CELA 2024 Annual Conference

We look forward to welcoming you to the CELA 2024 Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Registration Fees

CELA Members                                                                                       $675

Non-Members                                                                                         $825

Students (non-faculty, must be enrolled at time of conference)              $350

Non-Industry Guest/Spouse                                                                    $200

Pre-Conference Workshops: (25ppl Max each workshop)

We encourage you to arrive early to the conference to attend one of our pre-conference workshops.

Wednesday, March 20th:

LAAB Accreditation 3-Hour Workshop: (1:30 – 4:30, approx., Cost $50) This workshop covers a variety of topics to assist programs through the LAAB accreditation process. Great for any academic programs preparing for an upcoming accreditation review or programs interested in accreditation. Workshop Leader: LAAB-ASLA Accreditation and Education Director | Kristopher Pritchard

Landscape Journal Workshop: (1:30 – 4:30, approx., $50)  The editor-in-chief of Landscape Journal will share insights, tools, and strategies to help you get your scholarship published. Presentations on best practices (e.g., writing article titles and abstracts, submitting manuscripts online) are interspersed with brief writing exercises and group discussions. Workshop leader: James LaGro Jr. | Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Leading The Way: Administrators Workshop: (1:30-4:30, aprrox., Cost $50) This workshop provides current and future leaders with information about key challenges and strategies for guiding a thriving 21st century landscape architecture program. For those now in leadership positions, the workshop will address issues both thorny and strategic, providing real-world solutions to administrative dilemmas. For faculty curious about academic leadership, the workshop will help in preparing them for these roles with skills for successfully leading a program. The workshop’s 3 sessions each start with brief presentations of the topics, followed by posing common scenarios, group brainstorming, and sharing of case studies highlighting strategies from experienced academic leaders. The workshop sessions are: Admin 101, Assessing Your Leadership Style, and the Value of Visioning. Workshop Leaders: Art Rice | Professor Emeritus of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, NC State University and Eliza Pennypacker | Professor of Landscape Architecture, Penn State University

Conference Field Trips/Excursions:

Forest Park Sketch Crawl: Moving in the Park (12:45pm-5:00pm, approx. Cost $35)
Join us for an afternoon of walking and sketching in Forest Park. Opened in 1876, this St. Louis gem is a historic marvel, having hosted the 1904 World's Fair. Spanning 1,300 acres, it has 30 miles of paths, 2.5 nautical miles of waterways, and a 190-acre Nature Reserve—all free for visitors. Ranked as the 6th most visited U.S. urban park, it draws 15 million annual visitors amidst its 47,000 trees. It is home to cultural icons like the Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center, Missouri History Museum, and the Saint Louis Zoo. Sketchbooks capturing the park's essence will be showcased at the conference. Tour Leaders: Chip Sullivan, FASLA Berkeley and Jonathan Stitelman, Washington University

Forest Park: Waterways, Playgrounds & Other Landscapes (12:45pm-5:00pm, approx. Cost $60)
Enjoy a bike ride in Forest Park, celebrated globally as one of the most exquisite urban parks and a St. Louis treasure. After getting your bike at the Boathouse, join local designers for the review of the Designs for the Park’s East Waterways. At Round Lake, witness the rebirth of a historic fountain. This transformative project extends Forest Park's river system, uniting it with Jefferson Lake through cascades, a picnic lawn, and a footbridge. Historic Seven Pools and its bridge undergo careful restoration, preserving their unique charm. Other landscapes include the Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape and Government Hill. Finally, return to the Boat House, just a short 30 minute walk (1.3 miles) from the hotel venue. Tour Leaders: Russ Volmert, PLA, AICP, Forest Park Forever and Ted Spaid, FASLA SWT Design

Parks: Gateway and the Central Corridor Area SOLD OUT! (12:45pm-5:00pm, approx. Cost $65)
Discovering St. Louis's vibrant parks unveils a tapestry of nature and culture. NPS Gateway Arch National Park, anchored by the iconic Gateway Arch, celebrates westward expansion with breathtaking views of the city. In contrast, the Katherine Ward Burg Garden offers tranquility amidst blooming flora—a hidden gem for peaceful reflection. Within the Central Corridor, City garden merges art and greenery, while Kiener Plaza and Pillars of the Valley pay homage to the city's history. St. Louis's parks, diverse in character, beckon visitors to embrace both natural serenity and urban vibrancy. Navigating the Brickline Greenway, a segment of Great Rivers Greenway, invites exploration along scenic paths connecting communities. Tour Lead: Michael Allen, Executive Director, National Building Arts Center

