The Field

If you are considering attending the 2015 ASLA Annual Meeting and EXPO in Chicago this November, you have until June 19 to register at the early bird rate. You know you want to go, so register now so you don’t have to pay more money (like I did last year :-/ ).

Here are a few sessions on topics that might influence your decision:

Chicago’s Therapeutic Healing Spaces
Friday, November 6, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Urban Green Space and Mental Well-being: Evidence-Based Design
Friday, November 6, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Designing Incentives for Health
Saturday, November 7, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Evidence-based Design: Sensory Play Gardens and Children with Developmental Disorders
Sunday, November 8, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Healthcare and Therapeutic Design PPN Meeting
Sunday, November 8, 12:45 PM – 2:15 PM

An Integrated Interdisciplinary Approach to Therapeutic Design
Monday, November 9, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Fortunately, these sessions were scheduled with no overlaps, so you could attend them all! Unfortunately, there are other related topics that also look enticing, some of which do overlap, that you may want to consider.

I’ve listed several sessions of interest, as well as more information on the above sessions, below, complete with times, descriptions, and speakers. See the Annual Meeting website for more information on the more than 130 education sessions, field sessions, workshops, and general sessions that will be offered throughout the meeting.

Field Session (I will be moderating this one):

FS-010 – Chicago’s Therapeutic Healing Spaces
Friday, November 6, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, 3 PDH
Ticketed event. Tickets not sold at the door; tickets may be purchased at the time of registration.
$100 per person; includes transportation and bottled water. Moderate walking.

Well-designed therapeutic landscapes have the power to heal. Learn design principles that help support the recovery process for seriously ill, PTSD patients, and others who grieve. Visit landscapes and learn from individuals who have experienced the therapeutic benefits of several of Chicago’s most healing spaces.

Leaders/Speakers: Todd Degner, Affil. ASLA, The Davey Resource Group; Jerry Smith, FASLA, LEED AP, Smith\GreenHealth Consulting; Mikyoung Kim, FASLA, Mikyoung Kim Design; Marni Barnes, ASLA, University of Hyogo, Japan; Lisa Bailey, ASLA, BayLeaf Studio

Education Sessions on Healthcare and Therapeutic Design (HTD) topics:

FRI-B10 – Urban Green Space and Mental Well-being: Evidence-Based Design
Friday, November 6, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 1.5 PDH

Urban green space design is challenged by limited knowledge of which attributes and spatial configurations are most likely to support mental well-being. This session explains new environmental psychology research that connects specific physical characteristics (best designs) to aspects of wellness. Wellness parks built by TKF Foundation serve as case studies.

Presenters: Mary Carol R. Hunter, ASLA, Associate Professor, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan; Jay Graham, FASLA, Graham Landscape Architecture; Marc G. Berman, Assistant Professor, The University of Chicago

Learning Objectives:
–Appreciate what environmental psychology research brings to the design of urban space for wellbeing.
–Understand the meaning of evidence-based design and how to employ it for best effect.
–Discover which physical attributes (content & spatial configuration) of a green space design are preferred.
–Explore examples of wellness parks built by TKF that exemplify design attributes related to wellbeing.

SAT-A10 – Designing Incentives for Health
Saturday, November 7, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM, 1.5 PDH

The built environment can offer tangible and quantifiable attributes to enhance people’s overall health. First, designers must understand these elements of the urban environment and our socio-spatial processes. By altering the urban fabric, situations that have been contributing to health degradation can be re-invented as incentives for healthy life choices.

Moderator: Sarah Cawrse, ASLA, LEED GA, Project Landscape Architect, Design Workshop

Panelists: Skip Graffam, ASLA, LEED AP, Partner and Director of Research, OLIN; Andrew Irvine, ASLA, Principal and Director of Urban Design and Landscape Architecture, RNL; David Watts, ASLA, Interim Department Chair, Associate Professor, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Learning Objectives:
–Understand the main factors contributing to people’s health and the connection to demographic trends.
–Examining socio-spatial processes contributing to unhealthy lifestyles that could benefit from designed incentives.
–Learn how physical design and social schemes can be simultaneously implemented promoting healthy communities.
–Discover how designing incentives for healthy lifestyles can be applied to various project scales.

SUN-A11 – Evidence-based Design: Sensory Play Gardens and Children with Developmental Disorders
Sunday, November 8, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM, 1.5 PDH

More than just play, children with developmental disorders benefit from strategically designed sensory playgrounds and sensory gardens. This study evaluated the outcomes of outdoor play using a multiple baseline research design. The lessons are applicable to future sensory gardens and play areas within broad fields of architecture and landscape architecture.

