CREDIT: CIVITAS & STANTEC
Fanshawe Landscape Design graduate Robin Campbell was among the winning team for the Back to the River International Design Competition.

Fanshawe Landscape Design graduate Robin Campbell was among the winning team in the Back to the River International Design Competition announced the first week of November.

The competition in coordination with the London Community Foundation, City of London and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, called for a “bold design vision that addresses urban regeneration, economic development, the environment, heritage and community,” Campbell explained.

Stantec, a multidisciplinary consulting firm in London partnered with Civitas, a Denver-based firm for this project.

Competition was tough, with the winning plan being chosen out of five entries, all from great design teams.

The other four teams included London’s Dillon Consulting Limited with Boston’s Stoss Landscape Urbanism, Toronto’s Brook McIlroy with Vancouver’s Patkau Architects, Janet Rosenberg & Studio from Toronto and the PWL Partnership from Vancouver.

Notably on the PWL team was Andrew Wilson, landscape architect and coordinator of Fanshawe’s bachelor of Environmental Design and Planning degree.

The winning plan entitled “The Ribbon of the Thames” utilized Civitas’ river-related design experience and Stantec’s expertise with the local community.

The result is a plan that Campbell says, “Envisions the Thames River corridor as an amenity for every neighbourhood; truly ‘The Ribbon’ that ties our community together.”

This River Corridor plan includes a vision for approximately five-kilometres of the Thames including projects for the Forks and SOHO neighbourhood.

When asked how her studies at Fanshawe helped to shape her career as it is today, Campbell had nothing but kind things to say.

“Fanshawe’s Landscape Design program and the associated coop work terms gave me a strong foundation to build my career upon. I’ve been lucky to work with some very talented landscape architects, including several of my Fanshawe professors, who have provided guidance and continually challenged me with new opportunities and project experiences.” Starting out as a landscape design technologist at Stantec in 2001, Campbell is now a senior landscape architect and landscape architect team lead.

While working full-time and having a family, Campbell participated in the OALA Professional Development Program (PDP) and was successful in writing her Landscape Architect Registration Examinations (LARE).

“Patience, passion, hard work and a positive attitude” is what Campbell recommends any Landscape Design student has especially if, like her, they find the notion of PDP and LARE daunting.

She encourages anyone interested in landscape design to pursue it noting, “There are fantastic opportunities available to us within our industry.”

One such opportunity is the 2016 Student Urban Design Competition that will take place during the winter term. The lead competition judge will be Michael Von Hausen, an author, Vancouver landscape architect and urban designer.

The 2015 student design competition is what spurred the Back to the River Competition, showcasing what a great opportunity the 2016 competition is for anyone wishing to follow in Campbell’s footsteps.