GGN IS DESIGNING REI’S NEW CAMPUS LANDSCAPE
GGN IS DESIGNING REI’S NEW CAMPUS LANDSCAPE

March 23, 2017 – Today the Puget Sound Business Journal announced that GGN is designing the landscape for REI’s new headquarters at the Spring District in Bellevue, WA. Marc Stiles writes, “The campus will have bridges spanning courtyards, outdoor staircases, rooftop walkways and outdoor meeting spaces. There will also be outdoor space for employees to exercise and host community events.”

The article notes that the “eight-acre REI campus is just one part of the [36-acre] Spring District, which at $2.3 billion is the second-largest construction project in the region.” Developed by Wright Runstad Co., the Spring District “will have 5.3 million square feet of office, residential and retail space. Apartments are going up in the district along with the Global Innovation Exchange. GIX is an institute that will offer master's degrees through a partnership of the University of Washington, Microsoft and China's Tsinghua University.”

GGN is the landscape architect for the Spring District. The GIX landscape is under construction, and earlier in the development process, GGN completed the Spring District Park.

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Jillian StrobelBellevue, WA2017
SHANNON NICHOL DELIVERS THE 2017 BRACKEN LECTURE & EXHIBIT AT PENN STATE
SHANNON NICHOL DELIVERS THE 2017 BRACKEN LECTURE & EXHIBIT AT PENN STATE

March 21, 2017 – Shannon Nichol is the 2017 John R. Bracken Lecturer and Exhibitor at the Penn State Department of Landscape Architecture.

The exhibit of Shannon’s process drawings, titled “Repair Works,” is open today, March 21 at the Stuckeman School's Rouse Gallery. The exhibit features two projects, Lower Rainier Vista & Pedestrian Land Bridge at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA and the Lurie Garden at Millennium Park in Chicago, IL. Free to the public, the gallery is open from 9am – 4pm each weekday, and the exhibit will run through the end of May.

The lecture, to be delivered on Wednesday, March 22 from 6:00 – 8:00pm at the Stuckeman Jury Space, will build on the “Repair Works” theme of the exhibit. “GGN is particularly interested in design work that does not bestow a novel layer of design onto a clean-slate site, but, instead, strategically repairs a ‘messy and broken’ transitional space in a city,” says Shannon. “Novel solutions can be found by fixing the old, in situ systems and designs of a highly altered site.”

The Penn State Department of Landscape Architecture lecture series, which began in the spring of 1982, honors Dr. Bracken, who was among the first to graduate from Penn State with an undergraduate degree in landscape architecture. Dr. Bracken served as department head from 1924 to 1957 and active professor emeritus until 1979.

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Jillian StrobelUniversity Park, PA2016b
LANDSCAPE / SOUNDSCAPE
LANDSCAPE / SOUNDSCAPE

March 8, 2017 – Lesia Mokrycke is exhibiting work at the University of Pennsylvania’s Arthur Ross Gallery in Philadelphia. The group show, Landscape / Soundscape, explores the desire to unite image and sound through compelling pairings of photographs and soundscapes. The exhibit is on display through March 26.

Sound artists from throughout the United States and United Kingdom were invited to create soundscapes in response to photographs from Penn’s University Art Collection.  In tandem with Landscape / Soundscape, Lesia was selected through a juried selection of MFA projects to show her photograph titled Passage with an accompanying sound piece on the gallery’s digital interactive kiosk.

Lesia’s work, Passage, investigates landscape as a line walked between two undisclosed sites in Alberta’s boreal forest.  These routes of travel form connections between places, but they also point toward layers of history and time.  Traversals across landscapes mark points of orientation, inform decisions made at critical moments along a journey, and embody the implications of choices made and enacted.  A path is not just a line drawn across the surface of the ground, it is also a cultural expression.

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Jillian StrobelPhiladelphia, PA2016b
KARA WEAVER HOSTS MEMBERS OF UW PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL AT GGN
KARA WEAVER HOSTS MEMBERS OF UW PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL AT GGN

March 8, 2017 – Kara Weaver hosted a council meeting for members of the University of Washington’s Professional Advisory Council (PAC) at GGN. This is a volunteer group of practicing landscape architects, formed to support the Department’s teaching, outreach and fundraising efforts.

The PAC participates in various departmental events, serves as a sounding board for the Chair, and provides valuable input to the Department on professional issues, trends and opportunities as they relate to the teaching of landscape architecture. In doing so, it connects the Department with the professional community, grounds the program in actual practice, and expands the capacity of the Department at a time when University resources are limited.

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Jillian StrobelSeattle, WA2016b
DRAWING THE PICTURES IN YOUR MIND
DRAWING THE PICTURES IN YOUR MIND

February 13, 2017 - GGN is pleased to be a founding sponsor of Drawing in Design at the University of Washington College of Built Environments. This year’s series opened on Friday evening with the lecture "Drawing the Pictures in Your Mind" by Alan Maskin, a partner at Olson Kundig. The lecture was followed by a weekend drawing workshop at Olson Kundig led by Alan, Laura Bartunek, and Jerome Tryon. Several university students attended the workshop, and they were joined by GGNers Katherine Liss, Stephanie Brucart, Therese Graf, and Philip Syvertsen.

