Landscape Forms and LAF To Host 2024 Xtreme LA: A Design Charrette to Challenge and Inspire Emerging Leaders in Landscape Architecture
Morro Bay, CA
– January 30, 2024 – Landscape
Forms, North America’s leading designer and manufacturer of premium site
furniture, structure, LED lighting, and accessories, has teamed up with the
Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) to host 2024 Xtreme LA, a three-day
design charrette that brings together leading young design professionals and
landscape architecture students to share in an intense creative experience
while fostering unique professional development opportunities.
This 10th
iteration of the Xtreme LA challenge centers around identifying innovative
design solutions that provide resiliency for the future of people and planet
while also addressing reparative actions for past and current generations. The
challenge is set in Morro Bay, California and offers participants the
opportunity to exercise their creativity in proposing a potential reprogramming
of the lands adjacent to the iconic landmark and sacred Indigenous site, Morro
Rock. Combining elements of restorative land justice, the elevation of
Indigenous culture and Traditional Ecological Knowledge, vulnerable habitat
restoration, and climate resilient design, 2024 Xtreme LA brings to the
forefront some of the most compelling opportunities and pressing challenges currently
facing landscape architects.
From January 30
through February 1, two teams made up of equal numbers of best-in-class young
design professionals from all over the country, and landscape architecture
students from Cal Poly, will work under the guidance of prominent landscape
architects to envision creative landscape and infrastructure solutions for
Morro Bay, one of the country’s most innovative and challenging current
landscape architecture projects.
This
professional development program is intended to provide exposure and experience
that will benefit both participants and the companies at which they work. Young
professionals will be mentored by distinguished landscape architects and will,
in turn, have the opportunity to mentor promising students preparing to enter
the profession. By contributing passion, sharing expertise, and inspiring
innovative solutions, participants are not only providing meaningful value and
resilience to a region’s ecosystems, but they’re also helping secure a future
for landscape architecture that prioritizes righting past wrongs, elevates the
voices of Indigenous and other marginalized communities, and aims explicitly to
challenge—rather than reproduce—the significant structural inequalities that
underpin design and development.
At the event’s
culmination on February 1, teams will make final presentations before an
audience of local officials and stakeholders at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.
About
Landscape Forms
Landscape Forms is the industry leader in integrated collections of high-design site furniture, structures, accessories, and advanced LED lighting. Since its founding in 1969 Landscape Forms has earned a reputation for excellent design, high quality products and exceptional service. The company is headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and our family of brands includes Loll Designs in Duluth, Minnesota; Summit Furniture in Monterey, California; and Kornegay Design located in Phoenix, Arizona. It has sales representatives throughout North America, South America, the United Kingdom, Monaco, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Asia. Landscape Forms collaborates with renowned industrial designers and consultancies, landscape architects, and architects to design and develop integrated collections of products that address emerging needs and help create a sense of place. Additionally, the company has formed global marketing partnerships with select companies that share its commitment to design. Landscape Forms has an installed base of products around the world. Clients include municipalities, hospitality, residential, transit centers, corporate, college and health care campuses; and familiar brand leaders such as Harvard University, Linked In, New York Central Park Conservancy, Bryant Park, Google, Coca Cola, Oculus, U.S. Tennis Association (USTA), Nike, National Museum of African American History (Washington, D.C.), Barclays Center, Adidas, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Microsoft, and Uber. We’ve been named one of the Best Workplaces in Manufacturing & Production for 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 by Fortune Magazine, Michigan Manufacturer of the Year for 2020 by the Michigan Manufacturers Association, and by 269 Magazine as one of Southwest Michigan’s Wonderful Workplaces.
Visit www.landscapeforms.com
About the
Landscape Architecture Foundation
For
more than 50 years, LAF has been identifying priorities and strengthening the
discipline to meet weighty environmental, social, and economic challenges. They
believe in the power of design to create a healthier, more equitable, and
sustainable world. With $180,000 available annually, LAF is a leading source of
scholarships for landscape architecture students. These awards recognize
leadership, reward superior student performance, support access and diversity,
and assist students with unmet financial need.