2024 Class of Fellows, Leo Urban, FASLA, Florida Chapter
Urban Associates, Delray Beach, FL
Leo Urban has a long history of pro bono service as an important advocate for water conservation and sustainable site design. He constantly pushes the boundaries of traditional landscape architecture practice, promoting the profession to be the leaders in low impact stormwater management design. Urban has volunteered his time to work with government agencies, educators, artists, planners, Landscape Architects, and other licensed professionals to promote sustainable site design and innovative stormwater management practices. He successfully influenced the New Hampshire State Legislature to change a bill that would have eliminated licensure for Landscape Architects and other professionals. Urban represented the Florida Chapter on the Florida Stormwater Management Design Task Force and through his diligent efforts was able to get a bill passed that gave qualified Landscape Architects the right to prepare stormwater management plans and runoff calculations. This vote completely changed the practice of Landscape Architects, providing new opportunities in the state of Florida and setting a precedent for other states to follow. In Palm Beach County, his volunteer efforts led to changes in the land development code to allow qualified, registered Landscape Architects to prepare, sign and seal, and certify site lighting photometric plans. In Urban's life of service, he has given over six years of his personal time to researching stormwater design and management methodology, developing training courses, and training and educating Landscape Architects and public officials.
As seen in LASN magazine, September 2024.
