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Ruth Shellhorn, FASLA

Ruth Shellhorn, FASLA, died November 3, at the age of 97 at Torrance Memorial Medical Center in California, the Los Angeles Times reported this week. Shellhorn retired in 1990 after a 57-year career as a landscape architect. During her career, the LA Times reported, she helped define the Southern California look of mid-century modern landscape architecture for the new-defunct Bullock’s department store chain. She also planned some of the central landscape elements of the Disneyland theme park. An interview with Shellhorn is available on The Cultural Landscape Foundation website. The group interviewed her as part of its Landscape Legends Oral History Initiative. The LA Times remembrance of Shellhorn is available here.  

Incoming RNRF Chairman Barry Starke, FASLA, (right) presenting a plaque of appreciation to outgoing chairman Albert Grant.

Barry Starke, FASLA, ASLA Past President, has been named chair of the Renewable Natural Resources Foundation (RNRF), a consortium of professional, scientific and educational organizations, which seeks to advance public education in renewable natural resources; promote the application of sound, scientific practices in managing and conserving renewable natural resources; foster cooperation among professional, scientific, and educational organizations having leadership responsibilities for renewable natural resources; and is developing a Renewable Natural Resources Center. Starke serves as ASLA’s representative to the RNRF.

Members of designforum (From left to right) Shane Cusick, ASLA, associate; Doug Cole, ASLA, principal; Andrew Bleckley, ASLA, associate; Cameron Barradale, ASLA, designer; Jon Hershey, ASLA, designer.

Designforum has opened its studio at 1301 W. Main Street in Richmond, Virginia.  Established as a collaboration of ideas and processes, designforum uses an open studio to showcase experience and skills cultivated at some of the country’s most acclaimed and creative design firms.

Current projects include, mixed use/neo-traditional communities (ranging from 800 to 1600 acres and 3200 homes to over 5000 homes); an urban in-fill neighborhood with over 500 homes; New Town Center; a 200 acre regional park; various neighborhood parks; greenways and bikeways master plans and design guides; community design guidelines; a golf resort community; and several Planned Unit Developments.

Comprised of perceptive designers who are problem solvers and skilled visualizers, the firm includes dedicated town planners, urban designers, and landscape architects who understand that bright young minds working closely together can build great and amazing projects. Combining innovative design with practical building experience, the firm’s portfolio includes a broad range of disciplines with a wide range of projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southern US.  

Peter Crowley, ASLA

The partners of LandDesign are pleased to announce that Peter Crowley, ASLA, will become the firm's president as of January 1, 2007. Crowley has been with the firm for 27 years and was the founder and managing partner of LandDesign's Washington, DC office.  Most recently, he has been leading the efforts to create opportunities in Asia, including opening the firm's Beijing office.
Crowley will replace Brad Davis, ASLA, who plans to remain with the firm as managing partner of the Charlotte, NC office. During his tenure as president, Mr. Davis oversaw a tremendous growth in the firm, doubling it in size and extending the firms client base.  

James Welsh, ASLA, LEED AP, has joined Thomas Balsley Associates as a senior associate. Welsh brings over 15 years of landscape architectural experience to the firm. He has specialized in public sector design and construction projects in the New York metro area with a special focus on sustainable design issues.  Recent projects include the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit System, several schools with the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation, Morristown National Historic Park and numerous highway and parks projects for NY State Department of Transportation. Welsh is a graduate of Rutgers University and has spent two semesters teaching at Rutgers in the Landscape Architecture Department.  In addition to his design project management roles at TBA, Jim will continue his focus on public sector clients, firm-wide sustainability and quality control.

Elizabeth (Libby) Marshall-Beasley, ASLA, has received three appointments of note during the preceding months: Re-appointment by Governor Jeb Bush to the Florida Board of Landscape Architecture for an additional four year term; Appointment by Mayor Lois Frankel to the City of West Palm Beach Art in Public Places Council for a two year term; Appointment by Director Marta Canaves of the Florida International University Graduate School of Architecture - Landscape Architectural Program as a Distinguished Lecturer in Practice for the coming Academic Year.

Dix Lathrop and Associates, Inc., a landscape architecture firm in Longwood, Florida, is pleased to announce the appointment of James Wright, ASLA, Vince Abercrombie, Adrienne Downey-Jacks, ASLA, and Gail O’Connor as partners.

James Wright, ASLA, Vince Abercrombie, Adrienne Downey-Jacks, ASLA, Gail O’Connor