Design School grads win landscaping award

ASU Design School graduates, Ashlee Grubbs and William Gunn, received an Honor award in the residential design category at the 2011 American Society of Landscape Architects student awards.

Their winning project, “Water + Nature: Sustainable Growth Renewing Neighborhoods,” was an integrated water and nature infrastructure proposal for residential neighborhoods within central Phoenix. The project explores the idea that water management and a progressive nature infrastructure system are essential to making a sustainable urban environment. With current technologies, cities can greatly decrease water use while simultaneously increasing nature in urban environments. Each landscape typology seen across the Valley is rethought to better move and manage water, effectively creating more comfortable outdoor spaces, increasing property values, and adding needed character to the homogeny of Phoenix’s suburban sprawl. (For more information visit the ASLA website.)

Grubbs earned dual masters degrees in architecture and landscape architecture, Gunn earned his master’s in architecture and a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture.

The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts graduates will be recognized for this achievement on Nov. 2, at the annual ASLA conference in San Diego.