Students Win Honors from Alabama Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects

The students, all majoring in Landscape Architecture in Auburn’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (APLA), will be honored at the Alabama ASLA Awards presentation ceremony this coming fall. The competition was judged by landscape architecture professionals who are members of Alabama ASLA.

Trae Watson received an Award of Merit in the General Design Category for his “LandAlive” design for Wind Creek State Park in Tallapoosa County. With the guidance of faculty advisor Professor Charlene LeBleu, Watson designed an artificial stream, bank and wetland remediation program that included erosion remediation areas with bike trails and a shoreline remediation, beach and dock plan. “Soil loss affects not only the beauty and functionality of the park but contributes to smothering of underwater mussel habitat with sediment,” he wrote. “This proposal seeks to programmatically address serious soil disturbance in the park and beyond by remediating the living land with wildlife, through maintenance, education and recreation strategies.”

Jaime Andres Andrade Constante also won an Award of Merit in the General Design category for his work titled “Life Along the Edge.” Constante’s faculty advisor was Assistant Professor Sarah Coleman.  Constante created a hiking trail and way-marking strategy to lead visitors through the Tuskegee National Forest. “This project engages people and animals by presenting special landscapes that are perceived at the scale of the body, considering the rich spatial and atmospheric experiences that the different landscape types of Tuskegee National Forest offer,” Constante explained. The jury said of this work, “We applaud the efforts of graphical exploration and presenting a consistent tone. We love the ‘waymarking’ element that registers the footprints of animals and the interactive QR code.”

Helena Starnes won an Award of Honor in the Analysis and Planning category for her Perdido Bay strategic plan in Baldwin County, Alabama, and Escambia County, Florida. Her faculty advisor was Associate Professor Rob Holmes. Starnes wrote that while the bay is relatively unpolluted now, it is at risk for damage from human impacts over time. “Future changes, such as sea level rise and continued development, will continue to challenge this ecosystem,” she stated. “Little data exists on Perdido Bay, making it difficult to assess the extent of that impact or how to improve environmental conditions.” The jury stated, “The graphics are consistent, beautiful, with great attention to detail. The Rabbit Island component is educational and beautifully thought out.” Starnes also won the competition’s highest honor, an Award of Excellence, in the Urban Design category for her plans for Second Line Park in New Orleans, Louisiana, completed with guidance from Assistant Professor Frank Hu and Associate Professor David Hill. “The jury liked the “porous” nature of the project, pushing out of its linear nature with some bold moves outside of the bridge footprint. We applaud the recognition and energy put towards ‘celebrating and staying in harmony’ with the existing character of the place. Visually and verbally, Second Line Park addresses the complex problem in an engaging and thoughtfully crafted presentation.”