Introducing Scott Rice
Meet Scott Rice, PLA, LEED AP, CASp: the new president of the ASLA SoCal Chapter who is looking to strengthen the profession by encouraging Landscape Architects and those working towards licensure to gather, exchange ideas, and share experiences.

In an exclusive interview with LASN, Rice recalled how he was drawn into the ASLA community during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he was feeling physically and relationally isolated from his peers. He remembers that his first ASLA SoCal chapter meeting was over Zoom.

Soon after joining, Rice was drawn in to serve as the Vice President of Sponsorship, a role he filled for two terms. He was then chosen as president-elect in 2023 and is now stepping into the long-anticipated role of president.

Reviving The Southern California Community
As president, Rice wants to gather landscape-minded people.

He commented that Southern California is full of nationally and internationally renowned Landscape Architects who are involved at the national level with the association, but are rarely, if ever, seen by their peers at the local level. Rice wants to change that, namely by dispelling rumors of the "clique-like" nature the chapter has historically had and replacing it with a welcoming atmosphere that draws in students, emerging professionals, and long-time veterans of the profession.

Immediately after being sworn in at the ASLA National Conference in Washington, D.C. in October of last year, Rice began acting on this goal. That same month, the SoCal chapter hosted a member appreciation event in Long Beach tied to the ASLA's 125th anniversary.

 

Rice reflected that the focus on social rather than educational activities at this gathering made it an easy way for members, students, and people who haven't been around to mingle, tell stories, and strengthen the community. He says that more events like this are in the works in addition to the chapter's regular programming, and he hopes they build momentum for a new era in the region.

Devastation On All Fronts
Barely three months into his term, Rice and the rest of the chapter were confronted with the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire that began in Los Angeles on January 7.

Trustee Evan Mather, PLA, FASLA and one of the committee chairs lost their homes in Altadena. Many members either know someone affected or were evacuated themselves. Various funding pages have been set up to support these members and their families.

Rallying To Respond
Despite the destruction, the landscape architecture community is rising up to support those affected and position themselves as leading consultants in the rebuilding process.

As president, Rice is reaching out to connect with local associations involved in the design and build industry ‐ like the AIA, NAHB, and BIA ‐ so that any conversations surrounding the rebuilding process involve Landscape Architects.

Though not the challenge Rice expected, leading the chapter and other associations through reconstruction provides a unique opportunity to re-engage local Landscape Architects and recruit landscape architecture students and emerging professionals by focusing on a common goal that directly affects so many.

Meet Melanie Buffa
Joining Scott Rice on the ASLA Southern California Executive Committee is President-Elect Melanie Buffa, a Senior Landscape Designer at Agency Artifact.

Before the fires, Buffa wanted to use her status as ASLA SoCal's first Latina president-elect to focus on inclusivity in the chapter and the profession at large. While she still plans to start those conversations when her term as president arrives, she has found an additional mission in leading a Wildfire Taskforce that will lay the foundation for good design during the rebuild process across L.A. County.

The next Wildfire Taskforce Summit meeting will take place via Zoom on Thursday, February 13 at 5:30pm PST. For the link, please go to the events calendar on the ASLA Southern California Chapter website, or go to: https://socal-asla.org/event/wildfire-taskforce-summit/.

If you are on the Executive Committee of an ASLA Chapter and would like to share your goals for the next year, please email Keziah Olsen at kolsen@landscapearchitect.com or call (714) 979-5276 x124.

Scott Rice has been in the world of landscape architecture for 26 years, starting in high school when he worked under a landscape contractor and aspiring Landscape Architect at San Bernardino Golf Club. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from California State Polytechnic University ‐ Pomona in 2002, he began working for Community Works Design Group (CWDG) and became a licensed Landscape Architect (PLA) in the state of California in 2005.

In 2009, he took a two-year hiatus to apply his landscape architectural experience to the world of skateparks, then rejoined CWDG in 2011, where he is now President. In addition to excelling in park and sport facility design, Rice is a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) contracted by the City of Los Angeles Department on Disability to assess accessibility for the Recreation & Parks (RAP), Emergency Management Department (EMD), the L.A. Fire Department (LAFD), and several other departments. According to CWDG, he is one of only three Landscape Architects in California who Certified Access Specialists.

Melanie Buffa grew up in the San Fernando Valley and graduated with a degree in landscape architecture from California State Polytechnic University ‐ San Luis Obispo in 2016. Her background has led to her passion for designing accessible public spaces and communities, especially for the Latino community.

Over the last nine years, Buffa has worked at various landscape architecture establishments and currently functions as a landscape designer at a firm that focuses on landscape architecture and urban planning. She is working towards becoming a licensed Landscape Architect in the state of California and hopes to do so in the next couple of years.