ASLA UTAH DECEMBER 2024 NEWSLETTER

**ASLA Utah Chapter wishes you Happy Holidays & a Prosperous New Year!**

UPCOMING EVENTS

**ASLA Utah Winter Social Friday, January 31st ASLA UT Office, 280 S 400 W, #150, SLC** **REGISTER HERE**

————-— SAVE THE DATE ————-—— ASLA Utah 2025 Annual Conference “Landscape in the Desert”. Dixie Convention Center, St. George, Utah Friday, April 11th, 2025 **Early Bird** **Registration Begins Jan 1st**

**UNLA Green Conference January 6-7-8, 2024** Mountain America Expo Center 9575 South State Street in Sandy **REGISTER HERE**

Leadership Express - New Perspectives, Same Great View!

Lars Erickson, ASLA Utah President

Hello, ASLA UTAH!

As we close out 2024, I reflect on the progress I’ve seen in the chapter the past 18 months. I’m grateful for the many conversations and getting to know many of you more. I hope that at this holiday season you can get some time with family and friends. Plus some time to rest and recharge is always nice.

As I look forward to 2025 I’m excited to grow even more. I recently was able to get outside and look out over the Salt Lake Valley and it reminded me of the all the efforts made by those that came before me, some are known and many unknown, but I’m grateful all the same I’m excited for what’s ahead. After having served the past year, I’ve gained new perspectives and as I looked out over the Salt Lake Valley, I realize more than ever the vital role Landscape Architects play in creating a better future, established in sustainable practices and good design. We are making a difference, and I think we have been for some time. Let’s keep getting the word out!

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Lars Erickson

2025 USU LAEP Opportunities for LA Professionals

Galen Kohlbrecher, USU VP of Professional Outreach

We have a couple of exciting events for LA Professionals to participate in! If you are interested in this opportunities or have questions, please email Galen Kohlbrecher at kohlbrechergalen@gmail.com.

Lunch and Learn Opportunities for Professionals

We want to invite Landscape Architecture professionals from the Salt Lake Area to speak in front of the ASLA student chapter about a subject they think would be important to know as a student.
Inform students about a subject you are interested in.
Free Lunch
Networking Opportunities

Multi-Disciplinary Workshop

U-DOT recently published The Logan Main St. Master Plan and a couple of students want to hold a charrette that will involve USU student chapters of Engineers (ASCE), Landscape Architects (ASLA), and Planners (APA).
This Charette will be held in the Studios during February.
The initial Open House will be on February 1st. This is where we will break down our goals for the project and talk to stakeholders, city engineers, and city council members.
We will take a break and work on a final product between the Initial Open House and the Final Open House. Saturdays will be work days on Weekends where interested professionals can attend in person or on Zoom to talk to students engaged with the project.
The Final Open House will be held on Thursday, February 27th from 6:30 to 8:30, where stakeholders and members of the community will be able to attend and see what the potential Main Street could look like.

What led you to landscape architecture? Like many in our industry, my passion for landscape architecture began in my early years, helping my dad around our yard in Salem Utah. I also developed a deep appreciation for beautiful spaces through experiences like visiting Butchart Gardens. During my college years, I worked for Vision Landscaping in Utah County, where I gained valuable practical knowledge about the installation process. While that experience was beneficial, I've discovered that my true passion lies in designing and site management, which is what I focus on now. Working at G Brown has been a fantastic opportunity, allowing me to collaborate with some of the best in the field.

What is your favorite part of your practice? My favorite part of landscape architecture is seeing a project come to life, from concept to completion. As a father of three sons who love parks and trails, being involved in creating these spaces is particularly meaningful to me. I've enjoyed collaborating with contractors and city officials on various projects, and I truly appreciate how we come together to achieve our goals. Working on projects in communities that hold personal significance to me is always especially rewarding.

What is your favorite hobby? My wife and I have three sons, so we embrace any opportunity to get them outside to experience new places (and usually run around). We enjoy camping and love to travel, with Disneyland being a family favorite. Recently, I’ve also jumped on the trend of smoking meat, and this hobby now occupies a big chunk of my weekends

What do you find inspiring? I find a lot of inspiration from my travels. Experiencing different landscapes, environments, and cultures has had a significant impact on how I approach my work. I love taking those elements and finding ways to blend them with the unique environment and culture we have here in Utah. It's fun to create spaces that reflect both the beauty of faraway places and the distinct character of our local surroundings.

**Describe a notable landscape architecture project you were involved in.** Designing Juniper Canyon Trailhead and Bike Park in Herriman was a particularly enjoyable project for me.
photo credit: Troy Sorensen

Working with Herriman City was a great experience, and the trailhead park even served as a location for the Governor to sign documents. This project was also especially meaningful because my sons attended school in Herriman, and my wife taught at Herriman High. It was a full-circle moment to contribute to creating a great space for a community that has been such a significant part of our lives.

Special Thanks to ASLA Utah 2024 Sponsors & Corporate Partners for their Support!

Platinum Sponsors
BioGrass | Great Western Recreation | Rain Bird | Victor Stanley

Corporate Partners
Bockholt Designs | Calsense | Denton House | Io LandArch | SEGroup

ASLA UTAH DECEMBER NEWSLETTER