2025 Fellows: Christopher Kent, FASLA, Northern California Chapter

PGAdesign, Oakland, CA
by

x

For over three decades Chris Kent has advanced the profession of landscape architecture through sustained pro bono service, blending his passion for the natural world with a deep commitment to community engagement, ecological stewardship, and public advocacy. His activities cover many different areas but all with the goal of creating meaningful lasting change in communities. In 1997, Chris co-founded Friends of Five Creeks (F5C) with hydrologists, biologists, and engineers to restore degraded urban waterways in Berkeley, Albany, and El Cerrito. He has played a pivotal role in transforming hardened urban waterways into thriving public assets with his master plans, community outreach, and hands-on work reconnected people with neglected creeks. As a volunteer with the National Park Service-Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program, he lent his design expertise to help communities across California envision and fund recreational trails. Through his roles on city commissions, Chris has guided forward-thinking policies, setting new standards for integrating sustainability, aesthetics, and community needs into public spaces. Chris's leadership in the Northern California Chapter spans over two decades where he has held multiple roles within the Chapter and ultimately served two terms as Trustee. As a long-time member of the Government Affairs Committee, Chris's efforts led to record-breaking engagement in federal legislative advocacy, amplifying the profession's voice with policymakers and setting a benchmark for other states. And for 15 years, Chris has been a driving force behind a monthly Plein Air painting group of like-minded people whose goal is to use painting as a lens for observation and appreciation of the area's public landscapes. Whether mentoring students or helping communities directly, Chris's influence has been deep and wide and long lasting.