Water Stories and Defining Place

Anna Cawrse, PLA, ASLA - Principal, Chair of Landscape Architecture, Civil Engineering and Ecology - Sasaki

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From lakes, to rivers, to hand-dredged bayous, the waters across our country have defined who we are as a civilization. As decades have passed our relationship to the water has changed but the stories and history are still there. This talk will look at how to find those hidden stories and reconsider the future of our lakes and rivers. How do we illuminate the hyperlocalism of these systems, celebrate them and design with them? 

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Proxemic and Distemic Design Considerations in Designing Spaces

Shawn T. Kelly, PLA, FASLA - Distinguished Teaching Faculty / Principal - University of Wisconsin-Madison / Kelly Design Group, LLC

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I often speak about water considerations in our changing climate. This discussion is about another climate change, and that is our social climate. As designers of space we have more to consider than ever before, from single lots to much larger projects. One element that must not be missed is the cultural piece if we ever hope for a resilient design that works and will continue to function over time. Ours is a profession and discipline of focused application. We are responsible for inclusion.

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Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Cassandra Rice - Senior Urban Designer - Perkins & Will

Aditi Subramanian - Urban Designer - Perkins & Will

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Landscape architects are increasingly interested in creating inclusive places. However, girls and young women are often excluded from our design considerations. This lecture presents a professional research project that explored how landscape architects and designers can create public spaces that better support teen experiences, well-being, and sense of belonging and ways they can be engaged in the design process.

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Why Choose Natives? Maximizing Biodiversity in Planting Design

Eva Roos, PLA, ASLA - Landscape Architect - Saiki Design

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You've heard native plants are "good" but are you blurry on the "why" and "how" to use them? This course dives into the scientific resereach related to native plant biodiversity benefits. It describes the ecological food web significance of choosing native plants and how specific genera of plants support greater biodiversity than others. Viewers will come away with specific planting design approaches and knowledge of plant species to incorporate into their designs to maximize ecological impact.

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Skateparks - The Economics of Design and Destination 

Thomas Kemp, PhD - Professor of Economics - University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

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This presentation will review current research on skate parks as a tourist destinations. We will also cover the broad demographic that one finds at skate parks of all sizes. Finally, we will cover the general econometric methods that may be applied to public park amenities in order to determine user valuation of said amenities.

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Climate Resilience: Philosophical, Regional, and Actionable Perspectives

Jason Valerius, AICP - Executive Director - Capital Area Regional Planning Commission

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Climate resilience is frequently on our lips, but what do we really mean when we say it? What issues and perspectives and responses are we trying to capture? This session will explore the meaning of resilience as it applies to people, place and community, offer a regional perspective about what we should be focused on, and feature actions we can take, both in design and in our behavior as designers, to build climate resilience in our communities. 

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An Approach to the Writing Process to Address Common Mistakes 

Katie Francis - Owner and CEO - KF Consulting 

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Many technical professionals agonize over writing because they view it as a complicated task they are ill-equipped to solve. But it doesn't have to be that way. This engaging and interactive course fixes the most common writing mistakes technical professionals make while changing how they approach the writing process. Breaking the writing process down into manageable and well-planned steps will help landscape architects avoid procrastination, write more clearly, and delegate more effectively.

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Coastal Erosion Along Cold Coastlines 

Luke Zoet - Dean L. Morgridge Endowed Chair of Geoscience - University of Wisconsin-Madison

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In this lecture we will talk about coastal erosion in the Great Lakes in general and how the winter season weather experienced in the upper midwest causes a new set of processes to shape our coastlines in ways that are different from warm coastlines. We will explore case studies from select locations and the processes that drive such erosion.

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Placemaking for Healing: The Power of Inclusive Design

Rachel Baudler Blaseg, PLA, ASLA - Senior Associate - Damon Farber Landscape Architects

Jodi Refsland, PLA, ASLA - Associate Principal - Damon Farber Landscape Architects

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This session will explore the transformative role of art, and interpretation and placemaking strategies to foster stewardship, empowerment, and healing. Using case studies from impactful projects such as the Memorial to Survivors of Sexual Violence, Rootsprings Project, and Daylighting Phalen Creek they will illustrate methods of storytelling within the landscape and how design can create spaces that resonate with diverse communities, provide solace, and encourage reflection and restoration.

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Genetic Diversity and Plant Preservation

Neil Diboll - President and Consulting Ecologist - Prairie Nursery, Inc.

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Neil provides an overview of the many strategies different plants have developed for reproduction and adaptation to their environments. The ramifications for plant gene pools, their genetic diversity, and adaptability to a changing world are highlighted. Other topics, including ecotypes, nativars, and global warming are presented. This thought-provoking talk provides perspectives on plant reproduction and its implications for preserving and maintaining diverse genetic bank for native species.

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Ethics of AI for Professionals 

Andrew McAninch, PhD - Associate Professor of Philosophy - Milwaukee School of Engineering

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This course introduces participants to some of the central ethical issues arising from AI technologies in a professional context, including issues arising from generative AI models, such as ChatGPT: truth and reliability, data harvesting and intellectual property, transparency and deception, outsourcing of human thinking and judgment, among other issues. Through a lively discussion of timely case studies, participants will work towards establishing principles that can guide responsible use of AI

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Off-Site Facility Tour

Madrax / Thomas Steele, Waunakee

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Join us for a guided tour of our manufacturing facility in Waunakee, WI, where we craft steel commercial outdoor site furnishings and bike parking racks. Experience the blend of craftsmanship and robotics as we take you through each step of the manufacturing process, from raw steel to finished product, revealing the intricate details and operations in between.