Teaching

Fall 1993 - Spring 2024

Courses Taught 

L - lower BLA     I - intermediate BLA

U - upper BLA    G - graduate: MLA, MSLA  

O - other majors    P - professional

* created or co-created course


Recent


Past


Continuing Professional Education 

Pittsburgh Studio

Spring 2023 marked the final Pittsburgh Studio. My sincerest thanks to my wonderful Penn State Center friends Deno, Lisa, Tom, David and Mary Ann, and the amazing residents of our partner neighborhoods.

*  *  *

This advanced BLA/MLA studio engaged with communities in lower-income and working class Pittsburgh neighborhoods. From the start, our neighborhood collaborators invited us into their community as working partners in a mutually beneficial semester of reciprocal learning and design of catalytic local initiatives.

I led this studio three times from 1996 to 1999, and then again from 2008 to 2023 with a stronger focus on community engagement through Penn State's Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center. In fact, the studio was the first initiative of the newly-created Center in the Fall of 2008. Through the years we've worked with over 20 neighborhoods; repeat partnerships include Beltzhoover, Larimer, Coraopolis, the Northside, and the Hill District. Every neighborhood we partnered with had talented and resilient residents who generously shared their insights. 

Publications addressing the studio are here, here and here. 

Recognitions over the years include:

- W. K. Kellogg Foundation Engagement Award, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, Northeast Region.

- National Finalist (one of 4), Peter C. Magrath University / Community Engagement Award, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities.

- Community Engagement and Scholarship Award for my leadership of the Pittsburgh Studio, Penn State University.

- Featured short video "The Pittsburgh Studio", by Penn State Public Broadcasting (here).

- Student awards (approx. 20) for their Pittsburgh Studio work, from the American Society of Landscape Architects and Penn State University.

- Invited refereed paper, Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement 16(3): 115–151.

- My appointment as Engaged Scholarship Pioneer, Penn State Engagement Scholarship Council.

- My appointment as Public Scholarship Fellow, Penn State University, Provost appointment.

- Exemplar on Engaged Scholarship, Campus Compact coalition of 1,100 U.S. colleges and universities committed to higher education engagement.

- Featured in 15-20 news articles over the years, mostly online and print versions of Pittsburgh newspapers.

Student-run charrette in Hazelwood neighborhood, 2013


Adrienne Angelucci, Rosedale block cluster, 2011


Hazelwood charrette, 2020

Community leaders teach students about their place. Manchester neighborhood, north Pittsburgh, 2017


Andrew Madl, Hazelwood Riverfront Park, 2013

Coraopolis open house, 2023


Beltzhoover open house, 2009

Planting Methods

An intermediate hybrid design/methods course for BLA and MLA students, and part of our core professional sequence. I initiated and first led this course in 2003. 

We focused on sustainable planting design and implementation methods across a typology including native meadows, mixed pollinator gardens, and treed bosques (earlier versions included a mini-forest project). The course promoted students' knowledge and skills in applied planting techniques, eco-culture, plant phenology (biological and aesthetic), soils remediation, contract documentation, commissioning and landscape management. 

Our semester culminated in a full set of CAD-based contract documents. This course has influenced new, more sustainable approaches to PSU's landscape management over the past two decades.

How did we teach this course during Covid? Read this article on our Virtual Studio 1.0. 

Mixed pollinator garden, Lara Garcia, 2019

Treed plaza technical drawings, Lara Garcia, 2019


Stuckeman Landscape Planting Day, 2023


Meadow complex, Grace Stewart, 2021


Emily Hahn CD set, 2014

Ecology & Plants II

I love plants and I'm not shy about it. They matter much more in our daily lives, and in the health of the Earth, than we give them credit for. 

I taught this 2nd year BLA field course Fall semester from 2019-2023. It took place at the Arboretum at Penn State and the adjacent University Park campus. During our Plant Walks, we identified plants and studied their botanical and landscape performance attributes and their plant community contexts.

