InSites - 2009 Newsletter of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning
In This Issue
InSites is an annual newsletter published by the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at Utah State Univerisity. Please direct alumni news and comments to Kathy Allen 4005 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT or email laepinfo@usu.edu Design and Layout - Kathy Allen and Sarah Nelson
Cover Photo: Wellsville Moutains from Old Main Hill, fall-09 -- Kathy Allen
Greetings from the Department Head Travel Experience - Seattle and Portland Travel Experienc - Laval Morris Travel Travel Experience - Slovenia LAEP Distinguished Alumni - Donaldson LAEP Distinguished Alumni - Gutting LAEP Distinguished Alumni - Ellsworth LAEP Charrette - Envision Cache Alumni News New Faculty - Bo Yang New Faculty - Shujuan Li In the Classroom (&Out) - Escalante Grand Staircase In the Classroom (&Out) - Stokes Nature Center In the Classroom (&Out) - Whittier Center Faculty - Michael Timmons Faculty - Susan Buffler Faculty - Caroline Lavoie Faculty - Nancy Monteith Faculty - David Bell Faculty - Carlos Licon Faculty - Keith Christensen Student Chapter - ASLA Dee Foundation Awards 2009-2010 Scholarships New Faces in the Graduate Studio
Greetings from the Department Head Sean Michael - (left) and Keith Christensen
Facility changes in LAEP have begun putting a new face on portions of the department. College money was provided to kick off a series of studio remodeling projects. With those dollars we have remodeled the Graduate Studio, updated the Seminar Room, and provided needed replacements in the Jury Room. The department's reception area has received a facelift, we have remodeled several faculty offices, and are beginning a campaign to transform the remaining studios, offices and teaching spaces.
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he dramatic shifts that America and the world underwent since I joined LAEP in August of 2008 wrought a domino effect of change at USU. While some departments have faired worse for the changes, we have steered LAEP toward a set of unprecedented opportunities. Among those changes the shifts in personnel have shown that we are turning the corner on an era. Since April we have bid farewells to valued friends and faculty, as well as welcoming new colleagues. These include: •
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Last spring Professors John Ellsworth and John Nicholson took retirement following USU's incentive offers provided to aid in university budget cuts. Both were awarded Emeritus status. In May, Professor Margie Borecki stepped down from her position to pursue a PhD in Environmental Engineering at USU's Water Resource Lab.
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Two new assistant professors-Dr. Shujuan Li and Dr. Bo Yang-were hired this fall to fill open positions.
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Nancy Monteith joined us from Design Workshop as a Visiting Assistant Professor for this year.
Despite these substantial changes, the most impactful and lasting changes are yet to come. As I type these words we are two weeks from what may be the most pivotal Advisory Board meeting since the group's inception in 2000. On November 13th the Board will begin a conversation focusing on the never-beforeseen circumstances that our program now faces. These resulted from: •
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creation of a new "Caine College of Arts" (out of our current College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences) to commence Fall 2010. the charge by Pres. Stan Albrecht to study which college LAEP should now be based in following the creation of the new college.
In addressing the University community on Sept. 15, Pres. Albrecht described the task for LAEP this way: "One of the units most directly impacted by a spin-off of the Caine School is the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning. Therefore, a second recommendation from the deans was that we initiate a conversation with the faculty of that department to determine where in our academic organizational structure their future success will be maximized. There are a number of options, including staying in the reconfigured college of HASS, becoming a part of the new
college, or moving to another unit such as the College of Natural Resources or the College of Agriculture. Again, my intent is to initiate this conversation with the faculty, staff, and students in the immediate future so that if the first recommendation is adopted, we can move LAEP to an appropriate home.” In the 70+ year history of the program there has never been an opportunity like we have today. The decision that results from this process will set our Department’s trajectory for its next quarter century. As such the timing is fortuitous. LAEP’s 75th anniversary will occur in the spring of 2014, and spring of 2011 brings the program’s next national accreditation review. With these dates in mind, and in light of the strong support I have found in meeting with key donors, it is important that we move forward with both expediency and due diligence. To that end, I have begun preparing a plan for exploring the various options. At the forefront of the discussion must be how to best position LAEP to serve society and the environment through scholarship, training of future practitioners, and service to communities. Preparing LAEP for the future requires the support of those who know the Department best: our 1400+ alumni. I encourage each of you to consider how you can play a part in answering this exciting challenge. Preparing graduates who can respond to the next quarter century of design and planning challenges is our mission; positioning the Department for that mission will call upon all of our collective creativity, insights, energy and vision. I look forward to reporting on both our process and progress in this endeavor, and to discussing how you can be a part of LAEP’s future.
GO AGGIES!
