Landscape Architecture Foundation

New case study! Power To Be Basecamp This outdoor activity center in Victoria, Canada, serves as a base of operations for Power To Be, a nonprofit organization that provides access to nature for those living with cognitive, physical, financial, and social barriers. The buildings and landscape are closely tied to the natural surroundings – 78 acres of forests, fields, and water bodies – and emphasize universal accessibility and inclusion. Our Case Study Investigation (CSI) team evaluated the site, documenting many landscape performance benefits. They found that with the opening of this new site, Power to Be expanded engagement, with an 80% increase in the number of annual participant visits and 535 more total hours spent in nature. All of the interviewed staff and participants reported feeling heard, cared for, and valued in this inclusive environment, and 80% said that the space was notably more accessible than other outdoor recreation facilities. The redevelopment on a former golf course also improved the site's ecological function, supporting improved water quality in nearby Prospect Lake and attracting 21% more species of birds, including some that are endangered and threatened. View the full case study at: https://lnkd.in/g-eKf2v9 This case study was produced for the Landscape Performance Series by our 2024 CSI team from UVic Social Sciences in partnership with Christine Lintott Architects Inc. It is part of the searchable library of more than 200 case studies of designed landscape projects available on LandscapePerformance.org.

Here's another clip from last June when we brought the LAF Ignite students to Washington, DC, to meet in-person and attend various LAF events. We asked the students about their experience in the program so far. Featured here is Amira Slocum, an MLA candidate at North Carolina State University, who was named a finalist for the first and second cohorts of Ignite. LAF Ignite is a multi-year scholarship, internship, and mentorship program for BIPOC landscape architecture students. To learn more about how you can get involved as a student participant, internship provider, or mentor, visit: https://lnkd.in/eNs3V54s Applications for mentors will be opening soon.

Hot off the press: Our 2024 "By the Numbers" Annual Report It was a rewarding year for LAF as we saw tangible fruits from some of our long-term, strategic investments. Our Annual Report highlights all that we accomplished together with your support. Thank you for being part of the LAF community! https://lnkd.in/epX8rrds

At what point does a green schoolyard start paying for itself? A cost-benefit analysis compared a typical green schoolyard with a typical gray schoolyard in California. Over 20 years, the green schoolyard's net cost was 381% less than the gray schoolyard. The green schoolyard would yield at least $600,000 in net benefits related to increased student attendance, improved academic performance, increased staff retention, and savings in building heating and cooling costs (breaking even at 9 years), while the gray schoolyard would yield none of these benefits. For the full citation and link to access the study, visit: https://lnkd.in/erCCXqMa This is just one of 200 entries in our Landscape Performance Series Fast Fact Library, a searchable collection of landscape benefits derived from published research. Browse the entire library at: https://lnkd.in/e4WDkUpB #GreenSchoolyards #SchoolGardens #LandscapePerformance #LandscapeArchitecture

ICYMI, last month the American Society of Landscape Architects released a new 101 guide: "Making the Economic Case for Nature-Based Solutions in Climate Projects" https://lnkd.in/gCRgBiNm This guide is to help landscape architects, educators, and students understand the broader economic framework of projects and how nature-based solutions fit into that framework. It was developed by Jennifer Egan, PhD, and Stephanie Dalke at the University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center and draws some examples from our Landscape Performance Series case studies.

New case study! Southwest Resiliency Park, Phase 1 Located in a densely populated district on bowl-shaped terrain that was 5 feet underwater during Hurricane Sandy, this park weaves social spaces over layers of stormwater and flood control infrastructure. The park is part of a series of interconnected resiliency parks being built by the City of Hoboken, New Jersey. Rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable pavement channel stormwater to underground systems. An amphitheater and pedestrian plaza provide gathering and event space, while a dog run creates a social center for neighbors and pets. Our Case Study Investigation (CSI) team evaluated the site, documenting many landscape performance benefits. They found that the park effectively detains stormwater to prevent flooding: Since its opening, stormwater from 60% of recorded major storm events (27 out of 45) has been completely captured by the underground storage system. The park supports special events (45 in 2024) and regular use alike. 39% of surveyed visitors reported that they come to the park daily. View the full case study at: https://lnkd.in/epu8besj This case study was produced for the Landscape Performance Series by our 2024 CSI team from Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences in partnership with Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners. It is part of the searchable library of more than 200 case studies of designed landscape projects available on LandscapePerformance.org.

Honored to be among the winners of the Land8/ASLA 7th Annual Social Media Awards in Landscape Architecture. Thanks to our followers and to all of the amazing people, projects, and ideas we get to showcase! https://lnkd.in/ezfJuMsR

Sharing another clip from last June when the LAF Ignite students gathered in Washington, DC. This one features Johnathan Hampton, an MLA candidate at the University of Texas at Arlington, who was a finalist in 2023 before joining the full Ignite program in fall 2024. LAF Ignite is a multi-year program for BIPOC landscape architecture students, providing an annual scholarship, paid summer internships, and access to mentors. Students accepted into Ignite participate until they have completed their landscape architecture degree. To learn more about how you can get involved as a student participant, internship provider, or mentor, visit: https://lnkd.in/eNs3V54s Applications for mentors and the next cohort of students will open in the spring.

These 3 scholarships – available to undergraduate or graduate landscape architecture students – are among the 17 different scholarships offered through LAF this year. Created by the founder of Landscape Structures and inventor of the "continuous play" concept, the $5,000 Steven G. King Play Environments Scholarship is for students who show high potential in the design of play environments. https://lnkd.in/ggqZPU6Z The $5,000 Daniel Zwier/Permaloc Innovation Scholarship was created to help landscape architecture students who want to apply their skills to alternate careers such as product development, entrepreneurship, politics, and nonprofit service. https://lnkd.in/gWkafDrA Since 1990, the $5,000 EDSA Diversity Scholarships have been helping African American, Hispanic, Native American, and students from other underrepresented groups continue their landscape architecture education. https://lnkd.in/gRuuEBPk All application materials are due Feb 1, including recommendation letters, essays, and/or work samples. Don't miss out on your chance to be considered!

More cycling infrastructure can save lives, according to a study of 167 European cities. The study suggests that up to 10,000 premature deaths could be avoided annually if European cities in the study provided sufficient infrastructure and 1 in every 4 citizens used bicycling as their primary mode of transportation. Premature deaths would be prevented through improved air quality, public health benefits, and collision reduction. For the full citation and link to access the study, visit: https://lnkd.in/ehtkzxqQ This is just one of 200 entries in our Landscape Performance Series Fast Fact Library, a searchable collection of landscape benefits derived from published research. Browse the entire library at: https://lnkd.in/e4WDkUpB #LandscapePerformance #BikeInfrastructure #BikeFriendlyCities #SustainableTransport