Thomas R. Oslund MLA ’86 Design Wins 2023 GOOD DESIGN Award
A popular downtown Minneapolis city park built in 2007 designed by Thomas R Oslund, MLA ’86, has won the prestigious 2023 GOOD DESIGN® Award presented annually by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. Gold Medal Park is a 7.5-acre urban park that has become an iconic and beloved fixture marking the heart of the vibrant and thriving Minneapolis Mill District. This project won in the Environments category.
Founded in Chicago in 1950 by Eero Saarinen and Charles and Ray Eames, GOOD DESIGN remains the oldest and the world’s most recognized program for design excellence worldwide. Last year, the Museum received a record number of submissions from the world’s leading manufacturers and industrial and graphic design firms representing the most important and critical mass of influential corporations in the design industry from over 55 countries, representing the best consumer design ranging from the ‘spoon to the city’ for sustainability, superior design, and unparalleled function. The 73rd GOOD DESIGN jury convened to select over 1,100 product designs and graphics from over 55 nations worthy of the GOOD DESIGN Award for their Design Excellence.
Follow Thomas’ firm, O2 Design, on Instagram.
posted February, 2024
Seven Alumni Elevated to ASLA Council of Fellows – Class of 2021
Seven GSD alumni have been elevated by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) as fellows for their exceptional contributions to the landscape architecture profession and society at large. Election to the ASLA Council of Fellows is among the highest honors the ASLA bestows on members and is based on their “works, leadership and management, knowledge, and service.” ASLA will formally recognize its 2021 Class of Fellows during the annual conference in Nashville on Sunday, November 21.
Congratulations to the GSD alumni in the 2021 Class of Fellows (pictured below left to right).
- Juan Antonio Bueno MLA ’86
- Claude Cormier MDes ’94
- Shauna Gillies-Smith MAUD ’95
- Eric F. Kramer MLA ’98
- Allan Webster Shearer MLA ’94
- Glenn LaRue Smith LF ’97
- Roderick R. Wyllie MLA ’98
For the full list of 2021 Fellows, click here.
posted July, 2021
Six GSD Alumni Elevated to AIA Fellows 2021
Six GSD alumni have been elevated by the 2021 Jury of Fellows from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to its prestigious College of Fellows. The honor recognizes architects who have “achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made a significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.”
The GSD congratulates:
- Rocco J. Ceo MArch ’86
- Mina M. Chow MArch ’93
- Billie J. Faircloth MArch ’01
- John H. Martin MArch ’89
- David S. Parker MArch ’85
- Gregory C. Wiedemann MArch ’77
For the full list of 2021 Fellows, visit the AIA website.
posted February, 2021
Catherine Murray MLA ’86 Appointed Principal at Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects
Catherine Murray MLA ’86 has been appointed as a Principal at Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects (SNHA).
Of the appointment, Timothy Conner, AIA LEED AP, SNHA Principal said: “We are excited to welcome Catherine Murray as our newest Principal at SNHA. In recent years, a new sort of design work has emerged with our large technology clients. With this work comes advanced forward-thinking and next-level strategic planning, analyzing, and researching new ways to create. Catherine joins us to help lead these new initiatives while bringing a new voice and a new perspective to the broader leadership of the firm.”
The firm celebrates “her ability to creatively tackle complex design challenges” and notes that her appointment “offers our team forward-thinking and next-level strategic planning, analyzing, and researching new ways to design and create. Catherine brings a new voice and a new perspective to the broader leadership of the firm.”
We offer our congratulations to Catherine and the Sheehan Nagle Hartray firm.
posted December, 2020
John Syvertsen, FAIA, LF ’86, To Receive 2019 AIA Chicago Lifetime Achievement Award
John Syvertsen, FAIA, LF ’86 will receive AIA Chicago’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating his career in architecture and service to the future of the profession. In his career, Syvertsen has distinguished himself through his work as an architect and firm leader, as a leader in community outreach, social impact, and environmental sustainability, and through his professorship at colleges and universities across the country. For ten years Syvertsen was President of OWP/P Architects. He led the merger with CannonDesign where he co-founded the Open Hand Studio dedicated to public interest design and was a member of the Executive Leadership Team. Since 2015 he has dedicated his career full-time in support of several nonprofit organizations.
“John is the model example of a leader – he’s a true gentleman that possesses poise and humility, but makes the tough decisions when needed,” said Andrew Balster, Assoc. AIA, Office Practice Leader of CannonDesign’s Chicago office. “As a mentor, he holds a deep sense of responsibility to ensure future generations not only achieve their greatest potential but that they also contribute to society as a whole. It’s humbling to be able to say I experienced the workplace and culture he helped define.”
To read more regarding this announce visit Chicago AIA here
posted October, 2019
Creative Climate Commitment with Susan Israel AB ’81, MAR ’86
Susan Israel AB ’81, MAR ’86 develops proprietary programs and hands-on creative workshops for sustainability, innovation, communication and leadership with her company Climate Creatives. Susan’s Public Art installations connect communities and foster action toward a more sustainable world. Susan uses her own artwork as a personal lab for exploring ways to connect people to climate issues. Her work has been exhibited in over a dozen group shows in recent years and she has partnered with over 100 organizations.
