FRI-A09: Public Housing as Place: Landscape Architecture’s Role in Urban Housing Renewal

Friday, October 10, 2025

8:30 AM – 9:45 AM CT

1.25 PDH, LA CES/HSW

Speaker(s)

Hana Ishikawa, Affil. ASLA, AIA

Partner/Design Principal
site design group
Chicago, Illinois
Steven B. Tupu, ASLA

Principal / Founder
Terrain-nyc landscape architecture PC
New York, New York
Lisa Yun Lee

Executive Director
National Public Housing Museum
Chicago, IL

Over the past century, public housing has played a critical—and often contentious—role in shaping American cities. This session examines the successes and failures of contemporary revitalization efforts and explores the changing role of landscape architects, moving beyond beautification to an integral role in strategic design to improve communities.

Learning Outcomes:

Examine the history and evolution of public housing design in the U.S., considering key policies, social impacts, and design shifts.
Understand the evolving role of landscape architects in affordable housing, and how designers can work with policymakers, public agencies, developers, and communities to create equitable urban renewal projects.
Identify challenges and opportunities in designing for public housing, including how strategic resource use across sites can maximize transformative potential.
Examine key urban renewal case studies led by landscape architects in New York and Illinois, and throughout the U.S.