LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Happy Spring! 

After a long winter season that rewarded us with plenty of snow, the signs of spring are a welcome and invigorating sight  - provided we’re not blown away by the fierce NM spring winds! Recollections of the devastating Hermits Peak / Calf Canyon Fire just over a year ago remind us of threats to our environment and that our task to support resiliency in whatever way we can as landscape architects is more important than ever.

At the outset of 2023, a core group of NMASLA members participated in advocacy efforts at the New Mexico Roundhouse to raise awareness about Landscape Architecture and support legislation that benefits our profession. More on that in the newsletter, below. State lawmakers all received copies of our newly updated brochure, which provides an overview of the breadth and importance of our profession. With NM LA licensure sunset looming in 2024, our efforts to raise awareness about the profession now can only help us as it comes up for renewal next year. Please do your part to convey the importance of licensure to your elected officials.

April marks World Landscape Architecture Month. Check out NMASLA’s Instagram site, which illustrates the breadth of work of students and professionals in New Mexico. April isn’t over yet, so if you have some eye-catching or intriguing posts you’d like to share, please send your info to Arturo Merino (amerino@plandcollab.com) to add to the collection. 

Over seven years ago, NMASLA conducted the last Strategic Plan for the chapter. Next month we will update the plan to reflect current goals and to ensure that it is in alignment with the Climate Action Plan as set forth by ASLA. Your candid responses to the member survey will help guide the Strategic Plan update and provide direction for how NMASLA can serve you best. Join us for a member Happy Hour May 19, share your ideas, and get involved!

Our Climate Action Committee has been busy planning for the upcoming Q2 educational event. Mark your calendars on June 23rd to attend the Q2 Event: Climate Action for Designers and Planners at the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge visitor center. Look out for more details on this educational event in the weeks ahead. 

We look forward to your attendance and participation at our upcoming events. Please stay tuned to the regular e-blasts for updates!

Claudia Meyer Horn

Past-President Courtney McKelvey & President Claudia Meyer Horn at the NM Round House

The NMASLA Executive Committee and members were successful at the recent legislative session advocating for our profession and supporting several bills that affect our industry.  This effort positions our profession to advocate for licensure, programs and projects that enhance our urban and rural economies and environments in upcoming legislative sessions.  Furthermore, it gives all of us the resources and information to advocate for our collective interests of the environment, clean air and water, and human wellness.

Two bills were supported by NMASLA and were signed into law by the governor.

House Bill 8- Creative industries Division

Do you have a good idea that has economic development potential and has a broad base of support in a local community?  House Bill 8 creates a fund for a new Creative Industries Division within the Economic Development Department to increase and advance the creative industry-based economy on New Mexico by providing grants for projects or programs that promote the growth of the creative industries in New Mexico. Creative industries are persons or organizations that are engaged in creative enterprises include, but are not limited to performance, visual or literary arts, media, landscape architecture, or artisanal professions. 50 percent of its funds must be used in rural and underserved areas of the state.

Senate Bill 9- Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund

Senate Bill 9 creates a permanent fund dedicated to conservation of our environment.  Dedicated to those agencies that have a proven track record of success, an initial investment of 50 million will leverage hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds for all 33 counties and tribal communities.  Existing programs to receive the funds prioritize land and water conservation, forest and watershed health, outdoor recreation and infrastructure, agriculture and working lands, historic preservation, and wildlife species protection. 

Ken Romig, ASLA

Valle de Oro has won the top award for contemporary architecture from the 2023 Jeff Harnar Awards! Surroundings lead both the landscape visioning during the design-build RFP and the subsequent design of the external environs for the new Valle de Oro Wildlife Refuge Visitor’s Center. This is the Southwest’s first urban wildlife refuge, and we are honored to have collaborated with Formative Architecture, Weddle Gilmore, and Biohabitats on this important project for New Mexico. A new visitor’s center and demonstration wetland overlooks the wildlife refuge and gives visitors and the surrounding communities a world-class educational event facility for the region.

Lead Landscape Architect: @surroundings.studio

PIC: Kenneth Francis @kennethfrancis

PM: Joseph Charles @josephcharlesjewelry and Chrissy Scarpitti @cmscarpitti

Renderings: Will Iadevaia + @weddlegilmore

Jeff Harnar Awards: @jeffharnar_awards

ON THE MOVE - pland

We Have Exciting News to Share…

Fifty years ago, the founders of our firm had a vision. One that became a successful company—MRWM Landscape Architects—one of the first landscape architecture firms in the state. And now the largest, with a storied legacy of memorable landmarks to our credit.

Building on this history, our new generation of landscape architects and planners is envisioning the future of communities and continuing to transform spaces into places. With expanded planning services, a diversified team, and a fresh outlook, we thought it was time to make some changes that reflect the firm we are today: Pland Collaborative.

But don’t worry, it’s the same great team, same ownership, we are just evolving while staying true to our values and purpose. 

The inspiration behind our brand refresh…Every day we aim to transform outdoor spaces into beautiful, must-see, landmark places. The combination of our Planning and Landscape Architecture portfolios come together to perfectly represent what we do via our new name and logo. 

New Website Coming soon…Though we have adopted the new name and logo, we are still working on a few things during the transition, most importantly our new website! We are very excited to launch our website, and we will make an announcement when it is complete. For now you can continue to visit mrwmla.com!

We are also moving…That’s right, new name and new address! After May 1, 2023, you will be able to find us at 600 1st St NW, Suite 100, Albuquerque, NM 87102. 

 Quick list of things to remember…

• Our MRWM email addresses will remain active for a period of time while we complete the transition, but please save and start using our new Pland Collaborative email addresses going forward!

• To make things easy, our new email addresses are very similar to our old addresses:, first initial of first name + last name @plandcollab.com (i.e. jdoe@mrwmla.com is now jdoe@plandcollab.com)

• You may occasionally notice our MRWM logo in places like our website, or on in-progress projects. We are addressing the new name and logo update on a case-by case basis, so as not to confuse or complicate existing projects. 

• Our phone number will be the same! 505-268-2266

• If you have any questions, please reach out!

• May 19, 2023 - Q1 Happy Hour - Gravity Bound, 816 3rd St NW. Albuquerque

• May 19-20, 2023 - NMASLA Strategic Planning Sessions, Albuquerque

• June 23, 2023. - Q2 Event: Climate Action for Designers and Planners, Valle de Oro, Albuquerque

• August 11, 2023 - Q3 Event - to be announced - stay tuned

• October 27-30, 2023 - ASLA 2023 Conference on Landscape Architecture, Minneapolis, MN