News

CED alumni Marisa Scalera (MLA ’02) and Lauren Brandes (MLA ’03) are using their expertise in landscape architecture to shape the experience of millions at the Smithsonian Gardens!

From the classroom to the coast, Dr. Wang is turning research into real change and leading the way in shaping a more resilient and sustainable Georgia.

Photographer Mike Belleme and urbanist Chris Reed investigate the social lives of urban landscapes, revealing the intricate dance between design and daily life.

Bruce Gregory, a graduate of the University of Georgia College of Environment and Design, donated $1 million to his alma mater through a bequest that will help students study away.

With summer break approaching, there is nothing I dread more than the questions from relatives. “So, what’s your major?” “What is landscape architecture?” “Could I pay you to mow my […]

Learn more about pollinator gardens from a recent article featured in the Georgia Landscape Magazine!

Former dean Bob Nicholls provides funding support for CED students through a generous donation.

Stephen Ramos, an associate professor at the University of Georgia College of Environment and Design, works to enhance student learning through class projects that promote community engagement.

It’s Critique Week, where students from CED programs will participate in a three-day critique of design and planning projects!

MLA student Olivia Rothstein Keeffe was among three UGA students to participate in this year’s TEDxUGA, where she spoke on the topic of her master’s research which focuses on memorializing the loss experienced during COVID-19.

Meet Thiago Almeida, a Master of Urban Planning and Design student, who traveled over 3,000 miles from his home in Brazil to continue his education at the CED!

Learn more about the significance of cultural landscapes and how CED faculty and other landscape professionals aspire to create a knowledge base surrounding cultural landscape practices.

As a student in the landscape architecture program, Grace Wooten discovered a passion for helping communities design meaningful spaces.

Peter Essick explores the purpose of drone photography in documenting human-altered landscapes.

As a child, Randolph Marshall always knew he wanted to become a landscape architect. Inspired by the architectural drawings of his father, Marshall dreamed of one day pursuing his passion professionally…

RSS Feed: This year’s Experience UGA program was a success thanks to the hard work of our student volunteers and thanks to our outreach unit, the Center for Community Design and Preservation!

In October, faculty and students at the University of Georgia College of Environment and Design had the opportunity to connect with professionals and share knowledge at the ASLA 2023 Conference.

CED assistant professor Jessica Fernandez uses emerging technology to understand how people respond to designed spaces.

The University of Georgia Founders Memorial Garden has received two Italian marble statues through a generous donation from Nina Sledge Burke, the great-granddaughter of the first president of the Ladies Garden Club of Athens, which was established in 1891 as America’s first garden club.

The Croatia Study Away Maymester has been beloved by faculty at the CED for over a decade. The program immerses students in the rich history and culture of Croatia, a small country in southeastern Europe with a population slightly less than the size of Metro Atlanta.

The College of Environment and Design has always placed science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at the core of its landscape architecture curriculum. But it wasn’t until recently that landscape architecture was federally recognized as a STEM discipline.

CED associate professor Stephen Ramos and his community planning students have helped secure a $4.9 million federal grant for a series of community improvement projects in Baldwin County, Georgia.

As the daughter of an Air Force family, packing up boxes and moving to new states and cities was routine for CED alum Kristie Person. Big moves sometimes came with challenges for Person, but she quickly discovered that moving could also be a time to discover hidden treasures in the new towns she called home…

Reimagining the Bartram Trail Twelve photographers follow in the footsteps of William Bartram to explore and visually reimagine a well-traveled landscape teeming with life.

Since 2019, Longenecker and his students have been heavily involved with Healthier Together Georgia, a program run by the UGA Extension to improve health and wellness in communities with limited access to healthy foods and active routes such as bike lanes or sidewalks.

The Peachtree Garden Club has provided numerous opportunities for landscape architecture students through the Neel Reid Scholarship. Over the past 60 years, the Neel Reid Scholarship has surpassed $800,000 in funds and has provided opportunities for over 200 students. Today, the scholarship is considered one of the CED’s more competitive and prestigious awards.

It is with bittersweet wishes that the College of Environment and Design announces the retirement of Ron Sawhill, associate professor and Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) program coordinator for the CED.

In the spring, landscape design students at the CED took the phrase, ‘dream big,’ to a whole new level! With the support of CED lecturer James Schulte and the UGA Archway Partnership, landscape design students used their imagination and critical thinking skills to brainstorm revitalization ideas for a large property in Griffin, Georgia.

A team of six master’s students, led by Dr. Eric MacDonald, had the exciting opportunity this spring to work with the owners of Cedar Lane Farm, located in Morgan County, Georgia. Deeply connected to the state’s botanical heritage, this farmstead has a plethora of historical and cultivated plants, formal gardens, an intricate trail system, and unique natural features nestled within the landscape. The students worked diligently to create and tailor a comprehensive management report for Cedar Lane Farms, including management strategies for invasive plant species and programming trail systems highlighting the site’s natural character.

During the spring semester, Dr. Jessica Fernandez and her first-year Master of Landscape Architecture students in Studio II embarked on an exciting project: the Outdoor Pavilion Enhancement at Bert Adams Scout Camp.

When Guangzhao(Sophia) Zhang first arrived at the College of Environment and Design, the university lifestyle came as no surprise. As an international Double Dawg from Beijing Forestry University, Zhang was […]

In February, the students and faculty of the Master of Historic Preservation program embarked on their annual Preservation Perspectives Trip. This year, students and faculty traveled to Savannah, Georgia for a three-day trip filled with visits to historic sites and meetings with preservationists in different roles across the city.

We are deeply saddened to announce that Scott S. Weinberg, a retired professor and former Interim Dean of the CED, passed away on Saturday morning, May 13, 2023.

Professor Donnie Longenecker’s Senior Capstone Studio assisted a team of educators and citizens working on a master plan for The Center for Innovative Teaching (CFIT), located 23 miles from UGA’s campus in Winder, Georgia. Our students were tasked with developing concepts for a portion of the campus. In the end, a final concept was assembled from favorable parts of each of the student designs. The project is now coming to fruition as they plan on breaking ground in early April 2023.

As the CED’s spring lecture series, “Blue, Green, & Gray Infrastructure,” wraps up, we will host a panel discussion on succeeding in academic and professional organization leadership. Our esteemed panelists include Elizabeth Weeks, UGA’s Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs; Sarah Covert, Interim Associate Provost for Academic Programs; Rayman Mohamed, the President of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP); and Ebru Ozer, the vice President of Education for the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Join us to hear about how they developed their careers, their challenges in leadership roles, and how they mentor others.

Dr. Sonia Hirt was honored by the Board of Trustees of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation with a 2023 Guggenheim Fellowship. Guggenheim Fellowships are awarded annually to those “who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts.”

During Spring Break, Professor Cari Goetcheus, along with Master of Historic Preservation students Kayla McElreath, Cameron Nesmith, Niamh West, Jeffrey Bussey and Inga Gudmundsson, headed to Selma, Alabama to assist with post-tornado historic resource assessments.

HGOR Lecture: “Valuing Water, Culture, and Heritage” March 27, 4:30 p.m. University of Georgia Chapel Carola Hein is a Professor of History of Architecture and Urban Planning at Technical University Delft in the Netherlands. She is also founder and director of the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus PortCityFutures program, and is a Professor of Water, Ports, and Historic Cities with the Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology at Leiden University and the Erasmus University Rotterdam’s School of History, Culture and Communication. Since early 2022, Hein holds the newly established UNESCO Chair for Water, Ports and Historic Cities.

We are delighted to have Visting Professor James Schulte speak on Vegetative Green roofs as part of CED’s Spring 2023 lecture series, “Blue, Green, & Gray Infrastructure.” Professor Schulte’s research explores the different ways that green roofs can help reduce environmental issues in urban environments.

The CCDP took a team of 17 students down to Douglas, GA, for our spring design charrette. The Downtown Development Authority of Douglas requested our help in creating a cohesive vision that addressed revitalization potential, corridor enhancements, and infill housing along a 3-mile business district. In just 3 days, students representing all of CED’s disciplines toured the town for the first time, facilitated a community listening session, and developed short-term and long-range concepts around streetscape improvements, placemaking, greenway enhancement, celebrating Black culture, and infill housing in historic districts. The work they were able to produce in just three days is truly remarkable and the Douglas DDA was blown away by our innovative ideas — we hope to see some of them implemented in the future!

After a five-year hiatus, CED’s Georgia Landscape Magazine is rebooted! Beginning in 1976, Georgia Landscape Magazine is a student-run publication curated, written, and published by the students of CED. The upcoming issue will be published this Spring! Click the link below to read more about the history of the magazine!

The College of Environment and Design hosted the annual Landscape Architecture Short Course at the Classic Center in Athens, Georgia on February 1-2, 2023. The short course had over 100 virtual and in-person attendees with 12 corporate sponsors. Educational sessions covered a wide range of topics, such as ecoregional green roofs, supply chain disruptions, and preserving historic sites.

Every week, CED lecturer Cameron Berglund leads an enthusiastic group of urban sketchers across UGA’s campus and the state of Georgia. The AthSketch community is open to students and locals alike. The group meets every Wednesday to sketch a different spot around town and sharpen their individual spatial design skills. Read on to learn how you can get involved!

We are excited to share that Ezra Lewis, a second-year BLA student at the College of Environment and Design (CED). She is one of four recipients to recently earn a place in the inaugural cohort of the Landscape Architecture Foundation’s Ignite Program! Read on to learn more about Ezra’s experience and the new LAF Ignite Program.

Daniel Kletzing is currently a lecturer at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. He has worked in a variety of roles across the country, all while maintaining his dedication to use his skills for the greater good. Daniel generously shared with us how CED professors impact his pedagogy, the moment he knew he wanted to be an educator, his current work with Indigenous communities, and what keeps him inspired through it all!

The Homervillage master plan is a 65.2 acre development, consisting of 30 tiny home units with three different floor plan options. The goal for this master plan was to design a community for people experiencing chronic homelessness or close to becoming homeless by giving a helping hand. Early research and initial design concepts were developed by Anna Marie Scoccimaro’s master’s thesis. Ameliorating Homelessness Through the Built Environment explored the research behind communities that help people experiencing homelessness to thrive once again.

The Experience UGA program is a partnership between the Clarke County School District (CCSD) and the UGA Office of Service Learning which aims to bring every PreK-12 student to UGAʼs campus every year for a curricular-based field trip. This year, we welcomed students from Clarke Central High school on November 14th and from Cedar Shoals High School on November 16th. The Experience UGA trips achieved the goal of exposing high schoolers to college and the field of landscape architecture through a thoughtfully tailored experience.