Sean Michael
Travel Experience Seattle
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pring Break of 2009 saw two dozen BLA and MLA students traveling to “cascadia” to experience designs and design firms. The 5-day trip was led by Keith Christensen and Sean Michael, who had previously hailed from the Pacific Northwest. Centered on Portland and Seattle, the trip took in many of the very best in new and historic attractions for landscape architects. The PNW contains a wealth of great design and land planning. It is alive with cutting-edge efforts to integrate sustainable practices into both public and private development. It also boasts its fair share of influential firms and practitioners (including several Aggies). Our trip kicked off with a drive down the I-5 corridor to the City of Roses. Along the way we were hosted by the office of Bruce Dees and Associates in the booming port city of Tacoma. Following the visit our string
of rental vans continued south, crossing over the Willamette River on one of
the numerous bridges that reconnect Portland’s citizenry. For most students, the first night of the trip was their first night at a youth hostel. Portland has one of the West’s best such
Portland
facilities in the Portland NW Hostel. Located west of the Pearl District and adjacent to historic Couch Park, the facility is an ideal base for such trips. The first full day of touring brought us to the office of LAEP alumnus Carol Mayer-Reed (MLA ‘77). The office of Mayer-Reed is a Portland institution, with such important works as the East Bank Esplanade and the Oregon Convention Center Rain Garden. Those designs lie across the river from that of Murase Associates’ Japanese American Historical Plaza. Our group was given a unique tour of the site by Murase partner Joe Percival. The site features the artistry, vision and passion of the late designer, and is one of a series of distinct works along Riverfront Park. Portland, as much as any city in America, is a tour de force of parks. Our trip reflected that concentration, and exposed students such designs as Jamison Square, Tanner Springs, Lovejoy Fountain, Lownsdale Square and Washington Park. The students walked their feet off as we ventured far and wide to take in the array of plazas and parks. Their experience was heightened thanks to the experienced “guides” from Walker Macy and Nevue Ngan Associates. The group had a special treat when Doug
Macy took the better part of his Saturday to show us the great Pioneer Courthouse Square followed by Lewis & Clark College’s campus, perhaps the finest small private college campus in America. No tour of Portland landscapes is complete without time spent at the Portland Japanese Garden and the Portland Classical Chinese Garden. These two exquisite gardens offer an unrivaled comparison of the distinct styles and philosophies of each nation. Thereafter another jaunt on I-5 returned the group to the steep urban streets and cold March winds of Seattle and the Puget Sound. The hostel du jour was the funky Green Tortoise, a stone’s through from Pikes Place Market and the original Starbucks. Seasoned Seattle visitors know the town is all about the ocean influence, and our group of Aggies got a good dose of the saltwater as we put feet to deck on the Bainbridge Island Ferry. The ship bore us and our (semitrustworthy) vans to Bloedel Reserve. This famous estate is a veritable smorgasbord of design styles, and includes the work of Richard Haag. In stark contrast was the iconic Haag design we later toured, Gasworks Park. The site’s sculptural elements capture the gritty past Seattle harkens from, and was a visual segue to our visit of Charles Anderson Landscape Architecture’s work at Olympic Sculpture Park. A group of very tired and somewhat overwhelmed LAEPers capped off the week with tours of EDAW, Jones and Jones, and the remarkable Cedar River Watershed Interpretative Center. The latter site, located on the way to Snoqualmie Pass, features one of the most unique blends of sound, ecology and design. The computerized water drums at the heart of this Jones and Jones design truly must be experienced in person. For our group, the discovery of the region’s gems—both people and places—was an eye-opening experience. Sean Michael
Travel Experience Laval Morris Travel Scholarship Spain and Portugal: Ben and Pam George
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en and Pam George were recipients of the 2009 Laval Morris Travel Scholarship, initiated by LAEP Department founder, Laval Morris. This scholarship provides travel funding each year to an LAEP senior or 3rd year graduate student. This year a married couple qualified for both. Pam graduated with her BLA in ‘09 and Ben finished his MLA.
Top Left - Ben and Pam in front of the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. “We absolutely loved the Alhambra, and it is one of the unique treasures of the world. We especially appreciated all the water works and attention paid to detail in the design and decoration of the palace. “
“While we were in Cordoba, Spain we had the opportunity to attend the annual Festival de los Patios. The patios are the internal courtyards of private residences. People prepare their patios all year for this annual event and they cover their walls with hundreds of potted plants. This was the central water feature in one of the patios.”
Left - Quinta da Regaleira. “This was probably the highlight of the trip for us, and it took us totally by surprise. This is the entrance to the garden of the Quinta da Regaleira in the small town of Sintra, Portugal outside of Lisbon. It is a very ornate private home and garden estate that had some of the most unique things we have ever seen, such as a vast network of underground tunnels that connect various point in the garden, secret doors disguised as rocks, a massive wishing well with spiraling stairs up it, and a combination of styles that make it a unique find. We can't rave enough about this place, it is a must see for anyone visiting Portugal. “
Study Abroad in Slovenia: Daniela Davalos
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y study abroad trip in Slovenia was a beautiful experience. It was not only a very challenging and new educational phase that taught me new techniques in landscape architecture, but it also made me more independent and capable of performing in a new country, a new culture, language and environment. It was an experience of continuous learning. The meeting of new people became an everyday activity. There were people from all over Europe: Spanish, Polish, French, German, Italian, Portugese; we all became great friends. Traveling was easy and accessible, and I became exposed to a whole new part of the world, on rich in culture and traditions. It was fascinating to spend time going around Eastern Europe, understanding the mysteries of ex-Yugoslav countries, the traditions and lives on ex-socialist countries and what remined from the time of the Iron Wall. I got to know a continent of beauty, of strong political tendencies, of tradition and revolution, of different religious views, very rich in every sense. From old Roman cities, medieval towns and renaissance castles to beautiful modern cities, Eastern Europe has it all. From the Italian cities of the Adriatic coasts to the beautiful mountains and countryside, Slovenia proved to be a wonderful country.
LAEP Distinguished Alumni - 2009 Joseph Donaldson MLA - 1982
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oe Donaldson, ASLA is a Senior Landscape Architect and Environmental Planner in Salt Lake City at Environmental Planning Group (EPG). Mr. Donaldson has over 25 years of experience preparing complex, interdisciplinary projects that balance natural resource protection with public use requirements for access, recreation, and interpretation. Much of his work has involved planning and design for ecologically sensitive areas in and near urban environments, particularly in the wildland interface zone of urbanizing areas. He has served as principal-incharge, project manager, landscape architect of record, or technical team member for projects for public use and access for environmentally sensitive areas; visual assessment studies for watershed, energy, mining, development,
roadway, and other projects; management plans, designs, and studies for recreation, trails, open space, wildlife refuge, and environmental education projects; habitat restoration and revegetation studies and plans; facilitation and consensus-building for diverse stakeholders and agencies; and environmental compliance and impact assessment. Mr. Donaldson’s experience has encompassed the full range of project planning, environmental impact assessment, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration. Mr. Donaldson is a member of the Advisory Board for the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District’s Conservation Garden Foundation, the Jordan River Task Force for the Foundation, the Advisory Board for LAEP, the Environment Technical Committee for Envision Utah, Jordan River planning process, Sustainability Committee
for the Utah Chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies. He chairs the Memorial Fund and Sustainability Committees for the Utah Chapter of ASLA and advises the Implementation Committee for the Blueprint Jordan River planning process.
