2026 Class of Fellows: Jason Hellendrung, PLA, FASLA, Boston Chapter

Tetra Tech; Brookline, Massachusetts
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Category: Leadership/Management, Page 50

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Category: Leadership/Management, Page 50

Jason Hellendrung, PLA, ASLA, is a pioneering leader who has redefined the role of landscape architecture in the face of the global climate crisis. As Vice President of Planning and Design at Tetra Tech and a former Principal at Sasaki, Hellendrung has spent nearly two decades positioning landscape architects as the primary drivers of urban resilience, proving that public spaces-rather than just engineered walls-are the best defense against natural disasters. His exceptional career was shaped by a pivotal moment in 2008 when he spearheaded the recovery of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, following a catastrophic $6 billion flood. In an era when no roadmap for climate recovery existed, he led a multidisciplinary team to transform 220 acres of flood-prone land into a vibrant riverfront greenway and park system. This work turned flood protection into a civic asset, creating the McGrath Amphitheater as a centerpiece for community life while restoring riverside wetlands to absorb future floods. Hellendrung's influence extends into the highest levels of policy and research. He was a key leader in the federal Rebuild by Design competition after Superstorm Sandy and managed Climate Ready Boston, the city's first comprehensive climate vulnerability assessment. His "Sea Change: Boston" exhibition was the city's first major public conversation on sea-level rise, effectively shifting the local narrative from concern to action. Whether advising the Rockefeller Foundation or bridging the gap between design and engineering, Jason Hellendrung consistently demonstrates that landscape architecture is essential to building safe, beautiful, and resilient cities. His work provides a national model for how communities can proactively adapt to an uncertain environmental future.

As seen in LASN magazine, August 2026.