Join CED students, faculty, and our exhibitors at this event sponsored by Buck Jones Nursery.

Wire Park is the creative reimagination of the former Southwire manufacturing plant, once an economic anchor of the City of Watkinsville for over 50 years. As the area’s first large-scale, adaptive reuse venture, the mixed-use factory redevelopment will ultimately feature 130 residences, 225,000 square feet of retail and office space, a new Oconee County Library, the region’s first food hall, and indoor baseball and basketball training facilities spanning nearly 35,000 square feet. Expansive greenspaces are planned throughout the property, where programming such as live music, movie nights, farmers markets, seasonal events, and fitness classes can take place. Preserving the site’s historic significance was a priority from the beginning, and several manufacturing elements have been repurposed to maintain the industrial character and create visual interest. Participants will gain an understanding of the planning processes necessary to create a vibrant mixed-use development that better serves and supports the community from a ground-up point of view.

Speaker Bio: Wes Ryals serves as a Senior Urban Planner and Project Designer at SPG Planners + Engineers, providing master planning and design services to a wide range of public and private clientele.  

Growing up in the diverse environment of the Georgia Piedmont, Wes’s upbringing instilled a deep and steadfast desire to preserve, protect, and heal landscapes. Over the course of his career, he has honed an integrated planning and design approach, which frequently explores the intricate relationships between architecture and the landscape to examine the interwoven layers of ecology, cultural history, and historical land use practices. 

Wes holds a degree in History from Georgia Southern University, and Landscape Architecture degrees from the University of Georgia. 

 

NOTE: The Wire Park Tour will begin with an introductory presentation at 8 a.m. in the Oconee River Room in Foundry Building at the Classic Center. The Foundry Building contains the Oconee River and Empire Rooms where the other Short Course programs are being held, as identified in the Directions section below. We are reserving UGA vans to transport everyone on this tour.

For Wire Park tour attendees

Lecture Description: A review and update on recent changes to environmental regulations affecting site development.

Speaker Bio:  Mark Nelson is the sole owner of NEI, which has been in existence since 2003.  He has worked in the environmental consulting field for over 25 years, including work in the Atlanta office of the Savannah District Regulatory, US Army Corps of Engineers. Throughout his career, he has had many, many great opportunities to work across the Southeastern US and Puerto Rico with civil and transportation engineers, transportation and land-use planners, landscape architects, land surveyors, real estate developers, investors, mitigation bankers, lawyers, other biologists, cultural resource experts, water and sewage authorities; County, State, and Federal transportation, aviation, and port authorities; private and public utility, industry, and development; and Local, State, and Federal regulatory authorities.  Mark values the interdisciplinary approach to project planning and is confident that this team approach results in more successful projects. He has been shaped by all of these past projects and professionals, and thankfully has formed many close alliances and friendships.

After working with Greiner, Inc. in Tampa, FL and PBSJ in Atlanta, GA, Mark was an employee/owner of Register-Nelson, Inc. and Foxwater, LLC. Mark has provided client and agency consulting interactions, wetland and stream restoration design, construction oversight, long-term monitoring, and reporting environmental consulting services. Mark brings all of his prior work experience and relations to Nelson Environmental, Inc. (NEI). Created in 2003, NEI, together with partnering alliances, is capable of handling all planning, design, and consulting needs for activities requiring environmental consideration in Georgia and neighboring states.

Have some refreshments while engaging with our exhibitors.

Case studies of recent maintenance repairs, planning processes, site planning, to provide sustainability and resiliency in the built environment.

