Landscape Architecture Foundation

Coastal wetlands provide an average property damage savings of $1.8 million annually per square kilometer of wetland, as determined by a study of property damage caused by 88 tropical storms and hurricanes hitting counties on the coast of the United States from 1996 to 2016. Read the study here: https://lnkd.in/dwbF-wwm This is just one of 200 entries in our Landscape Performance Fact Fact Library, a searchable collection of landscape benefits derived from published research. Browse the whole collection here: https://lnkd.in/eCwh_NWf

I recently listened to a panel discussion on biodiversity trends, highlighting several fascinating insights. Here are my key takeaways: • Integrating biodiversity into Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) • Shifting our focus from simply preserving species diversity to creating functional habitats where both humans and non-humans can thrive • Balancing "wildness" within urban ecology • Developing metrics to measure biodiversity, supporting a nature-positive economy It is not new, but it is as vital as never - the trend of engaging stakeholders in the process to help them to understand their connection to the broader landscape. What do you think is the most important trend? Are you already working in any of these areas? A big thanks to Landscape Architecture Foundation for organising such an insightful panel! image by LAF #biodiversity #landscapeecology #landscape #greeneconomy

Wildlife welfare is crucial in the face of expanding tourism. Assessing wildlife tourism facilities and landscape design is key to ensuring the well-being of wild faunas. As land usage evolves and enthusiasm for wildlife tourism grows, the need to protect wild species becomes more pressing. Our assessment sheds light on the performance of designed landscapes. Check out the link below for more insights. https://lnkd.in/gFbWNDrs

This is such an interesting and important field for future cross-disciplinary collaboration. Read more about the findings from our OJB*lab team, led by Allison Kaye Harvey and Mrinalini Verma, AIA, SITES AP.

The Deb Mitchell Grant brought immense opportunity to my career. Finding the space to pursue a passion and drive a much needed conversation in the industry of Landscape Architecture has brought deep fulfillment. Enjoy this read on our team’s hard work!

 “Roadside landscapes may not seem like the sexiest frontier to be designing for, but they represent a lot of land across the country. In the urban environment, roadside landscapes can account for 25% of the public land.” -Allison Kaye Harvey The 2020-2021 LAF-funded “Greenscapes to Brownscapes” project examined traffic-related air pollution along major roadways. The team—led by Principal Investigators Allison Harvey (OJB Landscape Architecture) and environmental chemist Andy Adams (IKON Environmental Solutions, LP Solutions)—assessed pollutant levels along a stretch of the I-95 corridor in Philadelphia. Four years later, the impact of this work continues to grow. Read the rest of this article to find out how Allison and OJB are sharing their research, engaging policy makers, and supporting regional efforts like the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission's $115 million EPA grant application to reenvision their roadways. https://lnkd.in/ez3gNSQ5

Intergenerational communities can help address the challenges of an aging population, but for those looking to design such communities, available research is limited. That's why LAF awarded our Research Grant in Honor of Deb Mitchell to Chanam Lee and Sinan Zhong's "Engagement by Design" project. After 18 months of research, they are now ready to present their findings on the essential features of intergenerational communities. In this free webinar on September 24 (1 pm ET), Chanam and Sinan will share lessons from their research and introduce the Intergenerational Community Concept Plan and the Intergenerational Community Assessment Tool (iCAT) toolkit, which provide community-scale and site-scale assessment tools and checklists for designing and assessing mixed-age communities. Learn more and register HERE: https://lnkd.in/eg5crnTA

Replacing street parking with bike lanes...does it hurt or help businesses? According to researchers studying a pilot project in Toronto, it can have a positive impact. They found that installing a bike lane and removing 136 on-street parking spaces improved the business environment for establishments along the corridor. Read the study here: https://lnkd.in/eSq3Ffhg Research conducted by Daniel Arancibia, Steven Farber, Beth Savan, Yvonne Verlinden, Nancy Smith Lea, Jeff Allen, Lee Vernich. This is just one of 200 entries in our Landscape Performance Fact Fact Library, a searchable collection of landscape benefits derived from published research. Browse the whole collection here: https://lnkd.in/eCwh_NWf

So proud of everything our Ignite students have accomplished this summer during their internships. Thanks for sharing, Brendan!

LAF's Senior Program Manager for Research, Megan Barnes, was in Singapore this week, making sure landscape architecture was represented at the 8th Global Botanic Gardens Congress. Her talk was titled, "The future of botanic garden design through landscape architecture."