Inside the LA Studio—PUSH studio Landscape and Urban Design - 1.25 PDH (LA CES/non-HSW)

Recorded On: 10/08/2024

PUSH studio, LLC, is a small Black-owned firm located in Washington DC. The firm has focused on cultural landscape and urban design projects over the past ten years. PUSH studio defines cultural landscape as "...projects that respond to and reflect the history and culture of diverse communities." The firm vision encourages leadership to ensure the creation of consistently unique place-specific design solutions that resolve complex challenges within the urban landscape. With two partners trained in landscape architecture and architecture, the firm practices at the intersection of both professions.

Learning objectives:

Learn about the evolution of the firm's design philosophy and essential business strategies that guide mission and vision.
Learn how pro bono work and design competitions contribute to the development of new work options and focused marketing.
Learn how a commitment to public service and community leads to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Glenn LaRue Smith, FASLA

Co-Founder & Principal

PUSH studio, LLC

Glenn LaRue Smith, FASLA, is Co-Founder and Design Director of PUSH studio in Washington, DC. As Managing Creative Partner at PUSH studio, he leads design efforts for cultural landscape, urban design, and monument / memorial design projects. Over his 40+ year career, Smith has worked in private, public, and academic practice. He has served as Chairman of graduate landscape architecture programs at Morgan State University and Florida A&M University (HBCUs). As Founder of the Black Landscape Architects Network (BlackLAN), a nonprofit organization established to support Black students and professionals, he served as the first President (2019-2021).

Vinson Bert Hustvedt-Camacho, Associate AIA

Co-Found and Managing Director

PUSH studio

Vinson-Bert J. Hustvedt-Camacho(HC) is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of PUSH studio in Washington, DC. With diverse experience in architecture and urban design, HC has led many of the urban and community related projects in the office. He is inspired by the public, urban, social, and human (P.U.S.H) issues that construct the urban environment. He brings over 20-years of private practice experience in architecture, urban design, and landscape design to the practice. Vinson has a leadership role on many of the monument and memorial projects that are centered around the cultural landscape practice focus.

Hakeem Wilson, PLA

Project Manager and Landscape Architect

PUSH studio

Hakeem A. Wilson, PLA, is a Project Manager and Landscape Architect with PUSH studio in Washington, DC. With a passion for design and construction, he has interned at both Fallingwater and the Philadelphia Water Department. Wilson’s experience working with a wholesale nursery and a civil engineering firm has enhanced his eye for landscape detail. As a Project Manager at PUSH studio, Hakeem works on projects from conceptual development through construction. He also teaches landscape architecture professional practice at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Hakeem is also a member of the Black Landscape Architects Network (BlackLAN).

Monique Bassey, ASLA (Moderator)

Visiting Assistant Professor

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Monique Bassey is a Visiting Assistant Professor with the Landscape Architecture Program, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Bassey’s teaching interests and experience include design studios with a focus on environmental and social justice. As a practitioner, Bassey has ten years of experience as a landscape designer. Her experience spans a variety of project types, including neighborhood plans, campus plans, community engagement, site design, and outreach initiatives. Bassey serves on the national ASLA Executive Committee and Board of Trustees as the Vice-President of Communications. Monique is a passionate member of the Black Landscape Architects Network (BlackLAN) and serves on the Emerging Professionals Council.