PPN Live in San Diego: Professional Practice Network Events Recap

The Women in Landscape Architecture Walk in downtown San Diego’s Horton Plaza Park. / image: Alexandra Hay

The ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture concluded this past Monday, and now it’s time to review the array of Professional Practice Network (PPN) events that took place in San Diego last weekend. The EXPO’s PPN Live space offered meeting rooms and a central stage; four PPN sessions that took place on the PPN Live stage offered 1.0 PDH (LA CES / HSW) each and covered topics from planning resilient university campuses to the current state of knowledge of environmental justice in landscape architecture practice.

During the PPN meetings, while members were gathered to network and learn, new leadership volunteers were identified for many PPNs, along with members interested in submitting posts for The Field or presenting ASLA Online Learning webinars. All ASLA members are welcome to join their PPN’s leadership team, the core group of member volunteers that guide PPN activities throughout the year. If you would like to learn more about getting involved, check out the ways to engage with the PPNs and sign up to join your PPN leadership team.

Below, we take a look back at PPN Live in San Diego. More photos from all conference events may be found across social media—just search for the hashtag #ASLA2019 on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

PPN Live on the EXPO floor in San Diego / image: EPNAC

The Campus Planning & Design PPN kicked things off in PPN Live with a breakfast mixer and networking activity focused on the question: “What is the biggest issue you see at the campuses you visit, work for, or with? What do you think are the impacts of this going into the next decade?” / image: EPNAC

Campus Planning & Design PPN Co-Chair Krista Van Hove, ASLA, recaps PPN highlights from 2019. / image: EPNAC

Campus Planning & Design PPN meeting attendees listen to a presentation by Michael Zilis, ASLA, from Walker Macy, about landscape approaches to campus resilience, from planning and design to operations and maintenance, and how to integrate resilience thinking into an actionable process for implementation. / image: EPNAC

Transportation PPN Co-Chair Lucy Joyce, ASLA, speaks about the planning and design of transportation systems in response to new mobility and emerging technology. / image: EPNAC

Transportation PPN meeting attendees join the discussion. / image: EPNAC

Ecology & Restoration PPN Co-Chair Ingrid Morken, ASLA, introduces PPN meeting presenters Vaughn Rinner, FASLA, SITES AP, Charles A. “Chuck” Flink, FASLA, and Keith Bowers, FASLA, all panelists on the session “Greenways to Gene-Ways: A Call To Action.” / image: EPNAC

The Sustainable Design & Development PPN presented on marketing the Sustainable SITES Initiative and how to get clients on board by sharing a “SITES in 10” slideshow for practitioners focusing on the return on investment from the perspectives of the client and end user. / image: Alexandra Hay

Planting Design PPN Officer Nancy Buley, Hon. ASLA, organized a panel discussion for the Planting Design PPN meeting with panelists Nicholas Staddon (Tree Town USA/Village Nurseries), Terry Ryan, FASLA, PLA (Jacobs/Ryan Associates), Martin Hanni (Northwest Shade Trees), and Steven Wagner, Affiliate ASLA (Professional Horticultural Services LLC). / image: Alexandra Hay

Environmental Justice PPN Co-Chairs Chingwen Cheng, ASLA, PhD, LEED AP, and Thomas Martin, Associate ASLA, spoke about the “State of Knowledge of EJ in Practice and Action Plans to Move Forward.” / image: Alexandra Hay

At the Healthcare & Therapeutic Design PPN meeting, led by Siyi He, Associate ASLA, Lisa Bailey, ASLA, and Melody Tapia, ASLA, attendees were invited to share their experiences in creating stimulating, enjoyable, and sustainable healing spaces for enhancing the quality of health and well being for all. / image: Alexandra Hay

The joint meeting of the Digital Technology and Education & Practice PPNs focused on “Digital Technology and Impacts to Education: The Emerging Workforce.” / image: Alexandra Hay

Community Design PPN Chair Bob Smith, ASLA, invited three conference speakers for a discussion on the opportunities and barriers in the creation of great communities to highlight the vital role landscape architects serve in making strong, vibrant, and sustainable communities. / image: Alexandra Hay

