Profile: Stephen P.C. Plunkard, FASLA

Company/academic title: Stantec, Principal and Regional Practice Area Leader for Planning and Landscape Architecture for the US East

Education: Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (five-year degree program) Louisiana State University, 1977

Years in the profession: 35

ASLA chapter: Vermont

Category: Administrative

Most notable professional accomplishments:

Eagle Square

For this nationally acclaimed project, Stephen and his staff prepared a master plan for a new mixed-use development on Main Street of Concord, New Hampshire, the state?EUR??,,????'???s capital. To encourage local business in the area, the plan converted an old hotel to office space and incorporated a new parking garage as well as spaces along Main Street. To enhance the sense of community in the downtown, the plan also called for converting a warehouse into the state historical museum and adding a multi-use plaza and amphitheater for community events.

Mashpee Commons

As malls began to take over suburbia in the 1980s, a developer on Cape Cod sought to convert an old strip mall in Mashpee into such a retail complex. As principal in charge, Stephen and his group convinced the developer to instead take a creative, participatory approach to developing not only a retail complex but also a town center for this small New England village. Stephen worked with the developer, leasing agents and the public to create a plan for a new, 95-acre town center that evoked the architectural styles of traditional New England towns. The Mashpee Commons master plan emphasizes a pedestrian-scaled streetscape with gardens, fountains and benches reminiscent of a vibrant hometown business district.

Burlington Waterfront

After years of decline, the city of Burlington, Vermont?EUR??,,????'???s waterfront was rediscovered by the city. As development rapidly consumed the waterfront area, the city purchased the waterfront property adjacent to the downtown to develop a park and ensure that future generations would have access to Lake Champlain in that area. Stephen and his staff were hired to develop a master plan for the waterfront. Committed to the value of the public participation process, Stephen and his staff organized and hosted a series of public workshops to help develop a vision for the waterfront. This vision then served as the basis for the master plan, which allowed for continued but limited business growth and primarily focused on recreational and community spaces including a boat landing, a children?EUR??,,????'???s museum, a playground and a promenade. The project won a 2000 Merit Award from the Boston Society for Landscape Architects.

U.S. Presidential Recognition

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan identified 50 small business owners as State Small Business Persons of the Year as part of his administration?EUR??,,????'???s Small Business Week. Stephen and his business partner, Peter Bourgois, were chosen as the Vermont representatives, making The Cavendish Partnership the only landscape architecture firm in the list both for that year and, as far as our records indicate, to date. Awards

Dozens of awards for various projects from such organizations as the ASLA, American Planning Association, American Public Works Association, American Council of Engineering Companies, Urban Land Institute, Boston Society of Landscape Architects, and the National Main Street Center.

Thoughts on being elected to Council of Fellows: I am honored and most appreciative of my nomination and will spend the remainder of my career fulfilling the expectations of this high honor.