Congratulations to the 2024 PA-DE ASLA Professional Award Recipients!

Thank you to the Minnesota ASLA Chapter for jurying the 2024 awards program.

Analysis & Planning

Sepulveda Basin Vision Plan

OLIN
Client: City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering
Project Location: San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Project Statement:

Situated in the heart of Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley, the Sepulveda Basin presents a singular opportunity to offer 2000+ acres of vibrant ecological habitat and robust cultural and recreational assets to the surrounding underserved communities and Los Angeles. Driven by community needs and priorities, the Vision Plan proposes a bold path forward for the basin including the dechannelization of two miles of the LA River channel to restore river, habitat, and floodplain function.

Additional Project Credit: Geosyntec Consultants, Prime, Lead Engineer, Water Resources, River Engineering; PSOMAS, Ecology, Environment, Civil Engineering; Agency: Artifact, Landscape Architecture; Gruen Associates, Architecture; Alta Planning + Design, Transportation and Mobility; Estolano Advisors, Funding and Strategy; The Robert Group, Community Engagement; Pacoima Beautiful, Community Engagement Support; Leland Saylor, Cost Estimating

Origin Park

OLIN
Client: Confidential
Project Location: Clarksville, IN

Project Statement:

Origin Park restores and interprets a rich cultural and ecological landscape while answering a contemporary need for equitable access to nature and outdoor recreation. By crafting a resilient, flexible landscape designed to accept seasonal flood patterns, more than 400 acres will become meadows, woodlands, wetlands, and programmable spaces created to stay open even in the largest floods. This long forgotten landscape will once again embody the life of the region and the Ohio River.

Additional Project Credit: OLIN, Landscape Architecture and Planning; RES, Ecologist; Clark Dietz, Traffic and Roadway Engineering; Geosyntec, Hydrology; Jacobi, Tooms, and Lanz, Civil Engineering (Master Plan); QK4, Civil Engineering (Phase 1); MRCE, Structural Engineering; S2O, Whitewater Design; SME, Environmental Engineering; Dharam Consulting, Cost Estimating; Endres Studio, Bridge Design; Tillett Lighting Design Associates, Lighting Design; Cultural Resource Analysts, Cultural Resources

A Resilient Vision for Fonthill Castle and Woodlands

OLIN
Client: Bucks County Historical Society
Project Location: Doylestown, PA

Project Statement:

The master plan proposes the transformation of this estate’s woodlands, stream, and open fields as a public park and a cultural landscape. The plan proposes a restored ecosystem, meadows, nature play areas, woodland trails, an outdoor classroom, and a tree house. Visitors are invited to explore while learning the roles of ecosystems in the face of climate change. The project demonstrates leadership in ecology conservation and carbon awareness while promoting wellness to its adjacent communities.

Additional Project Credit: Darrell Campana, ASLA, RLA, Associate; Anneliza Kaufer, ASLA, RLA, Associate; Moya Sun, ASLA, RLA, Project Manager, Senior Landscape Architect; Hangxing Liu, Landscape Architect; Arisa Lohmeier, Landscape Designer; Madison Murray, Landscape Designer; Daniel Rodriguez, Landscape Designer

Dharam Consulting – Cost Estimation; RES – Ecology Presentation; Langan – Civil Engineering

Sojourner Truth State Park Framework Plan

OLIN
Client: Scenic Hudson, Inc.
Project Location: Ulster County, NY

Project Statement:

The Framework Plan is an adaptable long-term toolkit for transforming a 520-acre abandoned quarry along the Hudson River into a new state park. Developed through robust analysis and inclusive engagement, the plan aims to amplify ongoing ecological regeneration of unique soils and landforms, reveal the many layers of the site’s geological, indigenous, cultural, and industrial history, and invite all communities of the region to explore the woodlands, wetlands, and dramatic cliffs of the park.

Additional Project Credit: eDesign Dynamics; Hudsonia; PennPraxis; Matthew Baird Architects; Barretto Bay Strategies; McLaren Engineering Group; Rave Consultants

Currie Park Redesign

OLIN + Chen Moore and Associates
Client: The West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency / City of West Palm Beach
Project Location: West Palm Beach, FL

Project Statement: 

Currie Park is an urban oasis that weaves together community and ecology along the Intracoastal Waterway in West Palm Beach. Following years of underutilization, Currie Park has been reimagined through a master plan that celebrates its location and reunites its community with the water’s edge. The design team worked with residents, business owners, and non-profits to identify a panoply of programming while incorporating resilient ecological strategies to activate and enhance this destination park.