This October, CED received official approval to offer an undergraduate minor in Urban Planning effective Fall 2023!

CED alum, Kelly Holdbrooks (MLA ’12), strives to preserve threatened species in the Appalachian region where this year’s Capitol Christmas Tree was harvested.

Bulldog 100 celebrates the top 100 fastest-growing organizations owned or operated by UGA alumni. This year, five College of Environment and Design alumni have had their businesses recognized for their achievements.

First-year landscape architecture students in Jose Buitrago’s design studio installed 100% recyclable temporary sculptures in the Founders Memorial Garden.

Join our growing team! The CED is seeking a full-time Development Associate. Click here to learn more.

Donnie Longnecker’s second-year design students were tasked with envisioning an outdoor wellness courtyard adjacent to the UHC that focuses on fostering community and providing tranquility to the many visitors of south campus.

CED Employment Opportunity for Lecturer or Assistant Professor

CED students from various programs worked together with community members and stakeholders in Hoschton, Georgia to develop concept plans addressing population growth and preserving Hoschton’s historic character.

CED is hiring a full time administrative assistant. Follow link to apply.

Geo-design professor and practitioner Carl Steinitz visits CED on 10/24, including a lecture at 4:30pm.

UGA CED students and alumni collaborate with the Carl Vincent Institute of Government to breath new life into Georgia’s small, rural cities.

One month after the passing of John Waters, CED announces memorial for our community to gather and honor his memory.

CED BLA student site designs help pave the way for Classic Center design concepts, furthering program’s ties to the hospitality and tourism industry.

Lecturer Cameron Berglund offers a “behind the scenes” look at his design work spanning 17 years of professional practice.

Dean Hirt welcomes students, faculty, and staff for the Fall 2022 semester with news about events, awards, new hires, and more!

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brian LaHaie, retired CED professor, esteemed colleague, and friend, passed away on July 28, 2022.

CED is hiring a full-time Communications Specialist to join our team!

UGAToday recently covered the Railroad Street Park project in Hart County which was designed by Elizabeth Crimmins (MLA ’22).

CED Technology and Facilities team unveils CED’s first dedicated science laboratory. The lab is located in Denmark Hall and demonstrates the college’s continued dedication to bridging science and art.

Dean’s Advisory Council members Bob Hughes (BLA ’77) and Ed Castro (BLA ’88) received high honors from ASLA and UGA this June.

CED alum English Hinton (MHP ’20) improves daily life for Georgia families through caring renovation and accessibility modification.

The 2022 CED BLA Shark Tank competition showcased innovative business plans for design firms created by Donnie Longenecker’s Professional Practice class.

CED is currently hiring for two full time staff members: Creative Graphic Design Specialist and Graduate Program Administrator.

Enrollment increases with the BLA department inspire big changes for CED facility use and programming.

UGA CED Associate Dean Ashley Steffens was inducted to the 2022 CELA Academy of Fellows at their annual conference, achieving the highest honor in the organization’s membership.

April 2022 was full of events honoring Olmsted’s legacy in landscape architecture as part of a nation-wide celebration of his 200th birthday.

CED Professor Stephen Ramos, DDes among curators of international virtual summit to foster dialog between urbanism and art.

CED Dean Sonia Hirt cited in Seattle Times article discussing Seattle’s population decline and the national phenomenon of shrinking cities.

A two-night event co-hosted by the Georgia ASLA.

Dean Sonia Hirt has been elected to the Executive Committee of The Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru).

The College of Environment and Design hosted the annual Landscape Architecture Short Course February 1st and 2nd at the Classic Center in downtown Athens, Georgia. After a year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was allowed to occur again with health precautions in place. Professor Donnie Longenecker spearheaded the event once again with the help of student assistants Sallie Smith and Kayla Joiner, and Tom Jones as technical support.

In January of this year, over 70 CED participated in a design charrette sponsored by Ian Firth (Professor Emeritus), Kimley-Horn, Belgard, Forms+Surfaces, and Select Trees.

Master of Landscape Architecture student Morgane Coleman is leading the way with incorporating virtual reality (VR) technologies into the classroom in the College of Environment and Design.

“Bee Beautiful,” a project created by Genetics and Ecology undergraduate Elizabeth Esser and directed by CED Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture Dr. Eric Macdonald, aims to reduce toxic vegetation for migratory birds and increase native habitat and food sources for pollinators.

Dean Sonia Hirt participates in an expert panel discussion on the intersections between land-use law and housing affordability at the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) in Washington, DC.

Recently, final design plans were revealed by four University of Georgia students who were tasked to reimagine the Bowman Town Park. From community input meetings, surveys and other information-gathering sessions, master’s degree candidates Andrew Petersen, Kayla Joiner, Elizabeth Crimmins and Guangzhao (Sophia) Zhang, took what locals asked for and set out to put their landscape-designing knowledge to work for the rural community. Joining the students on the call were Katherine Melcher, their UGA Design Studio professor; Cara Specht, representing the S.C. Forestry Commission and the Tree City USA program; Toby Douthat with Sen. Lindsey Graham’s office and S.C. Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter of District 66.

The College of Environment and Design (CED) invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position at the level of assistant, associate, or full professor in architectural history, beginning in the 2022 Fall term. The successful candidate will have expertise in the history of the nineteenth and twentieth-century U.S. built environment.

Phillip Jones, a current 2nd-year MUPD student, was selected to participate in the UGA Graduate School Emerging Leaders Program for the Spring of 2022.

Dean Sonia Hirt has signed a new book contract with Routledge–a highly respected multinational publisher, founded in Great Britain in 1836 by George Routledge. The press focuses on academic books and journals in the humanities, education, law, and the social sciences.

Volunteers will be removing English Ivy from the Founders Memorial Garden by pulling, cutting and digging it out. Volunteers should come with clothing and shoes to work outdoors on unlevel ground. Volunteers will be bending over and pulling ivy, and then carrying piles of it to a collective area.

When Mario Cambardella (BLA ’06, MEPD ’11, MLA ’13) was operating his small design build firm back in 2012, he wished there was a way to easily order locally grown plant material for on-site delivery. It was then that he came up with the initial concept for ServeScape – an online marketplace for plants sourced directly from local farmers and wholesalers.

On December 5, 2021 at 11 AM EST, students, faculty, alumni, and community members will gather at the Baldwin Street stairs at the University of Georgia for a planting and dedication ceremony including a speaker from the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, Sandra Craine, the child of a Holocaust survivor, sharing her mother’s story. This event is free and open to the public.

To commemorate the College of Environment and Design’s 50th anniversary, CED faculty gathered to discuss the role that our disciplines and professions can and should play in today’s world. Inspired by the Athens Charter for the Restoration of Historic Monuments (1931) and the CIAM’s Athens Charter (1933), the resulting Starter Charter was developed from a series of conversations and outreach events that involved CED faculty, staff, and students from 2019-2021. As a starter charter, we hope it sparks new ideas and new discussions as we move forward. Committee members: Marianne Cramer, Cari Goetcheus, Dan Nadenicek, Alfie Vick, Doug Pardue, Scott Nesbit, David Spooner, Samantha Trust.

During this season of gratitude, we send our heartfelt thanks to our amazing donors, alumni, students, faculty, and staff.

The UGA College of Environment and Design is pleased to announce that James K. Reap has been invited to join the distinguished affiliated faculty in Classics.

Once again, CED graduates were among the “Bulldog 100.” Bulldog 100 celebrates the top 100 fastest-growing organizations owned or operated by UGA alumni.

Dr. Rosanna Rivero to share her experience using GIS and other geospatial technologies for Urban and Regional/Environmental Planning projects. “GIS Application for Planning in the Southeast,” Keynote Presentation by Dr. Rosanna Rivero GIS Day at UGA Wednesday, November 17 from 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm Science Library, 127.

The UGA College of Environment and Design prides itself on teaching at the intersection of art and science, and is therefore pleased to host internationally renowned critic and essayist Adam Gopnik at the UGA Chapel on Wednesday, November 17th at 4:00 p.m. Gopnik will address the compelling need to reaffirm the fundamental relationship between the arts and sciences. A book signing will follow the lecture, with several of his published works available for purchase.

Women in GIS Panel Nov 17 12:30-1:30 pm Science Library 217.

Master of Landscape Architecture student Madelaine Kinnebrew has been given a Student Award of Distinction in the American Society of Architectural Illustrator’s (ASAI) 36th Architecture in Perspective Professional and Student Competition. Madelaine studied advanced graphics under Dr. Jessica Fernandez.

FRIDAY, NOV 19:  Donnie Longenecker, ASLA, UGA CED Senior Lecturer Friday, Nov 19: 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM CDT  Technical Workshop: Preparing for Landscape Architect Registration Exam Section 4 Sam E. […]

Philosopher’s Walks are guided hikes that provide participants with opportunities to experience, connect with and discuss places of ecological interest. They are organized by the UGA Environmental Ethics Certificate Program (EECP) and are open to the public. Nov. 11th Theme: Alfie Vick, landscape architecture faculty at UGA, will lead the Kendeda Building virtual walk.

The DesignIntelligence rankings are based on votes from the design community nationwide. Who can vote: 1. CED undergraduate and graduate students, 2. new alumni who have graduated in the last three years, 3. hiring/supervising professionals within firms Help us spread the word! VOTE!

A decade ago, Cameron Berglund traveled to Uganda to work as a landscape designer and instructor at the CIDI Training Center for Gardening and Landscaping, a vocational school in the country’s capital. During his two years in Kampala, Berglund put together a curriculum to introduce post-high school Ugandan students to landscape design and installation. After working for many years in the US, his desire to be more service-focused led him to step out and explore how landscape architecture could be used in the majority world. The relationships he formed while in-country greatly broadened his understanding of landscape architecture’s potential impact, especially through education. His time in Uganda strengthened his passion for service and helped to ignite his continued desire for teaching. Today, Berglund is the College of Environment and Design’s newest faculty member.

Dean Sonia Hirt recently delivered a virtual lecture to an audience of Swiss and international students in a class titled European Aspects of Spatial Development at the ETH Zurich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich–the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich).

Join the EECP for its inaugural “Screen on the Green.” Come rain or shine, we will be screening “Kiss the Ground” to start a conversation around farming practices and what can be done to make agricultural production more ethical and more productive for the planet’s long-term health. The film will be enjoyed in the Serpentine Garden of the Founders Garden (or the Ballroom if it’s raining) so bring blankets and movie snacks! Popcorn and snacks, as well as seating, will be provided for those who wish to forgo the ground. Free registration:https://t.uga.edu/7uB

Matt Whitaker (MLA ’01) and Thomas Brown (BLA ’10) of WMWA Landscape Architects have been awarded the ASLA Honor Award for their work on the Market + Georgia Public Place project. The project, located around the historic Patten Towers in downtown Chattanooga, was the result of a collaboration between WMWA and local artist Genesis the Greykid. Through an approach that “elevated the role of engagement as the primary design method”, the team was able to implement a project that is reflective of the needs of Chattanooga’s traditionally underserved residents.

