February 2022

With World Landscape Architecture Month coming in April, it’s hard not to think about the biggest world event occurring right now in Ukraine. It is hard to see the images of cities and streets devastated, read the stories of survival, and imagine the fear so many are living through at this moment. For me, it has also been amazing to read about stories of heroism and the unshakable resolve of the Ukrainian people. Truly inspiring. From a design perspective, notable international firms such as Zaha Hadid, OMA, and others are either suspending or canceling work in Ukraine and Russia. The ripples of war are far-reaching.  

On a lighter note, World Landscape Architecture month will be widely celebrated by those in our profession. Next month will be a popular time for celebration on social media platforms. Keep an eye out on for images and information in the coming weeks.

The Awards Gala is getting closer...only a month away. The deadline for submissions has passed and we will be sending our PGASLA entries to the Wisconsin Chapter. Results from the jury will be delivered to the submitters the week of April 1^st. Good luck to everyone that submitted!

Our friends from CfAD dropped into our last ExComm call and updated us with everything they are doing. As a member of PGASLA, you receive a heads up on upcoming Center events and discounts on registration. Speaking of events and registration: KC Design Week is right around the corner! Mark your calendars and attend events from April 21 – April 29. Registration will open March 21. Tickets normally go fast so make sure you jump on registration. Find out more at www.kcdesignweek.org.

Our Executive Committee is planning to trek to Manhattan at the end of the month for a joint meeting with K-State’s Student Chapter. This has been an event we have been trying to plan and execute for some time, but viruses and scheduling conflicts have prevented this gathering. We will hold a portfolio review session and conduct our normal monthly business with the students. It will be good to connect with so many eager designers.

2022 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederick Law Olmsted, social reformer and founder of American landscape architecture. You can join in the celebration, check on events, and participate in activities with the National Association for Olmsted Parks, partners, friends and the public. Explore Olmsted’s living legacy at Olmsted200.org.

Until next time,

Brett Payton, PLA, ASLA

PGASLA President

Join us for our April LINKS: Behind the Scenes at Sporting KC Stadium.

Sponsored by Gold Sponsor Eric Simmons with Hunter / FX Luminaire

Join us for a tour of Sporting KC Stadium and discuss what it takes to maintain such a high-profile facility and high-level landscape. Presenters will include Eric Simmons and Steve Lindner with Hunter Industries/FX Luminaire, Steve Winslow with Industrial Sales Company, and Casey Montgomery with Sporting KC.

Learning Objectives:

1. Tour the outside, perimeter of the stadium, observe & discuss different irrigation and lighting applications (both line voltage & low voltage) based on plant material, pedestrian traffic needs, signage, wayfinding, etc.
2. Discuss and understand the real-world benefits of a remote access, central control irrigation platform that allows the turf management team and the owners to reduce water usage by nearly 40% and reduce costs significantly- both inside & outside the facility.
3. Demonstrate how the use of flow management, flow sensors can add tremendous value to a commercial system of this size while reducing overall costs and mitigating risks. Water, stormwater management & drainage will all be covered in depth.
4. What’s really involved with maintaining a professional Major League Soccer facility, Casey will give a behind the scenes tour of the playing field talking about the use of grow lights on the turf, gameday maintenance, safety considerations, concerts, etc.

Course will provide 1.0 continuing education credits. Course will provide Health, Safety, and welfare. Lunch will be provided following the tour, location TBD. Reach out to Jackie Dietz with any questions at Jackie.dietz@forms-surfaces.com.

April 6 | Tour 12:00 – 1:00pm | Lunch to follow 1:00pm

Join PGASLA in Kansas City on Thursday, April 7th as we celebrate in-person another successful year for landscape architecture in our region. Awards will be presented to our chapter award winners, project awards, and student awards. We look forward to celebrating with our membership and sponsors in person.

April 7 | 6:00pm Social Hour, 6:30pm Awards Program

Center for Architecture & Design | 1801 McGee Street Suite 100, KCMO

Tickets:

Members (and guests) – $25.00

Non-Members (and guests) – $35.00

Students – $10.00

*Ticket sales to close end of day Friday, April 1st.

Submitted by David Contag, Chapter Trustee

March 2022

Hope everyone is ready for March Madness especially with the Temps up and down which is typical for this time of year. Our chapter is gearing up for the Annual Awards Gala coming up on Thursday, April 7th. This is always an exciting time as we recognize people and projects and get together to socialize. Get registered soon. We also have our Kansas Advocacy Day next week on March 16^th. The Missouri Advocacy Day took place with the St. Louis Chapter on March 8^th. See National ASLA highlights below:

Highlights

• Proposals for The Call for Presentations for the ASLA 2022 Conference on Landscape Architecture in San Francisco are due tomorrow, Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at 12:00 NOON PT. Please visit the submission site to learn more about the 2022 education tracks, submission criteria, review process, and key dates. The Annual Conference Education Advisory Committee will begin its review of all submissions by February 28.

• President Eugenia Martin, FASLA, presented on Finding Our Future during the general session for re(connect), the Wisconsin ASLA Spring Conference, February 17-18.

• President Martin, Roxanne Blackwell, Hon. ASLA, Jennifer Reut, LAM Editor, and Matt Alcide, Affiilate ASLA, are all speakers at next week’s online NJASLA 2022 Annual Meeting, The Legacy of Olmsted: Landscape, Advocacy and Communication, February 22- 25.

• CEO Torey Carter-Conneen and President-Elect Emily O'Mahoney, FASLA, traveled to Coronado Bay, CA, last week to participate in the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) CEO Symposium. While there, both participated in a tour of Balboa Park, led by Vicki Estrada, FASLA, and attended a reception hosted by Jackie Higgins, ASLA, of the Balboa Park Conservancy. The following evening, both attended the San Diego Chapter's kickoff meeting where they spoke about working with chapters to strengthen the profession and the importance of members maintaining their membership and encouraging others to join. A special thanks to San Diego ASLA’s Executive Director Tracy Morgan Hollingworth, Affiliate ASLA, for organizing the events. CEO Carter-Conneen and President-Elect O'Mahoney also participated in a strategy dinner with CEO Matt Miller and the CLARB team, who also attended the symposium.

• On February 1, ASLA kicked off its Black History Month celebration with the Black Landscape Architects Network (BlackLAN). This year, ASLA's celebration of Black History Month will be dedicated to the BlackLAN and the advancements made within the organization over just the last year. Throughout the month of February, ASLA and BlackLAN will join in delivering a vibrant social media display of BlackLAN member accolades and new programming efforts the organization will launch this year. 



• The 2022 Call for Entries for Professional and Student Awards is now open. Each year, the ASLA Professional Awards and ASLA Student Awards honor the best in landscape architecture from around the globe. Award recipients receive featured coverage in Landscape Architecture Magazine, the magazine of ASLA, and in many other design and construction industry and general-interest media. Award recipients, and their clients will be honored at the awards presentation ceremony during the 2022 ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture in San Francisco. The deadline to register for the Professional Awards is February 25, 2022. The deadline to register for the Student awards is May 13,2022.  

KC Design Week 2022 is almost here. Be sure to check out all of the 21 great events on kcdesignweek.org. Tickets go on sale March 21st at 10:00am. Make your plans now because tickets go fast!