Besides field note-taking, students prepared annotated botanical sketches on select plants. Student groups also explored plant community themes including mixed hedgerows, rain gardens, ephemeral woodland ground flora, prairie grass and forb complexes, and wild edible plants. By the end of the semester, students will have studied about 150 woody and herbaceous plant species, their natural history, and their landscape contexts.

Plant taxonomy quiz in the arboretum

Botanical fieldnotes, Elisa Li, Fall 2022

Quiet study

Landscape Film

My first foray teaching narrative short films was during a Graduate Seminar I led in 2004. Since then, students in LArch 424/497 (2005-2017) have used short film's capacity to explore, express and critique as it tells a story about place, landscape, or city. We split our time between film appreciation (short and feature-length) and production of several video shorts. Students' final 8-10 minute films are premiered at our LArch Mini-Filmfest and then lodged on Vimeo. 

This advanced elective attracted students from all 3 Stuckeman School programs and the Bellisario College of Communications. My thanks to Kevin Thompson (U.Florida) and film professor Barbara Bird for their help and encouragement early on. 


SALA's Immersive Environments Lab

Memorial

Xioxi Zhou, 2017

Honor Award, ASLA-PA/Del Student Awards


An Extimate Relationship

Sadra Tehrani, 2017

Official Selection, Blue and White Film Festival


Lots of Potential 

Jeff Holzer, Connor Kane, Hailey Rohn, 2015

Honor Award, ASLA-PA/Del Student Awards

Landscape Systems Studio

Variously named "Regional Studio," "Sites & Systems Studio," etc., I co-led this course most years between 1996 and 2007. Based largely on fieldwork, GIS data, and other background research, we looked at the intrinsic connectedness between sites and their larger landscape contexts, and proposed interventions that addressed sub-regional identity, sustainability, landscape ecology, and climate change responses. 

Many of these were service-learning situations; partners including the Mount Nittany Conservancy, Bald Eagle State Park, The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Friends of Sinking Valley, ClearWater Conservancy, the Susquehanna Economic Development Agency, the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.

Susquehanna North Branch Studio

Mount Nittany Studio

For years the course included an early Fall or late Spring paddle down the Susquehanna River or Penn's and Bald Eagle Creeks. The Risk Management office and red tape eventually ended what was a great run. Kudos to my colleague, Emeritus Prof. Dan Jones, for his fearless (and safe!) leadership.

Ridge & Valley in the Field

This BLA field course explores the layered landscape systems of the Upper Ridge & Valley physiographic province in central Pennsylvania. We begin with background and GIS inquiries. Then, in early May, we access rural and wildland sites associated with ridgetops, side slopes and valleylands. We focus on native plant communities through the lens of geology, physiography, soils, and hydrology -- all within the context of visual and cultural landscapes. I initiated this course course in 2008 and led it until 2015. 

Exploring a vernal pool, Bald Eagle ridge

Naturalist-author Marcia Bonta  gives a field reading about the Bonta family's stewardship of Plummer Hollow

Ecosystems Transect Field Course

This week-long field transect stretched from the Mid-Atlantic Outer and Inner Coastal Plains (Island Beach State Park barrier island, NJ pine barrens), to the Piedmont (lower Susquehanna), through the Ridge-and-Valley to the Allegheny Plateau (Tionesta and Hearts Content old growth forests), finally terminating at our Great Lakes Lowlands site at Presque Isle State Park in Erie, PA. 

Colleague Neil Korostoff and I took turns leading this course from the mid-1990s to 2007. For many of our students, this was their first experience immersed in relatively wild places, or even paddling a canoe.

Contemplative time, Heart's Content old growth forest

Watershed Stewardship

Graduate Studios

As Heinz Faculty Fellow, I co-led these full-year, graduate-level watershed management training studios in 1999-2000 and 2001-2002, in association with faculty of the inter-college Center for Watershed Stewardship.