Scott Gutting MLA - 1983
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cott Gutting co-founded Energy Strategies in 1986. He leads the efforts of a team of economists, engineers, business strategists and financial analysts in Energy Strategies’ diverse consulting activities. These activities include regulatory consulting, energy procurement, energy project development, market intelligence and policy and strategy development. Since 1986 he has successfully completed hundreds of consulting engagements. These engagements have been completed for public and private sector clients including numerous Fortune 100 Companies. Scott is on the Board of the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC). WECC is one of 8 electric reliability councils in North America, encompassing an area equivalent to over half the United States and operating in three countries. WECC is responsible for assuring electric system reliability, supporting competitive markets and for coordinating the operating and planning activities of the western interconnected power grid. Over his 21 year career in the private sector, Mr. Gutting has supported the development of over 6,000 MW of natural gas generation, transmission, hydroelectric, geothermal, cogeneration, solar, wind and biomass projects. In addition to his MLA from Utah State he has a BS in Environmental Science and Planning from Northern Arizona University.
LAEP Distinguished Alumni - 2009 John Ellsworth MLA - 1983
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ohn Ellsworth received his Master of Landscape Architecture degree from USU in 1983. Following a brief period at the University of Idaho, he joined the LAEP faculty in 1985, where he has remained for the past 23 years. He has taught many courses within the department, served as Graduate Program Director for many years, and been named LAEP Advisor of the Year on numerous occasions. John was awarded the rank of Full Professor in 2002. He also is the President and Senior Landscape Architect, of Ellsworth and Associates, landscape architects, inc. (EALA), in Logan, Utah. John is known for his expertise in the application of computer visual simulation technology to the assessment of landscape scenic beauty. He has been involved with
many research and consulting projects using this technology to understand the impacts of proposed developments (such as highways, surface mines and energy projects, and recreation developments) on the public lands. John was elected Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2004, in the category “knowledge” for accomplishments in visual resource management & visual simulation, and online distance education. John has been involved in many public and private sector projects including the “Design and Development of a ContextSensitive Visual Resource Assessment and Management (VRAM) System for the Utah Department of Transportation” and “Master Planning for an Environmental Education Center (EEC) End-Use for the Logan City/Cache County Landfill and Surrounding Landscape”. He has received much recognition for his professional work, including 11 awards from the Utah Chapter of the ASLA. His work photographing the wildfire
areas of Yellowstone National Park from 1988 to the present has kept him busy presenting his photographs and conclusions to conferences and other audiences especially in the 20th year since the fires.
“Vision Cache” - 2009 LAEP Charrette
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ast spring and summer, Envision Utah held a public planning forum for Cache Valley similar to those held in other Utah locations. Prior to the Vision Cache study, Envision Utah approached LAEP to see if the department would be interested in doing a charrette focusing on similar growth and development issues that Envision Utah would use with the general public. The purpose would be to use the student work in the public workshops to illustrate new and innovative methods of addressing Cache Valley issues. David Bell met with Cache County and Envision Utah representatives and identified fifteen critical issues. Over 120 LAEP students were organized into fifteen teams. Each team was given a problem statement which focused on a different Cache Valley issue. Team leaders from the senior and graduate classes assembled prior to the charrette start to become familiar with the issues and come up with a strategy to fully utilize the time during the week. Each team also had a faculty or a practitioner advisor. Cache Valley issues were interesting and challenging and inlcuded: transportation, air and water quality, economic development, ag lands, land consumption, open space and recreation, new communities, infill, the Logan/Smithfield corridor among others. The charrette started on Monday, February 2nd and ended on Friday the 6th. Each team produced one or more 24” x 36” posters and a 5 minute power point presentation. Envision Utah used portions of the power points and many posters as they continued the process with community residents from the valley communities.
Alumni News
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Don Ensign - 1963 BS
on is now in the development business but like everyone else in that business he is struggling mightily. However, he is doing very interesting consulting work with the Forest Service to posture 12 of their properties in the White River National Forest to development of affordable housing and new visitor/administrative facilities . He is also working on redevelopment plans for downtown Glenwood Springs, Co to build affordable housing, a new river front park system, mass transit station/route and expansion of their civic campus which is in the middle of downtown. Finally, he is writing a book "The Dumb Growth Dilemma" which is an attempt to discourage sprawl and encourage smart growth.
the “what if ” creative design solution to satisfy both. Mr. Harmer currently works for W.C. Scoutten, Inc., Municipal Engineers and Planners and serves clients throughout Arizona. Larry Harmer is also a Historian, Storyteller, Lecturer, Writer and Reciter of Cowboy Poetry. Larry’s radio friendly voice and expertise has been shared with audiences and at historical events for over 25 years. His enthusiasm for the West and the preservation of its lifestyle is infectious. It’s been said that Larry’s “got a true cowboy heart.” He works hard to live up to that compliment. Larry’s participated in Cowboy Poetry Gatherings and performances throughout the West; including multiple appearances at Prescott, Sierra Vista, Festival of the West and Durango. His recording, “There’s a Poem in There … Somewhere” contains original works and several older and sometimes obscure poems. Larry’s work is also included in a collection of Cowboy Poetry titled Cowboys Are Part Human and the Commemorative Collection for the 20th Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering.
Lincoln. Recently, he spearheaded the start-up of the university’s bachelor of landscape architecture degree program. He has authored or coauthored more than three-dozen research publications, popular articles, and books on a wide variety of topics pertinent to the Great Plains landscape. His most recent research has focused on locating, describing and protecting Nebraska’s scenic landscape resources and on the use of native prairie plants for low maintenance green roofs. Richard was recently accredited as one of the first 100 Green Roof Professional at the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Conference in Atlanta. He earned his bachelor of science in forest biology from Colorado State University in 1970, his master of landscape architecture from Utah State University in 1974, and his PhD in land resources from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1997. Richard has been on the faculty at UN-Lincoln since 1975 and has been principal of Landscape Architectural Services, a professional design office, since 1979.
Robert Scott - 1974 MS Robert is currently finishing up a five year work effort in the Middle East, specifically Saudi Arabia and Dubai and next year will be going back into the Urban Planning consulting business with Earthscape Consultants in Salt Lake City.
