PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Community engagement, once a box to be checked as part of public design commissions, is increasingly a creative driver in the design and planning of the public realm in cities. Building on their practice’s mission, Gina and Rhiannon will share stories of projects – across geographies, project types and scales, including recent work in Jersey City – of inspired community-engaged design. They will explore Agency’s philosophy, tactics and experience in engagement and outreach with an emphasis on how the welcoming of community voice leads to better design outcomes.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Understand contemporary trends in public space design – equity, resilience, and civic action – and how they are shaping the practice of landscape architecture.
Objective 2: Explore how issues of connectivity, resilience and sustainability are integrated via case studies at the planning and site scale.
Objective 3: Learn about techniques for public engagement – and how to integrate community feedback into the planning and design of public space.
Objective 4: See examples of representation approaches – plan, section, perspective and diagram – to investigate and clarify complex ecological, economic and social processes.

Presented by Ujijji Davis Williams, PLA

The emerging class of landscape architecture’s new school focuses on participatory design practice in an effort to work collaboratively with other changemakers and use design as a vehicle toward accountability in placemaking, placekeeping, and land stewardship. JIMA
(jee-mah) Studio is a landscape architectural design and urban planning studio that collaborates with community groups, organizations and builders committed to culturally relevant placemaking and strategic implementation. As a burgeoning firm, JIMA leverages landscape architecture and urban planning to help various communities envision and build upon their futures. This presentation will introduce JIMA to a larger audience, highlighting key projects and partners that illustrate the studio’s ethos of “collective work and responsibility.”

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Explore cultural landscapes through the context of participatory design practice.
Objective 2: Learn about alternative methods to engage community organizations across project scales.
Objective 3: Explore next generation focal points for the future direction of landscape architecture.

Presented by Adam Alexander, LLA, RLA & James Thaon, PE

Construction is now underway at The Crossings at Brick Church Station, a $500 million redevelopment that will bring a vibrant, mixed-use, and transit-oriented project to the East Orange, NJ community. A public-private partnership (PPP) with the City of East Orange, the development will provide much-needed affordable housing with 820 mixed-income units; 200,000 SF of retail, restaurants, and commercial space; a pedestrian promenade and public plaza, and a 1,200-space parking garage. Working closely with their client Triangle Equities,

Bohler helped write the redevelopment plan for the entire city block and presented it to city and state agencies including the City of Orange, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and New Jersey Transit. The team’s design preserves the historic Brick Church train station while creating a more efficient city center. Bohler’s landscape architecture team designed the roof amenities for the residential buildings, central promenade, plaza, and streetscape to encourage pedestrian walkability and reduce overall vehicle traffic congestion.
This session will discuss the evolution of the Landscape Architects role through the redevelopment process.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Attendees will gain a better understanding of the New Jersey redevelopment process and the intricacies of navigating a Public/Private Partnership.
Objective 2: Attendees will learn how a landscape architect collaborates with other design professionals to identify creative design opportunities and cost-effective solutions for land development projects.
Objective 3: Attendees will learn how landscape architects approach the design of roof amenity spaces.
Objective 4: Attendees will learn about the evolution of Bohler’s Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design studio.

Presented by Theresa Laforest, BASc, EIT

Developed in 1979 by a professional group of designers, researchers, and engineers, the 7 Principles of Design are still widely used today. In this session we explore how these principles apply to aquatic play environments to create flexible, intuitive, and approachable play for people of all ages and abilities. We will discuss how careful placement of features can ensure that we go above and beyond accessibility to create spaces that are usable by the greatest amount of people to the greatest extent possible. Based on philosophies of unstructured, free play, we recommend creating spaces that aren’t limited by age or physical ability but instead thoughtfully created to allow children to choose their own adventures and distinguish their own boundaries. Together we can allow everyone to play on a Splash Pad!

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Restate the 7 principles of universal design and apply them to an aquatic play space.
Objective 2: Summarize why water is naturally inclusive.
Objective 3: Describe why zoning helps to accomplish universal splash pad design.
Objective 4: Explain how ADA and Universal Design Principles differ.

