The LSU Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture recently garnered multiple national honors; the number one ranking of its undergraduate program by DesignIntelligence for its third consecutive year and the number three ranking (in a tie with Cornell University) for its graduate program. At the annual meeting of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) last month, the school also received several awards.

The biggest issue of DesignIntelligence ever published, “America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools 2013,” presents a definitive analysis of architecture and design programs across the United States. The rankings are compiled by researchers from DesignIntelligence, who interviewed nearly 400 leading practitioners who rank the schools best preparing students for practice in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and industrial design. DesignIntelligence, is the only publication ranking design programs on a national basis, and has been doing so for 14 years.

Overall, the school is compared against approximately 70 other accredited programs nationwide. The school was ranked in skills of communication, design, computer applications, and cross-disciplinary teamwork and for their sustainable design practices and principles. Leaders of the various design service disciplines said it was among their most admired undergraduate landscape architecture programs. The responses of 38 education leaders were tallied in the DesignIntelligence Survey of Landscape Architecture Deans and Department Heads.

At the ASLA meeting, Brad Cantrell and Wes Michaels, associate professors of landscape architecture, received Honor Awards in the communications category from ASLA for their recently published book, Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture, published by John Wiley & Sons. LSU faculty also participated in several of the educational sessions at the meeting. Presenters included Associate Professors Austin Allen, Wes Michaels, and Brad Cantrell, and Professor Elizabeth Mossop. The school’s alumni also received nine ASLA awards in multiple categories.

Van Cox and incoming Director Brad Cantrell hosted a private reception at the ASLA meeting, which was attended by more than 60 alumni and friends of the school. Alumni also made presentations at the educational sessions, hosted a river-rafting tour, and led a residential design tour in the Phoenix area. Cox said the loyal support of the school by alumni and its visibility on a national level is an important factor in its consistently high rankings.

“Our alumni family continues to participate through serving as advisors, offering internships, hosting field study experiences, serving as guest lecturers and critics, and endowing professorships, chairs, scholarships and financial aid,” he said. “We are truly grateful for their participation. The school is justly proud of the impact LSU faculty, students, and alumni had on the national meeting of landscape architects and expects to continue doing so in the future.”

For more information on DesignIntelligence’s “America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools 2013,” visit www.di.net.

To learn more about ASLA, visit http://www.asla.org.

CONTACT: RENEE SMITH (225) 772-6296 /rbache2@lsu.edu