Larry C. Harmer - 1971 BS
Mr. Harmer has served as community development director (Prescott, Apache Junction and Buckeye), planning director, planning and redevelopment manager and urban design coordinator public agencies throughout Arizona and other communities in the west for most of his 39 year career. He has also worked as landscape designer and planner for several Arizona consultants. His experience has included hands-on journeyman planning and landscape design, design and construction management, project administration, detailed master plan development, streetscape and pedestrian design, development criteria, urban art, economic development, subdivision design and government agency review processes. Mr. Harmer’s expertise stems from his ability to relate to a project from a developer’s perspective and the public reviewing agency’s requirements, while still being able to step back and look at
Dr. Richard K. Sutton - 1974 MLA Dr. Richard K. Sutton, professor in Department of Agronomy and Horticulture and the Program in Landscape Architecture at UNLincoln has been tapped as a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects. He will be inducted into the Council of Fellows during the September meeting of the ASLA in Chicago. Richard was nominated by the Great Plains Chapter for enlightening an entire generation to the beauty, history, and ecology of the Nebraska landscape. He has contributed a high level of knowledge creation and application for 34 years at the University of Nebraska–
J. Kelly Gillman, ASLA, AICP – CRSA -- 1980-BLA
Kelly Gillman has been with CRSA for over seven years and is an associate principal with the firm. Kelly manages all transportation work within CRSA, and is currently the task lead for station planning on UTA’s FrontRunner South Commuter Rail capital development
Alumni News Gillman cont’d
project. Past transit project work has included collaboration with rail station platform/site planning for Utah Transit Authority’s FrontRunner North and Mid-Jordan/Draper TRAX LRT projects. This work has include TOD planning, landscape design, platform/canopy architectural design, graphic design, and wayfinding. Most recently Kelly has provided land planning support for the Logan-Cache Airport/Logan City. Kelly has been the chair for the Salt Lake City Transportation Advisory Board as well as a past president of the Utah Chapter of ASLA. He currently serves on the ASLA National Archives Committee. Kelly is a licensed landscape architect in Utah and Wyoming, CLARB Certified, and a certified planner. Since graduating from Utah State University, Kelly has earned a Master of Business Administration from Westminster College.
in campus and institutional planning to Brigham Young University (BYU). Mr. Maw has served as an officer in various capacities within the Utah chapter of ASLA, editor of the chapter newsletter, on the Provo City Parks and Urban Forestry Board, and presently serves on the Utah State University LAEP Advisory Board. He has been responsible for the recent delineation and development of the open spaces on BYU campus. This has been accomplished through the placement of unifying site furnishings, creation of water features and focal points, specification of tree and shrub planting that relate to buildings, and enhancement of pedestrian corridors and bike parking areas. In September 2005, BYU won top honors in the University Campus category from America in Bloom, a nonprofit organization dedicated to “Planting Pride in Our Communities.” Landscape architecture has allowed him to combine his interest in plants and design, while providing a rewarding service to a diversity of users within the community.
Bruce L. Maw - 1981 BLA
Jeremy S. Fillmore, ASLA, LLA 1997 BLA
Bruce L. Maw became enthused about a career as a landscape architect after completing a botany class as a prerequisite for entrance into pharmaceutical school and subsequent to concluding numerous courses in art and graphic design. He is a licensed landscape architect, a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), and a 1981 BLA - Utah State University graduate (LAEP). He has worked in all aspects of the profession of landscape architecture including; residential and urban/recreational park design, largescale planning and public facilitation, and currently provides design services
established Northland Design Group, a land planning and landscape architecture firm. Northland works with private clients and public agencies with the goal to always guide quality growth through responsible use of our land and resources. Jeremy taught a series of design classes at UVSC (now UVU) for 2 years while he served on the Provo City Parks and Urban Forestry Board from 2000-2003. Mr. Fillmore sat on the Downtown American Fork Beautification Committee in 2007-2008 and has served on the Utah ASLA Sustainability Committee. He is the current President for the Utah Chapter of the ASLA. You will find a passion for the profession and a desire to see our profession lead out as we address current and future land use issues. He believes in the simple idea of what Winston Churchill once said, Before beginning, plan carefully.
Ken Thomson - 1998 BLA Ken Thomson graduated from USU in 1998 in Landscape Architecture. In 1999, he moved out to California for employment with Caltrans (Department of Transportation) working as a Landscape Associate. He is presently still employed with Caltrans, and working in Fresno. Last year he met and married a cute Canadian girl. They currently live in Clovis, CA.
Jeremy graduated from Utah State University in 1997 and is the founding principal of Northland Design Group, a land planning and landscape architecture firm with offices in American Fork and Heber City, Utah. Mr. Fillmore began his career working at Carter and Burgess, Inc., an architecture and planning office in Dallas, Texas. He joined Vista Design, a design/build firm with an emphasis on high-end residential design. At this office Jeremy became Sr. designer and project manager while gaining valuable experience in the landscape design/build field. In the fall of 1999 Mr. Fillmore
David Murray - 2007 BLA David currently works at ISL and finds it to be a good work environment with inspiring projects. He has been working on various projects including hospitals, an eco-industrial business park and a bioswale. His thesis report contained information about the Natural step and some framework principles for putting together a eco-industrial business park, and he has learned much more recently. He was also recently given a framework used to plan the Emerald Hills urban village.
Jamie Farnsworth - 2009 BLA Jamie is currently a landscape designer at Architectural Nexus in Salt Lake.
New Faculty Bo Yang
Assistant Professor
and urban planning. He received an undergraduate and a Master degree in Architecture from Huazhong University of Science & Technology in China. In 2009, he completed his MLA and Ph.D in Urban and Regional Science at Texas A&M University. He has professional experience in both China and the U.S. and has been involved in projects of different scale and focus.
o Yang joined LAEP in 2009 as an Assistant Professor. His areas of interest are environmental planning and technology, stormwater management, community planning and design, water related ordinances, and landscape history and theory in China and East Asia. Bo has diverse backgrounds in architecture, landscape architecture
Prior to joining Utah State University, Bo had been a graduate student instructor at Texas A&M University for three years. He taught various courses including Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Landscape Design, and Digital Communication. He was also invited to give lectures on Chinese garden design and philosophy. Additionally, Bo has been involved in a number of research projects which have culminated in presentations at national and international conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals and
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Shujuan Li
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hujuan joined the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at Utah State University in the fall of 2009. She graduated with a Ph.D. degree in Geography from Texas A&M University in May 2009. She received her Masters degree in Ecology from Peking University and Bachelor degree in Geography from Beijing Normal University in China. She worked in the National Disaster Reduction Center of China before she came to the United States. She has participated in many nationallyfunded projects in urban development and planning, environmental protection and ecological conservation, public health, and disaster reduction in both China and the United States. She worked as a key member on a project
Assistant Professor
titled “Study on Ecological Conservation and Management Scheme for the Passing Area of Natural Reserves Along West-East Pipeline,” and was awarded the second prize of China National Environmental Science and Technology by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China. Her research interests include the integration of spatial analysis and modeling with GIS for urban and environmental studies, environmental consequences of rapid urbanization, landscape ecology, and land-use and landcover dynamics in China.
proceedings. His doctoral study assesses Ian McHarg’s ecological planning approach used in The Woodlands, Texas. The study was funded by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2008. Bo’s current research is examining the impacts of different community planning approaches on stormwater quality and the long term effectiveness of various low impact development strategies. Bo also has expertise in GIS watershed modeling, spatial analysis and statistical analysis tools. Bo is Vice President of Overseas Chinese Landscape Architects Association (OCLAA) and a member of International Association for China Planning (IACP). Currently, Bo and his wife, Shujuan Li, are learning to fish from Prof. Carlos Licon and Prof. Keith Christensen in order to meet the tenure expectations of the department.
