2011 was a great year for the San Diego Chapter of America Society of Landscape Architects. We had over 180 volunteers helping on the second largest ASLA National Convention in history. We had over 25 stories or articles published in local newspapers and on TV about local landscape architects and our profession. This was due to a huge effort and a lot of work by volunteers in the San Diego Chapter to promote awareness of the profession.
I have asked myself what I would like to see accomplished during my year as President of the San Diego Chapter. I keep coming back to one thing, and that is, I would like to see my colleagues and friends who did not have jobs or have slowed in their practices due to the down turn of our economy have more work or, in many cases – a job. I know that I cannot control or change the economic slowdown, but I do believe the best way to get more work for landscape architects is to educate the general public on who we are, what we do and the importance of our profession.
The National Convention along with our ASLA National Public Awareness Campaign on 08.17.11 went a long way toward advancing awareness and appreciation for our profession. The ASLA national staff reported that during the one day promotional event on 08.17.11, Chapters throughout the US created at least 170 events, 40,000 search hits on Google, 16 TV spots and 2,700 plus views on ASLA’s website in less than 48 hours. As incoming President I want to keep this momentum and energy going. Last year, the San Diego Chapter hired a Public Relations professional to take full advantage of the National Convention hosted in San Diego and to get the message out to the media regarding “what is a landscape architect?” We were the first Chapter nationwide to do this. We feel this is such an important benefit to our membership that we have elected to keep the PR professional working for us this year.
“Promoting and Educating the Public” about landscape architecture will be our Chapter’s biggest focus. We need to let people know that we are not “glorified gardeners.” We participate in the careful stewardship, wise planning and artful design of our cultural and our natural environment. This is also the mission of ASLA National. The ASLA National Public Relations and Communications department reaches millions of people advancing the awareness and appreciation of the profession through their awarding-winning outreach efforts.
A big thank you! to Chapter members for your continuous support. I look forward to a great year for Landscape Architects and encourage participation in Chapter activities in 2012!
Jim Kuhlken
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Legacy Project Breaks Ground
By Brooke Pietz, ASLA
It has been a busy year of planning, teaching, and learning, and after several rain delays at Taft Middle School, the Legacy committee, ASLA volunteers, ACE Mentor Program students, community members, and The Friends of Ruffin Canyon were finally able to begin the construction of a new garden at Taft Middle School, the HabiTAFT Garden Laboratory.
Every year the host city of the ASLA Annual Meeting and Expo puts together a Legacy Project. The project is used to leave behind a positive impact on the host city. This year, the Legacy committee including co-chairs Laura Burnett and Emily Henning along with Brooke Pietz, Ieszic Formeller, Jon Wreschinsky, JT Barr, Kevin Mock, Leslie Ryan, Mark Moss, Susan O’Brien, Tim Pruss, and Pat (Phil) Hart selected Taft Middle School. The project provided an opportunity to connect children to nature and teach them about landscape architecture.
Throughout the year, the committee hosted Saturday workshops for ACE Mentorship students. The students learned about site analysis, urban gardening, watersheds, native plants, and master plans and through this process designed a new garden for Taft. The exposure to the project and the profession has impacted several students. A senior at Patrick Henry High School and ACE Mentor student last spring, Maya Walden is now taking classes at Mesa College in design and sustainability and hopes to become a landscape architect.
The hard work of the committee and students were recognized at the Annual Meeting during Monday’s general session in front of thousands of landscape architects. Jerick Evans, a high school senior at High Tech High and a founder of J and J Multi Media, volunteered his talents as a videographer by documenting and producing the project video. The video highlighting the year’s efforts was also shown at the general session. Check out our website to see the final product!
http://www.asla-sandiego.org/2011LegacyProject.html
Once complete, the final garden will include a greenhouse, wooden planter beds, Lithocrete Sedimentary seat walls, native plantings along the perimeter of the site, a new fence, concrete decorative planters, decomposed granite paving, and an entry trellis. It will provide a space for students, families, and the surrounding community to observe nature and celebrate the adjacent canyon. Curriculum at Taft Middle School will also incorporate the new garden features. With a strong showing of students from Southwest High School, efforts to install the project started during December and will continue over the next months until the project is complete. Updates on the project, upcoming construction days, and photos can be found on our chapter website or our Facebook page.