The Parks & Recreation PPN meeting, led by PPN Co-Chair Tomás Herrera-Mishler, ASLA, featured a conversation building on the topics and projects discussed on the field session “Tijuana: The Past, Present, and Future of Design in a Border City.” / image: Alexandra Hay

Two groups that organized PPN education sessions in San Diego also had a “Kickstart the Conversation” session on the EXPO floor. Here, Women in Landscape Architecture PPN Co-Chair TJ Marston, ASLA, guides an interactive discussion on building gender equity in advance of the PPN’s session “What We’re Getting Right: Working Toward Gender Parity in Landscape Architecture.” / image: EPNAC

Explore the Floor

In addition to the PPN meetings and education sessions, ASLA offered attendees the opportunity to network with PPN peers and exhibitors in a show floor tour designed to highlight PPN practice areas. For the 2019 Explore the Floor sessions, 27 exhibitors gave short educational presentations during 10 hour-long walks on the EXPO floor. Attendees who participated earned 1.0 PDH (LA CES / HSW) for each event.

The Urban Design Explore the Floor also stopped at Belgard’s booth, where attendees learned about the use of interlocking permeable pavers, rooftop deck projects, and how different materials may be used. / image: EPNAC

Berliner was one stop on the Children’s Outdoor Environments Explore the Floor. Their presentation was on the revitalization of physical risk, the adaptivity of inclusive design, and how this equates to the overall play value for a playground when integrated with rope-based play equipment. / image: EPNAC

The Natural Stone Institute presented on how to identify and specify the right natural stone for your vision and the sustainability and durability of natural stone for the Residential Landscape Architecture / Design-Build Explore the Floor. / image: EPNAC

ANP Lighting covered the basics of LED outdoor lighting along with demonstrations of backlight, uplight, and glare control for the Parks & Recreation Explore the Floor. / image: EPNAC

Citygreen Systems was a stop on both the Planting Design and Water Conservation Explore the Floor sessions, presenting on how trees contribute to people’s health, happiness, and well-being, and also enhance stormwater management, long-term return on investment, and asset protection. / image: Alexandra Hay

Women in Landscape Architecture (WILA) Walk

The Women in Landscape Architecture Walk, organized and led by Kathleen Brand, ASLA, Senior Planner / Landscape Architect at Civic San Diego, and the San Diego Host Chapter, drew well over 100 attendees for a walk exploring the nooks and crannies of Downtown San Diego’s open spaces. The outing started off down Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade, a linear park along West Harbor Drive. Stops included Children’s Park in the Marina District, the “Art for Play”-focused Children’s Museum Park, Pantoja Park, the public plazas and gardens surrounding the U.S. Federal Courthouse, the historic Horton Plaza Park, and ended with the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum’s garden.

WILA Walk attendees gather at the San Diego Host Chapter Booth before setting out. / image: Jennifer Montgomery, ASLA

Emily O’Mahoney, FASLA, WILA PPN Officer and Past Co-Chair (and also Host Chapter Co-Chair for the 2020 ASLA Conference in Miami), helps guide WILA Walk attendees down San Diego’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade. / image: Jennifer Montgomery, ASLA

Children’s Museum Park / image: Alexandra Hay

Public plazas and gardens surround the US Federal Courthouse. / image: Alexandra Hay

Entering Horton Plaza Park / image: Alexandra Hay

Horton Plaza Park / image: Alexandra Hay

Horton Plaza Park’s fountain, designed by architect Irving Gill / image: Alexandra Hay

The WILA Walk’s last stop was the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum. / image: Alexandra Hay

The San Diego Chinese Historical Museum’s Chuang Garden / image: Alexandra Hay

Check out the WILA Walk storymap, created by walk organizer Kathleen Brand, ASLA, for more information on the San Diego walk route and stops.

Next year, PPN Live heads to the East Coast: join us at the 2020 ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture, October 2-5 in Miami! For now, keep an eye on The Field for more post-conference recaps and photos, and stay tuned for the opening of the Call for Presentations for the 2020 ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture in December.