NOW / BSLA
Emerging Professionals
Sponsor
EMERGING PROFESSIONALS
With a cale n d a r c ho c k f ul l of f r e sh
prog rams, the g roup ha s g row n t o ove r
2 2 0 memb ers in just un d e r t wo ye a r s
NINA CHASE , ASSO CIATE ASLA , BSLA EP Committee Chair
DAVID BORDEN, BSLA EP Event Producer
T
he BSLA Emerging Professionals (EPs)
are reinventing networking, one event
at a time. With a calendar chock full of
fresh programs, the group has grown to
over 220 members in just under two years.
By constantly trying new approaches to
programming, the EPs have successfully
cultivated an engaged community of
emerging landscape architects and designers
and reimagined the role we can play in the
larger professional design context.
Energized by change, every EP event has
been curated with an eye for novelty. This
past year, we hosted a number of programs
that turned traditional networking events on
their head. Most recently we put a twist on
the traditional design firm studio visit with
the inaugural Speed Studio Tour.
Riffing off the idea of speed dating and
studio tours, the BSLA EPs took to the
streets of Cambridge and ambitiously toured
three prominent landscape architecture
firms in and around Central Square in only
1.5 hours. The offices of Stephen Stimson
Associates, Reed Hilderbrand, and
Hargreaves Associates, graciously opened
their doors, giving mini-presentations and
office tours to the group. Fellow EPs at
each firm coordinated presentations and
tours, giving others a taste of the offices’
cultures, projects, and people. The second
Speed Studio Tour: Boston Edition is slated
for October.
In addition to the Speed Studio Tour, the
EPs hosted a number of unique events this
past year including Nerd Night (co-hosted
with the BSA Emerging Professionals
Network) and the Digital Media Download
social networking “how-to” presentation
(download with the QR code). The EPs also
inspired and co-hosted the very successfu