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2012 Community Grant Update and Progress
By Tim Jachlewski, ASLA, Vice President of Community Outreach
The 2011 ASLA Community Grant of $5000 awarded to the City Heights Community Development Corporation, Community and Economic Development Department for the “Colina Del Sol Park Safety Improvement Plan” is close to completion. Currently the community has preliminary designs for new park entry monument signs and they have brightened the park with some local community involvement as seen in the photo above.
Over 70 volunteers participated by vibrantly painting 6 utility boxes and 15 trash cans with a unifying design, which has already helped to re-brand the park’s theme, the sun, to correspond with the name “Colina Del Sol.” Benzien Design has created final concept designs for the park’s main entry and wall main entry, as well as a 31 page study of the park with proposed improvements. The community has made further progress since receiving the grant with support from the City of San Diego’s Fourth Supervisorial District. Supervisor Ron Roberts’ Office has been engaged in all the work and effort in re-activating Colina Del Sol. Sakara Tear, Community Engagement Manager of the City Heights Community Development Corporation stated, “The ASLA grant has been a major catalyst in getting things done at Colina Del Sol.” Currently the community is gearing up to complete new vibrant sidewalk murals. We will keep you posted as the community completes many of the improvements in the near future.
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2011 ASLA Annual Meeting and Expo in San Diego
By Glen Schmidt and Joe Esposito, Co-chairs
The Board Annual Meeting & EXPO was a huge success thanks to over 100 San Diego Chapter volunteers. Thank you to everyone for your hard work! Some highlights include:
- There were over 5,500 attendees making this the second largest Annual Meeting in ASLA history.
- There were over 460 exhibitors participating in the EXPO covering 76,000 square feet of exhibit space, the most ever.
- Field Sessions: The San Diego Chapter organized and led 15 Field Sessions. Thank you to all of the session leaders, bus monitors, and volunteers. And a special thank you to Field Session Chairs Dolores Marques and DJ Taylor. The successful sessions included: Orange County Great Park; Shoreline Ecology Kayak Experience; Torrey Pine: Capturing Natural & Historical Character in Design; Edible Landscape and Urban Sustainability; The Western Edge: Current Trends in Modern Residential Design; Icons of Art and Architecture in the Landscape; North County San Diego Residences: Mountain Top to Valley Floor; Strategies for Landscape Water Efficiency in Residential and Commercial Applications; San Diego Region SITES Pilot Projects; Green Infrastructure Workshop; Habitat Like That: Landscape Architecture for the San Diego Zoo; Cycling in Coronado: Past, Present, and Future; Environmental Stewardship on the Border: The Tijuana River Watershed; Balboa Park Walking Tour; and The Jewel: Estate Coastal Gardens of La Jolla.
- The Ten Tree Project: Thanks to the hard work of Chairs Jon Wreschinski and Joey Jacoby, Cuyamaca College students, great sponsor support and the rest of their committee, our Ten Tree Project was a success getting significant recognition (such as two appearances in the San Diego Union Tribune). Starting in July the committee moved Ten 36” box trees to Cuyamaca College. The trees were moved to UCSD, then just before the Annual Meeting they were moved downtown across the street from the Convention Center.
- Host Chapter Booth: Thanks to the hard work of Chairs Jim Taylor, Mark Steyaert and their many volunteers our host booth was open with chapter members and volunteers there throughout the conference. They sold beach towels and jump drives, handed out restaurant guides and city guides that they created, and provided general help and assistance to annual meeting attendees.
- Legacy Project: The Legacy Project at Taft Middle School is under construction with a second major construction day on December 10th. Thank you to Chairs Laura Burnet and Emily Henning, along with their many volunteers and students, who are creating this beautiful facility.