Missouri Botanical Garden and Tower Grove Park SOLD OUT! (12:45pm-5:00pm, approx. Cost $65)
Established in 1859 and spanning 79 acres, the Missouri Botanical Garden stands as a living tribute to biodiversity, boasting a diverse array of plant collections and meticulously curated landscapes. Visitors are invited to wander through themed gardens, from the serene Japanese Garden to the vibrant Victorian District. The Climatron, houses tropical rainforest flora. The Missouri Botanical Garden is a global leader in dedication to conservation and education. Adjacent is 289 acres Tower Grove Park. Established in 1868, it offers lush landscapes, historic pavilions, and vibrant floral displays. The park's centerpiece is the iconic Tower Grove House, surrounded by walking paths, playgrounds, and serene ponds. This urban oasis, designed by Henry Shaw, is a cherished destination for recreation and relaxation. Tour Lead: Charling Chen, Missouri Botanical Garden, Michael Powell and Alisa Blatter, Arbolope Studio

Big Muddy Great Rivers Adventure Tour (12:45pm-5:00pm, approx. Cost $100)
Paddling the Mississippi River is one of the most unique experiences St. Louis has to offer, truly immersing oneself in why St. Louis is here. Led by Derek Hoeferlin, St. Louis native and chair of the landscape architecture program at Washington University in St. Louis, and “Big Muddy” Mike Clark and his river-recreation outfitter “Big Muddy Adventures,” join an unforgettable paddling trip down the Mississippi River. Starting just downriver of the historic Chain of Rocks Bridge (formally Route 66) and the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, the journey will take you through the only non-navigable reach of the river between the Twin Cities and the Gulf of Mexico, with a stop at Mosenthein Island where we’ll enjoy a break on a sandbar and have the chance to spot wildlife and learn about the intersection of ecologies and river management. We’ll continue on through the port of St. Louis, paddling alongside barges, where we’ll see our setting quickly transition to engineered infrastructure for navigation, industry, urbanization and flood control. We'll pass beneath five contemporary and famous historic bridges, including the Eads Bridge, and experience an incredible new perspective of downtown St. Louis, from the water. The trip ends with an unbeatable view of the Gateway Arch and lands us on the historic landing of downtown St. Louis. This is a wonderful “only in St. Louis” experience you will never forget and NO paddling experience or special equipment is necessary! Big Muddy Adventures’ expert guides will provide you with everything you need for the adventure and help you board one of our extraordinary voyageur canoes. Tour Lead: Derek Hoeferlin, Chair, Landscape Architecture Program Washington University

*Students must register using a school issued email address (.edu) to receive the student rate. You must be a registered student at the time of the conference and provide a current transcript prior to the start of the meeting. You can upload your transcript here: https://form.jotform.com/TheCELA/transcript-upload-form

For questions about payments or registration questions, contact at staff@thecela.org or 919-674-4185.

For questions about logistics or the event, contact Dawn LeBlanc, The CELA Conference Manager, at conference@thecela.org or 919-459-6103.

CANCELLATIONS & SUBSTITUTIONS:

Conference registrations can only be cancelled by submitting a request via email to staff@thecela.org Substitutions are encouraged and must be submitted in writing.

REFUND SCHEDULE:

Until January 31, 2024 Full refund, minus $75 administrative fee

February 1 - 29, 2024 50% refund

March 1, 2024 and after Substitutions only

No refunds or credits will be given to “no shows”

Field Excursions are fully refundable. 

Global Investiture Fund: A portion of your registration dollars will go towards The CELA Global Investiture Fund, in which The CELA will identify and develop practices which positively impact global conditions and align with The CELA organization’s vision and mission.

Hotel Information: The conference is being held at the Chase Park Plaza hotel. We have reserved a block of rooms for CELA conference attendees. Rooms start at $169 a night for double occupancy. This rate will be available through February 16, 2024 at 5:00pm Central Time and is first come, first served, we do not guarantee a reservation within our room block. Please utilize the reservation link below as soon as possible as space is limited: CELA Reservations