2023-2024 News & Events Archive

Commencement

Congratulations, LARC Class of 2024!

Advanced Construction at the Arboretum

 

For a third year, Joe Ragsdale's Advanced Landscape Construction class (LA 350) took on a corner of the Leaning Pine Arboretum on campus for project implementation. The students designed and built an accessible seating area with wood bench sections fit over gabions:

2024 Department & College Scholarships

 

Congratulations to the following scholarship award recipients:

Josh Schneider: Kennedy Love Memorial Scholarship

Arlo Hadley: Kennedy Love Memorial Scholarship

Neil Hudson: Douglas Baylis Memorial Scholarship and LADAC Scholarship

Jack Mura: Ian Casey Memorial Travel Scholarship

Kacie Fetzer: Gary Dwyer Memorial Scholarship and Alice C. Loh Scholarship

Anna Spurlock: LADAC Scholarship

April Beall: LADAC Scholarship

Ayver Libes: LADAC Scholarship

Julianna Garcia: Courtland Studio Scholarship and Herbert E. Collins Scholarship

Sam Green: HLA/Robert Hablitzel Scholarship

Marc Rodriguez: Dr. Glenn McRae Internship

Charlotte White: Robin L. Rossi Scholarship

Kimberly Arechiga: Robin L. Rossi Scholarship

Ellie Feistel: Herbert E. Collins Scholarship

Summer Nedelman: Herbert E. Collins Scholarship

2024 Beacon Research

 

Kudos to 4th-year landscape architecture student Emma Daniel for her work with faculty mentor Aaron Liggett, researching "Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Injustice in Los Angeles" - presented at this year's Beacon Research Symposium.

2024 Faculty-Nominated Awards

 

Congratulations to these students, recognized by faculty for the following honors:

2024 LA Dept. Community Impact Award: Maya Amyx

2024 Cal Poly LAF Olmsted Scholar: Jessica Baiza

2024 Cal Poly CELA Fountain Scholar: Erika Murase

2024 CLASS Fund University Scholarship: Robert Bennett

2024 CLASS Fund Alec Balliet Memorial Scholarship: Olivia Reichert

2024 Design Village

 

Our second year of participation with seven student teams from our LA 204 studios, taught by César Torres-Bustamante, Aaron Liggett, and Schani Siong. Here are their "Modular" creations:

The Botanical Bunch

The Garden Geeks (and their modular mysteries)

Modular Melodies

The Podular Peas

Spiraling Succulents

A Starry Site

Synergy Surfers

2024 Senior Show Awards

 

Cheers to the success of all our graduating seniors for their capstone projects! These students were acknowledged specifically with the following awards:

Academic Excellence: Marilynn Hunt and Maya Amyx

Outstanding Design Process: Erika Murase and Amber O'Rourke

Outstanding Design: Marcello D'Alfonso, Maya Amyx, and Justin Li

Best Senior Project: Maya Amyx and Aliyah Madriaga

Golden Eagles: Alex Snyder and Jessica Baiza

2024 Senior Show

 

We invite all family, friends, and colleagues to join us for our 2024 Senior Capstone Project Showcase on Saturday, March 16th, from 1-5pm at the Justin & J. Lohr Center for Wine and Viticulture on campus (building 156-110) - free parking in the H-1 lot.

Best of Social Media

 

We are proud to be recognized among the best in Landscape Architecture social media for 2023 by Land8 and ASLA. Kudos to the staff, students, and faculty who contribute to our content:

Cal Poly Landscape Architecture uses social media to promote student success and the “Learn by Doing” philosophy – from studio work and field trips to study abroad and professional events, and more. We also share highlights for faculty, alumni, and industry leaders – the wider network of support for our students. Our social media celebrates department activities and accomplishments to share what landscape architects do to make the world a better place and attract more students to the field.

Find the full list of winning accounts on the Land8 website and follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

Landscape Forms 2024 Xtreme LA Challenge: Morro Bay

 

We are thrilled to be working with Landscape Forms hosting this year's Xtreme LA Challenge, centered around lands adjacent to the iconic Morro Rock in Morro Bay, CA.