Update, March 8, 2017: A video of Alan Maskin’s lecture “Drawing the Pictures in Your Mind” is now available, with an introduction by Thaisa Way.

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Jillian StrobelSeattle, WA2016b
GGN Announces Summer Internships
GGN Announces Summer Internships

February 1, 2017 - GGN is currently seeking applicants for 2017 summer internships in Seattle, WA and Washington, DC. Landscape architecture students, architecture students and recent graduates are encouraged to apply.

GGN’s internship program offers exposure to many facets of the profession and the opportunity to work on projects with all members of the firm. Interns will gain experience in design, documentation, coordination with other disciplines, project management, marketing, and construction administration.

More information is available here. Should you wish to post information about this opportunity, a printable flyer is also available at the link.

Application deadline is February 21, 2017.

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Cheryl dos RemediosSeattle, WA2016b
Jill Fortuna Joins the CLARB Exam Writing Committee
Jill Fortuna Joins the CLARB Exam Writing Committee

January 23, 2017 - Jill Fortuna began her 4-year term as a volunteer on the Clarb LARE Exam writing committee this past weekend in Orlando, FL, where she met with her group, "Section 3 - Design," for two full days to review, edit, evaluate and re-write part of the Landscape Architecture licensing exam. She will continue this process with Clarb twice a year. "The organization, intelligence and sophistication of the committee that Clarb has formulated is truly inspiring and impressive,” said Jill. “I feel confident that we are working to keep the LARE exam relevant and of the highest standards for today's candidates and for the future of the Landscape Architecture profession, and I’m thrilled and honored to be part of such a dedicated team." 

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Cheryl dos RemediosOrlando, FL2016b
GGN Announces New Hires and Promotions
GGN Announces New Hires and Promotions

January 11, 2017 - Several talented individuals have joined the staff of GGN and a key team member has been promoted.

Stephanie Brucart joins as a Designer with a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley, where she also taught several design studios and drawing classes.

Therese Graf joins as a Designer, bringing her national and international experience and studies.

Seth Gray joins as an Associate. With 13 years experience, he has collaborated significant projects throughout the Midwest.

Rikerrious Geter has been promoted from Design Intern to Designer. Rikerrious is a LEED Green Associate and recent graduate of the University of Georgia College of Environment and Design.

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Guest UserSeattle, WA2016b
Emily Scott Volunteers with Architecture in the Schools
Emily Scott Volunteers with Architecture in the Schools

January 9, 2017 – This evening, Architecture in the Schools  is hosting a reception at the District Architecture Center for students and parents to celebrate the work created during the Fall 2016 semester. As part of this program, Emily Scott volunteered in a kindergarten class for eight weeks at Bunker Hill Elementary School teaching “Motion and Stability.” The students learned about measuring, stability, shapes, and materials. In the photo above, the students are drawing the shapes they see on the façade of the school.

Architecture in the Schools (AIS) matches volunteer architects with public school teachers to enrich the learning experience of children. AIS has reached more than 20,000 children in metropolitan Washington DC schools all wards of the District since it began in 1992. 

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NewsTherese GrafWashington, DC2016b
Lower Rainier Vista Receives AN's Best of Design Award
Lower Rainier Vista Receives AN's Best of Design Award

December 15, 2016 - GGN is honored to announce that Lower Rainier Vista has received The Architect's Newspaper's Fourth Annual Best of Design Award in the category of Landscape>Public, which we celebrate with our collaborators at the University of Washington, KPFF Consulting Engineers - Seattle, Sellen Construction, Merlino Construction Inc., AEI/Pivotal Lighting Design, and Hilfiker Retaining Walls.

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AwardsCheryl dos RemediosSeattle, WALRV, 2016b
Oceanwide Center Groundbreaking
Oceanwide Center Groundbreaking

December 8, 2016 – Oceanwide Center celebrates groundbreaking in the Transbay area of San Francisco. Jill Fortuna joined San Francisco officials, the client group, and other members of the design team at the Oceanwide Center for the celebratory ceremony.


A new mixed-use development, Oceanwide Center will provide 1.35 million square feet of office space, 650,000 square feet of residential units and expanded public space. The expanded streetscape will feature a pocket park and ‘urban room’ plaza with lush tropical vegetation and water features. Aspiring to be LEED Platinum, the project will maximize planting and storm water re-use as well as offering improved connectivity and space recreation.

 

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NewsGuest UserSan Francisco, CA2016b
Sara Zewde Presents at Brown University
Sara Zewde Presents at Brown University

December 3, 2016 - The National Museum of African American History and Culture, together with Yale University and Brown University, hosted an international symposium of scholars, activists, and designers grappling with the public memory of slavery titled, “Slavery and Global Public History Conference: New Challenges.” Sara presented her project at the Valongo Wharf of Rio de Janeiro, as part of the panel Building and Design of Slave Memorials and Museums.