Presented by Debbie Lawlor, FAICP, PP

Effective community engagement invites the public to be part of the planning process. It is inclusive and collaborative. By offering a variety of engagement methods, both in-person and virtual, at different times and locations, you are more likely to attract a larger audience from which to gather information and ideas, as well feedback related to potential recommendations and concepts developed during the planning process. By including the public early and often, there is greater ability to address concerns and turn challengers into champions.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Understand how planners and landscape architects working together enhance the public engagement process.
Objective 2: Learn about a variety of public outreach methods and the value of each.
Objective 3: Discover how to use examples and case studies to convey your message.

Presented by Adam Alexander, LLA, RLA & James Thaon, PE

Although disabled people make up the largest global minority, they spend their lives adapting to the built environment, which limits human experience, inclusion, and participation in the public realm. In light of the conference theme – a celebration of 125 years of ASLA with a deep dive looking into how we’ve progressed as a profession – Alexa and Derrick will acknowledge both shortcomings and successes in accessible and inclusive design in landscape architecture and urban design, particularly with and for the Deaf community. How can we create more accessible designs which more holistically integrate Deaf and disabled stakeholders’ and experts’ lived experiences and knowledge? Methodology for improving the design process and how we design will be shared, along with case studies of successful implementations of DeafSpace / DeafScape and Universal Design principles.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Come to a better understanding of DeafSpace, DeafScape, and Universal Design and practical and creative applications.
Objective 2: Discuss case studies of designed and built projects that have successfully applied DeafSpace / DeafScape and Universal Design principles.
Objective 3: Learn to center and actively include Deaf and disabled lived experience and expertise in the design process.
Objective 4: Discover parallels between intersectional experiences of exclusion in the built environment, learn how to proactively advocate for the removal of these barriers, and create a more inclusive public realm.

Wei Zhang, Ph.D

Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) is typically built for multi-purposes: stormwater treatment and green space. Established vegetation is used to achieve the designed functions. However, plants often fail before being established. It is particularly hard for larger plants such as trees to get established in GSI. Trees suffer from transplant shock because as much as 90% of their roots are left behind. Plants can also undergo other types of stresses relating to water. Often stresses are related to either too much water or not enough. By design, GSI designed landscapes are flooded during storms. Also by design, porous growth media can be used to drain and dry out quickly between rain events. The extreme variations in soil moisture makes it challenging for plants to survive. There are additional stressors as well, such as compacted soil, limited soil volume, soil salinization, pollution, and urban heat island effect. This session will review novel technologies that can address some of these problems. For example, stormwater can be captured and then released on demand in order to mitigate water-related stress, washing off salts, lower temperatures, and reduce pollutants.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Learn the importance and the challenges encountered in green stormwater infrastructures.
Objective 2: Discuss the stresses in GSI: soil moisture fluctuation, presence of salt, compacted soils, heat island, drought, etc.
Objective 3: Discussion of methods and technologies that can help solve problems.
Objective 4: Review case studies in different regions, different climates and environments, and discuss what worked and what challenges were presented.

As cities continue to grow and densify, the demand for parks and public open spaces increases; however, available “land” to develop significant green spaces within dense metropolitan areas is scarce. As a result, the field of landscape architecture is shifting focus to transforming challenging and infrastructural sites into lush, sustainable and community-focused public spaces. The session will address these topics by discussing three case studies- The High Line, a 1.5 mile long linear park built over an abandoned elevated train track in New York City; The Underline, a project that transforms the vacant land underneath Miami’s elevated Metrorail into a lush linear park; and Dallas’ West End Square, a project that replaces a former surface parking with a next-generation park focused around smart technologies and sustainability while still honoring the neighborhood’s historic character.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: How to leverage the unique elements of a project site by drawing inspiration from what is already there.
Objective 2: How to create performative ecological habitats combined with highly programmed public spaces, all set within dense urban environments.
Objective 3: What does it mean to be a “smart” park and how can “smart” expand beyond the obvious use of technology, addressing sustainable practices, minimizing maintenance and directly contributing to the user’s experience of the site.

