ASLA’s annual conference returned to the “City by the Bay” after 15 years and based on social media posts and feedback shared with ASLA staff, attendees enjoyed incredibly positive and memorable experiences. California, not surprisingly, represented approximately 34% of conference attendees but attendees came from every region in the country: Northeast, South, Southeast, Mountain, and Midwest—including 112 folks from Minnesota!

“Each one of them taught me something that will make me a better professional. More importantly, these panels presented information without ego – professional peers simply sharing best practices without bragging.”
-- Michael Grove, Principal, Sasaki (from firm website post), commenting on educational sessions

And special thanks and kudos to ASLA’s Northern California Chapter, Conference Host Chapter, for their time and commitment in making the ASLA 2022 Conference on Landscape Architecture a success! Whether it was some amazing Field Sessions like Alcatraz or an inspiring WILA Walk, the Host Chapter stepped up to the plate several times over.

And kudos to our student volunteers. This year we had approximately 900 ASLA Student members registered to volunteer during the conference, and they brought their collegiate expertise and knowledge to educational sessions, the mobile app desk, the press room, and the Expo!

The conference began on Friday, November 11 with 14 of the 24 Field Sessions, including “Muir Woods,” which was the first Field Session to sell out, a tour of Facebook/Meta headquarters campus, and a tour of San Francisco’s iconic LGBTQ+ neighborhood, the Castro.

“This was significant because it is the first time an LGBTQ focused field session was held by ASLA.”
-- @castrolgbtq (Castro LGBTQ Cultural District) social media post.

Also happening on Friday were the presentation of the 2022 Student and Professional Awards, sponsored by Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects and Brightview, respectively.

Saturday’s General Session, sponsored by Landscape Structures, opened with ASLA President Eugenia Martin, FASLA, presenting an exciting “year-in-review,” which included the presentation of the 2022 Legacy Project benefitting San Francisco’s Tenderloin District and the presentation of the 2022 Outstanding Service Award recipients. The session continued with ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen’s overview of ASLA’s Climate Action Plan, which was released later that day. The Saturday morning session concluded with an enlightening conversation between SCAPE Founder Kate Orff, FASLA, and keynote, marine biologist Dr. Ayana Johnson, discussing how protecting our oceans can be good climate policy.


 Eugenia Martin, FASLA provides an overview of past year initiatives and accomplishments

 Torey Carter-Conneen, CEO ASLA presents an overview of ASLA’s Climate Action Plan.

 Dr. Ayana Johnson and Kate Orff, FASLA, in an engaging fireside chat during the General Session 

Off to the Expo! After an enriching General Session, attendees moved onto the Expo floor with over 250 exhibitors!

Saturday afternoon was highlighted with an ASLA standard—the Alumni Tailgate, now known as the “LABash Block Party @Expo"

Sunday was packed with enriching education sessions including the presentation of ASLA’s Climate Action Plan, led by Task Force Chair Pamela Conrad, ASLA, and Task Force members Vaughn Rinner, FASLA, Diane Jones Allen, FASLA, Jose Alminana, FASLA, and Sarah Fitzgerald, ASLA.

Climate Action Plan Panel

Other sessions included “The Olmsteds and the American Campus,” and a broad-ranging discussion about the public-private collaboration that resulted in the NFL’s spectacular SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA, with Torey Carter-Conneen, Inglewood Mayor James Butts, Jr., and Mia Lehrer, FASLA.


SoFi Stadium panel discussion

Sunday night closed with the Council of Fellows Investiture Dinner, which inducted 27 new members as Fellows of ASLA.



Monday began with an early morning walk and ASLA tradition, the WILA Walk, followed by the final 10 of the 24 Field Sessions, including a tour of the Gardens of Alcatraz and the Gardens at the Salesforce Tower.

The 2022 Conference closed with the President’s Dinner which included several awards to individuals and firms and a historic installation of ASLA officers—three women named as Past President, President, and President-Elect, Eugenia Martin, FASLA, Emily O’Mahoney, FASLA, and SuLin Kotowicz, FASLA, respectively.

One final note: please take a look at an exciting overview of San Francisco 2022.