Three alums named fellows of American Society of Landscape Architects

Eric Davis, nominated in the works category, is a cofounder of Surface 678, an award-winning design firm based in Durham, North Carolina. The ASLA recognized Davis as an innovative design leader who creates beautiful, sustainable, and powerful landscapes and spaces. His projects are marked by a passion for public engagement; deep respect for history, culture, and context; and ability to translate design challenges into elegant solutions. 

In his many projects for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and other universities, Davis has focused on sustainability, accessibility, and the vital role that open space plays in the life and health of an academic community. Among Davis’s other notable projects are the redesign of John Chavis Memorial Park, in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Raleigh Union Station, which seamlessly weaves together railroad, bus, automobile, and pedestrian infrastructure systems with strategies for carbon sequestration, storm mitigation, and spaces for civic activities.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to attend UC Berkeley,” says Davis. “My experience there was fundamental in shaping the principles that continue to guide my practice today – collaboration, sustainability, and design. Berkeley taught me an approach to design and process that embraces curiosity, discovery, and engagement. The knowledge I gained continues to serve as a cornerstone of my professional practice.”

Jeffrey Hou, nominated in the knowledge category, has been a driving force for democratic design in the global built environment. Professor and director of the Urban Commons Lab at the University of Washington, Seattle, Hou has authored numerous books and worked on projects ranging from the conservation of wildlife habitats to the design of urban open space in collaboration with indigenous tribes, farmers, and fishers in Taiwan; neighborhood residents in Japan; villagers in China; and inner-city immigrant youths and elders in North American cities. 

During his two-decade-long academic career, he has produced a significant body of work on community design, public space and democracy, bottom-up urbanism, service learning, and cross-cultural placemaking. The ASLA noted, “With extensive experience in academic administration and service on boards of local, national, and international organizations, Jeff’s intellectual leadership helps elevate the profession both publicly and academically.”

“My Berkeley experience shaped my identity as a scholar, educator, and citizen,” said Hou. “The program and the opportunities to work with marginalized communities in the Bay Area and across the Pacific prepared me for a lifelong pursuit of social and environmental justice.”   

Dorothée Imbert has had a transformative impact on the field of landscape architecture as a scholar and educator. She has taught at numerous institutions, including Harvard and Washington University in St. Louis, and is currently the director of the Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture at The Ohio State University. An expert on landscape architecture modernism, she has published several books, including  Garrett Eckbo: Modern Landscapes for Living  with Berkeley Professor Emeritus of Architecture Marc Treib, and more than 40 chapters, essays, and articles. 

The ASLA recognized Imbert, nominated in the knowledge category, for her connection between design practice and academia, noting in particular how her mentoring created opportunities for women and minoritized communities. 

As we extend our congratulations to Eric, Jeff, and Dorothée, we also celebrate their dedication to pushing the boundaries of design, promoting sustainability, and fostering social equity. Their achievements stand as an inspiration for current and future CED students, reminding us of the transformative power of thoughtful and purposeful design in shaping the world around us.