2026 Class of Fellows: Laura L. Tenny, PLA, FASLA, Boston Chapter

Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Category: Leadership/Management, Page 56

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Category: Leadership/Management, Page 56

Laura L. Tenny, PLA, ASLA, is a visionary campus planner who has spent her career transforming some of the world's leading academic and research institutions. From the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University to Wellesley College and the Arnold Arboretum, her leadership has redefined how campuses function, blending design excellence with climate resilience and social connectivity. At MIT, where she serves as Senior Campus Planner, Tenny has been an unrelenting advocate for the "greening" of a dense urban environment. She led the creation of the Sustainable Stormwater and Landscape Ecology Plan, a framework that ensures campus growth is both ecologically responsible and human-centric. One of her standout highlights is the transformation of a utilitarian service alley into the North Corridor (the "Outfinite"), a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly green spine that manages flooding while providing a lush "cool corridor" for the community. Tenny's influence extends far beyond site management; she is a pioneer in professional leadership. She is a founding director of the Association of University Landscape Architects (AULA), an organization she helped grow from a small group into an international network representing 50 higher education institutions. Her work ensures that landscape architecture is seen as essential infrastructure, equal in value to the iconic architecture found on these campuses. A recipient of numerous honors, including the ASLA Award of Excellence for the Leventritt Shrub and Vine Garden, Laura Tenny is exceptional for her ability to navigate complex institutional budgets and priorities to secure investment in the landscape. Her legacy is one of enduring stewardship, having created cohesive, accessible, and resilient places that will serve students and researchers for generations to come.

As seen in LASN magazine, August 2026.