Associate Professor David Spooner has been awarded a UGA Learning Technology Grant (LTG) to expand access to advanced digital drawing technology at CED. The grant supported the purchase of fifteen new iPad Pros and Apple pencils, as well as software for the devices.

This year, CED has the honor of announcing one of their very own faculty, Professor David Spooner as one of the 2021-2022 recipients.

UGA students are working with the University of Georgia Marine Institute on Sapelo Island to create new designs that could help coastal residents weather the next hurricane. The UGA interdisciplinary team includes colleagues from the College of Engineering, College of Environment and Design, the department of geography, the department of marine sciences, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, the Office of Research, and the Office of the University Architect.

Pictures from the first Philosopher’s Walk of the semester.

On Wednesday, October 13, the UGA College of Environment + Design will celebrate the publication of Plants in Design: A Guide to Designing with Southern Landscape Plants, with a book signing and exhibition in the college’s Circle Gallery. A reference guide to planting strategies and plant material available in the Southeast, Plants in Design was created by CED professors Brad E. Davis and David Nichols; the accompanying exhibition, “Oh, The Places We’ll Go!”, also curated by Davis and Nichols, features large-format photographs and text from their book.

100 Alumni, students, faculty, and friends are coming so far — please RSVP today! HTTP://t.uga.edu/7p6 Saturday, October 16, 2021, 3 hours before kick off Founders Memorial Garden, Athens, Georgia Questions? Please email [email protected]

McDuffie County, Ga. – The McDuffie County Archway Partnership enlisted design assistance from the College of Environment and Design (CED) in order to increase recreational opportunities around Clarks Hill Lake, one of the largest man-made lakes east of the Mississippi River. Led by the CED Center for Community Design and Preservation, graduate students from the college’s landscape architecture and urban planning programs have provided a master plan that includes concepts tailored to kayaking enthusiasts, hikers, campers, recreational cyclists, and equestrians.

Philosopher’s Walks are guided hikes that provide participants with opportunities to experience, connect with, and discuss places of ecological interest. They are organized by the UGA Environmental Ethics Certificate Program (EECP) and are open to the public.

Furmanski credits his time at the College of Environment + Design for providing a solid foundation in the many facets of landscape architecture to enter the profession with confidence.

Tom Jones, with the support of Lee Cornell and Ashley Steffens, has received a $13,000 grant to set up collaboration stations throughout the college. The first of such stations is located on the ground floor of JSB. The space includes a large format display screen that accommodates wireless connections and a variety of input devices – such as digitizing tablets and document cameras – as well as seating areas for users to congregate and share projects and ideas.

Visitors to the Founders Memorial Garden have noticed a remarkable transformation in recent months. In June, the UGA College of Environment + Design hired a new garden curator, Dr. Debbie Mitchell who has been working diligently to rejuvenate the garden and reveal many of its historic qualities. In addition to serving as Curator of the Founders Memorial Garden, Debbie serves as an instructor, bringing more than twenty years of experience as an environmental educator, classroom science teacher and professional gardener to the CED.

The UGA College of Environment + Design is honored to announce that Christina Hite, UGA CED Alumna and chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council, has been elevated to the American Society of Landscape Architects’ 2021 Council of Fellows. The Fellowship is among the highest honors that the ASLA bestows upon its members, and it is used to recognize outstanding commitment to the profession of landscape architecture. Nominated by the Florida Chapter ASLA, Hite was recognized for excellence in Leadership and Management and was one of only 35 professionals nationwide to be named a Fellow this year.

The College of Environment and Design (CED) partnered with The Ark Family Preservation Center to create a series of gardens that promote healing for families broken by destructive forces such as drugs and alcohol. The Clinkenbeard Healing Gardens, named after the grandmother of the center’s founder, Dr. Oxley, are envisioned to be a space where parents and children can reconnect with each other through play and nature.

From Sept. 13-16, Professor Darrel Morrison will be the artist in residence at the UGA College of Environment + Design. Hosted by Professor R. Alfred Vick. Co-sponsored by the College of Environment + Design (CED) and College of Agriculture and Environmental Science (CAES)

CED Professor Stephen Ramos is among the co-authors of the recently published book “Oil Spaces, Exploring the Global Petroleumscape”

Welcome back! Fall 2021 promises to be the most exciting semester in many years at UGA’s College of Environment + Design. The return of students to campus has brought new life to the University of Georgia, and many lessons were learned during the pandemic–this year, we value our students more than ever, and our faculty are grateful to resume in-person classroom instruction.

CED Professor and River Basin Center affiliate Alfie Vick discusses flood management and resilient natural infrastructure in the new RBC project-profile, “Flood Resilience for the City of Tybee Island: The Tybee Island Back River Study”

CED’s Associate Dean Ashley Steffens has been named to the 2021‑2022 class of the university’s Women’s Leadership Fellows Program.

Internship Highlights Megan McPherson, 2nd year UGA MHP student, received a highly competitive NCPE summer 2021 internship at Redwood National Park in northern California. Second year UGA MHP student, Sarah Owen, received a highly competitive NCPE summer 2021 internship at Fort Scott National Historic Site in Kansas. Sierra Beighey, 2nd year MHP student, interned for Preservation Pittsburgh during summer 2021.

The UGA College of Environment + Design is excited to announce an important milestone for the Master of Landscape Architecture program: The Board of Regents of the University System of […]

CED Ph.D. student Jiyue Zhao won the 5th prize of the 2021 DLA poster competition in the Digital Landscape Architecture Conference, which was held on May 26 – 28 in Dessau-Köthen-Bernburg, Germany.

In “Beauty of the Wild: A Life Designing Landscapes Inspired by Nature,” Darrel Morrison, Dean (1983-1991), and Professor Emeritus, tells stories of people and places that have nourished his career as a teacher and a designer of nature-inspired landscapes.

College students gain historic preservation experience on Jekyll Island Article by Lauren McDonald, The Brunswick News

Brad Davis, associate professor and MLA program coordinator, and David Nichol, associate professor at the University of Georgia have teamed up to publish “Plants in Design.” The goal of the book was to create a well-rounded reference guide to help users to create well-designed landscapes. The focus of the book is on southern landscapes and covers from herbaceous perennials to shrubs and trees. “Plants in Design” is available for preorder through the UGA Press and will be officially released on May 1st, 2021!

Timothy Brown has been hired as the Communications, Marketing and Recruitment Specialist for the College of Environment and Design. Brown will lead public relations efforts for the college, showcasing the work of the landscape architecture, historic preservation, and planning programs.

Jessica Fernandez’s research focuses on campus planning and community building, as well as the application of emerging technologies and contemporary design communications in landscape architecture. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)

Kona Gray (BLA ’97) will deliver the spring Commencement address at the College of Environment and Design at the University of Georgia. After graduating from the CED with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Gray has worked in over thirty countries over the past 26 years and is currently a Principal at EDSA in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Gray serves as President of the Landscape Architecture Foundation and Vice President for Professional Practice of the American Society of Landscape Architects, and is also, an active member of the Urban Land Institute.

Whitney Barr has won the inaugural 2021 Fountain Scholar award, granted by The Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture. Named after Charles Fountain, this prestigious award was established to help Black, Indigenous and other students of color advance their landscape architecture education.

Master of Historic Preservation student Ross Sheppard and partners Will Walker (BBA ’15) and Jacob Hawkins have spent the last two years renovating the c. 1838 Samuel Rockwell House in Milledgeville, GA. The story of this massive undertaking premieres Saturday, May 1, 2021, on HGTV’s Life Under Renovation, which follows five families through a home building project using self-shot footage.

CED is co-sponsoring a symposium to examine the history of slavery at the University of Georgia on April 30 and May 1, 2021. Dr. Scott Nesbit and four students from the Historic Preservation and Landscape Architecture programs are involved in either planning the symposium or presenting recent course research and projects. This virtual event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please visit www.slaveryatuga.org for the full program and registration information.

PhD candidate Lynn Abdouni is one of five UGA graduate students honored with this year’s UGA Graduate School Excellence in Teaching Award. She is recognized for her outstanding instruction whilst pursuing a rigorous program of study in the Environmental Design and Planning doctoral program at the College of Environment and Design (CED).

When Jim Lambert, a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at the University of Georgia’s College of Environment and Design (CED), passed away in 2011, he left money in a family trust to be given to his alma mater. Jim’s wife, Paula, made good on his wishes earlier this year: pledging a planned gift from the trust that will create a $5 million endowment supporting international travel for CED’s landscape architecture students. Once realized, the gift will be the largest in CED’s history.

Honors Day ’21 occurs during an extraordinary time – the culmination of a full year under the worldwide Covid-19 Pandemic – therefore we are celebrating the students’ achievements virtually.

Congratulations to CED Alumna Leigh Askew Elkins for receiving the prestigious UGA Walter Barnard Hill Award for her achievements in public service and outreach

A Message to the CED Family from Dean Sonia

Behind the Jackson Street Building is a small plaza with a lot of potential. Jon Williams (BLA ’96) saw the opportunity to give back to CED with a donation in his family’s name as well as a learning opportunity for current landscape architecture students. Professor Doug Pardue led a hybrid design charrette to re-image the space as a “working yard” that would support student learning, create a welcoming event space, showcase landscape architecture and best design practices, and provide a smooth thoroughfare for those passing through.

Eric Reisman (MHP ’09) has been hired as the newest Coordinator for the FindIt Historic Resource Survey Program. He has over ten years of historic resource survey experience, most recently with the Mississippi State Historic Preservation Office as their survey manager. He begins his new role at CCDP on April 19th. Welcome, Eric!

On March 15, 2021, CED announced a Georgia Funder campaign to support the rejuvenation of the Serpentine Garden – one of the most iconic spaces within the Founders Memorial Garden. Thanks to the generosity of CED friends and alumni, the initial goal of $5,000 was surpassed in less than 6 hours! To build on this outpouring of support and to further the restoration of other areas of the garden, CED has set a new goal of $17,500. With additional donations, the Camellia Walk Arbor, the Boxwood Parterre Garden, the North Arboretum Azaleas, and other areas could get the care they need.

The CED community congratulates Dean Bob Nicholls on receiving first place in his age group for this year’s Peachtree Road Race.

Two CED alumni are featured in the latest issue of Georgia Magazine.