Faculty and graduate students worked collaboratively with the Pennsylvania watershed communities of Maiden Creek, Nescopeck Creek and Jacob's Creek in identifying challenges and opportunities for stewardship and management of sub-watersheds and riparian corridors. The program was generously supported by the Heinz Endowments.

Community Design Studio

I co-led this intermediate-level studio from 2013 to 2019. Students studied social and environmental issues, grappled with land development policy and regulation, and compiled GIS data prior to preparation of mixed-use residential plans. 

We emphasized social inclusivity, affordability, and sustainability. Our study sites were largely in the Centre Region, but we also partnered with groups in Altoona, PA and the Gowanus Canal Conservancy in exploring regenerative strategies for a superfund site in Brooklyn, NYC.

Yiru Zhang, 2019


Gowanus Canal project site, Brooklyn, 2017

Ecological Restoration Practicum

This was a 400-level, cross-college, 3-credit field practicum in applied restoration ecology, concentrating on best practices to improve stream buffers that have been degraded. Following livestock exclosure, we planted native streamside trees, shrubs and some herbaceous plugs along a 200 meter reach of Slab Cabin Run that traverses the Focht family farm just west of State College. The plantings have matured into a thriving 25-30m wide riparian corridor. 

Co-taught with Louis Comas in 2008 and sponsored by the ClearWater Conservancy. Planting stock provided by Octoraro Nurseries.

Restoration strategy by Ken Tamminga

Focht farm riparian corridor restoration in action

Student Work Recognized 

under my guidance

Honor Award, to G. Stewart, from ASLA, for LArch 335 Planting Design and Barcelona Ed Abroad Gracia Market projects, 2023.

First Place, to D. Collins and Nürtingen Geislingen University (NGU) colleagues, for Schellenbergbrücke concept, from Horticultural Exhibition Balingen Society, Bridge Gardens International Student Competition, Balingen Germany. 

First Place, to P. Anifowoshe and NGU University collaborators, for Brücke am alten Markt concept, from Horticultural Exhibition Balingen Society, Bridge Gardens International Student Competition, Balingen Germany.

Second Place, to Olivia Krum and NGU collaborators, for Brücke Stingstraße concept, from Horticultural Exhibition Balingen Society, Bridge Gardens International Student Competition, Balingen Germany.

College Creative Achievement Award, to Yiru Zhang, from the College of Arts and Architecture, for “Green play infrastructure: [Re]Connecting children with nature in underserved urban neighborhood,” 2021.

Graduate LAF Olmsted Scholar, to Lucy Rummler, from the Landscape Architecture Foundation, for “Designing for coastal resilience,” 2020.

College Creative Achievement Award, to Shengwei Tan, from the College of Arts and Architecture, for “A vision for urban micromobility,” 2020.

Honor Award, to X. Zhou, from American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) PA/Del chapter, for LArch 424 Landscape Film documentary “Memorial”, 2018.

Official Selection, Blue and White Film Festival 2018, to S. Tehrani, for “Extimate Relationship” experimental short film, LArch 424 Landscape Film Seminar, 2018.

Honor Award, to Y. Fu, from ASLA PA/Del chapter, for LArch 312, Community/Site Studio project in Altoona, PA, 2017.

Merit Award, to L. Shoats, from ASLA PA/Del chapter, for LArch 414 Pittsburgh Studio project in Beechview, 2017.

Honor Award, J. Holzer, C. Kane, H. Rohn, from ASLA PA/Del chapter, for LArch 424 Landscape Film short film “Lots of Potential", Pittsburgh's Northside, 2016.

Honor Award, to T. Wenner, from ASLA PA/Del chapter, for LArch 414 Pittsburgh Studio project in California-Kirkbride, 2016.

Video-documentary Feature, R. Walker’s LArch 414 Pittsburgh Studio work in Hazelwood, “Water Blues, Green Solutions,” produced by WPSU-TV, 2014.