Sponsorship Support
The Chapter received a significant stipend from ASLA National which covered the majority of expenses. But we were also very fortunate that our local sponsors pitched in to help. These dedicated companies included:
- Host Booth: Toro Company, Rainbird, ReproHAUS, KRC Rock, Easy Turf, Monrovia Nursery, and Hunter;
- Legacy Project for both cash and in-kind donations: AECOM, Cavinac & Assoc., Clark Construction, GroPower, Kimley Horn and Associates, Inc., KTU+A, McKenna Long & Aldridge, Natural Dental Arts, SDASLA, University Mechanical, ACE Mentor Program San Diego, AGRISERVICE, Cut 'N Core, Inc., Decorative Stone Solutions, DuMor, Girl Scout Troup 3359, Hunter Industries, Keystone Ridge Designs, ParkWest Landscape, Rainbird, RCP Block & Brick, ReproHAUS, Southwest Boulder & Stone, T.B., Penick & sons, Inc., TVRI, Urban Plantations, Valley Crest, and Vulcan Materials.
- Ten Trees Project: Mark Schroeder & Co., South Bay Foundry, Miramar Nursery, Horizon Distributors, Inc., Brickman Group, UCSD, MTS, and Cuyamaca College and students. Special thanks to Michael Watts for his tireless efforts caring for the trees.
- Trustees Welcome Dinner: Toro and Acker-Stone Industries.
Congratulations and thank you to our entire San Diego Chapter for a job well done. And thank you again to our sponsors for all of their tremendous support!
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Stewardship Committee: Exciting Things Happening!
By Tim Smith, Wynn-Smith Landscape Architecture
Marian Marum, of Marum Partnership, has been the Chairperson for the ASLASD Stewardship Committee for the last four years. She has worked with this committee to accomplish a variety of goals that will not only raise awareness of the need to take care of our land but also increase awareness among other design professionals as to the important role that landscape architects play in the sustainable design process. One of the accomplishments of the committee was the preparation of the Stewardship Guide: “Steps to Stewardship.” This document is available for download here.
In October, Tim Smith, of Wynn-Smith Landscape Architecture, Inc., was elected as the new Chairperson. I am truly excited to work with this group of dedicated landscape architects. In our last meeting we confirmed that we, as ASLASD representatives, will be in attendance at monthly meetings with other Association/Government groups such as the AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE), USGBC, SANDAG - Transportation, SANDAG -LID, Sustainable San Diego - Land Use Work Group and Environmental Working Group, APA, AEP, APLD and CLCA. By participating in the discussions with each of these organizations as well as others, we will be able to maintain a presence for landscape architects and make sure the goals of ASLA San Diego chapter are recognized.
In addition to ASLASD’s Lecture Series, we are looking at putting together educational lectures/discussion panels regarding stewardship of the land and ways to ensure that our projects are built the way we intend and are also maintained to last.
If you have ideas relevant to this committee, please contact Tim Smith at 858-513-0030 or email at tim@wynn-smith.com.
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Registration Deadline January 13: New Partners for Smart Growth Meeting
The Local Government Commission will hold its 11th annual New
Partners for Smart Growth Conference February 2–4, 2012, in San
Diego. For the first time, landscape architects who attend can earn
professional development hours under the Landscape Architecture
Continuing Education System (LACES ).
ASLA is a long time sponsor of this premier smart-growth event. The multidisciplinary conference will attract participants from across the country, including landscape architects, elected officials, planners, public health officials, transportation professionals, developers,
environmentalists, architects, and many others.
The program will feature more than 100 sessions and workshops on a wide range of topics. The program also includes more than a dozen optional tours of local model projects, and a dynamic optional workshop on February 1 that will focus on the connection between equitable development, environmental justice, and smart growth. Plenaries, implementation workshops, focused trainings, and coordinated networking activities round out the program. ASLA will have a booth at the conference, with ASLA members in attendance during breaks between sessions and at the Thursday evening networking reception. If you’re at the conference, please stop by and say hello.