This time of year, many students are seeking Summer internships. For two CED students, their remarkable experiences left a big impact as they closed a chapter on their time at UGA.

Students in the Master of Historic Preservation program get hands-on experience researching the physical condition of old buildings. Every Fall semester, students in Dr. Mark Reinberger’s Building Material Conservation class are divided into teams to create structural assessments for a variety of clients. Students in the class were interviewed about their experiences.

Katherine Melcher, an associate professor of landscape architecture in the College of Environment and Design, has created the Community Landscape Lab to engage students and community groups using landscape architecture as the means to acuate social change. Through the Community Landscape Lab, Professor Melcher partners students with clients in a Master’s level Landscape Architecture (MLA) studio to provide stakeholders with design concepts and engagement strategies useful to the community. Bringing more awareness to the lab’s work, students developed a blog to publish information about the projects they are working on, including background information, weekly updates on community feedback, and their design recommendations.

Researchers have identified significant linkages between public health and the design of the built environment, including impacts on physical activity, walkability, social and mental health. While most design research centers on the re-design of cities and other urban places, Georgia is predominately a rural state. With the 20th highest adult and the 18th highest child obesity rates in the nation, rural Georgia needs design interventions that are sustainable, community supported and cost-effective. While better health outcomes through design is frequently touted for urban areas, research neglects design and planning for rural communities.

The College of Environment and Design at UGA is proud to announce that Professors Katherine Melcher and Alfie Vick have been accepted into the inaugural cohort of the Rural Engagement Faculty Workshop series sponsored by the Office of the Vice-President for Public Service and Outreach (PSO). The initiative connects academic faculty with rural research interests to public service faculty with community connections throughout Georgia.

College of Environment and Design Associate Professor Stephen Ramos received a Public Impact Grant from the Wilson Center for Humanities and Arts for his work with UGA Lamar Dodd School of Art Assistant Professor James A. Enos in support of the “Port Futures and Social Logistics” initiative in art and urbanism.

Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, Sungkyung Lee [https://ced.uga.edu/directory/faculty_profiles/lee_sungkyung/], has been accepted into the 2021 cohort of the UGA Special Collections Libraries Faculty Fellows program.

Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT), The Ray and the University of Georgia’s College of Environment + Design (UGA CED) are pleased to announce Phase 2 of their meadow-research plantings on The Ray Highway, at the Exit 6 median alongside I-85’s northbound lanes. The purpose of the research is to establish innovative uses that beautify and improve the utilization of Georgia’s highway corridor.

Members of the CED are participating in two research teams as part of a 2021 cohort sponsored by the UGA Office of Research. In partnership with the Office of the Provost, competitive “pre-seed” funding was made available to stimulate collaboration around areas of need and to position faculty teams to be competitive for internal and external grants.

Karen A. Phillips, FASLA was awarded this year’s 2021 Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) Medal, recognizing an expansive career in community development, public service, environmental design, urban planning, real estate, and revitalization.

Former College of Environment and Design (CED) Associate Professor and American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Fellow, Bruce Ferguson, has recently authored the book, A Philosophy of Landscape Construction, which outlines a new philosophy of values in landscape construction.

The UGA Center for Teaching and Learning created the Thank-a-Teacher program 12 years ago to allow students an easy way to express gratitude to a professor, instructor, or graduate student teacher who has impacted their life in a profound and meaningful way. CED Associate Professor David Spooner and Ph.D. Candidate Lynn Abdouni are both receiving praise from students for their engaging classes.

The UGA College of Environment and Design will present a virtual lecture by Tom Mayes, General Counsel of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, on Wednesday, March 3, 4:30 p.m. EST.

Leah Melnik has joined the College of Environment and Design as the Graduate Program Administrator for the Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation and Urban Planning and Design programs.

“A City Under the Sedums: Vegetated Roof Adoption in a Modern Urbanizing World.” This January, Master of Landscape Architecture student James Schulte had the opportunity to present his thesis research in the Salon Series hosted by TEDxUGA.

Jon Williams (BLA ’96), CEO and President of W&A Engineering, was recently appointed to the Georgia Board of Landscape Architects by Governor Brian Kemp. According to the press release, the Board is authorized to “adopt rules, set standards for licensure, adopt mandatory standards of professional conduct, and investigate and discipline unauthorized, negligent or incompetent practice.” In addition, the Board also licenses landscape architects, after applicants complete their education and pass a national and state exam.

Professor and former dean Jack Crowley will retire at the end of this semester after nearly three decades at the College of Environment and Design. He began as an assistant professor in 1974 and has since left his mark on thousands of landscape architects, planners and preservationists.

We are pleased to share with you some of our greatest recent accomplishments.

Sixteen UGA researchers from 10 different colleges and departments will apply their expertise to N-EWN’s mission. The project leader for UGA is principal investigator Dr. Brian Bledsoe, a professor in the College of Engineering, who specializes in resilient infrastructure. Dr. Jon Calabria, a professor in the College of Environment and Design, will also be a partner in the project. The N-EWN partnership will also draw from the expertise of the UGA’s River Basin Center and Center for Integrative Conservation Research. In addition, an equal number of researchers from USACE will add their knowledge and skill to the network, led by Dr. Todd Bridges, the EWN National Lead and Dr. Jeffrey King, EWN Deputy National Lead. Dr. Calabria states, “We are just beginning to conceptualize ways to integrate nature-based infrastructure to achieve sustainability and resiliency goals. Students and I are in the process of creating graphics and plans to inform these goals at several scales.”

The Covid-19 Pandemic forced many institutions, organizations, and individuals to rethink “business as usual.” For the FindIt Program, the long-running historic resource survey program within the Center for Community Design & Preservation (CCDP), local shelter-in-place rules provided an opportunity for students to share the results of their architectural fieldwork more broadly.

Associate Professor Katherine Melcher was recently published in Town Planning Review for her article, “In praise of social distance in public spaces.”

Environment, Design, and Teaching in times of COVID-19: PhD student professional development at CED. Doctoral students at the College of Environment and Design can work on their teaching skills through their assistantships, working as teaching assistants or instructors of record. Such opportunities prepare them for a career in academia and invite them to innovate in the classroom.

Natural Engagement: Where Earth Meets Sky Paintings by Rachel Evans Grant The Circle Gallery at the UGA College of Environment and Design will host an exhibit of paintings by Atlanta artist Rachel Evans Grant titled, Natural Engagement: Where Earth Meets Sky. The exhibit is free and open to the public and will run from Jan. 19th through April 15th, 2021 in the Jackson Street Building. Visitors are asked to wear a mask and keep a six-foot distance. Circle Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

The UGA Alumni Association has unveiled the 2021 Bulldog 100, a list of the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or operated by UGA alumni in over two dozen industries. This year, three College of Environment and Design alumni have had their businesses recognized for their achievements.

On Wednesday December 2nd, Gareth Doherty, Harvard University Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, will speak on his latest book, Roberto Burle Marx Lectures: Landscape as Art and Urbanism. Roberto Burle Marx was a renowned Brazilian landscape architect who gained worldwide recognition for his park and garden designs.

In February 2020, Stephen Ramos was awarded the UGA Provost’s Office Study in a Second Discipline Fellowship for the Spring/Fall 2021 semesters for his research project, “Regional Praxis: Howard W. Odum, Planning, and the Southern Imaginary.” Ramos received generous support from the UGA Willson Center for Humanities & Arts as he developed the proposal.

An intimate gathering was held last night in Founders Memorial Garden to celebrate the retirements of several CED colleagues. With the early golden hour light of Fall as a backdrop and champagne in hand, we toasted Brian Orland, Brian LaHaie, and Paul MacGregor, who retired earlier this year, as well as Jack Crowley, Melissa Tufts and Donna Gabriel, who are retiring at the end of December.

Associate Professor Katherine Melcher has been asked to serve as Interim Editor of Landscape Journal, the official peer-reviewed publication of the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA).

Alexander Burke, a graduate student from Connecticut, plans to build a career somewhere between municipal city planning, land management and design. (Photo by Chad Osburn/UGA)

We are pleased to share with you some of our greatest recent accomplishments.

One of the best ways for students to learn about what their career will be like after college is to talk to professionals in the field. This semester the bachelor’s and master’s students in the Landscape Architecture program spoke via Zoom with CED alumni in landscape architecture and related careers across the country.

The Center for Innovative Teaching (CFIT) Campus Development Project is an exciting partnership between Barrow Community Foundation, Barrow County schools, ArtsNow, and community leaders to create an innovative arts and science center that includes a playground and destination park in Winder, Georgia. This past summer, College of Environment and Design (CED) seniors in Professor Donnie Longenecker’s capstone undergraduate landscape architecture studio (LAND 4900) partnered with the CFIT to develop concepts for playground and park designs.

CCDP began a virtual design charrette this week to envision a brewpub and enhanced river walk for downtown Hawkinsville. Read more: instagram.com/p/CGBjY9WBqOY/

The Circle Gallery will remain open until November 25th, 2020 for visitors to come relax and enjoy the gallery space. Everyone welcome! Enjoy sitting in the gallery or just walking by, and let the colors, shapes, and lines take you on an indoor journey of design.

The College of Environment and Design 2020-2025 Strategic Plan was prepared by a committee of faculty, staff, students, and alumni after gathering ideas and input widely. As a professional school, we aim to strengthen instruction, research, and service through the integration of design with science- and evidence-based solutions, holistically addressing society’s most urgent problems – especially in Georgia’s most vulnerable communities. This is wholly represented in our Vision, Mission and Strategic Goals. We invite you to explore the details of our plan and see where it aligns with your relationship to the College.

Megan McPherson, a first-year Master of Historic Preservation (MHP) student, came to the program with some bona fide research under her belt with the Georgia Museum of Natural History (GMNH).

The Anthropology A.B./Historic Preservation M.H.P Double Dawg program prepares students to be leaders in the fields of historic preservation and cultural resource management, as well as providing a pathway into Ph.D. programs in the social sciences and humanities. The Master of Historic Preservation is the terminal degree in the field of historic preservation and would allow graduates access to employment options at local, state, and federal government levels, would prepare them to work in the non-profit cultural heritage sector, as well as to find employment in the construction, cultural heritage tourism, and design industries.

On October 7, CED students launched “Lettus Talk”, a podcast to address contemporary issues of urban planning, landscape architecture, and historic preservation. The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple, and Google podcasts. “Lettus Talk” launches episodes on Wednesdays.

CED Professor James Reap and Associate Professor Eric MacDonald are among the co-authors of Chapter 15 “Feeding Futures Framed: Rediscovering Biocultural Diversity in Sustainable Foodscapes.”