Presenters: Lucy Jane Miller, Founder and Director, SPD Foundation and STAR Center (Sensory Therapies and Research); John McConkey, ASLA, Market Research and Insights Manager, Landscape Structures

Learning Objectives:
–Overview evidence-based design research working with children who have developmental disorders in the context of a sensory garden/playground.
–Define sensory processing disorders showing treatment in our sensory garden/playground at STAR Center in Denver, CO.
–Identify elements of landscape design based on research data that facilitate self-regulation and social participation for all children and contribute to a quality life experience.
–Discuss research findings which go beyond playground design and have implications for architecture and landscape architecture in general.

MON-D02 – An Integrated Interdisciplinary Approach to Therapeutic Design
Monday, November 9, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM, 1.5 PDH

Compassionate design requires a deep comprehension of user needs. Collaborative design increases our ability to address the needs of those with physical, cognitive, and psychological disabilities. Learn how a landscape architect, occupational therapist, and senior housing director have overcome challenges to create a more empathetic and enriching design.

Presenters: Daniel M. Winterbottom, FASLA, Principal, Winterbottom Design Inc. and Professor, University of Washington; Amy Wagenfeld, ASLA, Professor, Rush University; Lisa Waisath, Manager, Nikkei Manor Assisted Living, Certified Geriatric Wellness Instructor, Nikkei Manor Assisted Living / Nikkei Concerns

Learning Objectives:
–Explore design strategies to create successful therapeutic gardens for those aging in place.
–Present methods for developing successful interdisciplinary collaborations and see how these collaborations allow practitioners to expand the understanding and appreciation for landscape architecture among other disciplines.
–Discuss the unifying benefits of participatory design between team members, designers and users.
–Discuss successful techniques to improve intercultural understanding.

Education Sessions on Related Topics:

FRI-A07 – Get Active: Implement Active Design in Your Neighborhoods and Open Spaces
Friday, November 6, 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM, 1.5 PDH

Active Design, an evidence-based approach, endeavors to transform the fabric of our communities by promoting healthy living. This session will address specific implementation approaches for creating more sustainable neighborhoods using Active Design. Panelists will detail award-winning case studies and resources you can use in your practice.

Presenters: Marieke Lacasse, ASLA, LEED AP, Principal, Senior Landscape Architect, GGLO; Suzanne Nienaber, AICP, Partnerships Director, Center for Active Design

Learning Objectives:
–Become familiar with Active Design Guidelines and how they promote health & physical activity.
–Describe Active Design’s synergistic relationship with universal and sustainable design.
–Recognize successfully implemented strategies in a range of planning and open space projects.
–Apply lessons learned from open space post occupancy evaluation findings.

FRI-C09 – Psychology of Urban Play: The Human Dimension
Friday, November 6, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM, 1.5 PDH

As more people move to the cities, there are associated needs for environments that encourage social interaction, healthy lifestyles, and engaged minds—and not just for children. Play provides coping and creativity skills vital to us all. This session highlights urban plazas, community centers, and playgrounds that encourage life-long play.

Moderator: Thomas R. Tavella, FASLA, LEED AP, Senior Design Associate, Alta Planning + Design

Panelists: Joy Kuebler, ASLA, President, CEO, Joy Kuebler Landscape Architect, PC and President, New York Upstate Chapter ASLA; James E. LaPosta Jr., FAIA, Principal/Chief Architectural Officer, JCJ Architecture; Helle Burlingame, Manager, KOMPAN Play Institute, KOMPAN Playgrounds

Learning Objectives:
–Recognize the effect that urban environments have on families, seniors, and specifically children.
–Articulate how millennial and baby-boomer preferences for urban living and other urban trends can be translated into relevant life-long play spaces.
–Define key elements that need to be addressed when planning motivating urban play environments.
–Identify examples of great national and international play spaces in cities and learn how to utilize these findings in your future urban planning projects.

FRI-D05 – The Product Transparency Conversation: Evaluating Environment and Health
Friday, November 6, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM, 1.5 PDH

The evaluation of long-term environmental and human-health effects is more important than ever as landscape architects specify site-construction products. This presentation provides current key information on standards, techniques, and tools for construction-product-information transparency from the perspective of experienced landscape architects and a leading manufacturer.

