WSU Landscape Architecture Spring 2025 Newsletter

School & Program Updates

Jason Peschel, SDC Director

This spring semester and the 2024-25 academic year marked several milestones for the LA program – from a successful accreditation visit to celebrating 50+ years of the program. These milestones mark success, growth, and positive change. Reaching them is possible through collaboration among faculty, the LAPAB, industry partners, alumni, students, and community members. As we celebrate these accomplishments, we also get to imagine what the next 50+ years might bring for the LA program. GO COUGS!

Jolie Kaytes, LA Program Head

Spring greetings from the Palouse. This semester was full with shivery study tours, instructive and inspiring industry engagement activities, collaborative and captivating community interactions, an affirming accreditation visit, energizing end-of-year events and presentations, and a spirited celebration of the WSU LA program’s 50+ years. Thank you to party sponsors Site Workshop, Louis Johnson, Peg Staeheli, and Berger Partnership. And, thank you alumni and friends for your ongoing engagement and support of WSU LA. Past, present, and future, the program is committed to the land grant tradition of connecting to and serving society and fostering equitability, justice, belonging, and beauty.

As happens in spring, we are delighted to announce the program’s 2025 scholarship recipients. Thank you to everyone who’s been and continues to be part of these meaningful gifts.

-Endowed Scholarship for Diversity in Landscape Architecture
Katia Montes
-Ken Struckmeyer Student Scholarship
Christina Torres
-John E. Hoffman Memorial Scholarship
Jada Allen, Claire Berns, Miriam Castenada, Emma Diaconu, Gabrielle Dionisio, Saul Guerrero, Riley Kennedy, Vianey Pereira, Sophia Silveria, Victoria Weingarz
-Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs Scholarship
Zach Record

Course Highlights

Sophomores partnered with Uniontown, WA and focused on reimagining Uniontown’s Town Square, to explore how public spaces can reflect and support a small community’s identity.

Juniors partnered with the Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) to reimagine an expansive outdoor space within the facility. Guided by themes of dignity, rehabilitation, and ecological resilience, students explored how carceral landscapes might better support wellness, reflection, and community-building.

Juniors modified, completed, and installed a color-catching, rainbow-reflecting arbor – begun by the class of 2025 last year – for the Kelly Ward Memorial Plaza, located on the Presidential Arboretum on campus. Juniors also designed and installed irrigation on this memorial project thanks to the generous support of Design 2426, Hunter Industries, and the WSU Campus Landscape Advisory Committee.

Seniors partnered with Citizens for a Clean Columbia, the Northport Project, the Upper Columbia United Tribes, and Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation to address the interrelated issues of chronic industrial pollution, remediation, resilience, adaptation, and land-use planning in the Upper Columbia River Basin.

Seniors also created Upper Columbia Bioregion 2200, a provocative planning framework rooted in seven generation thinking.

All projects were publicly shared. We are grateful to landscape architecture practitioners and community partners for their time and insights this semester.

LA Professional Advisory Board Notes

This semester the LA Professional Advisory Board (LAPAB) worked with the program to scheme and dream the April celebration in Seattle. Board members also met with students and faculty in Pullman in February during the accreditation visit, and again in March for the SDC Central and Program Advisory Board meetings. In April, in Seattle, board members participated in portfolio reviews and career prep panels, too. The Board donated $6000 to support and help sustain community and industry engagement activities, such as site visits, study tours, job shadows, and presentations. During the April celebration, $7750 was further gifted to the program. The board enthusiastically invites WSU LA alumni and friends to join them in supporting the program. Share time and knowledge with students or give to WSU Landscape Architecture.

And, a big, bold thank you to Luke Vannice, who is completing his term as the board chair for 2024-2025!