In the Classroom (&Out) Recreation and Open Space
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
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Above - Allysia Angus leads the final meeting in front of the GSENM Visitor’s Center (photo taken by Michael Timmons). Below - Allysia talks about the Escalante River trailhead with Shannon Ellsworth, Sarah Nelson, Rachel Lingard and Dave Runkel (photo taken by Becca Buckley).
Above - Amanda Goodwin, Hayley Pratt & Cameron Bodine analyze a trailhead with BLM employees, Steve Henry & Bob Stevenson (photo taken by Lindsay Winkler).
orty students from the LAEP Department visited Escalante from Oct. 1-3, as the kick-off to a five-week project to generate alternative plans for trailheads and interpretive facilities within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM). Students were divided into nine different teams and are working with recreational facilities in Escalante City as well as on the surrounding public lands. Working within parameters established by the GSENM Management Plan and the Highway 12 Scenic Byway Interpretive Plan, teams will develop concepts for parts of the Burr Trail, Hole-in-the-Rock Road, Cottonwood Wash, Skutumpah Road, and Highway 12. As part of the initial visit, students met at the Escalante Visitor Center for expert briefings organized by GSENM Recreation Planner Allysia Angus. Each team then spent an intensive day in their assigned corridors with a BLM employee familiar with the issues specific to the particular area. The opportunities and constraints posed by individual sites were documented to for the basis for the rest of the design process. Professor Timmons believes LAEP design studios are the basis of instruction at USU, and students are encouraged to approach design studies with an open mind, which can lead to a wide range of solutions. Plans and designs developed on similar efforts in the past have been used to stimulate interest and support for ongoing efforts among a project’s constituency, and have served as the basis for further design work by licensed landscape architects. Teams working within Escalante town boundaries are developing an overall recreational plan, as well as detailed studies for the Town Park, Mohr-Christensen Park, and the Rodeo Grounds. Students will present results of the planning and design studies on a return visit to Escalante November 19 and 20.
In the Classroom (&Out) Recreation and Open Space
Stokes Nature Center
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he students in Recreation and Open Space Design were asked by Stokes Nature Center Director Holly Strand to provide site design alternatives for the new location of the Stokes Nature Center at Upper Second Dam. Logan Mayor Randy Watts and representatives of the Stokes Nature Center Board of Directors attended the presentation on October 16. Teams presented their design concepts for site redevelopment, many of which focused on parking layout, circulation, creation of indoor/outdoor continuity, ecological restoration, creation of passive and active outdoor learning spaces, and accessibility. The students’ projects will be displayed at the Stokes Nature Center annual fundraiser, and their ideas will be presented in order to leverage funding for site redevelopment.
Above - Junior Kevin Linsley presents refinements to the current buildings at second dam. Not pictured - team members Ben Swaner and Chris Worthington. Right - current entrance to second dam with hydro-electric power plant.
Mayor Watts, Chris Sands, Joyce Poppendorf &Holly Strand discuss the plans
Above - Third year graduate students Sarah Nelson and Lindsay Winkler present their design. Not pictured - team member Colleen Corballis
Right - Third year graduate student Jeff Hamarstrom scrutinizes the Nelson,Winkler, Corballis presentation boards
In the Classroom (&Out) nt
r Ce e i t t i h W
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roun g y a l P er
Recreation and Open Space
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he Recreation and Open Space students received course credit for volunteering in the construction of the new playground at the Whittier Center. This playground was designed by Dennis Wille of Leathers & Associates. It is 100% handicapped accessible and was constructed entirely by community volunteers. The project provided an excellent opportunity for students to gain first hand experience with playground construction and to become involved in a positive community outreach activity.
Skyler Westergard, (left) talks over the plans with a community volunteer Left - Hayley Pratt, Rachel Lingard & Liz Cosper enjoy an afternoon of hard work. Below - Whittier Center volunteers Shannon Ellsworth, Aubrey Christensen, Adam Dambrink, Adam Humpherys & Jason Cooper.
Dustin Hislop at the job site.
