Auburn Landscape Architecture Community Reunites for LAND40 Celebration

LAND40 welcomed students, faculty, alumni and friends to campus for a keynote lecture and panel discussion, an exhibition of student work, an alumni reception and a tour of the Alabama Meadows Project at the Mary Olive Thomas Demonstration Forest.

More than 100 students and alumni gathered in Dudley Hall on Friday, April 11, for a keynote by landscape architect Lauren Stimson.

Drawing from her wide-ranging experiences, Stimson reflected on her career path and major projects such as Phil Hardberger Park and Charbrook Farm. She also spoke about how her Filipino heritage and her time as a Rome Prize Fellow at the American Academy in Rome have shaped her design approach. Weaving together lessons from the field and the studio, Stimson shared candid insights on navigating construction setbacks, building strong design teams and sustaining creative momentum over time.

Following her lecture, a panel extended the conversation with perspectives on contemporary practice and education in landscape architecture. The panel featured Richard Roark ‘01, Chief Purpose Officer and Partner at OLIN Studio; Jane Reed Ross ‘82, Senior Landscape Architect at Goodwyn Mills Cawood; and David Hill, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture and Founding Principal of HILLWORKS.

Assistant Professor Gwen Cohen moderated the discussion, which explored themes such as the cultivation of optimism and curiosity, the evolution of multi-decade careers and the responsibility of the discipline to respond to emerging societal challenges. Panelists shared work and insights from their three distinct practices, demonstrating the breadth and impact of Auburn alumni across geographies and scales.

Reflecting on the significance of the weekend, Associate Professor and undergraduate program chair Rob Holmes said the students in the relaunched BLA program are uniquely positioned as both trailblazers and inheritors of a rich legacy.

“This year’s graduates, in particular, have helped build the program alongside faculty and staff, demonstrating that undergraduate landscape architecture at Auburn has an incredible present and future,” he said “LAND40 offered a special opportunity to connect them with the long tradition of excellence established by alumni of both the graduate program and the original undergraduate program.”

That evening, the celebration continued at the Biggin-Woltosz House with an alumni reception attended by more than 70 guests. During the program, Professor Charlene LeBleu was recognized for her service to the program and congratulated on her upcoming retirement. Holmes and Emily Knox, Associate Professor and graduate program chair, spoke to LeBleu’s decades of impact on students, the curriculum and the profession.

LAND40 events concluded Saturday morning with a brunch and walking tour of the Mary Olive Thomas Demonstration Forest, led by Knox and Hill. More than 40 faculty, students and alumni joined the tour, revisiting the field-based test plots and reflecting on their role in Auburn’s approach to landscape architecture research and education. Knox noted that for many alumni, the tour offered a glimpse into how much the program has changed since their time at Auburn.

“The tour of the demonstration forest and meadow test plots was delightful,” Knox shared. “Many of the alumni who joined us went through the programs before fieldwork was a major emphasis, so it was meaningful to give them a small taste of what is now a core component of the program ethos.”

Throughout the weekend, the walls of Dudley Hall highlighted the creativity, technical skill and evolving practices that define Auburn’s landscape architecture programs. Faculty curated a selection of materials from both Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) and Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA), showcasing the range of drawing techniques and working methods that students develop—from hand drawing to advanced digital representation—while reflecting on the curriculum’s progression.

The exhibition, coordinated by Visiting Assistant Professor Maria Elena Vanegas Perez, included work from all four current BLA cohorts, current MLA students and past MLA cohorts, allowing some alumni to see their work on display in Dudley once again.

In many ways, the weekend underscored the strength of Auburn’s landscape architecture network—and the importance of continuing to build those connections.

“We have a relatively young group of faculty now, many just a few years into their teaching careers,” said Knox. “It was wonderful to connect with those who came before us and better understand the strong foundation we’re building upon.”

Holmes echoed that sentiment from the student and alumni side.

“This event was special because the practitioners our students met were all connected to Auburn,” he said. “The students could leave knowing the excellence they saw is rooted in the same programs they are studying in.”

As the programs look ahead, the spirit of the weekend continues to resonate.

“Since the event, we’ve received several notes from former faculty and alumni,” said Knox. “Each offered generous words of support and excitement for what’s ahead. It’s meaningful to know that as we build on the last 40 years, we have strong support from the Auburn Landscape Architecture community.”