See Vendor Booth Schedule HERE

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

Hunter: Open the Flood Gates: A Deep Dive into Irrigation Control Valves. This webinar will teach customers essential information about irrigation control valves, & tips for choosing the right valve to ensure top performance. Wed. Sept. 2nd, 1:00 p.m. REGISTER HERE

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Leadership Express

Lauren Smith, Chapter President

Happy Summer!
I hope everyone is holding up well. Let's been a busy summer and here are the key takeaways for ASLA news:

ASLA Utah 2020 Conference on Landscape Architecture is coming up quick! You can read more about the excellent program that Colin Olson, Past President, has put together for everyone below. We're for this event to take place and can't wait to get the Virtual Vendor Expo kicked off.
ASLA Utah is looking for volunteers to work on our Fellows Committee. It's nomination time, and we're looking for volunteers to start working on applications and selection for our state's Fellows. If you think this might be something you're interested in, contact anyone on the Executive Committee. You can find more information regarding ALSA Fellows here: https://www.asla.org/fellows.aspx
You may have heard that ASLA National is now offering free membership for all students! In conjunction with free student membership, ASLA has launched a new mentorship program. This is one of the most beneficial relationships for both mentor and mentee. It sets the mentee up for life-long success in their chosen profession and offers the mentor new perspectives. We don't want you to miss out in becoming a mentor. You can find more information and the sign-up link on the ASLA Mentorship webpage. The sign-up survey for mentors and mentees is the same. Sign up by August 31! so new student members can get paired with a mentor.
ASLA National is shifting from the planned in-person conference in Miami Beach to virtual education programming, governance events and ceremonies in the fall. As planning efforts continue for the virtual platform, it has become evident for the need to push back the schedule to later in the year to accommodate production. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.
The ASLA Climate Action Committee is organizing teams of chapter and university program leaders to host a series of regional conversations aimed at addressing climate change issues most pressing to specific regions of the country. The committee is looking for subject matter experts in each region to develop a broad Climate Action Network and local action plans. Join in these conversations and help develop a climate action network within ASLA membership and beyond. If you’d like to be apart of these discussion, please let us know so we can get you involved!

As most of you probably are, ASLA Utah is eager to ramp up in-person events again! We still have our members health and safety as a top priority and will continue to monitor current case counts, guidelines from our local health departments, as well as national guidelines. We will use this information to determine when it is safe to hold in-person meetings and conferences. In the meantime, take advantage of the webinars offered by ASLA Utah and ASLA National! They have really shaped up to be good events. AS always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to one of us, our contact information can be found on the Executive Committee page.

Stay safe and healthy. Cheers,
Lauren

ASLA Utah Annual Conference

Colin Olson, Past President

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Support Your Chapter - Earn CEU’s - Win Prizes!

Education Sessions

Green Infrastructure

Thursday, Sept. 10th, 1:00pm - 4:30pm

Adaptable Communities

Friday, Sept. 11th, 8:30am - 12:00pm

Keynote by Kevin Burke

Lunch gift card sponsored by BioGrass

Downtown SLC Sketch Crawl (w/masks)

Friday, Sept. 11th, 1:30pm - 2:30pm

**Virtual Vendor Expo with Killer RAFFLE**

Tuesday thru Friday, Sept. 8th -11th

Vendor virtual “booth” hours vary

CLICK HERE FOR CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

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RAFFLE ITEMS INCLUDE: products, gift certificates, gift items. Most Vendors are offering their own raffle items that you could win when you visit their virtual booths!!

IN ADDITION: For each Vendor you visit you get an entry for the GRAND PRIZE RAFFLE! The more Vendors you visit, the more entries you get to win one of three $200 Gift Certificates -- WOOT WOOT!!