The registration deadline for the event is January 13. To learn more about the program, and to register online, visit the site located at www.newpartners.org/. To view course offerings available for LACES credit, go to the LACES site and search under Local Government Commission as the educational
provider.
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Happy Urban Spaces: Lecture Night with CMG Landscape Architecture
By Kasia Trojanowska, LLA, VP Programs and Education
On September 29, 2011, we had the great pleasure of meeting all of you at the 2011 ASLA San Diego Lecture Series held in the Neurosciences Institute. The Institue contributed to this program by lending its Auditorium at no charge.
CMG Landscape Architecture, one of the most visionary and influential firms working in San Francisco today, was our featured speaker. Chris Guillard, firm co-founder and Scott Cataffa, principal at CMG drew from their own projects and experience to explore what it takes to make a public space successful — that is, a place where people want to hang out.
Chris Guillard is an award winning, accomplished designer, whose work and research is focused on the value of the public open space and the urban landscape integrating multiple functions into communities. Scott Cataffa leads the design and management on a range of project types from planning and site design to cultural landscape research and preservation. Their presentation, which includes the award winning Mint Plaza and Panhandle Bandshell projects, is available here .
This great event would not have taken place without the support of our Four Season Sponsors: Modern Builders Supply, reproHaus, T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc., Lithocrete, and the generosity of landscape architecture firms in San Diego: KTUA, Rick Engineering Company Landscape Architecture, Spurlock Poirier, David Reed Landscape Architects, Schmidt Design Group and Estrada Land Planning. Thank you!
We are beginning to plan for the 2012 ASLA San Diego Lecture Series. If you would like to volunteer or become a Lecture Series sponsor, please e-mail me at: kasia_trojanowska@urscorp.com.
See you at the next ASLA San Diego event!
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CCASLA Report: Landscape Review Technical Committee Renews for 5 Years
By Jon Wreschinsky, CCASLA Delegate
On October 3, 2011, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 543, Business and Professions: Regulatory Boards into law. With this action, LATC’s mandate as the governing entity overseeing the regulation of the practice of landscape architecture in California was renewed until 2016. CCASLA representatives from each of the four California chapters worked tirelessly to ensure your interests were heard in advocating for continued regulation by LATC. With this validation, CCASLA will continue to work closely with the LATC Board and staff to help ensure that the Landscape Architects Practice Act is not weakened and continues to protect your livelihood.
CCASLA was also very active in advocating on behalf of the landscape architecture profession on a number of other important pieces of legislation. These included indemnity, Mechanics/Design Professional Liens, water use efficiency/graywater building standards and small business legislation. In the coming 2012 legislative session, CCASLA will continue to monitor key legislation as well as identify and meet with key legislators and administration officials to advocate for issues important to the profession. To assist the CCASLA Board with these efforts, your input is critical. Anticipated legislative issues include the California Water Plan (update), park and recreation issues and consumer affairs. Do not hesitate to contact me or one of the other Board members with your ideas, concerns or other important information that will help make this effort a success.
For further information on these and other legislative issues, please feel free to contact me at jswreschinsky@pacbell.net, or call 619-916-6956 or other CCASLA representatives.
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LA Appreciation Week
In advance of the ASLA National Meeting, ASLA San Diego put out a call for local communities to recognize Landscape Architecture by declaring 28 October to 4 November Landscape Architecture Appreciation week.
No less than 5 cities did so. Both the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Diego, and the cities of El Cajon, Solana Beach and Del Mar recognized the work that Landscape Architects do for their communities.
This recognition was announced on local television, Facebook and other media. David Reed, A.S.L.A. San Diego President accepted these proclamations on, behalf of the Chapter.
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ASLA National Trustee Report
By Glen Schmidt, FASLA
The Board of Trustees met on October 29 and 30 in San Diego prior to the Annual Meeting. The following are highlights of the meeting:
- Annual meeting sponsorship was at a record over $235,000 and EXPO revenue was at least 7% higher than in 2010.