Honor Award, to A. Madl, from ASLA PA/Del chapter, for LArch 414 Pittsburgh Studio project in Hazelwood, 2014.

Honor Award, to C. Chiampi, from ASLA PA/Del chapter, for LArch 414 Pittsburgh Studio project in Marshall-Shadeland, 2013.

People’s Choice Award, to C. Chiampi, from ASLA PA/Del chapter annual conference, for LArch 414 Pittsburgh Studio project, 2013.

Graduate Scholarship, to J. Brosius, Alma Heinz and August Pohland Graduate Scholarship, SALA, 2012.

Honor Award, to A. Bishop, from ASLA PA/Del chapter, for LArch 414 Pittsburgh Studio project in South Homewood, 2012.

Honor Award, to A. Andrelucci, A. Bishop, E. Dintaman, R. Judge, and L. Mould, from ASLA PA/Del chapter, for LArch 414 Pittsburgh Studio project in South Homewood, 2012.

Merit Award, to J. Lippert, from ASLA PA/Del chapter, for LArch 414 Pittsburgh Studio project in west Pittsburgh, 2011.

Second Place, to A. Roth, Penn State Undergraduate Exhibition, Public Scholarship category, for LArch 414, Pittsburgh Studio project in Coraopolis, 2011.

Honor Award, to M. Ruane, from ASLA PA/Del chapter, for LArch 414 Pittsburgh Studio project in Larimer, 2010.

Merit Award, to V. Plocido, from ASLA PA/Del chapter, for LArch 414 Pittsburgh Studio project in Larimer, 2010.

First Place, to M. Nunn, PSU Undergraduate Research Exhibition, Public Scholarship category, LArch 414 Studio project in the Hill District, 2009.

First Place, to M. Nunn, PSU Undergraduate Research Exhibition, Public Scholarship category, LArch 425 Landscape Systems Studio project on Spring Creek Canyon, 2008.

Graduate Scholarship, to N. Stern, Alma Heinz and August Pohland Graduate Scholarship, SALA, 2007.

Graduate Fellowship, to M. Rossetti, Waddell Biggart Graduate Fellowship, College of A&A, 2003.

Graduate Residency, to M. Rossetti, Summer Residency, Institute for the Arts and Humanities, 2002.

First Place, to K. Gerlich, 9th Annual Green Design Conference Student Exhibition, LArch 451 Urban Design Studio project, City of Reading Urban Environmental Center, 2002.

Graduate Fellowship, to J. Malik, Waddell Biggart Graduate Fellowship, College of A&A, 2002.

Graduate Fellowship, to M. Schlee, Waddell Biggart Graduate Fellowship, College of A&A, 2002.

Graduate Fellowship, to M. Schlee, Alma Heinz and August Pohland Graduate Student Fellowship, SALA, 2001.

Thesis Award, P. Das, Interdisciplinary Dissertation and Creative Projects Award, Institute for the Arts and Humanities, 2000

Graduate Fellowship, to P. Das, Alma Heinz and August Pohland Graduate Student Fellowship, SALA, 1999.

First Place, M. Bendinsky, PSU Undergraduate Research Exhibition, LArch 453 Capstone Studio project, 1999.

Bonn Program Study Tours & Charrettes

Penn State's Ed Abroad program in Bonn, Germany has been hosted by AiB-Bonn for over a decade, and I served as Education Abroad director since Spring of 2019. This required full-semester abroad addresses leading-edge landscape architecture in western Europe, with a focus on sustainable urbanism. Week-long study tour destinations have included the Netherlands, Copenhagen, Paris, Berlin and several others. Students also regularly workshop with German design students; I co-lead an extended Fall, 2022 charrette in collaboration with faculty and students from Nürtingen Geislingen University, hosted by the City of Balingen and the State of Baden-Württemberg.