If you like to think of environmental design as a marriage between science and art, then Barrett Kays is your man. Kays is a soil scientist and landscape architect at […]

Dean Sonia Hirt recently joined an Urban Design class at the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to give a presentation on the 60th anniversary of Jane Jacobs’ “The Death and Life of Great American Cities”–one of the most influential texts on urbanism written during the 20th century.

The College of Environment and Design’s Senior Project and Graduate Capstone summer studio was held fully online, but that did not stop the students from experiencing their project site from afar. Dr. Fernandez’s class used emerging technologies for site exploration and analysis of their Atlanta BeltLine urban plaza project located in Atlanta, Georgia. Aside from, but connected to the online summer, Epic Games has awarded the College of Environment and Design with a $25,000 Epic MegaGrant to integrate virtual reality and advanced visualization technologies into teaching and research efforts.

Last year marked 50 years since the establishment of the School of Environmental Design, which became the College of Environment and Design in 2001. As part of the year-long celebration, CED faculty, staff, and alumni recognized the most amazing individuals and groups who have shaped the college throughout its history. The “Owens 50” are named after CED’s founding Dean, Hubert Owens, and honor 50 individuals who shaped our programs and enhanced the CED’s ability to serve students and enrich lives. We also honor six institutions that have had an indelible impact on the CED.

Jon Calabria, an associate professor in the College of Environment and Design, uses service-learning to benefit communities and prepare students for successful careers.

Dean Sonia Hirt’s 2015 book Zoned in the USA: The Origins and Implications of American Land-Use Regulation (Cornell University Press) is included in the list of Top 10 Best Land […]

As one of the most highly respected scholars in geodesign, Orland brought incredible intellectual rigor and ambition to the CED. He successfully mentored many students and faculty, while continued his own very strong research trajectory.

In preparation for UGA’s return to campus this fall, UGA administration is holding an informational webinar to answer questions regarding UGA’s preparations to promote the health and safety of all on campus.

The CED is proud to announce that its first PhD candidate, Leslie Palacios, has graduated. Palacios’ work focuses on the history of studio-based curricula.

How do you lead a plant ID class online?

As UGA prepares to welcome students back this fall, the CED staff have been hard at work preparing our part of campus to create a healthy and safe instructional environment.

This fall semester, the College of Environment and Design will be experiencing a change of leadership. Ashley Steffens, longtime faculty and alumna of the CED, will take over the role of Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.

People’s Park, created in the 1970s, is now a “naturalized space” on campus which highlights the ever-changing relationship between the UGA community and the citizens of Athens, and the important role that urban open spaces play in both symbolizing and advancing social equity and justice.

A recap of Design Camp, CED’s summer event for rising high school seniors interested in landscape architecture.

The new Classics AB/Historic Preservation MHP Double Dawgs program is an excellent pathway for students interested in the architecture of the built environment, history, and preservation and opens the gateway to various PhD programs in the humanities.

Associate Professor Katherine Melcher is developing a new course focused on bringing to light the forces that shape much of our world… and how designing with those in mind promotes inclusive spaces.

Starting immediately, students may add an HP minor, allowing them to pair an education in Historic Preservation with any number of major studies. Photo credit James Shulte.

Associate professor Amitabh Verma has released a series of posters promoting healthy habits during the pandemic… each with a unique twist.

Five BLA students received design awards from the American Society of Architectural Illustrators in a multinational competition among other design students.

In light of the pandemic, Professor Stephen Ramos shares thoughts on how the design of our cities can mitigate or magnify public health concerns.

Emily Rogers, 3rd-year BLA student, is taking point on key design work in the restoration of Crayfish Creek, a tributary of the Chattahoochee River and eventual site for a proposed Greenway.

Brian LaHaie, 18-year faculty member of the CED, is retiring after a long and impactful career teaching, leading, and contributing a powerful voice to the environment and design field.

While students, faculty and staff are no longer meeting on campus due to UGA’s online instruction and shelter in place guidelines, Dr. Jessica Fernandez and her students have found a […]

Daniel Sizemore, CED alumnus, created a hub to track the spread of the coronavirus in Athens, GA, the open/closed status of various public areas, and demographic and socioeconomic information.

Lawrie Jordan, CED alumnus and executive at ESRI, a GIS company, is building an online tool to track the global spread and response to the coronavirus.

Amitabh Verma has been using art to lessen stress and anxiety. Now, he turns his artistic skills to show us a new perspective on our fight against the coronavirus.

Students from the CED student group LETTUS created an online space to share ideas, provide feedback, and connect during this time of online instruction.

Scott Nesbit and his students are preserving our current cultural moment… all without the benefit of in-person interviews, site visits, or travel. What happens when historic preservation goes virtual?

Dean Hirt, guest speaker Chris Hite, and our program coordinators bid farewell to our Class of 2020 in a special video message.

MHP students hold innovative virtual interviews with members of a Georgia community in order to preserve their historic community despite shelter-in-place and physical distancing guidelines.

James Reap, coordinator of the Master of Historic Preservation program, talked sharing and the coronavirus during a conference among land arts experts hosted by longtime colleagues in China.

Chris Sirmans, one of the first graduates of the Master of Environmental Planning and Design, was called to serve alongside the GA National Guard in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

CED librarian and director of the Owens Gallery Melissa Tufts shares her drive for increasing production of her organic farm in the face of the food-related issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

We shift attention to CED’s four honor graduates for the Class of 2020: Braden Meadows (BLA), Julia Alcorn (BLA and MEPD), Timothy Brown (MHP), and Hannah Rose Mayo (MHP).

Messages from the Dean concerning the CED and UGA’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

UGA has set a date for its spring commencement, which was delayed significantly due to complications arising from the coronavirus.

A summary of UGA’s press release detailing an emergency fund for students impacted by the coronavirus.

Congratulations to Assistant Professor Scott Nesbit and Associate Professor Cari Goetcheus who both learned via letters from UGA President Jere Morehead on February 7, 2020 that they had successfully navigated […]

MESSAGE FROM DEAN SONIA HIRT Dear alumni/alumnae and friends, We are all monitoring the current situation regarding COVID-19, and the health and safety of our college community is our number […]

This event is POSTPONED in response to the Coronavirus (COVID‑19) threat. More information will be posted when available. The UGA College of Environment and Design prides itself on teaching at […]

Georgia DOT, CED and The Ray Test Alternatives to Traditional Land Management Strategies on I-85

Professor Alfie Vick was featured in the March 2 edition of the Serenbe Stories podcast. In the interview, Professor Vick talked “about eating plants, taking biophilic principals to all communities, […]

Senior Lecturer Donnie Lecturer has been selected as an Innovation Fellow for the Spring Semester. Launched last fall as part of UGA’s Innovation District initiative, the Innovations Fellows program aims […]

Design Camp has moved to an online format for Summer 2020. For more information click here.

Dr. Wayde Brown, Associate Professor in the Historic Preservation program, recently presented a paper at the Ruhr University, in Bochum, Germany. The conference theme was Metropolitan Masculinities: Narratives of Gender […]

The UGA College of Environment and Design (CED) will welcome Timothy Beatley for a public lecture titled Biophilic Cities: Design for Planetary Health and Human Flourishing on February 26, 2020 […]

The UGA College of Environment and Design (CED) is pleased to announce a lecture and Circle Gallery exhibit by one of its graduates, Athens artist Philip Juras, as part of […]

MLA student Jacqueline Menke has won Athens’ first “Kinda Tiny” housing competition! Menke entered the competition as a part of Professor Alfie Vick’s green building class. From the article below: […]

Dean Sonia Hirt, Hughes Professor in Landscape Architecture and Planning at the College of Environment and Design, recently traveled to China. On her trip, she visited Nanjing Forestry University and […]

Professor Brian Orland was recently in Brazil as a keynote speaker at Geodesign South America at the Centro de Ciências Humanas e da Educação, GeoLab – Laboratório de Geoprocessamento, Universidade […]

MHP Student Rose Mayo was awarded a Willson Center for the Humanities & Arts Graduate Research Grant during the Fall 2019 semester. This grant supports her research trips to Monticello […]

Dean Sonia Hirt’s book titled “Zoned in the USA: The Origins and Implications of American Land-Use Regulation” was designated as one of the Top 14 books in urban planning of […]

Associate Professor Cari Goetcheus, Historic Preservation program, spoke on “Data Capture Technologies for Cultural Landscape Documentation and Visualization” as an invited guest speaker at the Digital Cultural Heritage FUTURE VISIONS […]

The efforts of Master of Historic Preservation student Elizabeth Jones to preserve an abandoned and nearly forgotten African American cemetery are featured in the Fall-Winter 2019 issue of Walton Living […]

MEPD student Samantha Trust has been awarded first place in the Graduate Division map contest held during this year’s GISday@UGA events. GISday is an international celebration of geographic information systems […]

Associate Professor Amitabh Verma is profiled in this week’s Focus on Faculty from the UGA news service! Follow this link to read the story.

Victoria Vanhuss, a second year graduate student in the Master of Historic Preservation program, has been named a 2019 ARCUS Leadership Program Fellow—one of 27 learners who will receive fully […]

Dean Sonia Hirt delivered one of the keynote lectures in the international congress on “Urban and Housing Systems under Pressure” organized by the Metropolitan Research Institute in Budapest, Hungary. The […]

Landscapes of Care Circle Gallery opening reception Thursday, Nov. 7th at 4:30 p.m. As part of our ongoing 50th Anniversary Celebration of the CED, the Circle Gallery exhibit, Snapshots unveils […]

Jack Carman, FASLA and founder/president of Design for Generations, LLC will lecture at CED on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. in JSB 123. The lecture is part of […]

The College of Environment and Design (CED) has a special visitor this year: Fulbright Scholar and professor Dr. Daniela Jelinčić is being hosted for the academic year 2019/2020 by Professor […]

The boat over to Sapelo Island one morning this past summer was a living cross-section of people who live, work, or visit this unique barrier island culture: wealthy white travelers […]

The UGA College of Environment and Design is hosting Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO for a lecture on “Preserving Global Heritage in Times of War and Conflict” on Tuesday, […]

Alumni and Honors Day this year was held on September 6th. Click here to browse a photo album of the event on our facebook page, and here to access the […]

Dean Sonia Hirt is quoted in the article “Why Are American Homes So Big” in The Atlantic. Click through to read the story.

