(Left to right) Robert Chipman, William Johnson and Peter Walker led a lively panel discussion at MiASLA's annual meeting.

 

Michigan ASLA President-Elect John McCann (left) presents Bill Sanders with the Distinguished Member of the Year Award. Sanders was recognized for his volunteerism and education.

President-Elect John McCann presents Caitlin Jackson with the Emerging Professional of the Year award. Jackson was honored for significant contributions and works of design in the first ten years of her career.

To kick off MiASLA's annual meeting, conference attendees were invited to visit the Landscape Forms facility for lunch, a tour, a discussion about new products, and to mingle with designers.

Over 125 professionals and students attended Michigan ASLA's annual meeting on Sept. 10th. Meeting highlights included presentations and a lively panel discussion by distinguished landscape architects Robert Chipman, William Johnson and Peter Walker. Prior to the conference, Landscape Forms provided a tour of their facility.

The chapter recognized recipients of its 2014 President's Awards and Chapter Design Awards at the awards dinner. The President's Distinguished Member of the Year award recognizes a significant Michigan ASLA current or past volunteer that makes contributions to the Chapter and the profession through volunteerism and education. This year's Distinguished Member of the Year was Bill Sanders, ASLA of Sanders & Czapski Associates, PLLC in Marquette, Mich.

The President's Emerging Professional of the Year award honors a landscape designer/landscape architect in the first ten years of their career for significant contributions or significant works of design. This year's Emerging Professional of the Year was Caitlin Jackson, ASLA, of Beckett & Raeder, Inc. in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The President's Outstanding Firm of the Year was awarded to Grissim Metz Andriese Associates of Northville, Mich., for continued outstanding design and support of the profession.

The final President's Award is the Honor Award, given to someone who is not a landscape architect, for significant support of landscape architects, community design, the profession or the environment. State Representative Hugh Crawford was this year's recipient. He supports the profession through his efforts to help Michigan landscape architects maintain state licensure.

The Chapter celebrated its 29th Annual Chapter Awards program this year, with six professional projects receiving recognition for design, planning, sustainability and historical excellence in the State.

In the Landscape Architectural Design category, the McLaren Proton Therapy Center Courtyard Garden by PEA, Inc. received an Honor Award, the highest recognition. Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority's work on the Lake St. Clair Greenspace at Lake St. Clair Metropark in Harrison Township, Mich., and the Visitor Entrance at the Milford Proving Grounds by PEA, Inc received Merit Awards in this category.

SmithGroupJJR, the U.S.'s seventh-largest architecture and engineering firm, received an Honor Award for the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House Master Plan in Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich. for Landscape Planning & Analysis. PEA, Inc. received an Honor Award in the Landscape Architectural Sustainability category for the Warren Technical Center Walking Path in Warren, Mich. The final category is Historical Significance, for distinguished projects completed between 15 and 50 years. Beckett & Raeder, Inc. received a Merit Award for Bayfront Park in Petoskey, Mich.

Michigan ASLA held Lobby Day for Michigan Landscape Architects on March 27th at the state capitol in Lansing. More than 90 legislators joined for the MiASLA luncheon, and 20 members visited legislators from their districts to share information about current licensure. In Washington, DC, four delegates represented Michigan for National Advocacy Day.