Opening Doors & Creating Opportunities: 2025 ASLA UT Conference
Shalae Larsen, ASLA, PLA joined Daniella Hirschfeld and Nancy Monteith for a panel discussion entitled: “Opening Doors and Creating Opportunities” on April 11th at the ASLA Utah conference. Together, they facilitated a conversation around the experience of being a woman in landscape architecture. In turn, this uncovered some insights into how we might create more […]
Nurturing Nature Connections: Intermountain Sustainability Summit
Last month, Shalae moderated a discussion titled Nurturing Nature Connections at the 2025 Intermountain Sustainability Summit. The conversation provided a hopeful perspective on actionable steps to increase ecological engagement. Moderated by Shalae Larsen of Io LandArch, the panel included Kat Andra from Salt Lake City Public Lands, Troy Callantine of the GOAL Foundation, Andrea Nelson […]
Get to Know the Io LandArch Team: Sydney Olech
For Women’s History Month, we are introducing you to the amazing women on the Io LandArch design team. Get to know Sydney, landscape designer for both our community design and residential studios. Sydney brings a unique blend of interpersonal finesse and design acumen to her role as a designer and project manager at Io LandArch. […]
Get to Know the Io LandArch Team: Shalae Larsen
For Women’s History Month, we are introducing you to the amazing women on the Io LandArch design team. Get to know Shalae Larsen, co-founder of Io LandArch and landscape architecture principal. Shalae Larsen weaves culture and nature to create meaningful and sustainable places. With over two decades of experience as a landscape architect, her expertise […]
Get to Know the Io LandArch Team: Lindsay Lloyd
For Women’s History Month, we are introducing you to the amazing women on the Io LandArch design team. Meet Lindsay Lloyd, historic landscape specialist and landscape designer. Lindsay believes that beautiful spaces inspire people to live fulfilling lives, and that historically sensitive design provides context, meaning, and a sense of connectedness to communities. Her lifelong […]
Get to Know the Io LandArch Team: Lauren Colunga
For Women’s History Month, we are introducing you to the amazing women on the Io LandArch design team. Get to know Lauren, landscape architect and Studio Director. Lauren connects people with nature by designing landscapes that celebrate nature, encourage community, and promote resiliency. Having lived 14 years overseas as a military spouse, her experience includes […]
Get to Know the Io LandArch Team: Natalie Jones
For Women’s History Month, we are introducing you to the amazing women on the Io LandArch design team. Meet Natalie, residential studio lead and landscape designer. Natalie is passionate about designing human spaces that are both functional and beautiful. With a strong background in the field, she has worked on a variety of projects, from […]
The Corner Plaza: The Creative Lens
The Corner Plaza stands at the heart of Ogden, a vibrant testament to the transformative power of public spaces. This dynamic hub represents a pivotal element in the burgeoning Nine Rails Creative District. Strategically placed, it not only bridges physical gaps but also connects the artistic pulse of the city. The Corner Plaza acts as […]
The Never Ending Story of Community Revitalization
In my two decades of partnering on community revitalization efforts, a common misconception I’ve encountered is the belief that once we achieve a set list of desires—whether that is improved infrastructure, more local businesses, or enhanced public spaces—we will have “arrived.” The idea is tempting: reach a certain milestone and all challenges will be resolved, […]
Eat & Shop Local Like It’s Your Job – Because It Is!
In my youth, my whole goal in life was to live in a hip, urban neighborhood. One filled with history, beautiful buildings, events, arts, great restaurants, and boutique stores. I envisioned myself living blissfully car-free, riding my bike everywhere, soaking in the culture, and hanging out at a local coffee shop with my F-R-I-E-N-D-S! Eventually, […]
Think Twice: Reasons Against ‘Zeroscaping’ Your Yard
With the ongoing water crisis, we’re starting to see a lot of formerly lush landscapes suddenly transformed into barren rock-scapes under the guise of water conservation. While these newfound converts to environmentalism are well-intentioned, a rock-only landscape is actually worse for the ecosystem, the climate, and the drought. I know that seems counter-intuitive but here’s […]
Lester Park Design Competition
The results of the Lester Park design competition have been announced. And the winner is… “Community Tapestry” by Io Design Collaborative’s own Shalae Larsen with team members Jake Alex McIntire and James Argo! The competition was held by the Utah Chapter of the AIA Young Architects’ Forum and Urban Design Committee. Many hours of volunteer […]