Faculty Michael Timmons
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Associate Professor
ecreation/Open Space Planning and Design, Landscape History, and Cultural/Historic Landscape Preservation continue to dominate Prof. Timmons’ interests in teaching and research. Students in the fall 3100/6310 design studio have been engaged with projects at a variety of scales, exposing them to some of the many aspects of recreation that landscape architects deal with. Locally, the class prepared a series of options for a new Stokes Nature Center (SNC) facility to be located at Second Dam in Logan Canyon (see separate article). Several LAEP alumni served as liaisons for the project, including Chris Sands, MLA ’94, Chair of the SNC Board of Directors, Ron Vance MLA ’99, Recreation Planner for the Logan Ranger District of the USFS, and Russ Holley BLA ’04, Planner for Logan City. A second project in Cache Valley developed alternative site plans for a new city park for North Logan City. Cordell Batt, BLA’77, North Logan City Planner, was instrumental in involving the class with this 35-acre site with an active recreation program partially within a stormwater detention area. The creation of a new adventure playground at the Whittier Community Center, coordinated by Leathers Associates of Ithaca, NY, provided students in the class with a hands-on learning experience
in creative play. The week-long building activity involved over 2,000 personhours of effort, of which LAEP students contributed a significant portion. For an out-of-the-valley experience, the combined 40 undergraduate and graduate students in the class journeyed to Escalante, UT, for a three-day project site visit. Here, guided by Alyssia Angus, MLA ’99, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (GSENM) Landscape Architect, students developed planning and design options for five recreational corridors within the Monument, as well as a recreational master plan and specific site plans for parks within the City of Escalante. Michael, along with MLA research associate Emily Wheeler, is completing a Cultural Landscape Inventory (CLI) for the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. On this site in SE Montana, on June 25, 1876, occurred the famous encounter between five northern tribes and Custer’s 7th Cavalry, commonly known as Custer’s Last Stand. The project involves the inventory and documentation of natural systems and features (topography, riparian and prairie upland zones, native and historic vegetation) and built elements (buildings, structures, circulation features) on the site to determine their historic significance. Another CLI is currently under way for the Murie Ranch Historic District in Grand Teton National Park. This
Susan Buffler
Lecturer
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usan Buffler has been teaching a variety of courses over the last few years. She is currently teaching the LAEP 1030: Introduction to Landscape Architecture course to a record number of students (149!). Susan is also teaching the LAEP 3500/6350: Planting Design course and will be teaching LAEP 1350: Theory of Design for professor Lavoie who is on sabbatical. She will also repeat teach the Introduction course in the spring semester. Susan thoroughly enjoys interacting with the many students and faculty she sees on a daily basis. Susan’s academic interests are food and agricultural systems, native plants and landscape and sense of place. While not teaching, Susan enjoys hiking, backpacking and running in scenic Cache Valley and surrounding mountains. She will soon begin training to attempt breaking the course record for her age group in the Top of Utah Marathon in 2010. Her running motto is: don’t get slower, get older.
compound of small cabins served as the home of wildlife biologists/ conservationists Olaus and Adolph Murie. Olaus and his wife Mardy were instrumental in the development of wilderness appreciation and subsequent legislation in 20th C America, while Adolph was particularly noted for his pioneering work with wolves. Graduate research associates Colleen Corballis and Emily Wheeler have assisted with this project. On another project, Prof. Timmons is working with Corballis and Prof. Emeritus Craig Johnson to develop a comprehensive and long-term Vegetation Management Plan for Pipe Spring National Monument in northern Arizona. The plan will define the critical natural, cultural and historic resource priorities related to the park’s vegetation and provide vegetation management strategies for entire 40-acre Monument.
Caroline Lavoie
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Associate Professor
abbaticals are great…and challenging. In the last month, I have been invited to the university Tecnológico de Monterrey, School of Architecture, in Monterrey, Mexico and currently am at the Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Queretaro, School of Engineering and Architecture, also in Mexico. I am investigating and expanding on my research of culturally significant industrial landscapes, either vacant or partly in use, to be re-integrated to the urban core and on marginalized communities that often inhabit them. As the intent of sabbaticals , I am in an exploratory stage, finding new research questions and ideas. In this trip, I am facing a lot of unknowns, sometimes having difficulty to access my sites of interest for obvious safety reasons. I also found that one always has preconceived ideas of a “place” so as for any trip into foreign country I have taken, I am taking the time to “be in” those cities, to be able to understand potentials research or design intervention proposals. I am also taking an intensive Spanish class for the next three weeks...3 hours a day. Learning a third language has its challenges too… I have been giving design critiques and presentations for the senior level architecture students at the TEC de Monterrey and in Queretaro I just finished a workshop (in collaboration with Professor Ramón Abonce Mesa) with their master students in architecture. The workshop focused on the river in Queretaro, using drawing as a way to enrich both the analysis process and design development, and as a different way to perceive the urban landscape. From the students’ comments and by their work, the workshop was a great success. Some of the photos you will see are from my first trip in the city of Monterrey and are part of a project my colleague Professor Pedro Pacheco Vasquez, who is involved in providing (and building) open spaces and housing for a legalized previously illegal development. The others are from a visit to the “Gruttas de Garcia” in Monterrey region and from the Queretaro workshop. I certainly enjoy the weather in Mexico right now… especially after hearing Logan has already received snow. Professor Ramón Abonce Mesa and workshop students
Caroline in front of taxis on Sabbatical in Mexico
Scenes from Monterrey
Gruttas de Garcia
Faculty Nancy Monteith Visiting Assistant Professor
Nancy has an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts from Oregon State University where she studied painting and photography and received her MLA from USU in 2002. Art and Travel have been constant sources of inspiration for her work. She recently spent two months in India and Nepal. In India she focused her travels in Rajasthan to see the Mogul architecture, gardens and art. While in Nepal she completed the Annapurna Circuit which traversed 188 miles of mountainous terrain that included crossing a pass of over 17,500 feet. The most interesting thing for her, however, was experiencing the cultural adaptations to the landscape as they ascended from the lowland agricultural villages to the mountainous villages of the animal herders.
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ancy joined LAEP in the fall of 2009 for one year as a Visiting Assistant Professor. She is a licensed landscape architect and LEED accredited professional with over ten years experience working in the inter-mountain west. She comes to USU most recently from Design Workshop where she was an Associate in their Salt Lake City office. Her professional practice experience focused on Parks and Open Space and New Community Design. Her project work includes Daybreak in South Jordan, Pioneer Park in Salt Lake City, and the Utah Museum of Natural History currently under construction in Salt Lake City. Nancy has always had the desire to teach and is excited to bring her professional experience to the studio. This semester she is teaching Graphics and Landscape Materials and will teach Construction II and Professional Practice in the spring. Juniors in the Landscape Materials class are developing design details and materials recommendations for their Recreation Studio projects in Escalante for the city and the BLM. This spring she will again teach the Materials course through USU distance education at the Utah Botanical Center.
Nancy with schoolchildren at the Ghandi Memorial in Delhi Nancy became a Salt Lake Master Gardener this year which included class room training with many of Utah State University Extension Specialists and volunteering for several non-profits in Salt Lake. She is also actively involved in the Salt Lake Chapter of Architecture for Humanity and is a past board member of Tree Utah and Gilgal Garden.
Nancy at Thorong-La Pass in Nepal
Faculty David Bell
for Arches National Park. Work is also being done on two small community downtowns and on a pioneer heritage center at the entrance to Manti City. This semester I am teaching Construction Documents, a senior studio. We are working on a project at the Utah Botanical Center (UBC) called the Wetland Discovery Point. The building that UBC has constructed received the Platinum Leeds award and we are striving for sustainability in our site development plans – a good thing for our students to be exposed to. Our seventh departmental charrette will again be held here in Cache Valley and will focus on the growth and development decisions that face Providence City and the surrounding areas. Please read the short article about the charrette in this issue.
