The past month has been a truly transitional and pivotal time for VA ASLA.  Jennifer Daoulas, President-Elect, resigned from her position on the Executive Committee and accepted an employment position in Florida.  Although, we are disappointed in her departure, we wish her the best in her future career endeavors.  We are happy to announce that Lynn Crump, ASLA, a past Virginia Chapter Trustee and President was appointed to fill the President-Elect position.

At a public meeting held on Wednesday August 13, Lynn Crump, ASLA, Dick Gibbons, FASLA, myself, and Guoping Huang, D. Des., Assistant Professor at University of Virginia presented the results of the James River Viewshed Community Service Project.  The results were well received by those attending and the City of Richmond Planners. We are delighted this project is completed and is now available to the public. (See below)   This Community Service Project is the basis for a one-day conference for on October 10, 2014.  This conference will provide more in-depth presentations on the viewshed analysis, as well as, the Libby Hill Park timetable documentation by Brian Katen, ASLA and Virginia Tech students.  Lindsay Larkin, VA ASLA Administrator, will be sending out registration information very soon.

Perhaps, one of the most significant landscape architecture events in recent years to come to Virginia is the What's Out There Weekend - Richmond on October 25-26.  WOTW-Richmond is coordinated by The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF).  Virginia ALSA is helping sponsor this event which will highlight significant Richmond landscapes through professionally lead tours and educational information found on the CLF website.  As a prelude to WOTW, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden will hold their bi-annual Gillette Forum on October 23-24.

Please contact me, if you have any VA ASLA matters you may want to discuss.   I look forward to talking with you and seeing you at one or all of the up-coming VA ASLA events which you can read about in this e-newsletter.

The Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (VA ASLA) held a public meeting to present the results of the James River Corridor Viewshed Study.  The meeting took place on Wednesday August 13, 2014 at the Storefront for Community Design in Richmond.  

There was a presentation on the results of the study for over 40 attendees followed by a brief period to ask questions.  The study documents were on display for review by those who attended and can be accessed on the VA ASLA website here.

The viewshed study was conducted by the Virginia Chapter of ASLA as a community service project.  The majority of the work for this project was done by students and faculty in the Landscape Architecture Programs at University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.  

If you have questions, you may contact the VA ASLA office at [email protected].

a message from Brian Katen 

The summer is almost over and we are preparing for what promises to be an exciting year in the School of Architecture + Design. As you know, the start of the academic year will be highlighted by the College of Architecture and Urban Studies' celebration of the College's 50th anniversary on September 4th - 6th. We look forward to seeing many of you here for the anniversary celebration and extend an invitation to all of you to join us in celebrating this important milestone in the College's history.

The 50th anniversary schedule of events can be accessed at  http://www.50years.caus.vt.edu/events/. We particularly want to note the events of September 4th and 5th which will include presentations by alumni of the programs in the School of Architecture + Design. Friday, September 5th will feature presentations by seven Landscape Architecture Program alumni, Billy Almond, Will Belcher, Brandon Cappellari, Lynn Crump, Chris Guillard, Courtney Landoll, and Chuck Ware. Selected work by our alumni speakers will be featured in our  exhibition gallery in Burruss Hall. You can access the schedule of alumni presentations and the links to presentation descriptions at http://www.50years.caus.vt.edu/alumni-presentations/. Also on Friday September 5th, from 6:30 -8:30 pm, is a reception for the alumni of the programs in the School of Architecture + Design. Saturday morning will feature numerous tours including the Landscape Architecture studio and exhibition of recent student work. The celebration will also be an opportunity to meet the new Director of the School of Architecture + Design, Henri de Hahn who joined us in July after serving as the provost at the New School of Architecture + Design in San Diego. His arrival promises an energizing and transformative year ahead. 

For full event details, please visit http://www.50years.caus.vt.edu/.