This is an opportunity to make an impact on the next generation of landscape architects. Selected professionals will meet with attendees from various ASLA Student Chapters for an informal conversation about the profession. Please join the student attendees in the Pre-Function area of Wildwood.

Mingle with colleagues and friends while enjoying mocktails, cocktails and hors d’oeurves.

Celebrate WxLA’s work on gender justice and equality in landscape architecture while enjoying mocktails, cocktails and hors d’oeurves. All proceeds will be donated to WxLA’s 2024 Scholarship program.

In the context of clarified cultural and political tensions, a changing climate, and rapid urban development, Sara Zewde explores bell hooks’ notion of the “Aesthetics of being” can offer creative departures for contemporary design practice today. In this view, Sara will present recent landscape architectural design works and processes by Studio Zewde as well as share some of her ongoing research and writing.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Explore project case studies that meaningfully interpret culture and memory in the design of the built environment.
Objective 2: Learn innovative methods for integrating community engagement with the design process.
Objective 3: Consider ways designers can integrate climate change adaptation in the design of public spaces.
Objective 4: Cultivate an understanding of how designers can work in the context of contested narratives.

Many of our urban parks in New York City have either been located on former industrial sites or constructed with contaminated urban fill. Almost every park in the city has been impacted by historic airborne deposits. However, it is only over the last twenty years that New York City has begun to deal with the legacy of industrial use and contamination in parklands. This presentation will begin with an overview of the historic forms of contamination in New York City Parks, issues of environmental justice, and the major contaminants of concern, as well as current regulations for park reconstruction. The talk will proceed to discuss how NYC Parks currently addresses site contamination in the planning, design and construction of parks. In particular, we will discuss how Parks is integrating remediation practices into our design and planning process. The talk will highlight several projects in Brooklyn where contaminants were present and successfully addressed.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Participants will learn about reaching design objectives in sites with contamination present.
Objective 2: Participants will learn about different forms of contamination present in urban parks, impacts to local communities and how they can be successfully and safely remediated.
Objective 3: Participants will learn about navigating various local, state and federal approvals in the planning, design and construction of post-industrial parklands.
Objective 4: Participants will learn about different remediation strategies.

The session showcases a collaborative model for park design that intentionally centers the work and engagement of youth exploring and/or pursuing design education, supporting and cultivating an educational pipeline for landscape architecture. The session format includes a unique charrette framework that has participants role play as park stakeholders stepping into someone else’s shoes to consider the needs and goals of a variety of potential park-users.

Students from the Atlantic County Institute of Technology (ACIT), led by Instructor Drew Holmes, will help lead and participate in the charrette, and will share their work to date to help redesign and renovate a pocket park in Ventnor City in collaboration with community partners. This session builds on the success of the 2023 Diversity Session / Charrette featuring ACIT students and their work to help redesign and renovate Fisherman’s Park in Atlantic City.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Gain knowledge about a collaborative approach to park design that cultivates the educational pipeline.
Objective 2: Learn examples of successful strategies for collaboration with public entities, educational, community and youth partners.
Objective 3: Gain understanding about the value of engaging varied and diverse perspectives in the planning and design process.
Objective 4: Learn strategies and approaches for pocket park design.

Lolly Tai, Ph.D, RLA, FASLA

This session focuses on the design process and criteria for designing nature-based risky play for children. Attendees will learn about aspects and details of nature- based risky play environments that allow children to play and move freely, and develop physically and socially with fewer constraints. Associated design elements of plants, landform, accessibility, and security for these play spaces will also be discussed. Fifty years ago, children enjoyed these types of play spaces without a second thought, but today we live in a more risk averse society where these settings are no longer the norm and are often considered dangerous to children’s health and well-being. This session provides inspiring design ideas for the creation of play spaces that are exploratory and exhilarating for children which fosters their overall health.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Learn about the design criteria for nature-based risky play for children.
Objective 2: Identify the six categories of risky play for children.
Objective 3: Understand the benefit of nature-based risky play for children.

