flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Society of Landscape Architects releases guide to resilient design

Codes and Standards

Society of Landscape Architects releases guide to resilient design

The goal is to retrofit communities to better withstand extreme weather events.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | September 28, 2016

Pixabay Public Domain

A recently released online guide from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) explains how communities can better protect themselves from natural disasters through resilient landscape planning and design.

The goal of resilient landscape planning and design is to retrofit communities to recover more quickly from extreme events in the near future and over the long term. The guide is organized around disruptive events: drought, extreme heat, fire, flooding, and landslides. Biodiversity loss is also addressed.

The guide includes hundreds of case studies and resources demonstrating large multi-benefit systems as well as small-scale solutions. It explains landscape architects’ role in planning within design teams to make communities more resilient.

“In an age of rising waters and temperatures and diminishing budgets, the best defenses are adaptive, like nature,” according to ASLA. Some solutions help boost quality of life, as well. For example, green infrastructure designed to control flooding also provides community space and creates jobs.

Related Stories

Codes and Standards | Jun 21, 2021

Vancouver, B.C., may delay new zero emissions building standards

Building permit delays may postpone new standards by a year.

Codes and Standards | Jun 17, 2021

Buffalo’s parking reform having noticeable impact on development

Elimination of mandatory parking allotments encourages new projects.

Codes and Standards | Jun 16, 2021

Inconsistent building codes make some states more vulnerable to hurricanes

Florida takes top spot for strongest building code in latest IBHS survey.

Codes and Standards | Jun 15, 2021

Growing housing supply gap will worsen affordability crisis

Supply projected to fall 4.5 million units short in 2022.

Codes and Standards | Jun 10, 2021

New York City cracks down on construction site safety

Buildings Dept. issues new safety legislation for City Council consideration.

Codes and Standards | Jun 9, 2021

ASHRAE updates health care facility ventilation standard

Includes improved guidance on thermal comfort, revisions to air filtration requirements.

Codes and Standards | Jun 8, 2021

American Wood Council releases new fire design specification

For design of wood members, assemblies, and connections to meet code requirements.

Codes and Standards | Jun 7, 2021

Guide provides strategies to overcome barriers to sustainable affordable housing

International Living Future Institute document helps with social, regulatory, and financial hurdles.

Codes and Standards | Jun 3, 2021

Conversion of large office buildings to residential will require revamped regulations

Post-1960 offices present ventilation, daylighting, and other challenges.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category


AEC Tech

Lack of organizational readiness is biggest hurdle to artificial intelligence adoption

Managers of companies in the industrial sector, including construction, have bought the hype of artificial intelligence (AI) as a transformative technology, but their organizations are not ready to realize its promise, according to research from IFS, a global cloud enterprise software company. An IFS survey of 1,700 senior decision-makers found that 84% of executives anticipate massive organizational benefits from AI. 


Codes and Standards

Updated document details methods of testing fenestration for exterior walls

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) updated a document serving a recommended practice for determining test methodology for laboratory and field testing of exterior wall systems. The document pertains to products covered by an AAMA standard such as curtain walls, storefronts, window walls, and sloped glazing. AAMA 501-24, Methods of Test for Exterior Walls was last updated in 2015. 


MFPRO+ News

World’s largest 3D printer could create entire neighborhoods

The University of Maine recently unveiled the world’s largest 3D printer said to be able to create entire neighborhoods. The machine is four times larger than a preceding model that was first tested in 2019. The older model was used to create a 600 sf single-family home made of recyclable wood fiber and bio-resin materials.

halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021