Bob Hughes—landscape architect, planner, and founding principal of HGOR, and Sarah Ross—Executive Director of the UGA Center for Research and Education at Wormsloe, have been named recipients of the College […]

Lucy Lawliss BLA ’79, MLA ’92 has received the 2019 CED Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award. She was presented with the medallion on August 22 during the CED’s 50th Anniversary […]

In the summer of 1969, the University of Georgia founded the School of Environmental Design (later, the College of Environment and Design or CED)—a manifestation of the reformist environmental spirit […]

Did they manage to sink or swim? The annual CED Shark Tank Competition, hosted by Donnie Longenecker’s Professional Practice class, follows aspiring entrepreneurs as they present landscape architecture business plans […]

Dr. Jessica Fernandez has joined the CED faculty as Lecturer of Design Communication and Visual Literacy. Fernandez has a Ph.D. in Planning, Design and the Built Environment from Clemson University […]

The CED now offers three Double Dawg dual degree program tracks. In addition to the BLA + MLA and BLA + MEPD tracks for CED undergraduates, a new AB History […]

Dean Sonia Hirt is quoted in this article in The New York Times, dated June 18, 2019.

In recognition of the support of CED alumnus Ed Castro (BLA ’88) and family, the College of Environment and Design dean’s office has been named in their honor. “We are […]

As the only representatives from CED in a field of over 600 UGA student researchers, BLA students Braden Meadows and Clint Granros participated in the 2019 Center for Undergraduate Research […]

Congratulations to BLA student Karlie Roper who provided the winning concept for the CED’s 50th Anniversary logo! Karlie is a first year BLA who, clearly, has a design career ahead […]

Lawrie Jordan, director of imagery and remote sensing at ESRI in Redlands, Ca., was the speaker at the UGA College of Environment and Design convocation ceremony held today in the […]

Congratulations to our 2019 ASLA (Georgia Chapter) student award winners! This year’s Honor Awards went to Ben Gladstone, Anna McAlister and Alyssa Shrewsbury, BLA students, and Mary Mathis and Jacqueline […]

Associate Professor Ashley Steffens is part of a line-up of practitioners and educators contributing a chapter in Nadia Amoroso’s new book, Representing Landscapes, Analogue just published by Routledge. The chapter […]

The College of Environment and Design was recognized by the Georgia State Legislature at the State Capitol on Tuesday, April 2nd in appreciation of its long history, contributions to the […]

College of Environment and Design students hosted this year’s LAbash in early April, rolling out the Athens hospitality and creative life-forces for over 400 visitors. Led by an executive team […]

Dean Sonia Hirt is quoted in this article in The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/09/upshot/trump-america-full-or-emptying.html  

Congratulations to Ashley Steffens who was recently elected President and Chair of the Standing Committee for Strategic Planning of the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) at their recent […]

The College of Environment and Design is being recognized by the Georgia State Legislature at the State Capitol on Tuesday, April 2nd at 11 a.m. in appreciation of our history, […]

Dean Sonia Hirt, Hughes Professor in Landscape Architecture and Planning at the College of Environment and Design recently traveled to China to lecture at the College of Architecture and Planning […]

A design team from the College of Environment and Design recently took home an honor award for research at this year’s awards ceremony of the Georgia Chapter, American Society of […]

The City of Richmond Hill, Ga. and the Richmond Hill Downtown Development Authority have partnered with students from the University of Georgia’s College of Environment and Design (CED) to create […]

College of Environment and Design Professor James Reap has been awarded the Ann Webster Smith Award for extraordinary and sustained achievement in support of conserving the world’s cultural heritage by […]

Who are some of the most influential people who helped shape the College of Environment and Design? Was there a faculty member who motivated you to pursue your dreams? A […]

Humans are altering the planet’s ecosystems in ways and in magnitude unthinkable even a few short decades ago. Climate change, habitat fragmentation, and invasive species are rapidly changing species composition […]

Professor Amitabh Verma has taught a freshman odyssey course on sketching campus architecture for the last several years. Recently he created an online learning series based on the course, as […]

Lynn Abdouni, CED’s first PhD candidate to successfully pass her qualifying exams (January 2019) has just received a grant to attend the Summer Dissertation Institute in Beirut, Lebanon this summer. […]

Congratulations to Alfie Vick, who has just been promoted to full professor at the University of Georgia! Vick is the Georgia Power Professor in Environmental Ethics and is a licensed […]

BLA student Braden Meadows will be joining UGA President Jere Morehead and 24 other UGA Student Government Association (SGA) representatives at the Georgia State capitol on February 12th. In this […]

Brian Orland, UGA’s Rado Family Foundation/UGAF Professor of Geodesign in the College of Environment and Design (CED), is coordinating an initiative comprised of over 90 institutions worldwide designed to share […]

Dean Sonia Hirt will give the keynote lecture at the culminating event of Drexel University’s “Power, Pleasure, and Space: Planning the 21st Century” lecture series. The series is sponsored by […]

Sonia Hirt, dean of the UGA College of Environment and Design, will be a keynote speaker at the International Conference on Cities and Change in May 2019 in Darmstadt, Germany. […]

Groft, who has over 30 years of experience in innovative landscape design, will lecture on the work of James van Sweden and Wolfgang Oehme, who revolutionized landscape architecture in America […]

Like many accomplished, creative people Dorinda Dallmeyer’s professional life has numerous threads of interests that weave a rich fabric. She is a writer, a teacher, a geologist and naturalist, a […]

CED Dean Sonia Hirt recently participated in a colloquium on “Why a Sense of Place Matters on College Campuses” at Oxford College of Emory University. As part of a celebration […]

UGA College of Environment and Design (CED) is #1 in the nation as the school from which professional design firms claim to hire the most graduates. In schools that graduate […]

Associate Professor Katherine Melcher will receive the 2018 Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) Outstanding Paper Award, for her paper, entitled “Three Moments in Aesthetic Discourse: From Natural Law […]

Dean Sonia Hirt is featured this week in Columns, the online newspaper for the University of Georgia community. Click here to read the article.

BLA Student Braden Meadows Featured as UGA Amazing Student

Ted Turner Drive Re-design Competition Win 2018

CED ranks in top tier for Landscape Architecture again

Historic Preservation Professor Wayde Brown Publishes Book on Reconstructing Historic Landmarks

MHP’s English Hinton Helps Highlight the History of Georgia’s Rural Churches

Two UGA CED Students Win Top Award From the American Society of Landscape Architects

Spencer Tunnell to Give Annual Neel Reid Lecture

Bill Beery obituary

Welcome reception for new dean, and gallery opening

Coincidence brings 5 MHP alumni together on project in Mississippi.

MHP Graduate Scott Messer Featured in UGA Graduate Magazine

BLA Service Learning Studio Featured in UGAToday

FindIt Program Featured in UGAToday

CED Team Continues Work With Landscape Architecture Foundation’s Case Study Investigation Program

Having a Wonderful Time…Wish You Were Here! LARE Review at CED summer 2018

Students on Maymester in Costa Rica designed a new master plan for the UGA campus botanical garden.

Last-minute Panic! BLA Senior Capstone projects now in the Circle Gallery.

Sigma Pi Kappa Initiation 2018

Tensions ran high and the competition was brutal! This year’s Shark Tank competition in Donnie Longenecker’s Professional Practice class brought out the best in several teams of BLA students. The […]

ASLA Student Competition awards 2018

Caitlin Teuton, BLA Student, Presents at CURO Symposium 2018

Associate Professor Ashley Steffens serves as ASLA Professional Awards Juror, elected CELA President

Trees Atlanta Annual Alumni Social MLA Student Perspective

Dorinda Dallmeyer to Give Bartram Lecture at Office of Reed Hilderbrand

Kevin Burke, ASLA, will deliver the 2018 convocation at this year’s CED graduation ceremonies on Friday, May 4th at 1:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theater at 255 Baldwin St. […]

UGA Historic Preservation Master Plan Public Presentation

Fort Valley State University Administrators Provide Insight as Students Prepare Campus Plans

MEPD Ideas of Community Class Visits Georgia Sites in Study of Planning and Immigration

Jennifer Martin Lewis Named Interim Director of the Center for Community Design and Preservation

Incoming Dean Sonia Hirt Named a Fellow by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)

Pratt Cassity Retires as Director of the CED’s Center for Community Design and Preservation

MHP Students enjoy annual Coastal Field Study Trip

CED Graduates Recognized Among Bulldog 100

Three UGA Faculty Chosen as Case Study Investigation Program Participants for 2018 by the Landscape Architecture Foundation

Students in Historic Preservation had the opportunity to visit Chicago and attend the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual conference from November 14-17. Fifteen students participated in this year’s conference along with Professor James Reap and Director of Development Jennifer Messer. This year’s Past Forward conference focused on themes of reurbanism, technology, health, and connections. In addition to attending the […]

Athens, Ga. – Sonia Hirt, a seasoned administrator and one of the world’s foremost scholars of land use and planning, has been named dean of the University of Georgia College of Environment and Design. Hirt is currently professor and dean of the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at the University of Maryland, College Park, and her appointment at UGA […]

First year MLA student Matt Quirey and BLA program director Brad Davis are partners in a three-year project with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), The Land Institute, and The Ray, an 18-mile section of highway dedicated to transforming the transportation infrastructure of the future and supported by the Ray C. Anderson Foundation. Davis and Quirey have installed and will […]

Maurice Blount of the University Architects Office and a first year PhD student in the College of Environment and Design joined Danny Sniff on a visit to Taliaferro County recently to inspect the historic Springfield School, a log structure built in the early decades of the 20th century. The unique building was used first as a school for African Americans […]

Visual Resource Stewardship Conference presentation Argonne National Laboratory, Illinois November 7 – 9, 2017 Attending and presenting: Brian Orland, Jon Calabria, Micah Taylor PhD student Micah Taylor joined CED faculty members Brian Orland and Jon Calabria in a presentation at a recent conference at the Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Illinois. The Visual Resource Stewardship conference, Landscape and Seaside Management […]

Think of the special places on the UGA campus: Herty Field, the Founders Memorial Garden, Brooks Drive, or the North Campus quadrangle, to name a few. All of them hold meaning for us in addition to simply serving as locations that occupy the space between buildings. Yes, we walk often without noticing them to classes, the library, […]

Shade and food plantings for the area surrounding the Rocksprings Homes Community Center in Athens were among the suggestions made by second year BLA students in Shelley Cannady’s planting design class recently. Based on the students’ design solutions, the trees and shrubs will be planted in spring 2018 on Arbor Day. Students presented their proposals to members of the community […]

Associate Dean David Spooner Recognized in Design Intelligence Magazine

Chad Danos, FASLA, former president of the American Society of Landscape Architects, joined us here at CED for a two-day visit recently, hosted by Georgia Students of Landscape Architecture (GSLA). Sponsored in large part by Permaloc, his visit was a great opportunity for students of landscape architecture to hear about trends in hiring as well as emerging challenges for […]