Rachel L. Kramer, RLA

This presentation showcases the professional collaboration and complexities of the design and construction process highlighting the lessons learned from this 7-year journey from start to finish. Every milestone from the community input meetings, through design development and the extensive approval process will be discussed. This presentation will talk about the reconstruction of Callahan-Kelly Playground which is a large two block NYC park which lies on the border of East New York and Bedford-Stuyvesant Brooklyn. This 21-million-dollar project was funded by the Neighborhood Development Fund established by the NYC Mayor’s Office and the NYC Planning Department back in 2016. The scope of work for the 3.5 acre site includes decorative entry plazas, sitting areas, playground, spray shower, swings, shade structures, raised plant beds, basketball courts, synthetic turf multi-use field, table tennis, fitness area, new security lighting, two dog-runs, skate park, planted areas, perimeter sidewalk and trees. A major goal of this design is to provide a neighborhood and destination playground with activities for all ages and abilities.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: How to coordinate a large team of designers and drafting staff to best use limited resources in a timely manner.
Objective 2: How having a simple theme and pallet of materials can be used to create a complex and visually stimulating design.
Objective 3: Organizing approvals needed on large scale projects.
Objective 4: Working closely with outside agencies to coordinate adjacent projects.

Taewook Cha, RLA, FASLA, LEED AP

Torey Carter-Conneen, ASLA CEO, noted in his message regarding ASLA’s Racial Equity Plan of Action, “Purely symbolic rhetoric without deliberate and concrete actions leads to suboptimal outcomes. Our team of talented professionals and volunteer leaders commit to rolling up our sleeves and leaning into the truth, pushing forward toward progress to do the necessary work.” Based on the experiences of the DEI initiatives of both the NJ and NY ASLA chapters, this interactive session will explore the evolution of DEI initiatives in landscape architecture and allied professions. Actions related to DEI take many forms and ASLA chapters across the country have implemented varied approaches to incorporating DEI into their organizational goals and actions. The DEI initiatives in both NJ and NY have gained insight from each other as well as other chapters and colleagues across the country. This session will move beyond the “what” and “why” to the “how” and focus on lessons learned and creative models for increasing DEI in landscape architecture and allied professions.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Understand the goals and impacts of DEI initiatives in landscape architecture and allied professions.
Objective 2: Understand the evolution of DEI initiatives in landscape architecture and allied professions.
Objective 3: Learn about resources available to help increase DEI in landscape architecture and allied professions.
Objective 4: Learn about creative models and collaborative approaches that demonstrate how DEI contributes to an improved built environment.

Mediated Landscape Studios is a design lab that focuses on the intersection of design, technology, and culture. Studio projects use speculative fiction to prepare students for their professional futures. The projects are a form of world-building, intended to afford students with the ability to imagine their futures as designers in a changing world. Two core themes in all the projects are climate change and demographic shifts in the United States. This presentation will address three projects that showcase the unique approach of Mediated Landscape Studios, focusing on the most recent iteration.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Participants will learn about the role of science fiction and world building as teaching tools.
Objective 2: Participants will learn about the use of popular media as a method to engage audiences.
Objective 3: Participants will learn about the use of AI in the classroom and a tool for ideation and speculation.

Joseph Sikora, RLA, ASLA

 This session will examine the evolution of a mid-sized New Jersey based landscape architectural design practice over a span of nearly 45 years from the firm’s establishment in 1979 as Roger Wells, Inc., to its transition to Wells Appel (1989-2013) and currently to Sikora Wells Appel. Fundamental principles and business strategies for establishing and sustaining the practice will be discussed. Integral to the firm’s design approach is the merging of art, science and the logic of planning to create ecologically and sustainable places. Case studies will explore innovations in stormwater management landscape strategies, biophilic design, and iterative placemaking The firm’s work will be presented highlighting its growth and transition through 3 generations including some of their award winning projects at Merrill Lynch, Pennswood Village, Longwood Gardens, Villanova University, Philadelphia Navy Yard, Camden’s Roosevelt Park Pop-ups and Cooper River Water Trail. Lessons learned and perspectives moving into the future will be discussed.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Learn innovative design strategies incorporating green infrastructure and sustainability in urban landscapes.
Objective 2: Learn about the role of green infrastructure in placemaking.
Objective 3: Learn three principles to consider for establishing a successful landscape architectural practice.