Amsterdam green roof

Lunch with OKRA Landscape Architects, Utrecht, NL

Rotterdam study site

My faculty colleagues Rainer Sachse (l) and David Welter (r) provide critique during our Balingen bridges charrette

Bike tour along Copenhagen's wonderful Inderhavn waterfront

Barcelona Summer Program

Our Barcelona program is a highlight for many students in our BLA program. Initiated by Neil Korostoff, the 6-week, 9-credit early summer program is hosted by the Barcelona Architecture Center (BAC), headed by architect Miguel Roldán. I last co-led the program in summer, 2022 and initiated the Madrid study tour. We focus on sustainable urban design in Barcelona, augmented by study tours to Madrid, Olot, Tarragona, Girona, and other Spanish locales.

Escales de la Catedral, Tarragona, Spain


Our 2022 study site: the derelict Gràcia market in upper Barcelona

Passeig de Lluís Companys,  Barcelona


Puente de Arganzuela, Madrid


Professional Education Short Courses

Principles of Wetland Design

Co-taught summers 1997, 1998, 2001 with Andy Cole, through the Center for Watershed Stewardship. These were three-day courses providing continuing education credits to regional professional. Formats included lectures, technical demonstrations, and field trips to regional wetland remediation and restoration projects.

We conduct various soils tests, including Munsell's charting for soil color


Brownfield Reclamation: Soil, Water, Plants

Co-taught summer 2002 with Rick Stehouwer and funded by EPA Region 3. This 4-day professional training course included lectures and hands-on trainee implementation of my design for a one acre brownfield reclamation at the Rohm & Haas Co. chemical plant in Bristol, PA. Over time, the initial meadow-old field-woody node mosaic has been permitted to succeed into a well-stratified woodlot of eastern PA native trees, understory and ground flora.

Our course served as a template for later brownfield training courses offered through the EPA.

Brownfield reclamation trainee installing native woody plants


The recovered brownfield site (Google 2024)

Engaged Studios and 

Public Scholarship Courses

* team taught 

Pittsburgh Studio XIII, LArch 414, Spring 2023, Coraopolis, PA; with The Coraopolis Community Development Corp. and Coraopolis Youth Creations, through the Penn State Center Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Studio XII, LArch 414, Spring 2021, Triboro EcoDistrict; with Millvale, Etna, and Sharpsburg and Allegheny Land Trust, through the Penn State Center

Pittsburgh Studio XI, LArch 414, Spring 2020, Hazelwood neighborhood; with Hazelwood Initiative, Inc., Center of Life, and The Heinz Foundation; through the Penn State Center

Planting Methods, LArch 335/837*, Spring 2019: Oak Road Meadow; with Penn State University Office of Physical Plant

Pittsburgh Studio X, LArch 414, Fall 2018, The Strip District neighborhood; with Strip District Neighbors and Clean Sweep; through the Penn State Center

Musser Gap-to-Valleylands Study, LArch 497*, Fall 2018; through the Penn State University Provost's Office

Pittsburgh Studio IX, LArch 414, Fall 2017, Larimer neighborhood; with the Kingsley Association, through the Penn State Center

Pittsburgh Studio IX: Martha Graham Tribute Charrette, Fall 2017; with Northside Neighborhoods and the Penn State Center

Gowanus Canal - Brooklyn/NYC, LArch 312/817*, Community/Site Studio, Spring 2017; with Gowanus Canal Conservancy

Pittsburgh Studio VIII, LArch 414, Fall 2016; with Beechview and West End neighborhood associations; through the Penn State Center

Pittsburgh Studio VIII: West End Charrette, Fall 2016; with SouthWest Pittsburgh Community Development Corporation

Advanced Planting Design Seminar, LArch 424, Fall 2016; with St. Vincent Archabbey and St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA

Heritage Plaza Design, LArch 312 Community/Site Design Studio*, Spring 2016; with the City of Altoona, PA and several community organizations

