Building the Urban Ecosystem: A Discussion on Policy and Practice
Presented by AIA Seattle’s Committee on the Environment.
Decisions made throughout the design and construction of a building project contribute to the health or degradation of the ecosystem in which they are placed. For this event, we have invited a landscape architect to guide our discussion with three individuals working to improve our community to share their perspectives on the best way to sustainably manage a diverse ecosystem while accommodating the growth of a booming city. With an emphasis on trees, we look forward to a lively discussion to help us understand options for building the biological components of a successful infrastructure.
Moderator:
Clayton Beaudoin, ASLA, LEED AP, Site Workshop, Principal
Clayton is a landscape architect with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest, and his enthusiasm for the place is evident in his work. He is excited to have the opportunity to do work that enriches his own life, and more importantly the lives of his friends and the broader community. His background with environmental organizations and technology consulting has fostered an “agent of change” approach to his work, in which he aims to challenge the status quo in the creation of a better place to live and play. He strives to design with the local ecology in mind and has been active in the development of the new Sustainable Sites Initiative, leading one of the first SITES certified projects in the state. Clayton is currently leading the transformation of a superfund site along Tacoma’s waterfront into a 12-acre park, which creates new endangered prairie habitat as well as the “missing link” trail into Point Defiance Park.
Panelists:
Scott D. Baker, Tree Solutions Inc., Principal
Scott is a Registered Consulting Arborist with 40 years’ experience in arboriculture. A successful developer of urban historic building renovations and a residential community, Scott utilizes knowledge of site management issues, building codes, and construction. He has studied with some of the world’s leading tree scientists and has an in-depth knowledge of tree biology and anatomy, as well as expert witness training. He is in demand as a speaker and educator in tree diagnostics, trees and construction, and urban forest issues. As the principal consulting arborist with Tree Solutions Inc. in Seattle, Washington, Scott provides a variety of specialty services and consulting to private, municipal, and corporate clients.
Andrea Mojzak, Forterra, Green Cities Program Manager
Andrea has a decade of experience with the Green City Partnerships, a series of programs working to restore and maintain urban forests, natural areas, and green spaces across Puget Sound cities. She works with municipalities and community groups on stewardship planning, and provides support and technical guidance to volunteers and residents doing on the ground work. Andrea works most closely with the City of Seattle on the Green Seattle Partnership and the Tree Ambassador project, both community based urban forestry programs. Andrea has presented different aspects of the Green City Partnerships at the Society of American Forestry conference, Partners in Community Forestry conference, Society of Ecological Restoration PNW conference, as well as the local Urban Forest Symposium. Andrea has been an ISA Certified Arborist for 3 years.
Rob Johnson, Seattle City Councilmember (D4)
A 5th generation Seattle resident, father, urban planner, and long-time transportation advocate, Rob is proud to represent Northeast Seattle’s District 4 as its first district-based City Councilmember. After graduating from University Prep, Rob got his degree in Political Science from Willamette University before earning his Masters in Urban Planning from UCLA. Professionally, Rob spent 10 years working for Transportation Choices Coalition (a statewide nonprofit dedicated to expanding multi-modal transportation infrastructure), serving as Executive Director from 2008 to 2015. During that time he led campaigns that have raised hundreds of millions of dollars to improve mobility in our city, county, and state – including the expansion of light rail to Northeast Seattle with three stations in District 4. Since taking office in 2016, Rob has worked tirelessly to make Seattle a more livable, affordable, and transit-connected city. Rob currently chairs the Planning, Land Use, and Zoning Committee, serves as vice chair of the Sustainability and Transportation Committee, and serves as a member of the Gender Equity, Safe Communities, New Americans, and Education Committee. Rob also serves on the Sound Transit Board of Directors, chairs the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Transportation Policy Board, and is also a member of the Growth Management Planning Council of King County.
Rob has spent more than 25 years working, living, or going to school in NE Seattle, and currently lives in Ravenna with his wife and three daughters.
Register encouraged. Event is free to attend.
Program Questions?
Contact Connor Descheemaker, Membership & Volunteer Manager at AIA Seattle