Speaker Bio: Darrell Stone has spent a career in public sector serving in the following roles for the following agencies:

• US Army Corps of Engineers – Regional Landscape Architect for the Mobile District supporting Lakes: Lanier, Allatoona, and Carters.  Primary duties included recreational modernization of campgrounds, day-use parks, and marinas.  Responsible for master planning, construction documentation, contracting, and O&M oversite.
• US Forest Service – Natural Resource Program Manager for the Clinch National Forest and Zone Landscape Architect for Clinch National Forest and Mt. Rogers NRA(National Recreation Area)  Primary duties:  Developed site plans for developed recreation areas and dispersed areas for picnicking, camping, swimming, boating, hiking and fishing areas. Coordinated archaeological and historic resource management and compliance when designing/constructing recreation areas. Responsible for the overall operational management, facility maintenance and administration of project's recreation programs and resources.
• City of Monroe - Director of Planning and Economic Development:  Duties:  Responsible for reviews on issues of planning and zoning with the City Planning and Development Authority.   
  
  • Supervise the Director of Code Enforcement, Director of the Downtown Development Authority.
  • Implement the City Master Plan, adjusting plan as required by growth or changes in regulation at either state or federal level. 
  • Act as the City’s representative regarding growth, zoning planning and code development and enforcement.
• National Park Service:  Project Manager, restoring storm related facilities from historic hurricanes to more sustainable and resilient construction methods, materials and means thru site planning, construction documentation and contracting. 

Have some refreshments while engaging with our exhibitors.

This lecture will include a review of Williams-Brice Stadium’s Public Space Improvements and the University of South Carolina’s Gamecock Park including the planning process and key features. The session will include a review of the following elements with a focus on key observations, benefits, and outcomes:

• Project background and history.  
• Inclusion of civic open space, public art, and pedestrian experience enhancements.  
• Stadium amenities and special features including central promenade, entry gates with dispersed queuing, new “inside the gates” circulation, restroom building and gameday store. 
• Gameday tailgate facilities and new civic open spaces. 
• New indoor and outdoor practice facilities. 
• Sustainable practices including reduction in pavement; reclamation of existing materials and reuse on-site; use of integrated sub-surface tree/soil/storm water system. 
• Separate vehicular and pedestrian systems and “Force Protection” to secure site. 
• On-site monuments, public art and special features including George Rogers Statue, Gamecock Sculpture, and integration of Cockabooses.  

Speaker Bios: Mark Baker is a graduate of the University of Georgia and currently serves as Wood+Partners’ President. He has 45 years’ experience and is a registered Landscape Architect in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Prior to joining Wood+Partners, Mark served as Sr. Project Manager for Edward Pinckney Associates and as a Principal and Director of Landscape Architecture for LS3P Architects. Mark has served on many Boards and Commissions throughout his professional career. 

Kyle Theodore is a graduate of Iowa State University and currently serves as a Sr. Vice President and Principal at Wood+Partners. Kyle leads the firm’s Institutional and Parks and Recreation practice. She has 40 years of experience and is registered in South Carolina and Virginia. Prior to joining Wood+Partners, Kyle served as Project Manager for Edward Pinckney Associates and as a Sr. Project Manager of Landscape Architecture for LS3P Architects. Kyle has served on many Boards and Commissions throughout her professional career. 

Wrap up the day with drinks and snacks while networking with attendees, exhibitors, and CED students and faculty.

Have some breakfast with us.

Overall, the partnership between a landscape architect and a consulting arborist enhances the integration of trees within the commercial development, promotes sustainable practices, and ensures the long-term health and beauty of the landscape. It results in a well-designed and environmentally responsible project that benefits both the property owner and the surrounding community.  In this lecture, we will cover some of the specific experience and expertise a skilled consulting arborist can bring to the table. 

Speaker Bio: As Principal Arborist, Chris Hughes brings Brookwood Tree Consulting’s vision to bear. His knowledge and experience is recognized as a Certified Arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and Registered Consulting Arborist, a prestigious registration consisting of less than 400 arborists worldwide and the only in Georgia. Chris combines a love for trees with over 20 years experience studying and working with trees in the urban centers of the Southeast and in world renowned gardens across the United States and Europe. 
 
Chris has developed landscape tree management plans for residential homeowners, commercial developers, cities, schools, and hospital and university campuses. The true value in all management plans is cultivate the natural tree strengths and reduce dependence on typical costly maintenance and irrigation programs. 
 
