University of Illinois Dept of Landscape Architecture

Thanks to the sustained generosity of our alumni and friends, our department is fortunate to have many ways to recognize excellence. While some of our awards funds were established many decades ago, others have been created very recently. We are deeply grateful to the generous donors who have made these recognitions and opportunities possible. Their care and vision remind us that our Department of Landscape Architecture community extends from the very first students, faculty, and staff members, well over a century ago, to many generations yet to come. It’s an honor for us to steward these legacies forward and to see both the immediate and long-term impacts they have—on educational experiences, careers, and lives.

If you participated in planting the new pocket forest at the University of Illinois Arboretum on May 1 and 2, we thank you very much! Whether or not you were able to join us, we hope to connect with you as this project advances!

A group called Keepers of the Forest is forming to care for this special place going forward. The first convening will be this Friday, May 22, from 9:00am to 12:00pm, to spread mulch over the ground around the plants. The group will meet again two days later—on Sunday, May 24, from 12:00pm to 3:00pm—to continue and complete that work, if and as needed. The Keepers will also meet each month from now through September for Weeding and Appreciation Days.

We would love for you to become a Keeper of the Forest, regardless of how much (or little) time you are able to volunteer!

To learn more and join, please click the link below:
https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/54/2102336454.html

TODAY at 5:30pm Balázs Bognár, Partner and Executive Vice President of Kengo Kuma & Associates, will give a lecture in Plym Auditorium (134 Temple Buell Hall).

In his lecture, “Out of the Woods: Methods of Location and Detail," Bognár will describe methods for determining location and detail as applied through the work of KKAA. In the first part of the talk, he will discuss the practice of place, looking specifically at two projects by the firm—in Yusuhara and Minamisanriku, Japan—both borne out of initially disadvantageous forces of nature, and both generating multiple projects and longer relationships between design and community. In the second part of the talk, Bognár will talk about how the KKAA office works, emphasizing the importance of conversation in processes. Then, in the final part of the talk, he will focus on a particular wood detail that manifests itself across a series of projects, demonstrating the firm’s interest in developing ideas through evolution, and not revolution.

This is a free event. Check the "Department Events" link in our bio for more info!

Warmer weather = Garden club 🌱

Garden club representative Blythe stresses that he's "not a gardener" despite hosting weekly meetings at the Sofia T. Soudavanh memorial garden outside our building. "It's a really fantastic garden we have, and right now it's just starting to come alive and breathe again," Blythe said, mentioning how happy he is to ground his studies in real life stewardship. This spring, they're pulling some weeds and filling in gaps where some plants haven't taken root.

"I'm not sure what to plant instead, so we're having a meeting to decide as a group," he mentioned, remarking that he is enthralled by garden club's impact on strengthening personal connections across cohorts. "We're cross-pollinating."🐝🌼

Stewardship sessions are held every Monday from 5-7pm outside Temple Buell Hall. People from ALL majors and levels of gardening knowledge are profusely welcome! Tools, gloves, guidance, and snacks provided by the ASLA garden club. For more information, reach out to .

Last week chapter hosted a terrarium workshop 🔍🐛🌱 Love all the tiny worlds you made 💚

Some of our students attended this month in Columbus, Ohio, hosted by ! ⭐️🪁 They had a blast, thanks to donations for their travel expenses! See you again next year!

charette (shəˈret): French for "cart," also used in design contexts to describe an intense, collaborative, and time-constrained effort workshop to complete a project.

Every two years, the Landscape Architecture department pauses all classes for a three-day charette. This year, we invited professionals from , , and to lead student teams, working together on proposals to improve stormwater retention and green infrastructure across campus. 🌧🍃 Thank you for your hard work!

Welcome back, Yvonne Gu!💫 After completing her MLA and Ph.D. program in our department, she is back as a Teaching Assistant Professor. We are thrilled to have her specializing in design communications, teaching a variety of courses this year.

Showcased in photos from her independent practice, 3h57m, Yvonne pursues speculative and built projects at the intersections of landscape architecture, infrastructure, and ecology.

🔗For more information, visit the department's September Newsletter: https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/08/1171339508.html

Students in our BLA program regularly participate in study abroad in Sheffield, England, as well as in Alnarp, Sweden, and Taipei, Taiwan. 🗺 📸 Here are some photos from BLA Senior, Mae, of her time in Sheffield last spring!🌳

This year, ASLA is taking place in New Orleans with the inspiring theme “Beyond Boundaries.” A big thank-you to all our alumni who stopped by during the LABash Block Party (alumni tailgate)!