New Prize Named for Pioneering Landscape Architect Cornelia Oberlander

The Cornelia Hahn Oberlander Prize in Landscape Architecture is a newly-established, international prize established by The Cultural Landscapes Foundation. The prize will be awarded every other year to practitioners whose landscapes are deemed to be particularly significant, influential and enduring. The work of these individuals are legacy landscapes that promote the best of our profession through excellence and stewardship, along with an increased awareness for the value of design and of our profession.

The prize is named after the influential Cornelia Oberlander who is a landscape architect practicing in Vancouver BC. She has inspired me since the mid-1970s when I was a graduate student. I was impressed with her ability to achieve such a seamless integration of building and landscape.  Since that time, she and her work have strongly influenced me in my own practice here in the Pacific Northwest.

Cornelia has played a significant role in the evolution of our profession; and I’m delighted to see this TCLF program honor her with the naming of the International Landscape Architecture Prize. I’m pleased to participate as part of the 100 Women who have enabled the initial round of funding for this important program.

Posted: Oct 02, 2019
Written by: Carol Mayer-Reed, FASLA
Posted October 02, 2019
Written by: Carol Mayer-Reed, FASLA
Categories: AWARDS  COMMUNITY 

Grant High School Celebrates Re-Opening

Civic leaders, designers, alumni, students, neighbors and even miniature horses celebrated the re-opening of Grant High School on September 7. A major modernization transformed the historic campus and buildings to the delight of visitors who marveled at the 21st Century learning environments behind the restored 1924 facade.Thanks to removal of non-historic structures, the campus gained well-connected open spaces, a sports field expansion and seamless integration with the adjacent Grant Park. Grant is the third of Portland Public Schools‘ completed high school modernization projects, following Franklin and Roosevelt High Schools. Next up for construction are Madison, Lincoln and Benson High Schools.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE – MAYER/REED, INC.; ARCHITECTURE – MAHLUM ARCHITECTS; CONSTRUCTION – ANDERSEN CONSTRUCTION, COLAS CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Posted September 10, 2019
Written by: Mayer/Reed
Categories: COMMUNITY  PROJECTS 

Putting the Pieces Together – The Oregon Convention Center Plaza Nears Completion

Concrete, stone, steel and water come together as Portland’s newest civic plaza nears completion. The Oregon Convention Center Plaza celebrates Oregon’s cultural and natural beauty through materials, craftsmanship, performance and design.

Landscape Architecture & Signage – Mayer/Reed, Inc.; CMGC – Colas Construction; Site Construction – Raimore Construction; Architecture – LMN; Associate Architect – Merryman Barnes; Civil Engineer – KPFF; MEP Engineer – Glumac; Structural Engineer – Magnusson Klemencic Associates.

Portland Design Commission Honors the Elks Children’s Eye Clinic with Award of Excellence

elks children's eye clinic Last week the Portland Design Commission presented their third annual Design Excellence Award to the Elks Children’s Eye Clinic on Oregon Health & Science University’s Marquam Hill campus.
elks children's eye clinic“The building and landscape work together to create a place of healing. They are elegant in their simplicity,” noted Julie Livingston, Portland Design Commission Chair. “The site plan organizes and makes sense of competing uses in a manner that improves the pedestrian environment and benefits both the new building and also the existing Casey Eye Institute.”

The building received Design Commission approval last fall and is under construction. The design commission lauded NBBJ’s architecture, Mayer/Reed’s site design and OHSU’s commitment to design on their urban campuses. Carol Mayer-Reed accepted the award on behalf of the team at a Portland City Council meeting, May 1.