Laumeier Sculpture Park

St. Louis, MO

The St. Louis Chapter of ASLA has achieved an unprecedented collaboration among leaders of the landscape architecture profession as part of its Chapter Demonstration Project (CDP) for the ASLA Annual Meeting 2000. These leaders including Stu Dawson, FASLA, Sasaki Associates, Inc., Bill Johnson, FASLA, Neil Porterfield, FASLA, Dean, College of Arts and Architecture Penn State University, and Peter Walker, FASLA, PWP Landscape Architects, Inc., have committed to act as advisors during the project and participate in a design charette in St. Louis prior to the convention.

The project involves developing a concept plan for Laumeier Sculpture Park, one of the premier sculpture parks in the world. The country estate of the Laumeier family was bequeathed to St. Louis County in the late 60s with the intent that it be developed as a passive recreation park. The park opened to the public in 1975 after the County made improvements to the property. Shortly thereafter, renowned artist Ernest Trova donated 40 of his works to the park. This sparked its development as a cultural institution. The beautiful rolling terrain, open meadows and mature oak/hickory wooded forests make this 96-acre site an ideal setting for art in nature.

The primary goal of the project is to generate ideas that will establish the appropriate image or character for the park while addressing some of the functional problems like circulation and parking. The local team also represents a collaboration of talented individuals who are dedicated to the project. Landscape Architects, architects, artists, educators and arborists will donate their time and expertise to the effort. Sanchez Associates, Inc., St. Louis MO, donated digital basemap production services and The Care of Trees, Norwalk, CT, have agreed to donate their arboricultural services towards the production of a tree resource analysis map.

"The level of excitement and enthusiasm over this project has been tremendous. From very early on in the process we recognized it as being special. It is a unique opportunity to blend art and landscape architecture in a public park and to collaborate with such talented leaders in the profession," says Scott Emmelkamp, ASLA Senior Landscape Architect & planner, PGAV, Inc. who, along with Floyd Zimmerman, FASLA, former director of planning at HOK, Inc., is leading the local effort on the CDP. For additional information on the park visit www.laumeier.com or ASLA visit www.asla.org.