Georgia’s landscape architects know that most people aren’t familiar with the work that goes into their field.
Atlanta’s landscape architects know their field is a little bit of a mystery. According to the American Society of Landscape Architects, the goal is clear: create “healthy, safe and beautiful outdoor places for everyone.”
But the actual work involves analysis, community work, planning, design, historic preservation, urban planning and management — and it’s responsible for some of the city’s most beloved outdoor spaces. On Aug. 19, the Georgia chapter of the ASLA hosted its awards gala at Park Tavern to celebrate the highlights of landscape architecture across the state.
The awards gala was also a chance to show their field to the community, who may not recognize landscape architecture when they see it. Park Pride Grantmaking Director Andrew White said: “It’s happening on every level.”
The awards recognized fully redesigned town squares, business districts and residential areas. Landscape Architect Kristin L’Esperance said the winners incorporated technology, environment and the community to go “above and beyond the call of duty” with their projects.
“Landscape architects work with natural systems to figure out how to make them useful for people and work with nature,” L’Esperance said.
A jury of Maryland’s ASLA chapter decided the 16 winners from 35 entries. The awards were split into General Design: Built, General Design: Unrealized, Analysis & Planning, Social Impact, Student Work and State Honors.
The Krog District received a General Design award for its “people first vision with flexible public spaces, sustainable design and a new pocket park.” Sweet Auburn Works snagged an unbuilt design award for a plan to reconnect the Sweet Auburn District with safer, walkable streets and reclaimed highway land for parks.
“It’s all about connections,” Trust for Public Land Chattahoochee Program Director Walt Ray said.
A group of University of Georgia students also joined the event to receive two different college-based awards. The Merit Award went to students who worked on the campus garden, and the Honor Award went to a collaborative Savannah design project between UGA and Louisiana State University’s landscape architecture departments.
UGA student Nazrin Aliyeva, an urban planner, said it was a chance to see how urban planning and landscape architecture can collaborate to design good housing.
“We can work together and do both,” Aliyeva said.
The awards are the highest level of achievement in Georgia’s landscape architecture field. As the recipients took their plaques, announcer Inga Kennedy pointed to the importance of the moment.
“Through all of these awards, you know who benefits?” Kennedy said. “The people, they’re the ones who will enjoy these spaces.”
Below is a full list of the Georgia ASLA Award winners:
General Design – Built
Honor Award:
Douglasville Town Green and Amphitheater by TSW Design – Douglasville,
Mercer University College Street Transformation by HGOR – Macon
Merit Award:
Chason Park BY TSW Design – Bainbridge
Columbus Museum by Perkins & Will – Columbus
Krog District by CORE Landscape – Columbus
Mercer University Atlanta Campus Transformation by HGOR – Macon
Piedmont Office Plaza by FIELD Landscape Architecture – Atlanta
Roosevelt Hall by HGOR – Atlanta
The Mill by TSW Design – Atlanta
General Design – Unrealized
Honor Award:
Kelly’s Landing Master Plan by Gresham Smith – Lexington, Ky.
Analysis & Planning
Merit Award:
Discover Chastain by Lord Aeck Sargent – Atlanta
Reconnecting Sweet Auburn by Perkins & Will – Atlanta
Tara Boulevard: A Livable Corridors Initiative (LCI) Study by POND & Company – Atlanta
Social Impact
Honor Award:
Historic Mitchellville Freedom Park Landscape and Interpretive Master Plan by WLA Studio – Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Student Work
Honor Award:
Eco Collective: Designing Inclusive Futures for Savannah, Georgia by Louisiana State University & University of Georgia – Savannah
Merit Award:
Accessibility to Culture: Universal Design for a Campus Garden by University of Georgia – Athens
State Honors
Landscape Architectural Firm Award – WLA Studio
UGA CED Student Award – Dailey Jackson, Associate ASLA
Emerging Professional Award – Carley Rickles, ASLA
Edith Henderson Chapter Service Award – Kristin L’esperance, ASLA
Citizens Award – The Georgia Native Plant Society
President’s Award – Matt Wilder, ASLA
Clermont H. Lee, Georgia Award – Spencer Tunnell, ASLA
RELATED POSTS
Comments are closed.