Additional Project Credit: Biederman Redevelopment Ventures, Programming & Activation; Barth Associates, LLC, Public Engagement (Content); L.B. Limited Associates, Inc., Public Engagement (Logistics); Stephen Boruff, AIA, Architects + Planners, Inc., Architecture
Johnson, Levinson, Ragan, and Davilla, Mechanical, Electrical, & Plumbing Engineering; Cummins | Cederberg, Inc., Coastal Engineering & Environmental Permitting; Brandy Marine International, LLC, Marina Development Services; O’Donnell, Naccarato, Mignogna and Jackson, Inc., Structural Engineering; Via Planning, Inc., Traffic Engineering; RMPK Funding, Inc., Grant Application Preparation; Engenuity Group, Inc., Land Surveying; Nutting Engineers of Florida, Inc., Geotechnical Engineering; Seville Legacy, LLC, Construction Cost Estimation

General Design

KIPP Philadelphia Preparatory Academy

SALT Design Studio
Client: KIPP Philadelphia Schools
Project Location: Philadelphia, PA

Project Statement:

The new schoolyard for KIPP Philadelphia Preparatory Academy converted a barren asphalt lot into a high-performance, multi-use space for play, education, exercise and socialization. Rooted in three of KIPP’s primary values — joy, resilience and activism — the schoolyard design fosters delight and freedom through lively color, pattern and form; demonstrates sustainable strategies for social and environmental equity; and empowers students with a sense of belonging and agency in this flexible landscape.

Additional Project Credit: MIS Capital LLC – Developer; KSS Architects – Architect; Ruggiero Plante Land Design – Civil Engineer; DEDC, LLC – Consulting Engineers; Axis Construction Management LLC – General Contractor; John J. Dougherty & Son, Inc. – Site Contractor

Thaden School

Andropogon Associates, Ltd.
Client: Thaden School
Project Location: Bentonville, Arkansas

Project Statement:

Thaden School was created to educate students through a groundbreaking, experiential approach that generates learning opportunities from current global challenges inspiring creativity by engaging pupils with the local ecology and culture. The design team collaborated with the school to develop its physical campus from the ground up in tandem with the creation of its curriculum to ensure the two function symbiotically. In support of the school’s mission, the landscape includes restoration of native plant communities and structures; development of sustainable, integrated water systems; programming of on-campus community engagement activities; and activation of open spaces for research, production, circulation, and recreation.

Additional Project Credit: Eskew+Dumez+Ripple Architects; Marlon Blackwell Architects; Ecological Design Group, Inc.; Aqueous Consultants, LLC; Milestone Construction Company

Sora West

Ground Reconsidered, Inc.
Client: Keystone Development + Investment
Project Location: Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Project Statement:

SORA West is a community focused multi-use development intended to reaffirm and recenter the Borough of Conshohocken. Replacing a suburban and vehicular oriented site, a collective of buildings, old and new, anchored by a public plaza dubbed ‘the new town center’, bring together workers, community, and visitors alike. Terraced seating, an integrated stage, and a central lawn provide flexibility, while rain gardens flank the site and streetscape improvements add to the vibrancy of downtown.

Additional Project Credit: Architect: Gensler; Structural Engineering & Parking Design: The; Harman Group – IMEG; Hotel Architect: DLR Group; Civil Engineer: Pennoni Associates, Inc.; Lighting design: Beam, Ltd.; Electrical Engineering: Bala Consulting Engineers; Irrigation design: Lynch & Associates, Ltd.; Construction Manager: Intech Construction, LLC

The Portal

Strada Architecture LLC
Client: Walnut Capital
Project Location: Bakery Square, Pittsburgh, PA

Project Statement:

The Bakery Square Portal breaks down what was once a physical barrier between the Bakery Square innovative district and its surrounding neighborhoods. It creates a welcoming front door experience that provides accessible public space, and a new art gallery that supports meaningful public engagement through the established Bakery Square Art’s program. The Portal transformed an underutilized parking lot into a beautiful urban space; one that will encourage connection and foster community for years to come.

Additional Project Credit: Contractor- P.J. Dick; MEP Engineering- Allen + Shariff; Structural Engineering- Atlantic Engineering Services; Landscape Work- Palombo Landscaping

Residential

Mid-Century Restoration

Anne F. Walters
Client: Confidential
Location: Main Line Philadelphia

Project Statement:

This secluded, wooded site overlooks a stream and historic stone bridge and features a restored mid-century house designed in 1951 by Philadelphia architects. The landscape site design concept evolved from the original architectural plans and the house style. We introduced sensitive solutions for storm water management, including the use of native plants, wildflower meadow, and riparian buffer plantings to protect stream banks, eliminating need for excessive mowing. The original stone walls and paving were re-used.

Additional Project Credit: RECCHILUNGO LANDSCAPING, INC.; WEEDS, INC.

Birch Knoll Revival

Hess Landscape Architects
Client: Confidential
Location: Pennsylvania

Project Statement:

With a busy road on one side and a golf course on the other, this design met the unique challenges of transforming the lot into a desirable family homestead. A balance of Sharawadgi and formal design principals successfully blended cool contemporary sophistication with warm grounded intuition. Creating a landscape as fresh and fun as the home’s resurrected and reimagined mid-century modern architecture, we were able to create the perfect place for a seamless life of sport, entertainment, and leisure.

Additional Project Credit: Design Team: k YODER Design, Baroni Building Co.; Landscape Contractor: Finnerty, LLC; Photography: Jimi Smith Photography & Charles Hess