Summer is fast approaching, but hopefully everyone has found some time to enjoy this spring weather before it heats up! There have recently been a lot of great regional events promoting Landscape Architecture, and it’s been great to see both professionals and students excited about the growth the future of our profession.

The Prairie Gateway chapter helped support the recent student-led LABASH conference at Kansas State by sponsoring a booth. It was great to meet Landscape Architecture students from across North America, as well as see a wonderful turnout of professionals at the conference. It was a truly impressive event, and all of the students that helped plan and work at the event should be proud.

The recently-held ASLA Central States Conference and KC Design Week were also both great regional events for education and collaboration. To continue our conversation and collaboration between professions, we have a meeting on May 10^th with the other six allied professions that are a part of the Center for Architecture & Design. If there are any topics or questions you’d like us to bring up, please reach out.

We have started planning for a late-summer Advocacy Walk with local elected officials. We will highlight projects designed by Landscape Architects, and hope to have some of the original designers give short tours. If you are interested in volunteering to help with this, let us know. More info will be available soon.

Election season will be here before we know it! If you would like to be a part of the Prairie Gateway Chapter Executive Committee, or know of any ideal candidates who might be interested, be on the lookout for more information in the near future.

We have a few upcoming events!

• June 20 – Landscape Lighting LINKS (please RSVP by June 16^th)
• June 21 – New Hire and Intern Scavenger Hunt and Happy Hour
• Info will be available on the CfAD website in a few weeks about registration
• Let your incoming interns and new hires know about this event… it should be a great way to meet others in the design professions!

Until next time,

Sean Ray, PLA, ASLA

PGASLA President

Join Tim McKey with Unique Lighting for this month’s CEU lunch. Landscape Lighting can directly improve outdoor spaces by showcasing the plants, hardscapes, amenities and structures of the site during the evening hours. Landscape Lighting extends the usable hours in our landscapes, provides visual interest and improves the quality and safety of project.

This presentation will discuss lighting design fundamentals and techniques to improve the nighttime aesthetics of the project while eliminating hotspots, reducing glare, minimizing black holes. The selection of LED lamp color, beam spread, fixture selection and placement are critical decisions that should be made by the Landscape Architect. Finally, the presentation will discuss basic information regarding transformer options, electrical requirements and common wiring solutions for successful installation and improved project lifespan.

Learning Objectives:

1. Lighting Design Fundamentals and Techniques.
2. Landscape light options including lamp and beam spread and fixture selections
3. Common installation solutions and best management practices

RSVP by Friday, June 16th. Course will provide 1.0 continuing education credits and provide Health, Safety, and welfare credit. Lunch will be provided. Email Jackie Dietz with any questions at jackie.dietz@forms-surfaces.com.

Brian D Roth, Chapter Trustee

April 2023

Board of Trustee Spring meeting is underway and one of the main topics is the ASLA Climate Action Plan. Each ASLA chapter is ask to identify a Climate Action Committee and Chair. Internally, the PGASLA excomm will begin discussions and solicit interest from the chapter members to fill this committee and chair position. If you are interested, please reach out to me at broth@land3studio.com. For more information regarding the ASLA Climate Action Plan please visit: Climate Action Plan | asla.org

If you are interested in what ASLA national has been up too this past month and what opportunities ASLA is offering, please visit Leaders Express

Thank you again for your support as members of PGASLA and look forward to seeing everything at the many events planned this summer. 

Highlights:

• Happy World Landscape Architecture Month! The social media campaign for WLAM 2023 has been a great success, with over 3,279 posts on Instagram using the hashtag #wlam2023 to highlight the profession. ASLA Chapters and Student Chapters participated, showcasing what it's like to study and practice landscape architecture, as well as how the profession shapes healthy, resilient, and beautiful places in their communities. The campaign inspired the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects to replicate it, encouraging their members to join the celebration
• This year for WLAM, National ASLA teamed up with Landscape Architecture Magazine to offer a special incentive. Participants had the opportunity to be featured in the June issue of LAM. We will announce the shortlist of finalists on May 3. The winner will be revealed in mid-May. We are thrilled with the engagement and participation in this year's campaign and look forward to continuing to promote the important work of landscape architects all year long.
• Landscape Architecture Magazine received two Neal Awards last week for Best Overall Art Direction/Design and Best Profile (Article): “In Their Elements,” April 2022. The Neal Awards, the most prestigious editorial honors in the field of special journalism, recognize and reward editorial excellence in business media.
• Registration for the 2023 ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture will launch on May 17! We look forward to welcoming you to Minneapolis. Stay tuned for more details. 
• The ASLA Council of Fellows would like your input on the criteria and submission requirements for nominations. Do the current requirements reflect the breadth of the profession? Please take a few minutes to give us your thoughts through this survey by May 15. You do not need to be a Fellow to participate. 
• “An enormous responsibility’: The misunderstood and essential work of landscape architects” published on April 4 in Fast Company online featured ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen on a campaign to improve public understanding of landscape architecture—and in doing so, promote the creation of safe, equitable and environmentally-friendly spaces. 
• Addressing the Wage Gap for Women of Color: An Approach for Licensed Professions is a column by CEO Carter-Conneen highlighting the WCLAP program. This story was published on March 30 in Fast Company online. Of note, this story discusses “diversifying landscape architecture as a profession is a strategic imperative.”