Pittsburgh Studio VII, LArch 414, Fall 2015; with the Northside neighborhoods; through the Penn State Center; sponsored by the Buhl Foundation

Pittsburgh Studio VII: Chartiers Avenue Charrette, Fall 2015; with McKees Rocks Community Development Association

Pittsburgh Studio VI, LArch 414, Fall 2013; with the Hazelwood neighborhood; through the Penn State Center

Pittsburgh Studio V, LArch 414, Fall 2012, Wilkinsburg and Northside neighborhoods; with Wilkinsburg Community Development Corp. and Northside groups; through the Penn State Center

Pittsburgh Studio IV, LArch 414, Fall 2011, Homewood and Carrick neighborhoods; with Rosedale Block Cluster, through the Penn State Center

Pittsburgh Studio III, LArch 414, Fall 2010, West Pittsburgh neighborhoods and Coraopolis; through the Penn State Center

Pittsburgh Studio III: Green Innovators Charrette, Fall 2010, with The Green Innovator Center, Connelley School, Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Studio II, LArch 414, Fall 2009, Larimer and Beltzhoover neighborhoods; with Kingsley Association (Larimer) and Beltzhoover Neighborhood Council; through the Penn State Center

Pittsburgh Studio I, LArch 414/520, various locations: the Hill District, South Side neighborhood, Beltzhoover, Lincoln Place and Hays Woods, Fall 2008; through the Penn State Center

Slab Cabin Run / Focht Farm Riparian Restoration, LArch 497 / HORT 497*, Fall 2008; with ClearWater Conservancy

Musser Gap Studio, LArch 311*, Fall 2007, with ClearWater Conservancy

Mount Nittany Studio II, LArch 425*, Fall 2005; with The Mount Nittany Conservancy

Potter Farm / Elks Country Club Ecological Restoration Studio, LArch 453/497*, Spring 2005; with ClearWater Conservancy

Mount Nittany Studio I, LArch 425*, Fall 2004; with The Mount Nittany Conservancy

Susquehanna Riverway Studio - North Branch, LArch 425*, Fall 2003; with Endless Mountains Heritage Region and Pennsylvania Environmental Council

Susquehanna Greenway Studio - Main Stem, LArch 425, Fall 2002; with The SEDA (PA) Council of Governments

Jacobs Creek & Nescopeck Creek Watershed Management Studies, LArch 530*, Spring 2002; with PSU Center for Watershed Stewardship and local watershed organizations

City of Reading Inner-city Studio, LArch 451, Fall 2001, with Berks County Planning office and neighborhood associations; with The Hamer Center

Maiden Creek Watershed Management Study, LArch 530/540*, 1999-2000; with Berks County Conservancy and PSU Center for Watershed Stewardship

Sinking Valley Studio, LArch 425*, Fall 2000; with Friends of Sinking Valley

Monongahela Riverside Park Studio (Pittsburgh), LArch 400/520, Fall 1999; with Friends of the Riverfront, Pittsburgh

Bellevue Community Park, LArch 327*, Spring 1998; with Village of Belleville Council

Southside Works / Strip District Capstone Studio (Pittsburgh), LArch 451, Fall 1997; with City of Pittsburgh Planning Office

Nine Mile Run Capstone Studio (Pittsburgh), LArch 453, Spring 1997; with City of Pittsburgh Planning Office

Bald Eagle State Park Studio, LArch 425*, Fall 1996; with Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks

Julian Village Neighborhood Park, LArch 327*, Spring 1996; with Huston Township Council

Warren State Hospital Campus Master Plan Studio, LArch 520, Fall 1995; with Pennsylvania Bureau of Facilities Management

Jacksonville Community Park, LArch 327*, Spring 1995; with Marion Township Council

Planning Mini-internship Program (32 students), LArch 472*, Fall 1994; with State College Borough and College Township Planning Departments

studio in and with | Pittsburgh Studio | 1996-1999, 2008-2023