Congratulations David! 2010 Claire Bennett Legacy Award Winner

In 2003, INASLA unveiled the initial “Claire Bennett Legacy Award” to recognize individual knowledge achievement, and service to the profession and the Indiana Chapter. The award honors long-time Indiana Chapter Member Claire Bennett, FASLA. Claire served as the president of the Indiana Chapter in 1978 and as the National President of ASLA in 1990-91. The legacy of service she has provided for the Indiana Chapter, as well as the leadership to ASLA on a national level inspired the creation of this award named in her honor to recognize those members who embody those same ideals.

INASLA members who have maintained full membership in the Society for the last ten years may be nominated for the Claire Bennett Legacy Award. The award recipient(s) are selected in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the profession by excellence in administrative work in public agencies, in direct service to the Society and/or profession, in executed works of Landscape Architecture, or in professional school instruction or in professional writing. The INASLA Executive Committee selected the recipient of this award.

This year, we are pleased to honor David Gorden, ASLA with the 2010 INASLA Claire Bennett Legacy Award.

David Gorden graduated with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Illinois in 1981. Upon graduating he received the Department of Landscape Architecture's Edward L. Ryerson Fellowship through which he spent six months in New Zealand studying the work of landscape architects in that country's National Parks. Since then his extensive travels have taken him to over 65 countries around the world.

He joined Mark M. Holeman, Inc. in 1989 and now manages the firm's design staff while also overseeing a wide variety of projects. He is a frequent speaker on landscape matters and has taught classes at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and White River Gardens.

David is a Licensed Landscape Architect in the States of Indiana and Illinois and has been recognized with a variety of awards and honors from a variety of organizations :

Indiana Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects:
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Monumental Awards:
St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild Decorators’ Show House:
International Society of Arboriculture and Indiana Arborists Association

David has continued to be a leader in his profession, serving the chaptewr in a variety of positions, including

President – 1999
Chair – Annual Meeting – 2005
Chair – Chapter 30th Anniversary Celebration – 2003
Chapter Representative - ASLA Licensure Summit– 2006, 2007 and 2009

As part of his commitment to the chapter and the profession, David has also served as:
Chair – Annual Indiana Green Expo Luncheon and Speaker – 1997-2010
Representative - Indiana Invasive Plant Species Working Group (IPSAWG) – 2001- 2009 and Indiana Invasive Plant Advisory Committee – 2010-present.
Co-Chair of Indiana School for the Blind Monon Trailhead Project. Project awarded 2002 Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Monumental Affair Achievement Award.
Chair of School Tree Planting Program.
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Monumental Awards Steering Committee/Landscape Architecture Jury Chair – 2002-present

His service beyond INASLA is also extensive. His many affiliations and positions in other allied organizations have included service on the:
Indianapolis Art Center Building Committee
Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society Executive Committee
Indiana Urban Forest Council Board of Directors
St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild Decorators’ Show House Design Committee
Meridian Kessler Neighborhood Association (Indianapolis) Land Use Committee
Indianapolis Museum of Art Horticultural Society Vice-President
Binford Redevelopment and Growth (BRAG) Advisory Council

David has was also appointed by Governor Joseph E. Kernan to serve from 2004-2008 on the Indiana Board of Registration for Architects and Landscape Architects, serving as Chair of this Board from 2005-06.

David’s service to the profession – as well as his outstanding projects - have made him a leader in the field of Landscape Architecture in the State of Indiana.

The Indiana Chapter of ASLA is proud to honor David Gorden with the 2010 Claire Bennett Legacy Award for his Service to the Profession.