LA DAYS
Join us for an exploration of contemporary landscape architecture practice during LA DAYS, the annual spring lecture series hosted by Colorado State University’s Landscape Architecture Program and the CSU Student Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Discover insights from six renowned professionals into designing and nurturing built and natural environments. From gardens and streetscapes to city parks and urban design, learn how landscape architects strengthen communities and improve human and environmental health.
All lectures are held at 6 p.m. in Natural Resources 113, Biology 136, Pathology 101, or Behavioral Science Building A101.
April 1st
Allison Colwell (FASLA, LEED AP)
Founding Partner and Principal, COLWELL : SHELOR
April 1st | Behavioral Sciences A101
Allison Colwell, FASLA, LEED AP, is a founding partner of Colwell Shelor, a Phoenix-based landscape architecture and urban design firm established in 2009. With over 21 years of experience, she specializes in creating vibrant environments that honor each site’s cultural and ecological context. Allison’s work emphasizes environmentally responsible design, including water harvesting and microclimate development. In 2023, she was elevated to the American Society of Landscape Architects’ Council of Fellows for her contributions to the field.
April 3rd
Kate Kennen (PLA)
Owner, Offshoots Productive Landscapes
April 3rd | Natural Resources 113
Kate Kennen is a registered landscape architect and the founder of Offshoots, Inc., a Boston-based landscape architecture firm specializing in productive planting techniques and phytotechnology consulting. Her book, “PHYTO: Principles and Resources for Site Remediation and Landscape Design,” co-authored with Niall Kirkwood, received a national ASLA honor award and was recognized among the top 10 new landscape books by The Dirt in 2015. In recognition of her accomplishments, she was honored in 2023 as an inductee to the American Society of Landscape Architects’ Council of Fellows.
April 8th
José de Jesús Leal (PLA, ASLA)
Principal and Director, Native Nation Building Studio at MIG
April 8th | Natural Resources 113
José de Jesús Leal, PLA, ASLA, is a landscape architect dedicated to connecting people to place, history, and culture through inclusive, community-based design. As Principal and Director of the Native Nation Building Studio at MIG, Inc., he focuses on culturally sensitive planning that supports Indigenous communities’ self-determination and capacity building. José’s Mexican and Indigenous heritage informs his passion for Indigenous landscape architecture and understanding of diverse cultural interactions with the environment.
Paul Fragua
Tribal Elder and Planner, Native Nation Building Studio at MIG
April 8th | Natural Resources 113
Paul Fragua, a member of the Pueblo of Jemez, is a seasoned architect and planner with over 30 years of experience in tribal community development. His expertise encompasses strategic and master planning, resource development, and technical assistance, all aimed at bolstering Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination. As a co-founder of the Native Nation Building Studio at MIG, Inc., Paul integrates cultural sensitivity into planning processes, ensuring that Indigenous voices are central to development initiatives. He is also recognized as a fire keeper, dedicated to preserving and promoting Indigenous traditions and knowledge.
April 10th
David Rubin (PLA, FASLA, FAAR, CPRP)
Founding Principal, DAVID RUBIN Land Collective
April 10th | Biology 136
David A. Rubin, PLA, FASLA, FAAR, is the founding principal of DAVID RUBIN Land Collective, a Philadelphia-based landscape architecture, urban design, and planning studio dedicated to socially purposeful design. His empathy-driven design approach integrates social justice with public space excellence. Rubin received the 2011–2012 Garden Club of America Rome Prize in Landscape Architecture from the American Academy in Rome. Notable projects include Canal Park in Washington, D.C., and Franklin Park in Philadelphia. His firm’s Grand Junction Park and Plaza project won a 2023 ASLA Honor Award.
April 28th
Doug Hoerr (FASLA)
Senior Partner, Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects
April 28th | Pathology 101
Doug Hoerr is a distinguished landscape architect and senior partner at Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects, a firm renowned for its transformative use of horticulture in both public and private spaces. Raised on a farm in Indiana, Doug’s early connection to the land led him to earn a degree in Landscape Architecture from Purdue University. After a decade in design-build work, he expanded his expertise in England, working with esteemed gardeners like John Brookes and Beth Chatto. Notably, Hoerr Schaudt’s project, “The Meadow at the Old Chicago Post Office,” was recognized with a 2023 ASLA Honor Award. His work has been featured in publications such as Architectural Digest and Veranda, and he co-authored the book “Movement and Meaning: The Landscapes of Hoerr Schaudt,” highlighting the firm’s impactful projects.