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NewsTherese GrafWashington, DC2016b
JENNIFER GUTHRIE NAMED PRESIDENT OF THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION
JENNIFER GUTHRIE NAMED PRESIDENT OF THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION

November 23, 2016 - The Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) 2016-2017 Board of Directors began its term at last month’s LAF Annual Board Meeting in New Orleans. Jennifer Guthrie of GGN became President, succeeding Kona Gray of EDSA. Adam Greenspan of PWP became President-Elect.

“The Landscape Architecture Foundation is completing a momentous year – LAF’s 50th anniversary, a successful Summit on Landscape Architecture and the Future, and the creation of The New Landscape Declaration. I am delighted to continue to work with the LAF board and staff, as President, to envision the next 50 years of the organization,” said Jennifer Guthrie.

Over the past 50 years, LAF has been a noted leader in its mission to support the preservation, improvement and enhancement of the environment. Today, this is accomplished through three core pillars of the organization: Research, Scholarship, and Leadership. Through generous donations and grants, LAF has invested $2.6 million in research initiatives and has awarded over $1.25 million in scholarships and fellowships.

“This is such a pivotal and exciting time in LAF’s trajectory as an organization,” said LAF Executive Director Barbara Deutsch. “As we begin to advance the vision laid out in our New Landscape Declaration, Jennifer’s leadership and strategic thinking will be essential.”

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Cheryl dos RemediosWashington, DC2016b
Lower Rainier Receives WASLA Honor Award
Lower Rainier Receives WASLA Honor Award

November 9, 2016 - The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce announced today that GGN has been awarded the 2016 Washington American Society of Landscape Architecture Honor Award for the Lower Rainier Vista and Pedestrian Bridge. “Nineteen projects won 2016 Professional Awards from the Washington Chapter American Society of Landscape Architects at a ceremony held recently at Januik|Novelty Hill Winery in Woodinville. There were 51 submissions for the awards, which honor excellence in landscape architecture design. The projects are by Washington-based landscape architects and can be located anywhere in the world.”

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AwardsGuest UserSeattle, WA2016b
GGN Announces New Hires
GGN Announces New Hires

November 1, 2016 - Several talented individuals have joined the staff of GGN.

M. Humphreys joins as an Accounting Assistant bringing over a decade of experience with Seattle design firms.

Lauren Schmidt joins as a Designer with an expertise in Revit and BIM. She returns to the United States after several years of working in the Netherlands.

Lesia Mokrycke joins as a Design Intern. Lesia is completing her Masters of Landscape Architecture and Master of Fine Arts at the University of Pennsylvania.

Kate Mortensen joins as an Administrator in Seattle. Kate has a degree in Interdisciplinary Visual Arts from the University of Washington, and experience at the Bellevue Arts Museum.

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Guest UserSeattle, WA2016b
Headwaters Park Installation
Headwaters Park Installation

October 26, 2016 - Headwaters Park, located at 5th & Taylor in Seattle, is a temporary park that is part of Seattle Department of Transportation’s Adaptive Streets Program. In the design of the park, GGN participated in a collaborative design process with SDOT, Don Carlson, Buster Simpson, and the Growing Vine Street team. The pavement pattern featured on SDOT’s blog was envisioned by Chihiro Shinohara Donovan from GGN and interpreted by SDOT painters. It depicts an abstracted bird’s eye view of running water beneath a dense tree canopy. The installation of this temporary park is currently underway.

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NewsGuest UserSeattle, WA2016b
Sara Zewde Presents at the 4th Annual Morton B. Gulak Lecture
Sara Zewde Presents at the 4th Annual Morton B. Gulak Lecture

October 25, 2016 - Sara Zewde presented at the 4th Annual Morton B. Gulak Urban and Regional Planning Lecture at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. In her lecture, "Design in the Southern City Now," Sara maintained that planners and designers have a unique opportunity to negotiate cultural memory in the Southern City through the design of the public realm." Sara discussed opportunities in infrastructure design, plazas and parks, streetscapes, and the Question of the Civil War Memorial. Following the lecture, Sara conducted a roundtable discussion among mayoral candidates and city officials in the city of Richmond, Virginia. 

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Lectures, NewsGuest UserRichmond, VA2016a
David Malda Presents at the ASLA Annual Meeting & Expo
David Malda Presents at the ASLA Annual Meeting & Expo

October 24, 2016 – David Malda presented at the American Society of Landscape Architects Annual Meeting & Expo in New Orleans as part of the panel "History as Resource for Contemporary Street Design." Considering public streets beyond circulation needs, the panel discussed the significance and potential of the dynamic histories of streetscapes and the associated impact on culture.


The panel also consisted of Thaisa Way from the University of Washington Department of Landscape Architecture as moderator, Ann Komara from the University of Colorado Denver College of Architecture and Planning, and Ron Henderson from IIT Program of Landscape Architecture, Chicago and L+A landscape architecture. 

 

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NewsGuest UserNew Orleans, LA2016a