OALA - Ontario Association of Landscape Architects

OALA - Ontario Association of Landscape Architects: Landscape architecture is the profession concerned with the design, planning, management and stewardship of the land. Applying both art and science to their work, OALA provides consulting services, prepare plans and facilitate projects that create a balance between the needs and wants of people and the limitations of the environment.The work of landscape architects is all around us. The attractiveness and usefulness of our parks, highways, neighborhoods, urban plazas, gardens, zoos and institutions reflects the skill of landscape architects in both design and planning in order to achieve the best use of land resources. Guided by their Mission to serve and protect the public interest, the expertise of landscape architects has contributed to the creation of many well-known Ontario landmarks including:The Niagara Parkway,Parliament Hill in Ottawa,Ontario Place,Canada's Wonderland,Toronto's Metro Zoo, Royal Botanical Gardens, many university and college campuses Landscape architecture is the profession which applies artistic and scientific principles to the research, planning, design and management of both natural and built environments. Landscape architecture may, for the purpose of landscape preservation, development and enhancement, include: investigation, selection and allocation of land and water resources for appropriate uses; feasibility studies; formulation of graphic and written criteria to govern the planning and design of land construction programs; preparation, review and analysis of master plans for land use and development; production of overall site plans, landscape grading and drainage plans, irrigation plans, planting plans and construction details; specifications; cost estimates and reports for land development; collaboration in the design of roads, bridges and structures with respect to the functional and aesthetic requirements of the areas on which they are to be placed; negotiation and arrangement for execution of land area projects; field observation and inspection of land area construction, restoration and maintenance. (Approved by the OALA Council, January 17, 1984).Landscape design, the historical core of the profession, is concerned with detailed space design for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and public areas.It involves site analysis, development of design concepts, the shaping of spaces, the balance of hard and soft surfaces in indoor and outdoor spaces, the selection of construction and plant materials, and the preparation of detailed construction plans and contract documents. It may also involve maintenance planning, supervision of construction, and post-construction analysis. Site planning focuses on the physical design and arrangement of the built and natural elements of a land parcel. It deals with a wide range of technical aspects such as circulation patterns, utility layout, siting of buildings and creating areas for human use. A site planning project can involve designing the land for a single house, an office complex or shopping centre, or an entire community. Sensitive site design produces developments that minimize both environmental impacts and project costs, while adding value to a site. Urban design deals with the design of cities and towns. This field also involves the development of open public spaces, such as plazas and streetscapes. As urban designers, landscape architects set standards, development guidelines and create designs. Regional landscape planning has emerged as a major area of practice for many landscape architects since the rise of environmentalism in the 1970s. In this field, landscape architects deal with the full range of planning and management of land and water, including natural resource surveys, creation and protection of habitats, wetlands, and other natural environments. <H1>Landscape Architects</H1><H1>OALA</H1><H1>Landscape design </H1><H1>Site planning </H1><H1>Parks and recreation </H1>

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OALA MEMBERS' AREA

Awards of Excellence > 2008 OALA Awards

OALA PINNACLE AWARD FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL EXCELLENCE

This award recognizes an OALA member and his or her professional work. It singles out specific projects to draw attention to a body of work which demonstrates outstanding professional accomplishment.

This year’s award recipient is Gerald Lajeunesse.

OALA David Erb Memorial Award

This award is named after David Erb who was an outstanding volunteer in furthering the goals of OALA and his example set a truly high standard. The award is the best way to acknowledge the one outstanding OALA member each year whose volunteer contributions over a number of years have made a real difference.

This year’s award recipient is Jane Welsh.

OALA AWARD FOR SERVICE TO THE ENVIRONMENT

This award is given to a non-landscape architectural individual, group, organization, or agency in the Province of Ontario to recognize and encourage a special or unusual contribution to the sensitive, sustainable design for human use of the environment.

The contribution must emulate the fundamental principles of OALA and the OALA Mission Statement and go beyond the normal levels of community action in preserving, protecting or improving the environment.

This year’s award recipient is the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation.

OALA CERTIFICATE OF MERIT FOR SERVICE TO THE ENVIRONMENT

This certificate is given to a non-landscape architectural individual, group, organization, or agency In Ontario to recognize and encourage a special or unusual contribution to the sensitive, sustainable design for human use of the environment. Contributions may have had a local, regional, or provincial impact through policy, planning or design, or as an implemented project.

This year’s award recipient is: KARA – Kleinburg and Area Ratepayers Association for their Kleinburg New Forest / Forster Woods Project.

OALA CARL BORGSTROM AWARD FOR SERVICE TO THE ENVIRONMENT

This award is given to individual landscape architects or a landscape architectural group to recognize and encourage special or unusual contribution to the sensitive, sustainable design for human use of the environment. This award is named in honour of Carl Borgstrom who of all OALA’s founders, was the most actively in tune with the natural landscape.

This year’s award recipient is Marc Willoughby.

OALA Public Practice Award

This award recognizes the outstanding leadership of a member of the profession in public practice who promotes and enhances landscape architecture by working for improved understanding and appreciation of the work of landscape architects in both public and private practice.

This year’s award recipient is Elyse Parker.

OALA HONOURARY MEMBER AWARD

The Honourary category of membership is for non-landscape architects for whom Council wishes to recognize for outstanding contributions in their own fields to improving the quality of natural and human environments.

This year’s Honourary Membership is awarded to Philip Weinstein

Ontario Association of Landscape Architects, 3 Church Street, Suite 407 , Toronto, Ontario M5E 1M2
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