Presenters: Meg Calkins, ASLA, LEED AP, Associate Professor, Ball State University; Dean Hill, ASLA, Director of Sustainability, greenscreen; Brad Smith, LEED AP, Mithun

Learning Objectives:
–Understand the issues surrounding information transparency on the environmental and human health impacts of products
–Learn about product certifications, translation tools, and techniques for LCAs, EPDs, HPDs and chemical assessments
–Learn how to request and interpret information from manufacturers and advocate for safer chemistry and reduced life-cycle impacts
–Discover how to achieve LEED and SITES credits related to specifying optimized products

FRI-A09 – “A Garden in Every School” Education and Obesity Prevention
Friday, November 6, 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM, 1.5 PDH

Landscape architects have a profound responsibility in relating communities to children and parents, encouraging livable communities, and creating outdoor environments through the national “A Garden in Every School” initiative. Learn how gardening is a catalyst for environmental stewardship, education, and obesity prevention and other important aspects of garden play space.

Presenters: Paul Simon, ASLA, Landscape Architect, White + Burke Real Estate Investment Advisors; Julia Parker-Dickerson, Education Program Director, National Gardening Association; Jennifer Tedeschi, Chief Operating Officer, National Gardening Association

Learning Objectives:
–Understand the vital role Landscape Architects play in the development of gardens, outdoor environments and momentum for “A Garden In Every School”.
–Learn the latest survey data and research on garden trends from The National Gardening Association.
–Learn how gardening is a catalyst for environmental stewardship and obesity prevention; includes highlights of 2014 Brooklyn NY Public Schools project with Carson Daly and TODAY Show.
–Learn how gardening programs, and garden play yards will help boost kids’ interest in school learning, improves attitudes about eating healthful foods and caring for the environment.

FRI-D06 – Check Your Baggage and Travel: Dispelling Myths about Hospitality
Friday, November 6, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM, 1.5 PDH

The myth that hospitality design is not a worthy pursuit for landscape architects is false. Travel and leisure are essential to human survival. People must be able to recharge and reflect. The resort emphasis has shifted to healthy, experiential, and authentic travel, creating a wonderful niche for landscape architecture.

Moderator: Kona A. Gray, ASLA, Principal, EDSA

Panelists: William T. Estes, ASLA, Vice President, EDSA; William Campie, ASLA, President, DTJ Design; Jeffery J. Zimmermann, ASLA, Principal, Design Workshop

Learning Objectives:
–Learn how travel and leisure has evolved over the centuries expressed through the role of the Landscape Architect.
–Understand the opportunities for experiential travel, hospitality design through human experiences and creating memorable experiences.
–Experience how Landscape Architects are changing hospitality design in several types of resorts including eco-resorts, urban hotels and destinations experiences.
–Gain knowledge of how health is connected to travel and leisure minimizing stress and improving quality of life. Experience the places in the globe known for extending life.

MON-D06 – Access and Experience: A Best-Practice Primer for Inclusive Design
Monday, November 9, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM, 1.5 PDH

Regulations address accessibility in designed landscapes but do not offer standards of practice when it comes to quality of experience. This session examines recent projects that are contributing to widespread best-practice trends towards design that engages the widest possible audience.

Presenters: Jennifer Brooke, ASLA, Principal, Lemon|Brooke; Thomas McCarthy, ASLA, Director, Universal Access Program; Stuart Weinreb, ASLA, Director of Capital Assets and Planning, Mass Audubon

Learning Objectives:
–Learn how an inclusive design approach is different than meeting ADA design standards.
–Acquire inclusive design strategies and specifications used on park, conservation land, institutional and recreational projects.
–Understand how technical knowledge, program management and community partnerships together create successful inclusive landscapes.
–Explore demand for frontline information regarding design and construction of inclusive landscapes and available resources.

And now, a few additional HTD-related announcements:

New PPN
There is a new Environmental Justice PPN that has just been launched. Anyone interested in the topic can join the PPN’s LinkedIn group.

Grant Opportunity
The National Garden Bureau (NGB) is offering $10,000 in grants to three therapeutic gardening projects. Applications must be submitted by July 15, 2015.

Tools
I finally tried one of those ergonomic trowels and I love it! Definitely easier on the wrist, and it makes a difference when digging in this hard California clay. Now it’s my favorite gift to my gardener friends.

Share It
Do you have a project you’d like to share with the group, a book you’d like to recommend, a garden you’ve found that ought to be visited by more of us, related research you have heard about or are working on? Please let me know and I will share it with the PPN. I’m open to anything but gossip, unless it’s something juicy!

Personal Note
I’ve noticed that one of the most healing environments for me is the sky. It’s the place where I feel most connected to the Divine, and I love taking photos from an airplane. I get a feel for the scale and beauty of the planet. Here are a few images from my recent trip to Costa Rica:

by Lisa Bailey, ASLA, Healthcare and Therapeutic Design PPN Chair