Susan is an architect, artist, climate communicator, and social entrepreneur. In 2008, after 20 years as an architect, she decided that she wanted to do something more for our climate. What would motivate other people to do more as well? Something fun and visible. What was preventing people from acting? Fear, and lack of belief that their actions matter. Thus, Susan founded Climate Creatives to use art and design to engage people because data alone just doesn’t do it: behavioral change begins with an emotional commitment. Susan develops proprietary programs and hands-on creative workshops for sustainability, innovation, communication and leadership and shares them around the world. She uses creation of public art to focus on the emotional and cultural aspect to appeal to people around climate change instead of data, to help them feel less afraid and more connected and engage to solutions.
posted October, 2019
Six Alumni Elevated to ASLA Council of Fellows
Six GSD alumni have been elevated by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) as fellows for their exceptional contributions to the landscape architecture profession and society at large. Election to the ASLA Council of Fellows is among the highest honors the ASLA bestows on members and is based on their works, leadership and management, knowledge and service.
ASLA will formally recognize its 2018 Fellows at the ASLA 2018 Annual Meeting and EXPO, October 19–22, in Philadelphia.
Congratulations to:
Mary Anne Cassin MLA ’82
Walter R. Havener MLA ’86
Ying-Yu Hung MLA ’94
Edward C. Marshall MLA ’86
W. Scott Parker MLU ’86
David A. Rubin MLA ’90
For the full list of 2018 Fellows click here
posted May, 2018
Eleven Alumni Elevated to AIA College of Fellows 2018
Eleven GSD alumni have been elevated by the 2018 Jury of Fellows from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to its prestigious College of Fellows. The honor recognizes architects who have “achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made a significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.” A ceremony honoring the new fellows will take place on June 22 at the AIA Conference on Architecture 2018 in New York City.
Congratulations to:
Jonathan Barnes MArch ’86
Eric Bunge MArch ’96
Chris Cooper MArch ’98
William B. Gallagher Jr. MAUD ’86
Leonard Kady MArch ’89
Rick Petersen MArch ’88
Naomi Pollock MArch ’85
Christopher Shears MArch ’80
James Susman MDes ’88
Louis Wasserman MArch ’74
Ellen Watts MArch ’79
Read the AIA press release.
Image courtesy of the AIA College of Fellows.
posted April, 2018
Alumni Bring Solar Power to Puerto Rico; Featured in Architectural Record, Miami Herald
A team of GSD alumni are involved in Resilient Power Puerto Rico, a project launched after Hurricane Maria to bring solar generators to the most under-served areas of the island with the long-term goal of promoting solar electric energy for every household in Puerto Rico. Jonathan Marvel MArch ’86 (Project Co-founder and Director of Logistics and Installation), Walter Meyer MLAUD ’03 (Project Co-founder and Strategy Director), Jennifer Bolstad AB ’98, MLA ’02 (Project Co-founder and Director of Administration and Finances), and José Juan Terrasa-Soler MLA ’07 (Director at Marvel Architects San Juan, Puerto Rico) are members of the Resilient Power Puerto Rico team, which operates under the nonprofit Coastal Marine Resource Center. Their work has been featured in a number of news outlets, including Architectural Record, the Miami Herald, AIA blog (interview with Marvel), the Architect’s Newspaper, and the Huffington Post.
In October, Terrasa-Soler participated in the GSD event “Hurricane Maria and Puerto Rico: Lessons for Future Urban Disasters,” moderated by Jerold S. Kayden AB ’75, JD ’79, MCRP ’79, Frank Backus Williams Professor of Urban Planning and Design, and organized by the Department of Urban Planning & Design, the MDes – Risk & Resilience concentration, and the course “Land Use and Environmental Law.”
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Marvel via AIA.
posted November, 2017
Margaret Wood MArch ‘86 Recognized as a 2017 Women of Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate by Banker and Tradesman
Margaret Wood MArch ‘86 has been named one this year’s 15 Women of Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate (FIRE) by Banker & Tradesman. The annual award recognizes key female players in their local FIRE sectors. Wood currently serves as Project Director of Pinck & Co. Inc, located in Springfield, MA. Pinck & Co. provides planning, design and construction management consulting services to owners during all phases of capital projects. The company has been named #36 on the top 100 women led businesses in Massachusetts.
See the full list of this year’s winners.
Image courtesy of Pinck & Co. Inc.
posted July, 2017
ASLA San Diego Honors Firm Led by Martin Poirier MLA ’86
The ASLA San Diego chapter presented Spurlock Poirer—the firm of GSD alumnus Martin Poirer MLA ’86, prinicpal—the President’s Award for their work on the Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, CA, and the Award of Merit for the United States Courthouse Annex located in the heart of San Diego. The awards are given each year to honor the best landscape architecture of the San Diego region.
January 2015
posted December, 2016
Ritchie Smith MLA ’80 and Lissa Thompson MLA ’86 Honored by Tennessee ASLA
The Tennessee ASLA Chapter presented Ritchie Smith MLA ’80 and Lissa Thompson MLA ’86 an Honor Award for their design of the Pedestrian Plaza at the Memphis International Airport. Their firm, Ritchie Smith Associates, was recognized at the chapter’s annual meeting in Chattanooga. Read more about the project here.
February 2015
posted December, 2016
Jeff Murphy MArch ’86 Elevated to AIA College of Fellows
Jeff Murphy MArch ’86 has been elevated by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to its prestigious College of Fellows for 2016. “The Fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society and who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession. Election to fellowship not only recognizes the achievements of architects as individuals, but also their significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.” The 2016 Fellows will be honored during a ceremony at the 2016 National AIA Convention.
February 2016
posted December, 2016