Associate Professor
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sign that I am getting older: my newest extension project is a cemetery plan for the city of Big Water. I was told that if they did not like the plan I could occupy the first plot. It is however, an interesting project requiring the integration of traditional cemetery uses into the wide open spaces of the southern Utah desert and making it feel like it belongs. We are also working on the Lion’s Park project in Moab, a project that we started about five years ago. The original plan was used to obtain a grant to fund final design work. That grant has been obtained and an RFP should be forthcoming. Lion’s Park is a unique place. It is on the river; it is a regional activity place; it is a major trail hub; and at a major intersection so it can also function as a transit hub
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arlos is beginning his second year in LAEP and is currently co-teaching with Shujuan Li the Urban Design Studio for Seniors. In the spring semester Carlos teaches the Residential Design and Planning Studio and participates with the rest of the faculty in several seminar and readings courses for graduate and undergraduate students. This year has been a busy one with presentations, committees, classes, theses, and projects This October Carlos presented at the ACSP (Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning) Conference in Crystal City VA a paper on sustainable development evaluation along the US-Mexico Border. In November he had a presentation in the Second International Conference on Sustainability Measuring and Modeling in Terrassa, Spain. In 2010, Carlos plans to give a workshop on sustainability evaluation for planning in Cuenca, Ecuador. One of Carlos’ main responsibilities includes the implementation of
educational and research activities through the Green Space Institute. Some of the current research interests supported by the institute are: methodological approaches to green space planning, open space values, and evaluating of changes in open space in Cache Valley. The Green Space Institute attempts to become a gathering place for people and ideas interested in exploring, advancing, and promoting green space knowledge for design, planning and education. Future work in the Institute and in Carlos’s activities will focus in exploring ways to merge these two important topics --sustainable development and green space-- through research, instruction and applied projects. Carlos and his wife Laura, continue making friends and enjoying Cache Valley. At the same time discovering the wonderful challenges of being the parents of a teenager (Ana Laura) and a 9 year old daughter (Ana María).
Carlos Licon
Swaner Assistant ResearchProfessor
Faculty Keith Christensen Assistant Professor
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t has been a busy first year with LAEP for Keith Christensen. In addition to teaching, Keith works with the ASLA student chapter and traveled to Portland and Seattle with the LAEP spring field trip. Keith has been active in securing research support; including a research assistantship for an LAEP graduate student at the Center for Persons with Disabilities and another with the Utah Conservation Corps’ Inclusive Crew, as a research partner with the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research’s Disability Technical Assistance Center, as well as a number of proposals pending with the National Science Foundation and National Institute of walk softly and carry a Health. Keith published big wrench Socially Equitable Community Planning; including individuals with disabilities in the democratic association of place and EveryBODY Plays! this past year, and has submitted papers on The Impact of Perceived Neighborhood Characteristics and Used Community Facilities on the Physical Activity of
LAEP week ‘09 mocktail party attire
Adults with and without Disabilities and The Effect of the Built Environment on the Evacuation of Individuals with Disabilities; an Investigation Involving Microsimulation Modeling. In addition, Keith continues to practice professionally throughout Utah. During his down times, Keith is completing doctoral research in disability studies focused on whether adults with disabilities are disproportionately represented in community environments which negatively affect opportunities for social integration. It has been a wonderful year with LAEP, with many more to come.
We can see why Keith likes designing playgrounds -- because he’s still just a kid at heart.
Student Chapter ASLA
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he student chapter of ASLA has had an active and entertaining year thus far, engaging students in social activities that built and solidify relationships. They have facilitated such activities as barbeques, a Halloween party and a weekly “coffee break” which allows students to take a break from studio work and socialize with other people in the department. The student chapter of ASLA is one of the reasons LAEP students form tight bonds that last beyond graduation. Frisbee at Tyson McMurdie’s Farm during the opening social BBQ Chapter Secretary Dede Shupe
Chapter President Nathan Felton
Chapter VicePresident Tyson McMurdie Chapter Historian Lance Tyrell
Chapter Accountant “honest Abe” Colin Olson
Jake Lott and Nathan’s son Brock bust out some tunes for the halloween party
This halloween party was a bit more lively than it looks in this photo
Liz Cosper and Rachel Lingard in Halloween attire
The Dee Foundation Awards
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hrough the generous support from the Lawrence T. Dee & Janet T. Dee Foundation and the Green Space Institute, LAEP graduate students have been able to develop skills, knowledge and applied research in different issues, scales and places related to open space. Communities throughout the region have received the direct benefits of the student work. Four students were awarded funding last year to begin their thesis work. They have refined their topics areas and are working diligently toward the completion of their MLA degrees.
Sarah Nelson Sarah is working to create educational materials for the residents of Driggs, Idaho to encourage them to incorporate wildlife habitat into their residential landscapes.
Laurie Hurst Laurie’s project goal is to discover the attitudes and preferences of these “next generation farmers” and others who choose large lots for agricultural reasons in Cache Valley. By understanding their needs and preferences, characteristics of suitable alternatives to cookie cutter large‐lot developments can be better determined.
Chris Harrild Chris is constructing an approach to context sensitive design that creates avenues for citizen participation through resident employed photography.
Lindsay Ex Lindsay’s research focuses on integrated forms of open space planning – where both social and ecological frameworks are considered in the same planning process. Her thesis will assess the differences, similarities and gaps between theoretical and practical knowledge through a comparative analysis of primary literature (theory) and two integrated open space planning models, CEDAR and Green Infrastructure (practical). Lindsay is also Utah State University’s 2008 Olmsted Scholar.
2009-2010 Scholarship Recipients
The Department has available two scholarships created by alumni or the family of past faculty member Kenji Shiozowa. David Jensen of David Jensen and Associates created his endowment many years ago and the proceeds are awarded each year as a $1,000 stipend and an instate tution waiver. The Kenji Schiozowa scholarship awards $1,000 per year. The university School of Graduate studies has available several Presidential Scholarships, however the awards are very competitive within the university.