If you have questions don’t hesitate to contact: Jenny Sonntag, ASLA Utah Executive Director at: 801.971.5007, uaslaexecutivedirector@gmail.com

***Use this link to register for the Annual Conference and earn up to 7 CEU’s before the end of the year!

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

ASLA Utah Election Results

Seth Bockholt, President Elect

We are happy to announce the results of our 2020 election and incoming Executive Committee Members:

President- Elect - Adam Castor

Secretary- Boyd Reschke

Treasurer- John Gottfredson

VP of Visibility & Public Affairs- Aaron Johnson

It is exciting to welcome these amazing people aboard the Executive Committee. We are pleased that they have taken this opportunity to contribute their skills and knowledge to the betterment of our chapter and the Society.

At this time, we would also like to thank the outgoing committee members for their exemplary service:

Thank you Colin Olsen our outgoing President

Thank you Brady Pitcher our outgoing Treasurer

Thank you Nate Jaramillo our outgoing VP of Visibility and Public Affairs

And thank you Boyd Reschke for another term as Secretary!

The new Committee members officially begin November 1, 2020.

LARE Prep

Kyle Funk, Emerging Professionals Chair

Need to prepare for the LARE exams in your state? Help is here!

Register for SGLA Technical Training’s popular LARE Preparatory Courses, now available as live, online classes for candidates across the US and Canada.

Special Thanks to ASLA Utah Sponsors

Learn More About Our Sponsors

**Click Here to become a 2021 Sponsor

Support your Chapter! Education, Expo and Prizes

August 27, 2020 by ASLA Utah

VIRTUAL ASLA Utah 2020 Conference on Landscape Architecture & Vendor Expo

Click Here for CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

Education Sessions

Green Infrastructure Thursday, Sept. 10th, 1:00pm - 4:30pm

Adaptable Communities Friday, Sept. 11th, 8:30am - 12:00pm

Keynote by Kevin Burke sponsored by Victor Stanley

Lunch gift card sponsored by BioGrass

Downtown SLC Sketch Crawl (w/masks) Friday, Sept. 11th, 1:30pm - 2:00pm

Virtual Vendor Expo with Killer RAFFLE Tuesday thru Friday, Sept. 8th -11th Vendor virtual “booth” hours vary

CLICK HERE FOR CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

RAFFLE ITEMS INCLUDE: products, gift certificates, gift items. Most Vendors are offering their own raffle items that you could win when you visit their virtual booths.

IN ADDITION: For each Vendor you visit you get an entry into the GRAND PRIZE RAFFLE! The more Vendors you visit, the more entries you get to win one of three $200 Gift Certificates -- WOOT WOOT!!

If you have questions don’t hesitate to contact: Jenny Sonntag, ASLA Utah Executive Director at: 801.971.5007, uaslaexecutivedirector@gmail.com

**Click link above & register for the Annual Conference & earn up to 7 CEU’s before 2020 ends!

Congratulations to our 2020 ASLA Student Award Winners!

July 14, 2020 by lauren jarrett

Due to COVID-19 ASLA Utah was unable to present the Annual ASLA Student Awards at the USU Spring Awards Banquet. We’d like to congratulate and honor the 2020 Award Winners this year by spotlighting them on our website.

Please take a moment to read about each award winner and join us in congratulating them!

Undergraduate Student Award Winners

Ethan Balls, Honor Award

Travis Lindberg, Honor Award

Survier Castillo, Merit Award

Madison Pong, Honor Award

Patricia Beckert, Merit Award

Graduate Student Award Winners

Nicholas LeSchofs, Honor Award

Jim Anglesey, Merit Award

Congratulations to the 2020 Student ASLA Award Winners from the entire ASLA Utah Executive Committee!

We wish you luck on your future endeavors and hope you continue your involvement with ASLA in the future.

