2026 Class of Fellows: Gonzalo Cruz, FASLA, New York Chapter

AECOM LAUD NYC; New York City, New York
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Category: Works, Page 46

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Category: Works, Page 46

Gonzalo Cruz, ASLA, is a nationally recognized landscape architect whose work is helping redefine how cities respond to climate change while creating public spaces that are welcoming, equitable, and deeply connected to community life. As Vice President and Senior Design Principal at AECOM LAUD NYC, he has built an exceptional body of work focused on resilient waterfronts, civic landscapes, and public spaces that protect people while enriching everyday urban experience. Cruz is especially distinguished by his ability to turn complex infrastructure challenges into inspiring public places. Trained in both architecture and landscape architecture, he brings together design vision, technical expertise, and the diplomacy needed to guide ambitious projects through political, environmental, and construction realities. His early leadership on Liberty Park at the World Trade Center established his talent for shaping landscapes where memory, security, and civic life must coexist. Since then, he has led or played key design roles on some of the New York region's most important resilience and public realm projects. These include the Lower Manhattan Coastal Resilience master plan, which has become a national model for integrating flood protection with public space, and Wagner Park, where coastal defense is reimagined as a civic asset. His work on Sendero Verde in East Harlem and East Newark Riverfront Park further shows his commitment to environmental justice, affordability, and community-driven design. Beyond his projects, Cruz is a visible advocate for the profession through his service on the Landscape Architecture Foundation Board, his national speaking engagements, and his mentorship of emerging designers. Through visionary leadership and built work of lasting public value, Gonzalo Cruz has expanded the role of landscape architecture in shaping more resilient, inclusive, and inspiring cities.

As seen in LASN magazine, August 2026.