LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Hello Everyone! We have finally reached the end of 2021, and as the new year emerges after some strange times, I am looking forward to guiding some fun and engaging opportunities for NMASLA members in 2022! We had such a great time at the Golf Tournament back in August, and I know everyone who attended enjoyed just being together (and in costume) again. The long-awaited Design Awards Gala in November was also a magical night for all of us to catch-up, acknowledge a few special individuals, and to appreciate the truly excellent work we have all been doing for the past few years. I am always so impressed with the intricacy and diversity of our projects in New Mexico - keep up the great work!  For 2022, NMASLA is working on some great events and new opportunities to gather with colleagues, expand our knowledge and expertise in our field, and promote landscape architecture across our state and our region. Most of these events are still in the planning stages, but please keep an eye on the email blasts for information - We look forward to seeing all of you there!

The annual ASLA conference this year in Nashville was an exciting experience, and NMASLA leadership was proudly represented by Jitka Dekojova, Claudia Horn, and myself. ASLA National announced a new strategic plan for 2022-2024 (link below), and a representative from CLARB spoke about their work to create a Uniform Licensing Standard across the country for more consistency in licensure and continuing education requirements. The Chapter President’s Council meetings also called attention to the Climate Action Now Guide (link below) to help state chapters get more involved in climate advocacy. There are already plans in the works for NMASLA to begin meeting with our neighboring southwestern states to discuss climate issues in our unique region, and begin working together to promote the special role landscape architects can play in combating this threat. Please reach out if you would like to be involved!

This next year is going to be a great one for NMASLA - We have some new faces in the Executive Committee, and we are excited to get started. I would like to wish you all a very happy and healthy holiday season - See you in 2022!

Courtney McKelvey

On the evening on November 12, NMASLA gathered together at the Sid Cutter Pilot’s Pavilion at the Albuquerque Balloon Museum to celebrate both an annual gathering as well as congratulating the landscape architecture award winners. Amidst COVID precautions, the 175 participants enjoyed drinks, a buffet dinner and dessert, and a keynote presentation by Robert Alexander Gonzalez, Dean of the UNM School of Architecture & Planning.

At each table, a copy of the recently published New Mexico Historical Review (Vol. 96, Number 2, Spring 2021) in which Baker H. Morrow’s article, “Gardens In the Sand: New Mexico’s Historic Landscapes Part 1” was featured. NMASLA was instrumental in funding the color photographs that were included in the article. Copies of the publication were available for those attending the event.

To start the evening’s awards, NMASLA awarded these Individual Service Awards:

• OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AWARD: Jitka Dekojova, ASLA

• PROFESSIONAL DISTINCTION AWARD: Mimi Burns, ASLA

• NMASLA RISING STAR AWARD: Richard C. Bumstead FASLA

• FRIEND OF NMASLA: George Blevins, George Stanley

• LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD: Deb Haaland, U.S. Secretary of the Interior

Next on the program were the Design Awards, presented by Royale Da of KOAT-TV7. The Nevada Chapter of ASLA were asked to judge the projects, and here are the winners:

STUDENT PROJECTS

• CHACO CANYON GALLO CAMPGROUND: Hollis Moore, Lia Griesser, Emily Ontiveros

• EL CAMINO REAL ACADEMY OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS: Hollis Moore, Lia Griesser,

  Maria Trujillo

• GUIDING FLAMES: Teara Herrera

• HIDDEN TOPOGRAPHY: REPRESENTATION OF WATER MOVEMENT IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM: John R. Owen

PLANNING & ANALYSIS

• CARLITO SPRINGS OPEN SPACE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT: MRWM Landscape Architects

• LAS GOLONDRINAS FACILITIES MASTER PLAN: Surroundings

• LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABS LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS & MASTER PLAN: Surroundings

• NEW MEXICO STATEWIDE COMMUNITY FOREST ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT PLAN: Groundwork Studio

• PASEO DEL NORTE TRAIL MASTERPLAN: Sites Southwest LLC

• SUNNYLANDS MASTER PLAN: MRWM Landscape Architects

• THORTON RANCH OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN: Design Office

