Bolton & Menk Receives Two ASLA Minnesota Professional Awards
We are thrilled to announce that Bolton & Menk has been honored with two ASLA Minnesota Professional Awards. The professional awards recognize excellence in design as well as service to our profession and the communities we serve. These awards were announced on Friday, April 25, 2025, at the ASLA-MN Awards Gala at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, MN.
The Merit award, received in the Professional Awards – Small Budget Big Impact category, celebrates the Seward Montessori School Outdoor Classroom project. This pro-bono design and implementation was the catalyst for big change in an underutilized school courtyard. The landscape architect developed a vision with teachers and students to create a dynamic outdoor classroom for $38,000 and more than 300 hours of volunteer time by landscape architects, teachers, students, and parents. This project led to year-round outdoor learning, the hiring of a full-time Outdoor Learning Coordinator, and the changing of city codes to allow chickens on school campuses in Minneapolis.
The Honor award, in the Research category, acknowledges our groundbreaking work in Low Salt Design. More than twenty years of research into the importance, challenges, and solutions of Low Salt Design have shaped how Landscape Architects and allied professionals design Midwest landscapes. After listening to the concerns of winter maintenance professionals, we understand how design impacts winter functionality of a site, and ultimately, deicing salt use and system-wide chloride pollution. The subsequent development of low salt design principles has decreased resource use during colder months; saving money, prolonging infrastructure longevity, and protecting water and wildlife. Education efforts to share our research findings have reached thousands, now equipped with best practices for cold climate design.
These awards are a testament to Bolton & Menk’s innovative approach and unwavering commitment to enhancing the quality of life through thoughtful, community-focused design. We are proud of our team’s dedication and the positive impact our projects have on the environment and local communities.
We look forward to continuing our work in creating sustainable, impactful designs that address the needs of our communities and contribute to a better future.
Learn more about our commitment to real and equitable solutions for all!
