Universidad Ana F. Méndez
LASN 2023 Yearbook
Our year in review is written from a growing and resilient perspective. We are a small-scale Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (LA) program located in the center of the small island of Puerto Rico. We are part of the Engineering, Design & Architecture Academic Division. We are the only LA undergraduate program in Puerto Rico. Due to our geographical position, we are exposed to hurricanes, earthquakes, and other atmospheric events that serve as a basis to continue learning and applying new concepts to our local problems from a landscape architecture perspective. As educators, we are committed to preparing future professionals who are aware of designing responsibly. Guest speaker and Architect, Fernando Abruña a pioneer in Caribbean architecture and sustainability visited. Under his lecture, the students were able to develop strategies for sustainable site planning and design from the Caribbean perspective. For extracurricular activities that enrich our program, students got to work in the Natural Reserve "Caño Tiburones" last semester. Caño Tiburones is one of the largest wetland habitats in the island covering almost 7,000 acres. In this project, they worked under the supervision of the faculty and with community leaders to achieve a sustainable master plan that proposed plenty of ideas for the improvement of the area and its ecosystem. Park(ing) Day was a very good start to this semester. Students got to participate and presented their ideas in a design charrette and then they implemented their designs on site. Students were very involved and got to design material selection, pre-construction assembly and preparation, and design implementation. It was a collaboration with the College of Architects and Landscape Architects of Puerto Rico (CAAPR) and students were exposed to other professional projects.
