The 2014 Quality of Life Awards, which celebrated professional excellence from firms, individuals, and agencies in six different categories, was held October 23 at the Ebell Club in Long Beach, Calif.

The ASLA Southern California Chapter celebrated their Quality of Life Design Awards on October 23, 2014. Over 175 members and other professionals attended the Gala event, held at the Ebell Club in Long Beach. The venue, selected for its historical significance, was a befitting site for the theme of this year's awards, "Landscape Architecture – A Story of Generations".

The evening's VIP guest, Eric Lloyd Wright and grandson of Frank Lloyd Wright, was recognized as ASLA's first honorary Southern California "Chapter member". Eric has the heart and soul of a landscape architect and is a true advocate for the natural and built environment. Most recently, Eric has been working with the Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering's Landscape Architects. He was commissioned to recreate the gardens at the Hollyhock House based on his memory of installing the original landscape in his youth.

John Hourian, ASLA - Principal of Hourian Associates; and Andrew Bowden, ASLA - Principal of Land Concern received special Outstanding Service Awards from the Chapter which recognizes service and exceptional accomplishments to the Chapter over a sustained period of time; significantly advancing the profession, promoting landscape architecture, as well as licensure and serving as examples for other local, regional or national efforts.

Chapter member and incoming National ASLA President, K. Richard Zweifel, FASLA was in attendance. And, several of the Chapter's annual sponsors who generously supported the Gala event were recognized with a gift from the Chapter, including: Hunter; Park West Companies; Victor Stanley, Inc., Ironsmith; USA Shade and Fabritec Structures; Belgard; and Dave Bang Associates. The twelve King Palms generously supplied by Village Nurseries for the evening's event were donated to the Green Team at Hughes Middle School in Long Beach following the event.

Signaling a sign of better times in the economy, the Chapter received 77 project submissions. Of this record number received, eight Honor and 35 Merit Awards were handed out. Please see below for a complete list of winners.

2014 ASLA Southern California Chapter Quality of Life Design Award Winners

Design

Park & Recreation
Craig Ranch Regional Park, MIG, Merit
Klyde Warren Park, Office of James Burnett, Merit
Pavilion Park, ValleyCrest Design, Merit
River Oaks Park, EPT, Merit
Echo Park Lake Rehabilitation Project, AECOM, Honor

Landscape Art
Ribbons, Cliff Garten Studio, Merit

Residential Garden Design (over$300K)
Lilac Drive Residence, Marmol Radziner, Merit
Oak Knoll-A New Garden for Historic Home, EPTDESIGN, Merit
Benvenuto Residence, Marmol Radziner, Honor

Residential Development Design
Crescent Village, EPTDESIGN, Merit
Shores, LRM Landscape Architecture, Merit
Trabuco Canyon Residence, Terry Design, Inc., Merit

Transportation Facilities
Big Bear Village Streetscape Design, RRM Design Group, Merit
Long Beach Airport Modernization, Meléndrez, Merit
Rosemead Boulevard Safety Enhancement & Beautification Project, Gruen Associates, Merit

Land and Water Reclamation
Anaheim Coves, City of Anaheim, Merit
Pete V. Domenici Courthouse, Rios Clementi Hale Studios, Honor

Institutional
Anchorage Museum Common at Rasmuson Center, Meléndrez, Merit
Coastline Community College-Newport Beach Learning Center, LPA, Inc., Merit
John Thomas Dye Academic Building, Gruen Associates, Merit
LA Law Library, Troller Mayer Associates, Inc., Merit
St. Monica Hilton Schoolyard, Duane Border Design, Merit
The Children's Center at Caltech, Rios Clementi Hale Studios, Merit
Fremont Wellness Center & Community Garden, Pamela Burton & Company, Honor

Commercial
Giant Interactive Headquarters, SWA Group Los Angeles, Merit
Hercules Campus at Playa Vista, EPTDESIGN, Merit
PCT, LRM Landscape Architecture, Merit
The Reserve, KSA, Merit
Sands Bethworks, SWA Group Los Angeles, Honor

Planning & Analysis
Changsha Island, SWA Group Laguna Beach, Merit
F.O.C.L. Landscape Vision, Jennifer Zell, Merit
LAVC Urban Forest Master Plan, SWA Group Los Angeles, Merit
MiraCosta College Facilities Master Plan, SWA Group Laguna Beach, Merit
Shunde Guipan Waterfront, SWA Group Laguna Beach, Merit
Taylor Mountain Regional Park & Open Space Preserve Master Plan, RRM Design Group, Merit
Martin Luther King Medical Center Campus Master Plan, AHBE Landscape Architects, Honor

Student Work
Blurring the Infrastructure Realm, Tine Chee, Merit
Metabolicscapes, Tina Chee, Merit
Panorama City T.O.D., Zara Jane Leal Gomez, Merit
LAND VEST, Enrique Guzman, Honor

Concepts, Ideas and Theories
SLIDE, Rios Clementi Hale Studios, Merit

Communication
Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway (MANGo), Meléndrez, Merit

Award of Excellence
Echo Park Lake Rehabilitation Project, AECOM, Honor

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