2019 in Review: Professional Practice Networks Highlights

ASLA's Professional Practice Networks (PPNs) provide opportunities for professionals interested in the same areas of practice to exchange information, learn about current practices and research, and network with each other—both online and in person at the ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture.

Throughout the year, PPN leaders and members share their experiences and expertise as authors for The Field blog and as presenters for ASLA's Online Learning webinars. In 2019, the PPNs published 101 posts for The Field and organized 16 webinars. We would like to thank all of you who contributed to this shared body of knowledge in 2019! These opportunities are open to all ASLA members, and we hope to grow our group of PPN contributors in 2020.

Below, we highlight the top 10 Field posts and best-attended live Online Learning presentations of the year, but be sure to check out the full PPN 2019 in Review for additional information, including highlights from PPN Live at the 2019 ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture in San Diego and how all ASLA members can contribute and participate on a national level through the PPNs.

Year in Review: The Field

The Field was established to give members in the field of landscape architecture a place to exchange information, learn about recent work and research, and share thoughts about current happenings. Contributions are by members, for members, and we encourage all ASLA members with an idea or an experience to share to contribute to The Field. Fresh content appears twice a week.

Here are The Field’s top 10 most-read posts published in 2019:

1. Healing Landscapes Design Practice by Siyi He, Associate ASLA Healthcare & Therapeutic Design PPN

2. Designing for Public Space Inclusive of Unhoused People by Katie Kingery-Page, PLA, ASLA, and Skylar Brown, Student ASLA Environmental Justice PPN

3. Towne Square at Suitland Federal Center by Dennis Carmichael, FASLA, LEED AP, and Kelly Fleming, ASLA, SITES AP Sustainable Design & Development PPN

4. Stormwater Management Park in Your Future? by George R. Frantz, AICP, ASLA Landscape—Land Use Planning PPN

5. Campus Resiliency: What Does the Future of Campus Design Look Like? by Mikyoung Kim, FASLA, and Ian Downing, ASLA Campus Planning & Design PPN

6. Nature, Healing, and Creativity by Siyi He, Associate ASLA Healthcare & Therapeutic Design PPN

7. Time to Grow Up: The Landscape Architect-Nursery Grower Relationship by Michael Keenan, ASLA Planting Design PPN

8. Internship Reflection by Anna Stachofsky Landscape—Land Use Planning PPN

9. Experimentation: The Nature of Design by Mark Dennis, ASLA, PLA, AICP Planting Design PPN

10. Pontilly Stormwater Management by Dana Brown, FASLA, PLA, AICP, LEED AP Water Conservation PPN

Year in Review: Online Learning

ASLA offers live and on-demand Online Learning webinars, many of which are hosted by the PPNs on a topic of special relevance to their members—a great way to earn the professional development hours (PDH) needed to meet state licensure requirements. Live PPN-hosted presentations take place throughout the year, and are usually recorded and made available for viewing afterwards.

Here are the top ten best-attended live PPN-hosted presentations of the past year:

1. Preventing Crime with Environmental Design: CPTED Strategies for Landscape Architects Hosted by the Urban Design PPN Presented by Brittain Storck, ASLA, PLA, CPD

2. Bridging Landscape Ecology and Landscape Architecture—A Discussion on Novel Ecosystems Hosted by the Ecology & Restoration PPN Presented by Julie Bargmann, Peter del Tredici, Katharine Suding, PhD, Taryn Wiens, and Alexander Felson, PhD, ASLA

3. Talking Building Information Modeling (BIM) Hosted by the Digital Technology PPN Presented by Eric Berg, ASLA, Lauren Schmidt, ASLA, and Andrew Sargeant, Associate ASLA

4. Our Beloved Fountain: Making Water Features Sustainable 1.0 PDH (LA CES/HSW) Hosted by the Water Conservation PPN Presented by Michael Igo, Affil. ASLA, LEED AP, PE

5. Promoting Pollinators Through Landscape Architecture: Strategies to Improve Habitat Value & Landscape Performance 1.0 PDH (LA CES/HSW) Hosted by the Ecology & Restoration PPN Presented by Anthony Fettes, ASLA, PLA, SITES AP

6. An Introduction to the ASLA LATIS publication, A Landscape Performance and Metrics Primer for Landscape Architects 1.0 PDH (LA CES/HSW) / 1.0 SITES-specific GBCI CE Hosted by the Sustainable Design & Development PPN Presented by Emily McCoy, ASLA

7. Diagnostic Post Occupancy Evaluation of Hospital Gardens: Recent Research 1.0 PDH (LA CES/HSW) Hosted by the Healthcare & Therapeutic Design PPN Presented by Shan Jiang, PhD, MLA, Kirsten Staloch, AIA Associate, LEED Green Associate, EDAC, Naomi A. Sachs, PhD, ASLA, EDAC

8. Healthy Communities: Integrating Urban Design and Public Health 1.0 PDH (LA CES/HSW) / 1.0 AICP Hosted by the Urban Design PPN Presented by Michelle Eichinger, MS, MPA, and Maren McBride, ASLA, PLA

9. Climate Smart Restoration: Increasing Project Success in a Changing Climate Hosted by the Ecology & Restoration PPN Presented by Thomas Gardali and Isaiah Thalmayer

10. West Laurel Hill's Nature's Sanctuary: A Green Path to Perpetual Care 1.0 PDH (LA CES/HSW) / 1.0 SITES-specific GBCI CE Hosted by the Sustainable Design & Development PPN Presented by Liam Cleary, Associate ASLA, Adam Supplee, RLA, AICP, ASLA, LEED AP, and Nancy Goldenberg

Be sure to check out the full PPN 2019 in Review for additional highlights from the PPNs.

We look forward to continuing our work together in the new year—here's to a successful and productive 2020!