What day-to-day tasks are involved in the professional world of a landscape architect? Which skills are most marketable and how will employers help shape one’s professional trajectory? These were a few of the questions on the minds of CED graduate students who visited Atlanta landscape architecture firm HGOR recently. HGOR, one of the most recognizable and longstanding landscape architecture firms […]

CED student work for the Tybee Island Master Plan was recently awarded Outstanding Student Project for the year by the Georgia Planning Association (GPA). Congratulations to Assistant Professor Alison Smith and her students in the Fall 2016 LAND 4050 class! The award was made public at the annual awards dinner in Columbus, Ga., on September 28th 2017. Pictured here with […]

On Saturday, October 7, members of Professor Cari Goetcheus’s Rural Preservation class took a field trip to the Sautee and Nachoochee Valleys near Helen, GA. The intent of the field trip was to expose the class to a place with a long rural history where the community appreciates this “ruralness” and has taken action to protect it. The Sautee and […]

Check out this recent NPS feature article on Associate Professor Cari Goetcheus and her career in Cultural Landscapes. “Cari’s professional experiences across the NPS and academia have made her uniquely qualified to teach cultural landscape preservation and to collaborate with students and educators from diverse backgrounds. Her work draws upon history, ecology, design, planning, and management. One of the most important […}

On Sunday, September 17, members of the Student Historic Preservation Organization visited the Hurt-Rives Plantation near Sparta, GA. This National Register listed site is currently owned by Bob and Susan Woodall who run Fort Creek Farms from the property selling sustainably raised grass fed beef, pastured chicken, free range eggs, and pet goats. Second year MHP student and former Fort Creek Farms employee […]

Associate Professor Cari Goetcheus will be speaking at the Georgia Drone Summit regarding the use of drones for heritage conservation. Held October 20 & 21st at the Athens Classic Center, visit http://www.georgiadronesummit.com/ to learn more about the 1 1/2 day event and to register. There is a discounted rate for students. From the website: “In addition to plenty of networking time, this […]

Students in Dr. Wayde Brown’s Site Interpretation Class recently took a three day field trip through Central Georgia to explore interpretation at different sites. Leaving on Thursday, September 7, and returning on Saturday, September 9, students were able to visit a variety of sites in the Central Georgia region. Students began their first day at the Old Governor’s Mansion in […]

First-year students participating in MHP Professor James Reap’s Odyssey seminar explored historic preservation projects at UGA as part of their course titled “Is There a Future for the Past? An Introduction to Community Heritage Preservation.” The course uses Athens as a laboratory to explore how communities go about preserving their natural and cultural heritage for future generations. A major focus […]

Associate Professor Ashley Steffens presented a design for the redevelopment of a public waterfront park in Brunswick, Ga. this summer. Steffens and her father, also a landscape architect, redesigned the park to include retail and dining space, a native garden, and a water play area equipped with water fountains. Click here to read more.

New Master of Historic Preservation students for the Fall 2017 semester spent a week together before classes being introduced to the MHP program at UGA as well as being exposed to current practices in preservation. Beginning on Monday, August 7th, and concluding on Friday, August 11th, new students joined the MHP faculty in a variety of tours and meetings as […]

Kenn Bullock practiced landscape architecture for 44 years and in his retirement has taken up watercolors. As an old friend of professor emeritus Scott Weinberg, Kenn has ties to the CED, where many of his staff were trained in AutoCAD. Kenn worked for himself for over thirteen years before moving to Charlotte, N.C. where he joined the Woolpert architectural and […]

Danielle Schwartz, MLA Candidate ’18 Last summer I studied a dialect of Quechua in the Ecuadorian Amazon and was never so aware of how well a language reflected the culture and belief system of its people. This summer, I am studying abroad with UGA Cortona and have likewise been amazed by how the values of Italian culture are ingrained in […]

The CED welcomes Paul MacGregor as the new curator of the historic Founders Memorial Garden. Paul, who holds degrees in horticulture and agricultural education, hit the ground running August 1st after a few days’ training with Maureen O’Brien, who retired this summer. Paul’s life in landscapes and plants began with cutting lawns in high school. His professional career skills were […]

CED Alumnus Matt Forshee (BLA ’00) has been named a member of the UGA Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2017. The program celebrates the personal, professional and philanthropic achievements of UGA graduates who are under the age of 40. Honorees must have attended UGA and aspire to uphold the Pillars of the Arch, in addition to other criteria. Matt, a Region […]

Second year MHP student Lisa Demarais Kirby recently completed an internship with the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library here at UGA. The purpose of Lisa’s internship was to compile the information, documents, and physical items for a special exhibit celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation (ACHF). The exhibit, titled “Saving Athens: Celebrating 50 Years of ACHF,” is on […]

Students enrolled in the summer HIPR 4000/6000 Introduction to Historic Preservation class had an opportunity to explore a wide variety of historic resources at the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s Southwest Atlanta Expedition on Saturday, June 12. They joined more than 200 preservationists at over 20 sites that included houses, industrial buildings, parks and academic institutions. The Expedition highlighted a […]

The CED MHP Program was well-represented at the State Historic Preservation Conference in Madison, GA, May 18-20, with UGA alumni, students and faculty engaged as organizers, speakers, volunteers and participants. MHP alumni played key roles on the organizing committee–Madison Planning Director Monica Callahan, Preservation Planner Ken Kocher, and Madison-Morgan Conservancy Executive Director Christine McCauley. In addition to providing host community […]

Morag Kersel (MHP ’00) is featured in the Applause for Alumni section of the Summer issue of Georgia, the Magazine of the University of Georgia. Click through to read the article on page 44 of the online edition of the magazine.

Professor emeritus John Waters received the key to the City of Athens from Mayor Nancy Denson at the recent 50th golden anniversary celebration of the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation for his decades-long vision and contributions to preservation.

Daniel J. Nadenicek, dean of the College of Environment and Design has been named an honorary member of The Garden Club of America (GCA), one of its highest accolades. Nadenicek was recognized during a presentation at the GCA’s annual meeting in Baltimore in May. Honorary members of the GCA are men and women of distinction in fields such as horticulture […]

This Spring the University of Georgia’s MLA program offered optional weekend graphics seminars for students eager to further hone their rendering abilities. Taught by MLA alum Cameron Berglund, these three seminars focused on different workflows and rendering techniques: SketchUp modeling and rendering, rendering in watercolor, and rendering in Photoshop. These tutorials sought to build upon the students existing knowledge and […]

Follow this link to view a photo gallery from CED Graduation 2017.

The University of Georgia (UGA) invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean, College of Environment and Design (CED). The Dean serves as the chief administrative and academic officer of the College, reporting to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. For more information, see the position announcement.

The latest Georgia Landscape Magazine is now online! Please click through to browse the 2017 edition of this student publication issued annually by the CED. Congratulations to the student team on another incredible issue!

MHP students in Professor Goetcheus’s Cultural Resource Assessment Class presented their final projects on Friday, April 28, in Eatonton, GA. As part of the class, students learned about the various aspects of the National Register of Historic Places and the research required to add places to the National Register. Their final project, which was to add the childhood home of […]

Two CED teams recently submitted entries in the EPA’s 2016 Campus RainWorks Challenge. There were 60 total submissions. With both teams making it to the final round of 16, and one going on to achieve an Honorable Mention, the CED made an impressive showing in this national competition! Congratulations to the team of Ming Guan, Carter Ricks, Danielle Schwartz, Danielle Valdes, and Yuwen Yang […]

Over 200 people gathered in the Jackson Street Building on Friday, April 21st for an exciting day of critiques, honors and awards, and the annual Neel Reid Lecture, which featured Allan Armitage. Congratulations to all students, faculty, staff, and CED alumni for their accomplishments and thank you to the Peachtree Garden Club for sponsoring our annual Neel Reid lecture!

Students in Dr. Reinberger’s Vernacular Architecture course this semester had the opportunity to participate in a field trip from March 23-25 visiting sites in North Carolina and Virginia. Students started the three day journey with a stop at Mendenhall Homeplace in Jamestown, NC before visiting Old Salem in Winston-Salem, NC. Old Salem is an historic Moravian community featuring Germanic architecture, founded […]

Several CED students and Program Coordinator Professor Reap attended the World Heritage and U.S. Civil Rights Sites Symposium hosted by Georgia State University last week. The purpose of the symposium was to discuss the potential nomination of sites associated with the U.S. Civil Rights Movement to the World Heritage List. Representatives for many of these sites as well as experts in […]

The Student Historic Preservation Organization spent the weekend of April 8-9 volunteering with Hands on Athens. Hands on Athens, a program of the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation, is an organization dedicated to assisting low-income Athens homeowners in historic neighborhoods to maintain, repair, and restore their properties as part of overall neighborhood revitalization. As part of their volunteer work this weekend, SHPO members assisted […]

The Center for Community Design & Preservation (CCDP) is working with the City of Winterville, Georgia this semester. Recently the CCDP led a charrette in Winterville, with students in the service-learning Community Design Charrettes class leading discussions and work-sessions with local residents. Columns: The Online Newspaper for the University of Georgia Community, featured the charrette in this week’s issue, describing the process and some initial findings, as well as including several student perspectives on the value that service-learning projects bring to their education in the CED, as well as to the communities that CCDP assists. “I’m blown away by how intensely they’re working and how public this process is,” [Winterville Mayor] Ferrelle said, “There are some things that I’m hoping they bring to us that we can put into place and adopt.”