This diverse and unique background has provided the opportunity to engage hands on with tens of thousands of trees and cultivated experience with all aspects of the planning, planting, and care of trees and understanding of the current state of ornamental horticulture 

Have some refreshments while engaging with our exhibitors.

As a landscape architect, you’re likely looking for new ways to integrate sustainable objectives into your site design workflow. These objectives can stem from a conscientious client, a jurisdictional mandate, or a desire to create a positive environmental impact beyond each project site.  
Fortunately, technology is more capable than ever to support your sustainability objectives. This presentation will highlight the site-specific tools offered by BIM applications and how landscape architecture professionals can make use of these tools, such as erosion control, runoff calculations, cut and fill calculations, existing/proposed plant tracking, native plant selections, and sun/shade analysis to accomplish a sustainable site for their client.   

Speaker Bio: Eric Gilbey, PLA uses his professional experience as a practicing landscape architect and his experience in CAD and BIM in his role as product marketing manager for the landscape industries at Vectorworks, Inc., where he continues to develop an understanding of design and visualization workflows used by land planning and site design professionals. He is a past president of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers and recently served as co-chair of ASLA’s Digital Technology Professional Practice Network. Eric writes and speaks for several green industry associations and helps landscape architects and designers develop best practices, including sustainable site design and site-specific BIM. Eric received an Associate of Applied Science degree in Landscape Contracting and Construction and a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture from the Ohio State University. 

For afternoon session attendees.

This lecture will be in panel format led by Mary Charles Howard, the Founder and Executive Director of the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail. The panel will feature Mrs. Howard, plus two Georgia-based experienced multi-use trail industry leaders, Greta DeMayo of the PATH Foundation and John Devine of Georgia Bikes. Mrs. Howard, Mrs. DeMayo and Mr. Devine will discuss how prioritizing land use analysis, site accessibility and site safety in the design and implementation of trails and their amenities builds better communities. How does a successful trail go from concept to concrete? We’ll discuss in a classroom panel format followed by a trail walk down Athens’ own Firefly Trail.    

Speaker Bios: After earning a bachelor’s in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia in 2008, Mary Charles Howard quickly put her talents to work and found her stride as a local entrepreneur. She’s owned and operated her own Landscape Architecture design firm since 2010. At the same time as starting her own LA firm, she combined her love of community and small business with a passion for food and bicycling to launch Athens Food Tours and Georgia Cycle Tours. Many full stomachs and happy customers later, she sold the tour companies and focused on economic development with Athens-based W&A Engineering. Mary Charles then moved on to become the Executive Director of the nonprofit Athensmade, launched to help create resources for local companies to build their brands and attract talent to the community. Her next entrepreneurial move came after four years of being frustrated with a lack of safe cycling and economic opportunities in her hometown of Sandersville and Mary Charles Howard decided to take matters into her own hands. In 2019, she launched the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail. After seeing the success of Athens’ Firefly Trail, she decided to build on the great work of that trail by extending Firefly Trail’s original 39-mile trail south another 200 miles with the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail – through Sandersville and beyond – ending in Savannah. Upon completion, the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail will be the longest paved trail in all of America. Immediately after launching the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail, she started the Kids Bike League, a program of the Hi-Lo Trail that gets kids ages 2nd -6th grade on a bike in rural communities in middle, east and coastal Georgia. Kids Bike League currently operates monthly rides and summer camp in four rural Georgia towns. 
 

Greta deMayo, Executive Director of PATH Foundation, assumed her role in January  2020 following two decades of managing PATH projects. Prior to joining PATH Foundation, Greta founded the trail planning and design firm KAIZEN Collaborative in 2010. Greta established KAIZEN with the outlook of continual improvement that is accomplished through strong collaboration. Greta carried over this perspective when she became PATH Foundation’s Executive Director, striving to work with communities all across the state of Georgia to make Atlanta the most trail-connected city in the country. 
 