Thomas Salaki, RLA, ASLA, Zoe Baldwin, & Bianca Wright

Skyscrapers covered in green terraces, elevated parks stretching over a mile long in a dense urban core, waterfront promenades designed to mitigate sea level rise. Our profession is not short on breathtaking advancements, however there is one very large geographic sector that seems to be stuck in the past – the suburbs. Around the world most people are moving to cities not to inhabit their centers but its suburbanized peripheries. After decades of design neglect, it’s time to embrace our suburban communities and landscapes and unlock their potential. This panel discussion will explore what makes this task so difficult but how through a multi-pronged approach, we can revolutionize this most American of spaces and in doing so restore habitat, bridge socio-economic divides, and prepare for a more resilient future.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Learn some of the reasons behind why suburban design is what it is today and the influences that continue to shape it.
Objective 2: Understand the potential of the suburban landscape from an ecological and social point of view.
Objective 3: Begin to understand the multi-disciplinary approach to creating a new suburban typology.
Objective 4: Provide the audience with action items of how to make changes in our suburban communities.

This education session will be delivered by three multi-generational colleagues that will describe Andropogon’s evolution over four decades of practice from landscape restoration projects to the redevelopment urban environments, the development of landscape performance benchmarks and rating systems, integrative research, and the paradigm shift of the agency of our profession to bridge professional boundaries. This trajectory will be illustrated with concise reviews of several case studies that include universal access and biophilic design, high performance and productive landscapes, biodiversity, and carbon accounting. The attendees will also learn how the governance of the firm addresses diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and what principles and criteria guide the design process of all projects of the firm.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Learn how to utilize an integrated design process in your project for maximum benefit.
Objective 2: Learn when to assess design strategies and material selections to minimize the carbon footprint of a project.
Objective 3: Learn how landscape architects can maximize their role as a critical member of any project team.
Objective 4: Learn how the governance of the firm addresses diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace

Please join us during this special design awards presentation to honor the achievements of our esteemed colleagues. Complimentary beer, wine, beverages, and snacks will be served.

Mingle with award winners, exhibitors, and friends while enjoying an array of hors d’oeurves. Meeting registration includes a complimentary drink from the bar.

The Executive Committee Meeting is an open meeting and all conference attendees are encouraged to join. Breakfast will be served within the room.

“Hip hop would not be hip hop without open space!” Thus began a conversation between the presenter, Elizabeth J Kennedy, FASLA, and Jared Green, Senior Communications Manager and Editor of The Dirt blog and Honorary Member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, about music and place that had nothing to do with designed venues, tasteful amphitheaters, and refined acoustics. As hip-hop culture observes the genre’s 50th anniversary, its viral spread through New York via the city’s streets and playgrounds revolutionized how landscape architects working in the public sector thought about open space programming, aesthetics—and CPTED. In many cultures, sound blends with the landscape to communicate worldview and reinforce shared values: this keynote will explore how a popular music’s (and culture’s) symbiosis with open space went to the heart of shared human experience, continues to occupy and define common ground, codifies its meaning and use, resists contestation, remains relevant, and invites reassessments of landscape architectural engagement and practice.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Attendees will understand how sound often informally occupies the landscape to communicate worldview and reinforce shared values.
Objective 2: Attendees will become familiar with engagement techniques that include sound as an aspect of landscape history and cultural preservation.
Objective 3: Attendees will learn strategies for including sound as a form of spatial access in programming considerations.
Objective 4: Attendees will understand the association of sound culture with the nature of spatial and sensory equity in open space design.