2020 ASLA Utah Executive Committee Candidates

June 30, 2020 by ASLA Utah

PRESIDENT ELECT

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TREASURER

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SECRETARY

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VP MEMBERSHIP & MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

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VP VISIBILITY & PUBLIC AFFAIRS

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June/July 2020 Newsletter

June 25, 2020 by ASLA Utah

ASLA UTAH JUNE/JULY 2020 NEWSLETTER

UPCOMING EVENTS

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

Victor Stanley: Virtual LA CES™ Webinars Completing Streets for Better Communities Credits: 1.0 PDH – July 7, August 18, 12:00pm MST
REGISTER HERE

Ameristar: Virtual Lunch & Learn How to Protect Property, Save Lives and Provide Peace of Mind. Credits: 1.0 CEU Tuesday, July 21st, 12:00PM MST REGISTER HERE

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

ASLA MIA2020
2020 Conference on Landscape Architecture
October 2-5, 2020; Miami, FL
Advanced Deadline Discount ends August 10, 2020
REGISTER HERE

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Leadership Express

Lauren Smith, Chapter President

Happy Summer!

I hope everyone is holding up well with today’s current events. You’ll notice this is a June/July Newsletter, ASLA Utah Executive Committee will be taking their summer break in July. We will continue to work in the background but won’t have a newsletter next month. Here are a couple key takeaways from June:

A mural depicting George Floyd and Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal, two individuals killed by police, located at the corner of 300 West and 800 South in Salt Lake City.

ASLA’s Black Lives Matter statement was published on June 5th. ASLA is developing a strategy led by partner, the Black Landscape Architects Network (BlackLAN), that will focus on how our organizations will take action together. This partnership is intended to result in lasting changes with positive impacts for the future of black communities and black landscape architects. This strategic plan is among ASLA’s top priorities. Multiple articles concerned racial indjustice were published on the Dirt. Two that stuck out to me can be found here:
- I Could Have Been Ahmaud Arbery
- Racial Injustice and the Pandemic are Inextricably Linked
ASLA Celebrated Pride Month! In honor of LGBTQIA Pride Month, ASLA celebrated the LGBTQIA community by hosting webinars focusing on the diverse narratives in landscape architecture and hosted a Pride Happy Hour.
ASLA’s President Wendy Miller’s op-ed on professional licensing was published, more information and link to that article is below.
ASLA is fully committed to holding the 2020 ASLA National Conference on Landscape Architecture in Miami Beach, with your health and safety in mind. ASLA will provide members and attendees with continuous updates and developments as we move forward. Should ASLA be forced to cancel the conference for any reason, we will fully refund registration, processing fees, and the cost of any special-event ticket purchases. Advanced Registration Discount ends August 1oth, 2020.
ASLA Utah approved our election ballot. You can see more information regarding that below. Look for those ballots in your inbox soon!

ASLA Utah is eager to ramp up in-person events again; however we have our members health and safety as a top priority. We are monitoring the current case counts and guidelines from our local health department as well as national guidelines. We will use this information to determine when it is safe to hold in-person meetings and conferences. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to one of us, our contact information can be found on the Executive Committee page.

Stay safe and healthy. Cheers,

Lauren

Elections & Committee Volunteers

Seth Bockholt, President Elect

**Election Ballots are Coming Soon!**

**Be on the lookout for your ballot in your inbox in July and remember to Vote!**
This year, we are featuring a “write-in” option for position that don’t have incumbents.

If you didn’t get your name in for the Executive Committee Election, but are interested in volunteering we would be happy get you involved in the following areas:
Membership Committee Member
Education Task Force Member
Annual Meeting Committee MemberAwards Committee Member
Contact: seth@bockholtla.com

Advocacy

Ali Lewis, VP of Advocacy

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Click Here for Full Article

ASLA President, Wendy Miller’s op-ed was published in The Hill this month. She along with her co-authors explain what's at risk with today's current efforts by legislators to weaken professional licensing standards.

Free Friday Sketch Group

**Free lunchtime on-location sketching group of artists, architects, designers, etc.**
*WHEN:* Fridays at 12:30 pm
*PURPOSE:* Build a local community of sketchers who show the city, one drawing at a time.
*HOW TO GET INVOLVED:* Follow **@location.sketch.ut** on Instagram, post any of your sketches using **#urbansketchutah** or email them to **urbansketchut@gmail.com**, and sketch every Friday at lunch time

Special Thanks to ASLA Utah Sponsors