Trained as a professional landscape architect, Greta has spent her 27-year career in metro Atlanta providing planning and design for greenway trails throughout the Southeast. She has assisted more than 30 communities and designed over 150 miles of greenway trails. In addition to her executive duties, Greta also represents greenway trail users on the Georgia Recreational Trails Program Advisory Committee and has served in this role since 2000. Her professional goals are to create public spaces that promote healthy lifestyles, encourage active recreation, and improve the overall quality of life for all.

 

As Georgia Bikes Executive Director, John Devine sets long-term policy and oversees day-to-day operations, including implementing the strategic plan, supervising staff, and serving as the organization’s primary representative and spokesperson.

A member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, John has had a career of over twenty years in community planning (including a heavy focus on bicycling and walking) with the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, the City of Austin, and the University of Texas’s Center for Transportation Research. John has a Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning from UT Austin and a bachelor’s in environmental studies.

John and his family have lived in Athens since 2002. He has been active in the community as a board member for BikeAthens, the Firefly Trail, the Athens Grow Green Coalition, and other organizations; as an ex-officio member of the Oconee Rivers Greenway Commission and the Madison Athens-Clarke Oconee Regional Transportation Study; and as a volunteer with SORBA-Athens, Athens Canine Rescue, and the Athens United Soccer Association. John is a co-founder of both the Georgia Trail Summit and the Georgia Trails Alliance.

 

NOTE: The Trail Tour will begin immediately following this panel discussion.

 

Join CED students, faculty, and our exhibitors at this event sponsored by Buck Jones Nursery.

Includes a Networking with Exhibitors break: 9:30 AM -10:00 AM

This hands-on workshop will demonstrate how practitioners can apply BIM workflows to successfully manage a site with challenging grades and other site constraints. From proper use of collaborators’ files, to choosing the right smart objects for their function, and analyzing the resulting outcomes through the lenses of accessibility, sustainability and efficiency, participants will progress a real project through multiple phases to a successful completion. 

Speaker Bio: Eric Gilbey, PLA uses his professional experience as a practicing landscape architect and his experience in CAD and BIM in his role as product marketing manager for the landscape industries at Vectorworks, Inc., where he continues to develop an understanding of design and visualization workflows used by land planning and site design professionals. He is a past president of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers and recently served as co-chair of ASLA’s Digital Technology Professional Practice Network. Eric writes and speaks for several green industry associations and helps landscape architects and designers develop best practices, including sustainable site design and site-specific BIM. Eric received an Associate of Applied Science degree in Landscape Contracting and Construction and a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture from the Ohio State University. 

Have lunch and network with exhibitors and attendees.

Includes 2 Networking with Exhibitors breaks: 2:30 PM -3:00 PM and 4:30-5:00 PM

Continuation of the workshop from the morning session.

Wrap up the day with drinks and snacks while networking with attendees, exhibitors, and CED students and faculty.

Have some breakfast with us.

Includes a Break: 10:30 AM -11:00 AM

This all day workshop will cover basic to advanced techniques in SketchUp 3D Modeling software. The workshop will begin with CAD file preparation for SketchUp import. The majority of the workshop will be spent working hands on in SketchUp, importing CAD site design linework, building 3D buildings and site design elements, terrain modeling, and modifying the design based on the 3D model. 

Speaker Bio: Jon Altschuld is Landscape Architect (Colorado and California) with over 15 years of experience. As the founder and principal of Chinook Landscape Architecture, he is experienced in the design of natural areas, trails and open spaces, ecological restoration, parks, streetscapes, and transportation planning, and has an expertise in drone data collection, presentation graphics, 3D visualizations, master planning, and GIS mapping applications. His visualization work has been featured in the ASLA’s sustainable design practices video series and in various news pieces on new construction projects. Jon has taught numerous software workshops and given professional training on SketchUp, Vue, CAD, Lumion, and Adobe Graphics programs within the Planning, Architecture, & Landscape Architecture fields. Jon co-authored 'Drones in Professional Practice,' an educational and professional book internationally published in 2021. 

Have lunch and network with exhibitors and attendees.

Includes a Networking with Exhibitors break: 3:00 PM -3:30 PM

Continuation of the workshop from the morning session.