Over a three-day period, teams made up of students and young design professions will meet with local representatives, visit key locations, and return to studio workshops to design a landscape solution that provides resilience in the face of future climate change while also taking reparative actions for past and current generations.

Team presentations happened on Thursday, February 1st, 2024 in the KTGY Gallery - View the livestream recording online (introductions begin around minute 26).

This event was also highlighted with an article in the San Luis Obispo Tribune.

2024 Hiring: Assistant Professor in Landscape Architecture

 

POSITION DESCRIPTION

California Polytechnic State University’s Landscape Architecture Department is seeking a tenure track assistant professor with a record of professional achievements, scholarship, and teaching (either demonstrated or the potential for success) to provide core instruction in ecologically-based landscape approaches and resilient design strategies for introductory and upper division design studios, as well support courses. The department is looking for applicants with experience in green infrastructure development including climate change adaptation strategies, design and planning for resilience, storm water management, landscape performance design and assessment, and/or expertise in applied ecology and climate science. Candidates must be familiar with current and emerging digital representation and analysis media.

Applicants shall demonstrate the ability to develop a viable research program that complements their teaching. Commitment to department, college, and university and professional service activities is required. Learn-by-doing and project-based learning is the preferred teaching model. 

Salary commensurate with education and experience of the individual selected. (Anticipated hiring range: $89,000 - $95,000 per year).

The anticipated start date is September 16, 2024 for the 2024-2025 academic year.

More information and to apply: https://jobs.calpoly.edu/en-us/job/533429

Review of applications will begin February 6, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled.

Vicki Estrada is CAED Honored Alum for 2023

Vicki graduated Cal Poly in 1975 with a BS in Landscape Architecture and went on to found her own company, Estrada Land Planning - located in downtown San Diego since 1985. Vicki understands diverse community values and natural values, as well as the creative and technical aspects of design; and she is known for developing design solutions that lead to consensus on difficult issues. Vicki is also a founding member of our Landscape Architecture Department Advisory Council (LADAC).

We were delighted to have Vicki visit Professor César Torres-Bustamante's class of 5th-year seniors for a Q&A session on Friday, October 27th, before receiving her well-deserved award!

Click here for a brief video interview with Vicki by University Development & Alumni Engagement.

Landscape Architecture is a STEM Discipline

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has designated landscape architecture a STEM discipline. The designation recognizes the high degree of science, technology, engineering and mathematics course work required in landscape architecture collegiate programs.

"The STEM designation finally reflects the reality of the discipline of landscape architecture. Our work is fully dependent on science and technology, from understanding soils at the level of microbial interactions and nutrient exchanges, which keep our urban canopy alive, to coastal adaptations informed by continuously evolving climate data," said Gary Hilderbrand, FASLA, the Peter Louis Hornbeck Professor in Practice and Chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture at Harvard Graduate School of Design. "This new designation brings with it greater opportunities for students and graduates throughout the United States and beyond to become leaders in the field."

More information from the ASLA website

Design Awards Received by LARC Students and Faculty

The Quality-of-Life Design Awards are the ultimate recognition by the Southern California Chapter of ASLA to celebrate excellence, innovation, and creativity by firms, individuals, and agencies responsible for outstanding landscape architecture and environmental planning that promote an enhanced quality of life in Southern California and beyond.

Congratulations to Tanya Moss - a recent grad from Cal Poly’s Landscape Architecture program - for receiving a Merit Award for her senior capstone project, “I Want to Go Home” Dementia Gardens. The concept of this project explores the idea of home for people with dementia in a care facility, and their need for independence and autonomy in a safe, comfortable, and meaningful environment.

Congratulations, also, to fifth-year landscape architecture students Maya Amyx and Bradley Atnip, who were recognized with a Merit Award for their “Revival Park” design. This project created a proposal for an 8-acre public park on the Oakland waterfront with a landmark structure.

