Advocating for Landscape Architecture

On May 8 we put down our pencils, logged out of AutoCAD and turned our attention to Washington, D.C., for American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Advocacy Day. Representing Oregon, Mayer/Reed Principal Jeramie Shane, ASLA, and landscape architect Laura Hartzell, ASLA Oregon President-Elect, chatted with federal leaders about the importance of landscape architecture and the issues that matter to us. 

They met virtually with the offices of Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Earl Blumenauer and asked them to consider cosponsoring two bills. The Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act (H.R. 1477 / S. 722) would allow the use of tax-exempt 529 savings plans to pay for professional licensure and continuing education – a change that would promote equity by reducing financial barriers in landscape architecture and other professions. Secondly, they discussed the Water Infrastructure Sustainability and Efficiency (WISE) Act (H.R. 2921), allowing more loan dollars from the EPA’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund to be used for nature-based infrastructure projects. For example: green roofs, bioswales and filtration wetlands (like those at our current Clean Water Services’ Fernhill wetlands project in Forest Grove, Oregon). 

ASLA Advocacy Day helps inform national legislators about our profession and can influence policies that benefit landscape architecture professionals, and, by extension, the people and places we design for. We encourage everyone to contact their representatives about the issues that are important to them – your feedback matters.   

Mayer/Reed Signs Downtown Lease

Mayer/Reed is proud to announce the signing of a new 10-year lease at the Power + Light Building in downtown Portland. Our roots run deep in this city and we are committed to taking an active role in its revitalization.

Since 1977, our firm has been located on the corner of SW 3rd and Washington. In that time, we have seen and experienced a lot of change – but none quite like the last four years. With a changing neighborhood, an expiring lease, and the option to relocate elsewhere, we took a hard look at what we need and value in a location. “Ultimately, we determined downtown is still the place to be,” said Principal Jeramie Shane. “We’ll be near Pioneer Courthouse Square, the heart of the city.”

“The space we selected is on the transit mall – a place we helped design. It has a stop just feet from the front door, giving employees ideal access to bus and light rail,” said Associate Principal Shannon Simms. “The building has high-quality bike and locker rooms, which are key amenities that enable our employees to commute on the city’s bike network.”

Our move to the Power + Light Building this summer will begin a new chapter for Mayer/Reed, but it is also a continuation of our enduring legacy. We believe in a vibrant downtown, and we are doubling down in our commitment. “We have been intentional about investing firm resources in ways that benefit downtown businesses and activity, especially since returning to in-office work in 2021,” said Principal Kathy Fry. “We are encouraged to see other firms doing the same.”

Register for ASLA Oregon’s Design Symposium

The Oregon Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is gearing up for their largest education event of the year: the 2024 ASLA Oregon Design Symposium. This year’s theme, Symbiosis: Better Together, explores the power of collaboration – between fellow designers, the environment and our communities.

ASLA Oregon Design Symposium - Symbiosis: Better Together 2024

Managing the event is Mayer/Reed’s Taylor Bowden, landscape designer and vice president of ASLA Oregon chapter services. Taylor has been working with a team of volunteers (including Mayer/Reed’s Laura Hartzell, ASLA president-elect; Michael O’Brien, ASLA; and Reece Vissia, ASLA) to program a day full of motivating, educational and inspiring content for the local design community.

Symbiosis: Better Together takes place online and at the World Forestry Center in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, April 13th. Early-bird registration is open now through March 15th. We hope to see you there!