St. Louis ASLA Awards 2020-2021
In place of our live Awards Event, this year we rolled out our St. Louis Chapter ASLA award winners and announcements from members of the executive committee as a series of videos and slideshows. We are so proud of the work our local practitioners have accomplished and are pleased to share them with you!
Professional Awards
The St. Louis Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects’ professional award program seeks to recognize excellence in the diverse practices of landscape architecture. We aim to reflect the careful stewardship, wise planning, functionalism, context, execution and artful design of our cultural and natural environment.
Transcripts of each award video can be found by following its Vimeo link.
In 2001 the Civic Stewardship Award was created to recognize those outside of our circle, the public agencies, institutions, not-for-profits and individuals who have exhibited stewardship of the natural resources, communities, landscapes and built environment of the St. Louis region. Their contributions have spread the word about Landscape architecture and extended our reach in the region. To date, there have been 31 past recipients of this award, including Great Rivers Greenway, the Open Space Council, the Gateway Foundation and Trailnet, among many others.
Civic Stewardship Award to the Facilities, Planning and Management Department of Washington University in St. Louis for their role in the East End Transformation among many other notable feats.
JD Long, James Kolker, Matthew Conlon and the many project managers and grounds managers have spent the past five years stewarding one of the largest capital improvement project in Washington University’s history, transforming what was once parking lots and turf lawn at the campus entrance facing Forest Park to a world-class, sustainable, and beautiful campus and civic landscape that is an asset not just to the University, but to the region as a whole.
As a team, the Facilities, Planning and Management Department was highly lauded for their dedication and stewardship demands - in short, their Civic Stewardship.
Congratulations to JD, Jamie, Matt, and all of the project managers and grounds managers on the 2020 Civic Stewardship Award from the St. Louis Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
Civic Stewardship Award to the Horticulture Program at St. Louis Community College - Meramec Campus
The largest horticultural program in the State of Missouri, with over 160 students, this program successfully blends hands-on learning with lab components, changing and evolving the curriculum to adapt to market demands. 80% of STLCC Horticulture’s program find a job prior to graduation as installers, designers, or growers, lending their expertise to built works around the region and beyond. Their on-campus experimentation with seeded landscapes, natives, low-mow turf alternatives, and different soil types enables Landscape Architects to learn and to evolve accordingly.
Congratulations to Dr. Walsh, Dr. Moore-Davis, Jerry Pence, Carrie Coyne, and the Program Advisory Committee on the 2020 Civic Stewardship Award from the St. Louis Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Careful engagement, analysis, and planning lay the groundwork for our best work. The Design - Constructed Projects Category identifies the projects that have come to fruition through strong vision, attention to detail, and follow-through. All projects in this category must be built, and the initial concept must remain intact through the long-process that can lead to construction and occupation.
Honor Award in the Design - Constructed Projects category to DTLS Landscape Architecture for their project: the Lewis Collaborative
The Jury stated there were “so many things to appreciate about this project: the use of color and form and variety is quite refreshing” and that “so much was achieved for so little - a fine testament to collaboration.” Overall, the commenters stated the project displayed a “strong concept and great effect achieved with elegance and restraint.”
Congratulations, DTLS Landscape Architecture, on your Honor Award!
Merit Award in the Design - Constructed Projects category to SWT Design for their project: O’Day Park Masterplan and Implementation
The Jury commented on the varied uses, creative integration of play, and wonderfully diverse plantings. They celebrated the effect that created a “lovely atmosphere” In general, “O’Play!”
Congratulations, SWT Design, on your Merit Award!
Merit Award in the Design - Constructed Projects category to SWT Design for their project: MICDS STEM Building and Gardens
The Jury commented that this project was “lovely, with a lot of nice-scaled natural moments for people to enjoy” and that those smaller moments were complemented by “large-scale ecological gestures that contribute to ecological systems”
Congratulations, SWT Design, on your Merit Award!
Merit Award in the Design - Constructed Projects category to the Lamar Johnson Collaborative for their project: Penn State University Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Building
The Jury noted the “beautiful extension of the interior space” and celebrated the excellent detailing and “resulting space that is beautiful and inviting”.
Congratulations, The Lamar Johnson Collaborative, on your Merit Award!
Merit Award in the Design - Constructed Projects category to SWT Design for their project: Bryan Hall / Millstone Plaza.
The Jury celebrated this entry as a “nice transformation of an area that would typically feel uninviting” and that it is a great example of “turning negative, leftover space into a connective element that brings building and spaces together.”
Congratulations, SWT Design, on your Merit Award!
In an effort to touch some of the outer-edges of our profession, we celebrate a rotating category each year in response to the spirit of social conversation and thinking. This year has been dominated by change and adaptation, but our profession has uniquely responded to the global COVID-19 pandemic with resilience. The Creativity In Engagement category aims to acknowledge the difficult situation given rise by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced design professionals to reconsider how we engage and communicate with the communities in which we work this year. Typical public meetings have moved online, in-person workshops have had to adjust, and processes are in flux - leading us to ask how has landscape architecture adapted to the ever-changing landscape of public and community engagement?
Merit Award in the Creativity in Engagement category to DTLS Landscape Architecture for their submission: Pop Up Office Hours
The Jury identified that this project “exemplifies the concept of going to people instead of asking people to come to you” and that efforts were “Truly trying to make it accessible for all”.
Congratulations, DTLS Landscape Architecture, on your Merit Award!
Merit Award in the Creativity in Engagement category to Arbolope for their submission: Peace Park.