And Congratulations to Associate Professor Ellen Burke, who received an Honor Award in the Research category for her work to publish the “Food Systems Atlas: San Luis Obispo County.” Special thanks to Russ White, Data and GIS Specialist from Kennedy Library, for support throughout the project; and many thanks to the students (some now alumni) who worked on the publication:

Research, Graphics & GIS Assistants

Alyssa Luna (ENVM); Ryan Janzen (ENVM); Kylie Hensley (ENVE); Patrick Kelty (LARC); Sophia Liu (ARCH); Cynthia Davis (EES); Ryan Chase (LARC); Barbara Levin (JOUR); Juliet Meyer (LARC); Sarah Samynathan (LARC); Amy Sublett (LARC); Silvia Viola (LARC); Mekdem Wright (ENVE)

Community Engagement

Emily Barlog (LARC); Jamie Chafe (LARC); Chad Evans (LARC); Blake Faris (LARC); Jacob Hovland (LARC); Mary McGregor (LARC); Rudy Perez (LARC); Rachel Raynor (CRP); Sarah Samynathan (LARC); Sam Sturtevant (LARC); Brenda Flood (AGRI)

Webinar and Article by Professor David Watts

During the summer, Professor David Watts, ASLA, PLA, presented a webinar for The Landscape Expo Academy on "Playground Design for Resilience." This presentation discussed current playground research that addresses multiple physiological and sociological factors to inform design considerations, and is available on-demand at: 

https://thelandscapeexpo.com/tle-academy/webinars/playground-design-for-resilience  

Also, Professor Watts had an article published in Landscape Architect magazine on stewardship: "Moving Forward in South Africa". This article highlights projects and internship opportunities with Kidlinks World, Inc. - a charitable non-profit organization founded in 2004 by Liza Lightfoot. Read more at:

https://landscapearchitect.com/landscape-articles/moving-forward-in-south-africa

Summer Study Abroad in Savona, Italy

 

Thank you to fourth-year landscape architecture students Sophia Napier and Raina Miller for sharing images from the work they did in a study abroad program this summer! 

Working in a team with two other students, they pitched a chapel idea for the client’s property, created a master plan, and designed a sensory garden. Workshops provided opportunities to explore various art mediums including collage, clay modeling, and earth works - all of which helped to inspire their designs.

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)

 

Kudos to fifth-year landscape architecture student Jessica Baiza for her work this summer with an undergraduate research team conducting critical exploration of urban tree canopy distribution in California’s urban environments, with a primary objective of assessing equity and environmental justice in PK-12th grade schoolyards and surroundings:

“As part of this dedicated, interdisciplinary team effort, I played a pivotal role in leveraging Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and artificial intelligence (AI) to create a free, open-source urban tree canopy map to drive targeted and equitable actions for a warming climate.

My involvement in this project has been a transformative experience, underscoring  the profound impact of research-driven interventions on community environments.  It has been immensely gratifying to contribute to a cause that seeks to enhance the well-being of students, increase their access to green spaces, and foster climate  resilience. This work has not only sharpened my technical skills but has also deepened my commitment to leveraging science for the betterment of communities and the environment.”

Photo by Joe Johnston for Cal Poly News: Calfornia Impact

CAED Scholarships

 

Congratulations to these LARC students who received scholarship awards from CAED:

Maya Amyx - the Alice C. Loh Scholarship Recognizing Women's Contributions in Environmental Design, and a Robin L. Rossi scholarship recognizing potential for future success.

Julianna Garcia - CAED Scholarship (supports students in any CAED major)

Justin Li - a Herbert E. Collins award, for students who have demonstrated scholastic excellence and promise in their industry.

Oliver Zych - a Herbert E. Collins award, for students who have demonstrated scholastic excellence and promise in their industry.

Jessica Baiza - the Harold and Evelyn Hay Award for Environmental and Sustainable Design

Marc Rodriguez - a Douglas James Martin Scholarship, supporting students with interest in computer applications/skills related to architecture and environmental design.