Cardiff resident elected president of the American Society of Landscape Architects
The American Society of Landscape Architects, San Diego chapter, has elected Cardiff resident Richard Risner, PLA, ASLA, as its new president for the year 2016.
Risner is a Landscape Architect with over 25 years’ experience. In 2004, he and his wife, Juli, founded Grounded Landscape Architecture and the trendy retail furniture store, Grounded Modern Living, in Encinitas. They are residents of Cardiff by the Sea.
Risner’s main goal during his one-year tenure is to make sure that the profession of Landscape Architecture is at the forefront of all relevant environmental debates. “Landscape Architects are stewards of the land and they need to facilitate designs and policies that effect the environment,” believes Risner.
Risner’s recent work includes high-end residential design, commercial and mixed-use developments, community parks and open spaces, multi-family housing, streetscapes, boutique resorts, industrial parks, institutional and large retail shopping centers.
His project involvement includes direct project management, design development, quality control, client meetings and presentations, and document-development oversight.
As principal landscape architect, Risner oversee all aspects of the design, document quality control and production of the firm’s projects. Many of his previous projects have won ASLA awards and have earned recognition in several publications.
Risner awards include the 2009 ASLA Merit award for his “Fairbanks Ranch – Balancing Act” project; a 2011 AIA Orchid award project “Centre Street Lofts”; the 2012 CLCA 1st place “best water-efficient landscape design”; the 2014 ASLA Merit award for the “Project Mozart”; an ASLA merit award for “Project Pennsylvania” and the 2015 CLCA 1st place “best water feature.”
Risner’s past experience includes working with many of Southern California’s top Landscape Architecture firms, but his fondest experience includes over a decade of work as an Associate Landscape Architect for the California State Park system where he developed expertise working with multiple governmental agencies and on inter-disciplinary teams. He has worked on urban parks, habitat-restoration projects, general plans, as well as numerous campground and recreational parks throughout the Southern California region.
Risner has a long history of participating in the activities of the American Society of Landscape Architect. In the past he has served as President Elect and VP of Membership. He believes strongly in membership participation and mentorship of the emerging-professionals group to grow the profession and strengthen the society’s future membership.
Risner has been the Chair of the Residential Practitioners Committee, which was created to bring together solo practitioners and firms focused primarily on residential landscape- architecture projects. He has worked to develop marketing partnerships with AIA and ASID at consumer events and to promote a strong referral network between the design professions.
Risner’s education started at the Design Institute of San Diego and finished with a BFA from San Diego State University in the Arts & Environmental Design department. He began his career working in architecture and interior design and soon transitioned into Landscape Architecture where he developed a unique, progressive and modern approach to his designs.