2025 Class of Fellows: Shannon Blakeman, FASLA, Louisiana Chapter

CARBO Landscape Architecture, Baton Rouge, LA
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Shannon Blakeman's projects are more than just landscapes-they are social and ecological interventions that enhance the lives of the communities they serve. Through a deep understanding of place, a commitment to community engagement, and a focus on sustainable design principles, he has created a legacy of vibrant, resilient, and equitable communities. His work consistently demonstrates a unique ability to integrate ecological knowledge, urban conditions, and a compelling aesthetic sense. He fosters collaborative environments, inspires colleagues, and mentors emerging talent, and is dedicated to incorporating site history, restoring natural patterns, and using sustainable materials. With the Atchafalaya Water Heritage Trail in the Atchafalaya Swamp, America's largest water basin, he demonstrated his ability to translate complex ecological and cultural information into an engaging public experience. Through thoughtful curation of information and a focus on accessible design, this project successfully engages thousands of visitors, promoting a deeper understanding of the region's unique hydrology, its cultural heritage, and its impact on the landscape. His environmental stewardship is also found in the Mirabeau Water Garden Project in New Orleans, a multi-phase award-winning model project for Resilient New Orleans, which transforms a 25-acre open site into a neighborhood recreational and educational amenity and reduces the risk of flooding for the adjacent residents. A third example of Shannon's capacity to integrate site history, community engagement, ecological function and human needs is the award-winning City Park project for Gretna, Louisiana. This transformative project was conceived as one of 36 pilot projects in Louisiana's Strategic Adaptations for Future Environments (LA SAFE) planning initiative, aimed at bolstering resilience in the state's most flood-prone areas as both a critical adaptation strategy and as a beacon of nature-based best practices for the wider region.