AMES, Iowa — Erica Christenson, PLA, ASLA, and Satoko Muratake, PLA, ASLA, directors with TEN x TEN in Minneapolis, will present the 2024 P. H. Elwood Lecture in Landscape Architecture at Iowa State University. 

Their free talk, “Optimism + Exploration + Truth: How We Practice Matters,” will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, in Kocimski Auditorium, room 0101 College of Design. A reception will follow at 7 p.m. Both events are open to the public. 

About the speakers

Christenson is the managing director of TEN x TEN, a transdisciplinary landscape architecture and urban design studio. She holds a bachelor of arts in biological aspects of conservation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master of landscape architecture from the University of Minnesota. She has spent several years working in prairie restoration and for environmental advocacy groups in the Twin Cities. She has translated her experience with ecological restoration into advocacy and application of native and meadow plantings in her TEN x TEN projects. 

Muratake is the firm’s director of process. She is committed to themes of collective memory, listening, resilience and open-ended design processes. Her designs prioritize using recycled, repurposed or locally sourced materials to reduce carbon footprints. 

Muratake teaches an introductory urban design course at the University of Minnesota, where she also received her master of landscape architecture. She’s managed projects such as Mill 19 in Pittsburgh; Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote, the Rondo Commemorative Plaza and the Philando Castile Memorial and Peace Garden in St. Paul, Minnesota; and the 26th Avenue North Overlook in Minneapolis. 

In their presentation, Christenson and Muratake will share how through experimental design process and ideation methods, provocative questioning and transparent organizational strategy, TEN x TEN challenges the standard environment of practice.

About the Elwood Lecture

The P.H. Elwood Lecture in Landscape Architecture was established in 1997 to honor the legacy of Professor Philip H. Elwood, who is credited with developing the Department of Landscape Architecture at Iowa State University. The lecture series brings renowned professional practitioners to the Iowa State campus as guest lecturers each year. 

Contacts

Carl Rogers, Landscape Architecture Department Chair, rogersc@iastate.edu
Lauren Johnson, College of Design Communications Specialist, laujohn2@iastate.edu