The Jury celebrated this entry for “thoughtful engagement in a beloved space” and that it “Feels like a complete process of getting the information to the community and being able to have feedback come back to the designers.”
Congratulations, Arbolope, on your Merit Award!
The Analysis, Planning, Research and Communications project category acknowledges that at the basis of all of our work is a strong foundation in planning, policy, communications, analysis and research. This award category recognizes the efforts of professionals who take on this foundational work. These projects range from urban to rural, regional to site-specific, historic to futuristic.
Award of Excellence in the Analysis, Planning, Research and Communications category to Arbolope for their project: Jefferson City Botanical Master Plan.
The Jury was blown away by this proposal, noting “the supurb presentation of site analysis and design process” with “rich and vibrant graphics.” They declared the proposal a “lovely master plan that is carefully considered at all scales.”
Congratulations, Arbolope, on your Award of Excellence!
Honor Award in the Analysis, Planning, Research and Communications category to Arbolope for their project: Sugarbaker Play Park Masterplan.
The Jury noted the proposal’s “Excellent analysis and planning paired with compelling graphics that not only convey information, but get people excited about design opportunities.” and Celebrating the project’s intense focus on accessibility.
Congratulations, Arbolope, on your Honor Award!
The Design - Unrealized Projects project category recognizes excellence in design thinking and methodology for site-scale projects for which implementation will not occur. Although this creative thinking will ultimately not result in a built project, the thought, analysis, and ideation is a critical part of the design process.
Merit Award in the Design - Unrealized Projects category to Christner for their project: Anonymous Educational Landscape.
The Jury celebrated this entry for “design that is playful and clearly derived from engagement” and “adding interest for both kids and parents” - ultimately stating “I want to play here!”
Congratulations, Christner, on your Merit Award!
Student Awards
As our call for awards states: “Student work serves to inspire, drive, and irrevocably change and evolve the profession of Landscape Architecture. Professional engagement with students through studio, internships, and organization activities assists both students and practitioners – we all learn from each other.”
It is in this spirit that we celebrate the award recipients.
This year we had 19 entrants - ranging from small, detailed projects to large, regional plans. Our local practitioners formed an award review jury to review and present awards. Transcripts of each award video can be found by following its Vimeo link.
Congratulations to our student award recipients!
Award of Excellence this year in the Student Category is John Whitaker of Washington University in St. Louis Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts for their project: Willow Resiliency Project.
The Jury was blown away by this proposal, declaring it a “hopeful exploration in how ritual and landscape can regenerate connections with the region’s native community by emphasizing the significance and strengths of indigenous knowledge.” The proposal was “careful, researched, thorough, contextual and nuanced” A “Star of the show” and “Well Done, Exceedingly Well Done.”
Congratulations, John Whitaker, on your Award of Excellence!
An Honor Award in the Student Category is John Whitaker of Washington University in St. Louis Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts for their project: Dark Matter
The Jury was very impressed by this proposal, stating “Often, student work can make broad statements, tie correlations between small sites and a regional system, propose specific interventions, engage a direct context, or consider a social, ecological or spatial paradigm - but rarely can those things be simultaneously considered and address with care, thought and rigor. This proposal does all of those. Encompassing a delicate balance of proposals that will grow and age and find use by many aspects of human life.”
Congratulations, John Whitaker, on your Honor Award!
Chroma Threads and Blooming Locks and Dams
Merit Award to Dongzhe Tao of Washington University in St. Louis Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts for their project: Chroma-Threads: Growing Phyto Fabric.
Congratulations, Dongzhe Tao on your Merit Award!
Merit Award to Heyue Liu of Washington University in St. Louis Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts for their project: Blooming Locks and Dams
Congratulations, Heyue Liu on your Merit Award!
Eco Site B&B and Nature’s Palette
Merit Award to Danni Hu of Washington University in St. Louis Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts for their project: Eco Site B&B
Congratulations, Danni Hu on your Merit Award!
Merit Award to Haihan Qu of Washington University in St. Louis Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts for their project: Nature’s Palette
Congratulations, Haihan Qu on your Merit Award!
Nook Ecology and The Death and Life of Barge Industry in the Mississippi River Basin
Merit Award to Weicong Huang of Washington University in St. Louis Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts for their project: Nook Ecology
Congratulations, Weicong Huang on your Merit Award!
Merit Award also to Weicong Huang of Washington University in St. Louis Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts for their project: The Death and Life of Barge Industry in the Mississippi River Basin
Congratulations, Weicong Huang on your Merit Award!
Tune in below for messages from your ASLA executive committee members and Washington University Landscape Architecture Department Chair.
A quick word from Chapter President, Sara Poetting. Thanks for your leadership, Sara!
Awards Event Chair Michelle Ohle with a quick note about Professional, Non-Juried, and Student Awards in a most unusual year…
A message of hope and an update from National from our Chapter Trustee, Scott Emmelkamp. Thank you for your many years of service, Scott!
A hearty welcome to our new chapter Executive Director, Rebecca Brandl. Thanks for all you do, Rebecca!
An update on the Landscape Architecture program at Washington University in St. Louis from Department Chair, Derek Hoeferlin.
All videos were shared during our Awards Week, April 1st-9th on our social media pages.
Be sure to follow us and share this incredible work!
A BIG thank you to our sponsors from 2020-2021!
We are so grateful to all our sponsors for working with us through an unpredictable year. Their support helped us continue to hold virtual events and opportunities for our members. Our awards event this year is a carry over from last year’s sponsorship benefits. For a list of our 2021-2022 sponsors or to become a chapter sponsor yourself, please visit our Current Sponsors page.
