2023 Class of Fellows, Aida M. Curtis, Florida Chapter

Curtis + Rogers Design Studio, Miami, FL
by Staff

Florida Chapter - Category: Leadership/Management

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Florida Chapter - Category: Leadership/Management

Aida Curtis has built a practice over four decades focused on the enrichment of the public realm. Through the range of her experience-from the largest public projects in South Florida to meaningful philanthropic efforts-she leads with a spirit of collaboration centered on design and social equity. Long before it became fashionable, she demonstrated that landscape architects can and should be at the forefront of the climate action movement. On the national level, her work on the ASLA Climate Action Committee resulted in the Climate Action Guide being paired with a Field Guide to help practitioners develop strategies to increase their climate activism. Aida has been active on several other ASLA committees, among them the ASLA Conference Education Advisory Committee and the Ethics Committee. The leader of a minority/woman-owned firm, she is the only landscape architect appointed to serve on the Climate and Heat Health Task Force of Miami-Dade County and helped to develop its first Extreme Heat Action Plan. Aida convinced the City of Miami to establish an ordinance that requires a landscape architect to be involved in all projects that involve stormwater and encourages all waterfront development to follow the Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines-a rating system that ensures sustainable practices. Aida's passion for creating beautiful, sustainable, and functional outdoor spaces will continue to have an impact on landscape architecture for generations to come.