The Student Award of Excellence Program is based on the best work of a thesis or practicum, and a studio project
The Program is intended to recognize and promote excellence in the profession’s educational institutions and recognize excellence in work by students in CSLA’s LAAC-accredited programs.
Thank you to this year's jurors, Nastaran Moradinejad, Matt Williams, and Tracey Hesse.
Thesis or Practicum Category
Jamie Coverini (University of Manitoba, MLA): Liminal drift; revealing the human hand in shaping the untouched Great Lake
Lake Superior is often perceived as a pristine body of water, as the “untouched” or “least spoiled” of the Great Lakes. The rugged coastline of this vast inland sea has become a symbol of the untamed North – a persisting wilderness in a world increasingly shaped by humans. While Lake Superior’s northern geography has enabled it to escape much of the development of the lower Great Lakes, this does not mean the basin is unshaped by humans – just that the traces are harder to see.
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Jamie's biography
Jamie is a recent Master of Landscape Architecture graduate from the University of Manitoba, where she previously completed her Bachelor of Environmental Design in 2016. Jamie’s passion for design kept her in studio well past her studies where she remained a teaching assistant in the MLA regional studio, continuing to explore connections between region and immediate site. Her work highlights the richness found at the intersection of human and natural systems. She centers a deep understanding of place as the foundation for design, with results that are deeply rooted in the particular conditions and transformative processes of a site. Jamie is currently working as a designer at HTFC Planning & Design in Winnipeg where she is able to apply her design sensibility to a diverse range of local landscapes.
Studio Project Category
Francisco Labastida (University of Calgary): 3lys1um: Reconnecting Suburbia for a Sustainable Future
This project addresses the fragmentation of suburban land by focusing on the restoration and maintenance of ecosystems to support biodiversity. It seeks to enhance the quality of life for both residents and wildlife through thoughtful ecological design. The project also emphasizes the creation of small green corridors within neighborhoods, enabling a more dynamic coexistence of human and natural systems. Revitalizing underutilized laneways forms another vital component, aiming to attract diverse demographics while fostering a sense of community and encouraging suburban densification.
Download the full executive summary
Francisco's Biography
Francisco Labastida is currently a Master of Landscape Architecture candidate at the University of Calgary School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL). Growing up in Mexico, his deep connection to nature has shaped his creative journey, merging fine arts, architecture, and landscape design. His work explores the intersection of ecology and artistic expression, drawing inspiration from photography, film, and natural systems.
With a background in fine arts and a Bachelor of Architecture, Francisco’s multidisciplinary practice spans digital art, oil painting, and public furniture fabrication. Influenced by designers such as Peter Zumthor, Bjarke Ingels, and Piet Oudolf, he integrates visionary approaches into his work, balancing aesthetics with ecological responsibility.
Francisco’s research focuses on hedonistic sustainability, creating immersive and sensorial experiences that challenge conventional sustainability models. As a research assistant at the Center for Civilization, based at SAPL, he contributes to sponsored design research projects across multiple scales and disciplines, with a focus on public art installations that explore design narratives and social interaction.