- Professional awards surpassed revenue goal this year with 610 professional and 500 student entries.
- Landscape Architecture Magazine ad sales are over 90% of their $2.8 million budget.
•National membership is over 16,000 today down from a high in 2007 of 18,428. It appears that the membership loss is slowing and staff has been working on outreach to reduce that more. Membership retention is about 80%.
- Sustainable Sites Initiative –Over 150 projects are in pilot, nine are through prelim review. Four will be qualified for certification in a few months. About 1.5 years away from phase 1, product development. Next phase is open enrollment and certification. GBCI will be certifying organization just like with LEED.
- Public Awareness Campaign – 08.17.11 event participation and outcomes: 259 events nationwide. 80 news stories, including multiple broadcast stories, reaching an estimated 15 million people.
- State and Government Affairs – ASLA continues to advocate at the national and state level for responsible transportation spending, stormwater, parks and open space, green infrastructure, etc. ASLA advocates have been successful in opposing major cuts to programs that bring jobs to landscape architects and investment in communities. Thus far, ASLA advocates have sent nearly 10,000 messages to their elected officials this year encouraging them to learn more about landscape architecture, defending programs important to the profession, and urging Congress to act on important legislation.
- Financial Report as of September 2011 – The association continues to act fiscally conservative and is in the black. Year to date show an increase in net assets by approximately $100,000 with $8.9 million in revenue and $ 8.8 million in expenses.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at gschmidt@schmidtdesign.com
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2011 Holiday Gala Event Photos
Calling
All Volunteers!
What makes a great active ASLA Chapter is the people who
volunteer! Even if you only have a couple of hours a month
to give, the Chapter has an opportunity for you. If something
looks appealing, please contact Tracy Hollingworth at
(619) 225-8155 or aslasd@sbcglobal.net,
or the Chairperson for the Committee.
Volunteer Today! From mandatory
water conservation requirements, stormwater runoff regulations,
sustainable business practices, coordinating LARE review
sessions and working with allied industries, the Chapter
could use a hand to address the issues and produce programs
of interest to the membership. If you can lend a hand,
email us at ASLASD@sbcglobal.net.
Click
Here
SD/ASLA Annual Golf Tournament
Committee
The committee is in the planning stages and needs your
help. Please contact Tracy Hollingworth at (619) 283-8818
to assist. aslasd@sbcglobal.net.
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Executive
Board 2011-2012
- President: Jim Kuhlken, ASLA
- President-Elect: Tim Jachlewski, Jr., ASLA
- Past President: David Reed, ASLA
- Vice-President, Programs/Education:
Kasia Trojanowska, ALSA
- Vice-President, Programs/Social Activities:
Patricia Trauth, ASLA
- Vice President, Membership: Jim Taylor, ASLA
- Vice President, Chapter Visibility/Public
Relations: Brooke Pietz. ASLA
- Vice President, Community Outreach: Nate Magnusson
- Secretary: Darren Solano
- Treasurer: David Preciado, ASLA
- Chapter Trustee: Glen Schmidt, ASLA
- Student Affiliate Chapter President:
Mike Watts
- CC/ASLA Representative: Jon S. Wreschinsky,
ASLA
- Association Executive: Tracy Morgan
Hollingworth
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LARE
Study Guide Available
The ASLA LARE Preparation Committee worked with practitioners,
educators, representatives of CLARB, state chapters, and
LARE candidates to prepare its online book "LARE:
A Guide to Professional Development which can be found
in the Members Section of ASLA Online (www.asla.org)
under the Business Practices, Reference Materials and
Resources heading. In addition to being helpful to individual
candidates, an important contribution of this book is
the chapter that provides quality control guidelines for
LARE Review Sessions. Anyone can use this information
to put together a Review Session, and it fulfills the
Committee's goal to assist ASLA chapters and candidates
who want to provide worthwhile sessions. This final chapter
also includes a very important evaluation form for candidates
to send to the Committee via ASLA headquarters. This form
will help the Committee improve the online book and help
chapters improve their review sessions.
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