Maci Nelson, MLA, ASLA (Moderator)

Gina Ford, Marc Miller, and SuLin Kotowicz (Panelists)

A group of leaders in the landscape architecture field will be presenting as a panel to discuss their work and where they think the future of the profession is headed. The discussion will be a deep dive into how these leaders have defined and upheld inclusion efforts while navigating the culture of landscape architecture practice. They will also discuss how to create leadership opportunities throughout the full spectrum of the profession and how to create ‘call to actions’ that resonate within the field. After the panel discussion, there will be questions taken from the audience to aid in a wider understanding of how the future of the profession is shaped by our efforts today.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Learn methods of advocacy and inclusion implementation.
Objective 2: Gain insight into how leadership operates at different levels within landscape architecture practice.
Objective 3: Identify opportunities for inclusion and advocacy in traditional and non-traditional practices.
Objective 4: Identify multiple scales of impact from advocacy efforts.

Jeffrey A. Tandul, LLA, ASLA, M.Arch.

This dynamic presentation will examine Best Management Practices for community forestry & landscapes. Topics will include current versus outdated practices, specifications, planting & maintenance funding options, navigating “political realities”, tree/plant selection, basic “Hazard Tree ID”, liability reduction, collaboration with green professions, opportunities/constraints for stormwater management, public HSW issues related to Right of Way Management. Lessons learned in the wake of severe weather events will also be explored.

Arboricultural practices and tree planting/establishment criteria will be compared regarding historical/modern practice. The presentation will emphasize the importance of keeping current as to “standards of practice” in community forestry/landscape management. The speaker frequently reviews plan submissions for reviewing agencies & still finds terribly outdated details, specifications and plant selection criteria. Corrective measures shall be discussed for updating plan submissions.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Attendees will gain a better understanding evaluating their community forest existing trees for removal, planting and maintenance considerations. selection of trees for planting, both in the planning stages and at the nursery.
Objective 2: Attendees will gain a better understanding of proper current planting techniques.
Objective 3: Attendees will gain a better understanding of prioritizing pruning and other maintenance, including issues involved in planting smaller sized trees under utilities.
Objective 4: Attendees will gain a better understanding of resources available administrators and professionals to assist in management of their community forest and gain a better understanding of the “political realities” of planting and maintaining their community forest.

Barkha R. Patel

The City of Jersey City is one of the most densely populated and rapidly growing cities in the nation, with a limited park system of parks and green public spaces. While over 90% of Jersey City’s residents live within a 10 minute walk to a park, the median size of a City park is only 0.6 acres. Cities rely on great public spaces for the health, wellbeing, and resilience of their communities. In an effort to create more green space in a highly urbanized environment, Jersey City has turned to its largest public asset: its streets. Reimagining the public right of way, and reclaiming streets, parking lanes, and underutilized lots for their highest and best use, has resulted in the creation of the City’s most successful public spaces such as the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza. With examples of projects implemented in Jersey City, this session will explore how communities can optimize their existing public spaces and create more innovative, non-traditional public spaces to better meet their communities’ needs.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Review case studies of innovative placemaking projects in Jersey City, NJ.
Objective 2: Examine ways to integrate street design principles for the creation of successful pub.
Objective 3: Identify ways to enhance community engagement with tactical urbanism.
Objective 4: Identify placemaking strategies that can be applied in other municipal contexts.

Urban coastlines provide an opportunity to blend the disciplines of ecology and landscape architecture to develop sustainable solutions to address habitat degradation and loss. Nowhere is this more evident (and opportune) than in the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary, where centuries of development and industrialization altered natural shorelines and coastal habitats. In recent years, partnerships among land stewards, resource agencies, ecologists, and local municipalities have been forged throughout the Harbor Estuary, to promote a “living shoreline” approach to restoring and protecting degraded and “at risk” habitats. In response, strategic alliances have formed among consulting ecologists, landscape architects and coastal engineers, often in partnership with academic researchers and environmental advocacy groups, to plan and implement local projects. Several case studies illustrate regional collaborations, including proposed and built projects in the Lower Hudson River, Upper NY Bay, and Jamaica Bay. The presentation will describe goals and design objectives for each of these projects, and present examples of innovative approaches to restoring and enhancing shorelines.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: The role of ecological context and theory in coastal landscape design .
Objective 2: The value of an interdisciplinary approach to designing coastal projects .
Objective 3: Outcome of recent case studies and design concepts along the NY and NJ coastline.