COMMUNICATION

• 505OUTSIDE.COM: Jill G. Brown, ASLA

• NMDOT NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM MANUAL UPDATE: Dekker/Perich/Sabatini

DESIGN CONSTRUCTED

• ALBUQUERQUE CIVIC PLAZA RENOVATIONS: Dekker/Perich/Sabatini

• CNM SMITH BRASHER HALL: MRWM Landscape Architects

• COLUMBUS U.S. LAND PORT OF ENTRY: MRWM Landscape Architects

• FOURTH STREET REVITALIZATION: Sites Southwest LLC

• LUZ DEL DIA REVITALIZATION: Surroundings

• NEW MEXICO SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS: Surroundings

• PETROGLYPH ESTATES PARK: MRWM Landscape Architects

• PRESBYTERIAN SANTA FE MEDICAL CENTER: Dekker/Perich/Sabatini

• SAWMILL MARKET: Dekker/Perich/Sabatini

• SMITH PLAZA RENOVATION: MRWM Landscape Architects

• TRAMWAY & INDIAN SCHOOL LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS: Consensus Planning, Inc.

RESEARCH

• NEW MEXICO OUTDOOR RECREATION ATLAS PILOT STUDY: Groundwork Studio

DESIGN EXPLORATORY

• MURCHISON ROGERS PARK: Surroundings

And of course the evening wouldn’t have been possible without the very generous support of our sponsors. A big Thank You for your contributions:

PLATINUM SPONSORS

• Yellowstone Landscape

• Victor Stanley

• Exerplay

GOLD SPONSORS

• Trephena, Independent Representative for:

  • Landscape Forms

  • Omega II

  • Kornegay Design

• Rain Bird

• Anova

SILVER SPONSORS

• Dekker/Perich/Sabatini

• DuMor Inc.

• MRWM Landscape Architects

DINNER AND DRINKS SPONSORED BY:

• Maglin Site Furniture

Lastly, none of this could have happened without the dedication and work of the NMASLA GALA Committee: Ashlie Maxwell, Brian Griffith, Bonnie Strange, Courtney McKelvey, Indy Mitchell, Jitka Dekojova, Ken Romig, Kenneth Francis, and lead for the third time by Aaron Zahm. Thank you!

And thank you all for participating and coming together to celebrate landscape architecture in New Mexico. See you next time.

As of the conclusion of the 2021 ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture in Nashville, the new Executive Committee of the NMASLA is:

• PRESIDENT: Courtney McKelvey

• PRESIDENT-ELECT: Claudia Horn

• PAST PRESIDENT: Kenneth Francis

• TRUSTEE: Jitka Dekojova

• TREASURER: Bonnie Strange

• SECRETARY: Ashlie Maxwell

• MEMBERS-AT-LARGE: Richard Bumstead, Indy Mitchell, Brian Griffith,Ted Weber, Lana Indriss, Ken Romig,

With our new leadership, all of the Working Committees will need to be staffed for the coming year’s work. Think about what your strengths are, and maybe consider something you would like to learn more about, a new skill or sharpen an old one. These committees can be rewarding, and really don’t take up too much time.

Here is a list of the NMASLA Committees that could use your talents:

• Advocacy Committee

• Audit Committee

• Sponsorship Committee

• Tellers Committee

• Awards Committee 

• Nominating Committee

• Fellows Committee

• Public Relations Committee

• Communications Committee

• Constitution and Bylaws Committee

• Membership Committee

• Education Committee

• Emerging Professionals Committee

• Student Activities Committee

• Allied Professionals Liaison

RECENTLY PUBLISHED…..

A continuing feature of the NMASLA Newsletter highlights member projects or writings that have been included in recent publications (books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, podcasts, etc). If you or your firm have such a project, please send it to me at glenclcark6517@yahoo.com and get the recognition you deserve!

Land and Water Summit - Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Albuquerque; March 2-4, 2022

….and in 2022