At the end of each semester, the College of Environment and Design hosts Critique Week, a multi-day event showcasing student work from the semester. This fall, Critique Week was held on Dec. 4 and 5 and featured 28 guest reviewers made up of alumni and professionals.
Critique Week gives undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to present their work in front of an audience made up of not only classmates and faculty members, but also outside guest judges. These reviewers give invaluable feedback to students, strengthening their work and studio culture at the college.
This semester, six studios held critiques, third-year Master of Landscape Architecture students presented independent study projects and students participated in portfolio reviews with outside reviewers. Special thanks to Thomas & Hutton for sponsoring this year’s events.
Take a closer look at the sessions below!
Portfolio Reviews
This semester, BLA and MLA students participated in portfolio reviews. During portfolio reviews, students received focused, one-on-one time with a panel of industry professionals to practice presenting their design portfolios and get valuable feedback. Student portfolios display student resumes, studio work, independent projects and work from jobs and internships.
Thank you to all of the guest reviewers for taking the time to invest in our students!
Students present their portfolios to outside reviewers.
Studio Highlights
This year, six studios presented projects at Critique Week, a mix of urban planning studios, Master of Landscape Architecture studios and undergraduate landscape architecture studios. Here’s a look at some of the studio presentations:
Students in lecturer Cameron Berglund’s landscape architecture region/site/place design studio present their final site plans for a large-scale Wild Mustang Eco-Resort. To get inspiration and research for their design, the studio visited Wild Mustang Ranch in Lyons, Georgia. Wild Mustang Ranch is a sanctuary and rehabilitation center for American Mustangs.
Landscape architecture and urban planning students in Assistant Professor Qiong Wang’s Urban Planning and Design Studio present final plans on Dec. 4.
Master of Landscape Architecture students in Professor Alfie Vick’s Nature and Sustainability Studio present their final projects.
MLA Independent Projects
Three third-year MLA students presented their independent study projects to a panel of faculty and guest reviewers.
Noah Cleveland presented his project “Climate-Driven Land Conversion: Planning for Habitat Change in the South Carolina Lowcountry.” Cleveland is modeling the sea level rise in the Winyah Bay, South Carolina over the next 35 years to identify the parcels of land with the highest habitat value.
Noah Dilday presented his masterplan for “The Tulip Poplar Sanctuary: Listening to the Heart of a Tree,” a mixed-use land development intended to blend nature and art as a retreat for artists in Mendota, Virginia. Dilday weaves Cherokee folklore on Tulip Poplars into his site design.
Holden McCullough presented his project, “Reclaiming Space: A Memorial Landscape in Asheville’s River Arts District.” In 2024, Hurricane Helene flooded the district, leaving a trail of destruction in this artist-heavy neighborhood.
Left to Right: Noah Cleveland, Noah Dilday and Holden McCullough present their independent study projects.
Thank you!
To our guest reviewers: our students would not have this valuable experience without you! Thank you for taking the time to support student development at the CED.
View the full Critique Week photo gallery here.
