ASLA UTAH MAY 2026 NEWSLETTER

LEADERSHIP EXPRESS

Jesse Allen, ASLA Utah President

One of my primary goals as President has been to improve public understanding of landscape architecture. Continuing on that theme, I recently revisited the FrameWorks Institute Report, What is Landscape Architecture? Mapping the Gaps Between Expert and Public Understandings of Landscape Architecture. Researchers examined how we as landscape architects describe our profession and compared that to the public’s understanding of landscape architecture. The goal was to identify where those perspectives overlap, where they differ, and what those differences mean for communicating the value of our profession.

The report identified some important areas of common understanding. Both the public and landscape architects recognize that the profession draws on expertise in plants, design, engineering, and environmental science. There is also broad agreement that well-designed outdoor spaces benefit people, communities, and the environment.

What I found most interesting were the gaps between how we understand our profession and how the public understands it. Three of those gaps stood out to me:

Focus and Expertise

Landscape Architects: We view landscape architecture as a multidisciplinary profession that combines environmental science, engineering, planning, art, and design.

Public: People often associate the profession primarily with plants, beautification, or aesthetics.

Incorporating Nature

Landscape Architects: We seek to connect people with nature by thoughtfully integrating it into our projects and everyday life.

Public: Many people view nature and human activity as fundamentally separate, making designed natural spaces more difficult to understand.

Design Process

Landscape Architects: We think wholistically about systems such as drainage, circulation, ecology, and long-term performance.

Public: People tend to focus on visible features like trees and benches, while many of the decisions that determine how a place functions remain invisible.

The report also offers practical recommendations for closing these gaps. One of the most important is to paint a broader picture of landscape architecture by talking about the full range of expertise we bring to projects. Another is to avoid overemphasizing aesthetics and instead focus on outcomes.

That recommendation resonates with me because it aligns closely with many of the conversations we have been having as a chapter. When we talk about our work, we should certainly be proud of the beauty we create, but we should also talk about public health, economic value, resilience, community well-being, environmental stewardship, and water conservation.

The public already values the outcomes we care about. Our challenge is helping people understand the expertise required to achieve them. The better we communicate that connection, the more our profession will be understood and the greater impact we can have on the communities we serve.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Routledge Handbook of Urban Design Practice

Molly Robinson is hosting a book launch event at **June 3rd at 5:30pm at GSBS Architects**. She edited and several others in Utah contributed to the book. Panelists include Nancy Monteith, Clint Harper, and Christine Richman.

Where did you grow up? I grew up in Herriman, UT.

What led you to landscape architecture? My dad has been in the landscape industry pretty much since he graduated high school, so I grew up in the landscape world. As I was growing up, I always loved art and being creative in that way, so one day in high school dad told me about landscape architecture and told me to try it out. Ever since high school I have been learning everything I can about landscape architecture and the industry as a whole.

What is your favorite part of your practice? I love the creativity and the collaboration of landscape architecture. Working together with other students and even practicing professionals have helped me with my creativity with designs and it has really showed me how diverse the industry can be.

What is your favorite hobby? I have always loved to read books, draw, and hiking or just being outside.

What do you find inspiring? One thing that I find inspiring is some of the other students and friends in the program. Seeing what they are accomplishing while in school and seeing the work that they put into their designs has shown me what opportunities that I can do for projects or even internships that I can be a part of in the future.

Describe a notable landscape architecture project you were involved in. One project I worked on recently for the Planting Design Class was creating a planting design for the city of Hyde Park, UT.

This was a group project where we all came up with an amazing design for this park with the intent of making this park feel like you walked right into the mountains while still being in the city. The park also had some wetland restoration included in the design, so it was a challenging but fun project to collaborate with my classmates and being able to learn more about the logistics of park design made this project a lot more interesting for me to be a part of.

2026 Conference Recap

Thank you to everyone who attended, exhibited, presented, sponsored and helped organize the 2026 Annual Conference. The Ballpark at American First Square in Daybreak was a unique venue with a spectacular view and the presentations, panels and site tours were equally amazing.

Michael Todoran from Haps Agency generously to provided complimentary professional photography for the conference. Click Here to see these beautiful images.

Special Thanks to ASLA Utah 2026 Sponsors & Corporate Partners for their Support!

Platinum Sponsors
BioGrass | Great Western Recreation | Rain Bird

Gold Sponsors
Belgard | Hunter/FX Luminaire | LuckyDog Recreation | MADRAX/Thomas Steele | Victor Stanley

Silver Sponsors

Corporate Partners