Photos: Freddie Caldwell
LABash 2026
This year, 18 students from the department, including Bachelor’s and Master’s students, traveled to Columbus, Ohio, to attend the 2026 LABash Conference at Ohio State University. LABash was founded in 1970 and is a student-led platform for connecting aspiring designers and industry practitioners. The trip marks Illinois’ continued participation in the 56-year-old event. Notably, for the fourth consecutive year, all student expenses were fully funded by alumni and donor contributions to the Landscape Architecture Executive Fund.
The department is so grateful to the donors and alumni whose generous gifts guarantee that financial barriers do not prevent students from accessing these critical career-building experiences!
Photos: Freddie Caldwell
CELA 2026
The University of Illinois Landscape Architecture community made a significant impact at this year’s Council of Educators in the Landscape Architecture (CELA) conference. Held under the theme “Catalyzing Connections,” the event served as a global reunion for alumni, faculty, and students, with presentations alongside current faculty and students. A significant highlight of the gathering was the presence of Alma Du Solier, Randy Hester, Kristina Hill, Laurie Olin, Deni Ruggeri, and Laura Lawson.
This spirit of connection extended beyond the lecture halls as attendees explored the host city’s rich urban fabric, ranging from the historic industrial architecture of the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood to the modern, well-designed public spaces of John G. and Phyllis W. Smale Riverfront Park. The CELA conference provided a vital platform for students and faculty to engage with the broader professional landscape, strengthening the ties between the department and the global design research community.
CELA conference presentations being delivered by (top row) Prof. Zhihan Tao, Prof. Fatemeh Saeidi-Rizi (Ph.D. in LA 2021), Prof. Yvonne Gu (MLA 2016, Ph.D. in LA 2020), and Prof. Nubras Samayeen (Ph.D. in LA 2024); (middle row) Anne Tong (BLA 2023), MLA candidate Yan Yang; and Ph.D. student Susan Ask; (bottom row) Illinois alumni enjoying CELA receptions and dinners.