Colleen Corballis - 3rd Year Grad Kenji Shiozowa Scholarship As her master’s thesis, Colleen is currently developing a Vegetation Management Plan for Pipe Springs National Monument in the Arizona strip. The project presents a unique combination of her interests in both ecology and historic preservation, and is challenging the east-coast native to understand the complexity of arid southwestern ecosystems and how to reconcile history, tourism, and the environment all within a 40 acre monument.
Osmer Beck - 3rd Year Grad David Jensen Scholarship
Jeff Dzikowski - 1st Year Grad Presidential Scholarship
Osmer’s thesis entitled The Role of Landscape Architecture in Distributed Renewable Energy Generation Land Use Design: A Critical Review is a comprehensive and exhaustive review of distributed renewable energy generation literature and identification of the overlaps into the profession of landscape architecture.
The application files of entering graduate students with high GPA’s and GRE scores are submitted to the college scholarship committee to determine who will be selected “college-wide” for a $12,000 award. Jeff was one of the few selected this year. Although hoping to eventually work on a wide array of projects, Jeff is particuarly interested in studying the areas of ecological restoration, stormwater management, and resort planning.
New Faces in the Graduate Studio Neal Barth Thomas Cluff, AICP After ten years in the planning profession, Tom finally decided that it was alright to talk about urban design issues like Transit Oriented Developments and walkable communities, but that it would be so much more satisfying to actually do the design work. He’s got this weird idea that communities can benefit as much from incremental, “bits-and-pieces” approaches to planning and development as they can from slick, high-profile mega-projects, if not more.He believes every problem a community faces, no matter how small, deserves a well-designed solution. Besides picking up design skills, he’s interested in community-building tools, small-lot sustainable agriculture, walkability as a transport strategy and how social networking tools can be used to improve community-building.
Jie “Jess” Yan Jie( Jess) comes to USU from China where she graduated from Nanjing Forestry University with an Ecology degree in 2009. While in China Jie enhanced her interests in landscape ecology by participating in the Urban Landscape Restoration Project in the Yunlong Mountain Regional Park. She has also traveled to Australia to work on conservation projects with the Conservation Volunteers Australia in New South Wales. Jie’ interests include landscape ecology and sustainable design. she hopes to be a landscape architect in China and to protect the natural environment there when she graduates.
Neal graduated from the University of Utah with a BS in Marketing in Dec 05. He spent several years doing online marketing with various organizations. He is now a partner in his own Online Media company. After working for a few years in the marketing industry, Neal found himself looking for a more fulfilling career, and was drawn to Landscape Architecture.
Amanda Dunlap
Dan Schults Amanda joins the program after receiving a BA in sociology and a minor in international studies from the University of Wyoming. While landscape architecture has been a lifelong passion, she looks to incorporate social behavior in the design process; creating usable spaces requires not only aesthetic appeal but comprehension of the users as well. She plans to focus on how the built environment influences behavior.
Dan grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah where he enjoyed playing sports, guitar and camping. He graduated from BYU in 2009 with a BA in Physiology and Developmental Biology. Dan spent the last few summers working as a landscaper for a nursery in Salt Lake City. There he developed a love for plants and landscape design. He and his wife, Jillian, recently moved up to Logan. He hopes to one day own his own landscape design and construction business.
Alan Lunt Alan graduated from Utah Valley State College in 2007 with a BS in Business Management. After working in the financial industry for a few years, he has decided to give it up and pursue a degree in landscape architecture, something he has wanted to do for a long time. He is looking forward to combining his love for nature and the outdoors with the art of architecture. He comes to Logan with his wife and daughter.
New Faces in the Graduate Studio Jeff Dzikowski
John Gottfredson
Kate Spears Originally, from Louisiana, Kate came to Utah to attend college, graduating from Utah State University with a degree in International Studies. Over the years Kate has enjoyed living in various countries including Germany, Spain and Costa Rica. Through her travels, she came to see the importance of sustainable community planning and design and is planning to focus her studies on that area.
Since receiving a BS in Psychology from the University of Florida, Jeff has spent the past several years working throughout the western US and New Zealand as a snowcat operator, specializing in the construction and maintenance of ski and snowboard terrain parks. His decision to pursue an MLA stems from the desire to participate in a creative field which can emphasize sustainable design and development. When he's not busy with work or school, Jeff enjoys spending time in the backcountry, especially if it involves snowboarding, backpacking or fly fishing.
John comes to Logan after one year of law school on the east coast. Freed from the despair of legal research, John is excited to trade his powdered wig and black robe for a shovel and pencil. John became involved with the landscape industry in 2004, and started his own retail tree nursery in 2007. It eventually evolved into a landscape design/build company. He wants to specialize in designing with plants native to the Intermountain West, helping people embrace the ruggedness of the natural western landscape. John received his BA from Utah Valley University. He and his wife, Ashley, have two children.
USU’S Landscape Architecture And Environmental Planning Department Makes Top-20 List
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esignIntelligence, a bi-monthly report from the Design Futures Council, has included Utah State University’s Landscape Architecture and Environment Planning’s graduate program in a ranking of the top schools in the United States. The USU program was listed among the country’s top 20 schools in rankings released in the November/December 2009 edition of “DesignIntelligence.” To assemble the list, leading practitioners ranked the schools that best prepared students for practice in architecture, interior design and landscape architecture and environmental planning. In the graduate school listings, USU’s program tied for 15th place with five additional schools. Annually, “DesignIntelligence” publishes rankings of America’s best architecture and design schools. For the rankings, 381 private practice firms and organizations that hire architects, landscape architects, interior designers or industrial designers participate in the survey and research. According to
“DesignIntelligence,” the core question is: “From your hiring experience in the past five years, which schools are best preparing students for success in the architecture/landscape architecture/ interior design/industrial design profession?” “The ‘DesignIntelligence’ rankings are conducted to provide feedback on where quality education is being delivered, valued and communicated,” the publication said in its Nov./Dec. edition. “We believe that good design education matters and is crucial for good professional practice performance in the future.” Said Dr. Sean Michael, Department Head. In fall 2009, 23 students were enrolled in the MLA program at USU, and an additional five are putting the finishing touches on thesis revisions. “The LAEP program at USU has been producing some of America’s best and brightest landscape architects for more than 70 years,” Michael said. “We’re proud to carry on that heritage and to see the MLA’s excellence again recognized by peers across the United States.”