Congratulations to Danielle Schwartz (right), candidate for Master of Landscape Architecture, and Chloe Weigle (left), candidate for Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, for being chosen this year’s CED Olmsted Scholar nominees. Each year, the CED faculty chooses one graduate student and one undergraduate student to represent UGA CED in the national competition, which is sponsored by the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) […]

Matthew Nahrstedt (MEPD 2016) recently wrote an Impact Story for the American Planning Association (APA) website discussing his experience with the APA’s Mentor Match program and the 2016 National Planning Conference in Phoenix. Matthew now works as an Environmental Planner and Designer with the nonprofit Institute for Building Technology and Safety, a job he secured at the conference. Read more about his […]

Professor emerita Marguerite Koepke recently completed a healing garden designed for children at Piedmont Athens Regional’s Loran Smith Center for Cancer Support here in Athens. The garden is a component of the larger healing garden for which Professor Koepke has been the lead designer since its inception in 2000. In this article published by Piedmont Healthcare, Professor Koepke gives some insights into healing garden […]

Over the past four months the second year MLA class has been working with their professors to develop a Campus Master Plan for East Georgia State College (EGSC). The collaborative efforts, real world clients, and exploration of a project from formative research to final design, all came together to provide us with our most real world design experience yet. East Georgia […]

As a medical practitioner, yogi, and artist, Rich Panico has a deep and multi-faceted understanding of the human condition. Rich’s current interest in art and medicine addresses the propensity of our species to turn the inevitable human experiences of pain and loss into suffering, which, if not understood and engaged in wisely, leads to the acquisition of co-morbid (the simultaneous […]

Fanglan Chen, an alumna of the Master of Historic Preservation Program, was recently named a finalist for the Murtagh Graham Prize awarded by the US National Committee of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). The award, named to honor William R. Murtagh, Ph.D., and Roy Eugene Graham for their many contributions to preservation education and cultural heritage stewardship, […]

Dr. sc. Saša Poljanec-Borić from the Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences in Zagreb, Croatia visited the MHP Program at the College of Environment and Design in February. Dr. Borić, who holds degrees in Sociology and Economics and has extensive experience in the field of cultural tourism has been a principle partner of the University of Georgia Study Abroad Program […]

Thomas Rainer, MLA ’02, recently came back to the CED to give a lecture on “Planting in a Post-Wild World.” Revolutionary to students and professors alike, this rebellious approach to planting design can make for more complex and ambitious planting plans. An expertise that is often neglected in the profession of landscape architecture, Rainer reminded CED faculty and students alike […]

Last week students in the Master of Historic Preservation program visited Charleston, SC for their field perspectives course. As part of their trip to Charleston, the nearly 40 students accompanied by Dr. Reinberger, Dr. Nesbit, and Professor Reap visited a variety of historic sites in the area. On the first day, students visited the Aiken Rhett House and the Nathaniel […]

Assistant Professor Rosanna Rivero was recently the faculty member chosen for the University’s Focus on Faculty feature. If you have not read the article yet, follow this link to find out about her research and interests. http://www.uga.edu/faculty/profile/rivero-rosanna/

Melanie Bowerman, a third year MLA student from California, recently presented to Atlanta residents and stakeholders on urban edible forests. Speaking at the Urban Food Forest at Browns Mill community design meeting in the Lakewood neighborhood, Melanie’s talk focused on the meeting theme, “What Could Be On Our Food Forest,” and provided case studies that she has researched for her […]

Dr. Jon Calabria, CED Assistant Professor, has been named as one of three recipients of the inaugural Student Affairs Faculty Research Grant. His project, Concept Plans to Improve Water Quality, was submitted in partnership with the Office of Sustainability. The grants encourage the use of Student Affairs programs and facilities as a principal laboratory for research, enhancing the role of the […]

Earlier this month the second year MLA’s made a site visit to East Georgia State College (EGSC) in Swainsboro, Georgia, where they will be developing a campus master plan. This project will continue to hone the class’s design skills, and will also give the students a chance to have a deep and lasting impact on their community. As an access institution, EGSC […]

On Wednesday January 25, students in Professor Cari Goetcheus’s Cultural Resource Assessment class accompanied by Tom Jones took a trip to rural Putnam County to experience the landscapes and places associated with Alice Walker, Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Color Purple. The class’s main project for the semester will be working towards a potential National Register nomination for this district […]

MHP Alumnus Ethiel Garlington’s efforts as executive director of the Historic Macon Foundation were recently recognized by the National Trust’s for Historic Preservation’s newsletter. The National Trust recognized that dramatic, organizational changes brought on by Garlington have helped to breathe new life into the mission of the Historic Macon Foundation. His efforts have helped to focus efforts on creating diverse and affordable […]

On the weekend of January 13th Professor Jon Calabria’s Eco-Restoration class traveled down to the Georgia Barrier Islands to stay at UGA’s campus at Wormsloe, near Savannah, Georgia. The purpose of the trip was to check on several restoration projects that had been set up the previous year: an experiment in the establishment of long leaf pine, a project to create […]

Professor David Spooner led a landscape photography class in fall. Graduate and undergraduate students produced some impressive final projects, which have been on display in the glass case of the Owens Library. This posting includes images students noted as their favorite pieces from the class.

Mary C. Scales English, a 2nd Year MHP student, received a graduate research grant from the Willson Center for Humanities and Arts during the Fall 2016 semester. The award was used to directly fund thesis research associated with traveling to and accessing archival data in Morrow, Georgia at the National and State archival facilities, and to alleviate expenses associated with […]

Bricks and Bones: Exploring Atlanta’s Spaces of Neo-Slavery Dr. Richard Becherer January 17th, 5pm Jackson Street Building, Room 123 Dr. Richard Becherer, architectural historian, will give a lecture on the use of African American convicts at the Chattahoochee River Brick Company in Atlanta, now an historic complex faced with pressures from development. The lecture will be of interest to anyone […]

This past fall, University of Georgia College of Environment and Design professor James Reap was appointed by President Barack Obama as a new member of the Department of State’s Cultural Property Advisory Committee. Reap is one of 15 new appointees selected to aid the White House in key administrative posts. The Cultural Property Advisory Committee, which was established in 1983, […]

MHP Graduate Coordinator James Reap recently went to Tallinn, Estonia to participate an International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) conference. The conference’s theme was Historical Perspective of Heritage Legislation: Balance Between Laws and Values and commemorated the 350th Anniversary of the 1666 Act by King Charles XI of Sweden which was one of the earliest heritage protection acts in Europe. The conference […]

Many MHP students spent the week before Thanksgiving break in Houston at the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Past Forward Conference. The conference, as the name implies, was not only focused on the preservation of the past but also on the future of preservation. Many talks revolved around the question of “What does the next 50 years of Preservation look […]

The Master of Environmental Planning and Design program at the UGA College of Environment and Design was recently accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB), a national organization responsible for professional educational protocols at universities across the country. Jack Crowley, current director of the program, says this effort has been in the works for several years at UGA. “In 2002 […]

MHP Professor and Graduate Coordinator James Reap recently participated in and spoke at the 5th International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) – Wuhan Crossover Forum in Wuhan, China. The forum, whose theme was Time & Space: Cultural Heritage in Urban Renewal, was organized by the Huazhong University of Science & Technology and the Wuhan Research Society on Shared Built Heritage and […]

On November 12th Catie Sauer and Christopher Wisener (current CED MEPD students) were part of the first place team, along with three Emory students (Christian Wayne, Pari Majd, and Shreya Kothari), in Emory University’s Sustainability Case Competition for addressing Georgia’s water crisis. The team will share a $2000 prize and be eligible for paid internships with the city of Atlanta’s […]

In October the University of Georgia MLAs traveled to New Orleans for the annual ASLA Meeting and Expo. Here is a selection of the student’s favorite pictures from the event.

Thomas Rainer, CED alumnus and ASLA member, recently co-authored the book Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes with Claudia West. Mr. Rainer is a principal […]

Professor Rosanna Rivero’s students are getting valuable real-world experience through the NASA DEVELOP program at UGA. Check out this great article covering their work with the Nature Conservancy in Atlanta. http://thrivingearthexchange.org/tex-stories/nature-conservancy-nasa-develop-see-atlantas-urban-forests-trees/ Read more about the NASA DEVELOP program here: https://develop.larc.nasa.gov/about.php

When the University of Georgia Capital Campaign kicks into full swing this month, some of the content used to promote the campaign can trace its roots to the College of Environment and Design. Seth McWhorter, who graduated from the CED with a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture in 2011, has been helping UGA create graphics to promote its fundraising initiatives. […]

On October 23rd the American Society of Landscape Architects honored Dean Dan Nadenicek as a Fellow at the annual conference, held this year in New Orleans. This is the organization’s highest honor, and reflects a life-time achievement of excellence by the inductees. For more information, please click here.

On Sunday October 23, several MHP students traveled to Milledgeville, GA to tour and volunteer. The event, organized by the Student Preservation Organization, began with a tour of Andalusia, the home of author Flannery O’Connor in the 1930s-1950s. Student Ross Sheppard led the tour and explained the role of Andalusia in Flannery O’Connor’s novels. He also spoke about the building itself […]

Associate Professor Scott Nesbit discusses the work students are doing in his Public History and Technology classes, and the presentation he and teaching assistant/MHP student Audrey Thomas gave to the Athens Historical Society last week, in this article from the Athens Banner-Herald. You can also access the article here. For more about Professor Nesbit’s work in the digital humanities, click […]

This September the University of Georgia’s second year MLA class had the opportunity to design a small pocket park on the Atlanta Beltline. This 600 sq. ft. space is located in the Reynoldstown neighborhood on the eastside of Atlanta and contains one of the few patches of relatively mature tree canopy left along the proposed Beltline. We spent the first […]

The CED welcomes Professor Jin-Wook Kwon as a visiting scholar from Korea for the academic year, 2016-2017. He is here, specifically, to study the evolution of the curriculum of the CED’s landscape architecture program and explore the agents of its change since the 1970s. His research will entail reviewing our courses of study, interviewing current and retired faculty, and observing […]

Once again the College of Environment and Design has been ranked among the top ten schools of landscape architecture in the U.S. by DesignIntelligence Quarterly. The ratings, which were just announced, place the CED BLA program at fifth and the MLA program at ninth in the nation. The ratings are determined by surveys of professionals in the field. Each year […]

The Student Historic Preservation Organization (SHPO) volunteered on Saturday, September 24th at the Watson Mill Bridge State Park in Comer, GA. Members canoed to pick up trash and washed picnic tables as part of a clean up day sponsored by Friends of Watson Mill Bridge State Park. In addition to volunteering, SHPO members were able to explore many of the park’s […]

Fifth-year University of Georgia College of Environment and Design student Chloe Weigle is a busy person these days. Besides her class work, preparing for graduation in May, and looking for opportunities when she leaves UGA, Weigle has the proud distinction of being the only CED student in history to be a member of the prestigious UGA Arch Society. “I just […]

On the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 3, University of Georgia College of Environment and Design graduate student Kiley Aguar noticed something strange on campus. Aguar, along with friend and masters of fine arts student Zachary Harris, were exploring the Lilly Branch watershed for the UGA Watershed competition, one of the four watershed outfall locations on the UGA campus meant […]

It is with sadness that we report the passing on Friday, September 16, of Claris Ingersoll, who made an important contribution to the development of the College of Environment and Design. Claris presided for more than 30 years over our “Reading Room” and in that capacity befriended a great number of students. With a degree in Journalism from UGA, she […]

Yoldez Halleb is CED’s first Fulbright Scholar By Thomas Mills Sousse is one of the oldest cities in Tunisia. Pronounced “Sousa,” the city was founded by the Phoenicians in the 11th century BCE and later became a Roman colony in the second century. In addition to its great beaches and olive groves, the city is also host to an authentic […]