2026 Class of Fellows: Sue Wiest, PLA, FASLA, St. Louis Chapter

DTLS Landscape Architecture; St. Louis, Missouri
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Category: Leadership/Management, Page 56

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Category: Leadership/Management, Page 56

Sue Wiest, PLA, ASLA, is a distinguished leader whose nearly 40-year career is defined by the transformative power of purposeful design and a profound commitment to the public realm. As a co-founder of DTLS, Missouri's largest woman-owned landscape architecture firm, and through her previous vice presidency at HOK, she has shaped iconic landscapes ranging from historic regional landmarks to massive international institutional campuses. Wiest is exceptional for her technical mastery and her ability to build enduring partnerships with repeat clients. Her role in the multi-decade revitalization of St. Louis's Forest Park - known as "The Heart of St. Louis" - is perhaps her most significant regional accomplishment. Leading the design and implementation of the Grand Basin and Post-Dispatch Lake, she helped restore the park's historic character and ecological health, a legacy recognized with the prestigious 2025 ASLA National Landmark Award. On the global stage, Wiest's expertise in large-scale, sustainable planning was vital to the creation of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. Leading an international team, she authored a design that unified 27 buildings into the world's largest LEED Platinum campus. She also played a key role in the master planning of the Dubai Marina, a project that set a new global standard for walkable, water-centric urban living. Back in St. Louis, her work with BJC HealthCare highlights her mastery of high-functioning, restorative healthcare environments. Beyond her built work, Wiest is a dedicated mentor who co-founded a "Women in Landscape Architecture" support group. Through consistent excellence and visionary leadership, Sue Wiest has created spaces that foster connection, resilience, and enduring community beauty.

As seen in LASN magazine, August 2026.