AMES, Iowa — Mark Strieter, PLA, ASLA, a principal with Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects in New York City, will present the 2025 P.H. Elwood Lecture in Landscape Architecture at Iowa State University.Strieter’s lecture, “Narrative-Driven Design: Cultural and Ecological Research Inspiring Design and Engagement,” will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at the ISU Alumni Center.

Nelson Byrd Woltz’s design process is “rooted in deep research to uncover the cultural and ecological forces that shape a site’s identity,” Strieter says. In his free talk, he will illustrate how this research informs innovative design concepts and solutions across a diverse range of projects — from New York City’s Hudson Yards, the largest private development in U.S. history, to iconic historic and cultural public landscapes such as Olana State Historic Site in Hudson, New York, and Filoli House and Gardens in Woodside, California.

“By revealing and integrating site histories, NBW fosters a deeper public understanding of place, history, and natural systems. These projects demonstrate the transformative power of landscape architecture to unify diverse histories, ecosystems, and built environments, creating meaningful and resilient spaces for future generation,” Strieter says.

Part of the ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects) Iowa Spring Conference, his presentation is open to the public.

About the speaker

For 25 years, Strieter has focused on revitalizing and interpreting complex cultural sites and ecological systems. Using a research-based approach, he creates beautiful and functional design solutions for projects that are culturally responsive and ecologically sustainable.

Filoli House & Gardens, Woodside, California – Nelson Byrd Woltz

At Nelson Byrd Woltz since 2011, Strieter has designed and managed projects across the United States and abroad, from complex urban public space projects to rural conservation agriculture planning.

He and his team currently are working on a variety of significant cultural, public and conservation agriculture landscapes, including The Metropolitan Museum, Tang Wing for Modern and Contemporary Art, New York City; Vizcaya House and Gardens, Miami; Filoli Gardens; Shaker Museum, Mt. Lebanon, New York; and conservation agriculture estate projects in Santa Barbara, California, and Dutchess County, New York.

Among Strieter’s recent project honors are a 2023 McKim, Mead & White Award from the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art for the Jay Heritage Center Gardens; 2023 Georgia ASLA Merit Award for General Design for the Forsyth Park Master Plan; and 2023 Urban Land Institute Americas Award of Excellence for Water Street Tampa.

Prior to joining Nelson Byrd Woltz, Strieter worked at Oehme and van Sweden in Washington, D.C., Thomas Balsley Associates in New York and Spurlock Poirier Landscape Architects and Wallace Roberts & Todd in San Diego. He holds a bachelor of arts in history from Valparaiso University, Indiana, and a master of landscape architecture from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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, Chair, Department of Landscape Architecture, rogersc@iastate.edu
Karolyn Knoll, Departmental Partner, Department of Landscape Architecture, kknoll@iastate.edu
Heather Sauer, Director of Strategic Communications, College of Design, hsauer@iastate.edu

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