Landscape Architect Articles

New York ASLA Chapter12-02-17 | Feature

New York ASLA Chapter

On June 27, members from ASLA-NY and the Trust for Public Land talked about landscape architecture, planting and stewardship with students at JHS 218 in Brooklyn, and then added new plants to their rain garden.

The New York ASLA Chapter (ASLA-NY), founded in 1914, was the second ASLA chapter. It serves landscape architects in the New York Metropolitan-Long Island area, which extends from the northern tip of Westchester County to Montauk, including New York City.

ASLA-NY member Kate Orff of SCAPE Landscape Architecture in NYC is the recipient of a 2017 MacArthur Fellowship. She is the first landscape architect ever awarded this prestigious grant in the program's 36-year history.

ASLA-NY has joined 14 other NYC organizations in asking NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio (via letter) to improve the city's gathering spaces for events of free expression. ASLA-NY was not a signatory to the original letter, but has subsequently joined that initiative. A meeting with with the DOT commissioner discussed concrete actions and next steps. In a related event, ASLA-NY, along with local chapters of the American Planning Association and American Institute of Architects, co-hosted a Sept. 29 conference at the Center for Architecture in NYC to examine contemporary issues associated with the civic commons and discuss ideas for the future of spaces for public discourse.

On November 9, Donna Walcavage, FASLA, LEED AP, of Stantec, was recognized by the chapter with the President's Award for Design Excellence in the Public Realm.

On March 31, ASLA-NY was also a signatory to an open letter to President Trump (www.architects-advocate.com/openletter) from architects and landscape architects to re-affirm the U.S. commitment to addressing climate change through the continued participation in the historic Paris Climate Agreement.

ASLA-NY also participated in Lobby Day in Albany on May 17.

ASLA-NY also honored Daniel Zarrilli, PE, senior director of Climate Policy and Programs, Office of the Mayor, NYC, with the President's Award for Service and Leadership.

The ASLA-NY has its two big annual events coming up:
- Presidents' Dinner"?u"Building Cities""?uwas held Nov. 9 in New York City. The event honored Daniel Zarrilli, PE, senior director of climate policy and programs, Office of the Mayor, NYC, and Donna Walcavage, FASLA of Stantec.

- Annual celebration and awards reception, Feb. 9 in Ithaca, New York.

As seen in LASN magazine, December 2017.