Where Do You Draw the Line? - 1.25 PDH (LA CES/HSW)

Recorded On: 10/12/2025

Is it ever ethical to build a ski resort in the desert? What if the project is net zero but the client has a terrible human rights record? Isn’t it about time we had a conversation about this? Where do you draw the line?

Learning objectives:

Analyze how applying ethical frameworks (utilitarian, rights-based, justice-based, virtue-based) to project selection, site design, and material sourcing can mitigate hazards, promote occupant safety, and preserve environmental health.
Develop a go/no-go decision process that identifies potential threats to public welfare—such as labor rights violations, ecological damage, or unsafe site conditions—and implement strategies to address these concerns proactively.
Determine how climate-responsive and socially equitable design solutions protect vulnerable populations, reduce environmental risks, and prevent adverse health outcomes in communities affected by development projects.
Establish accountability measures—such as transparent supply chain verification and inclusive team practices—to help ensure that each phase of project planning, construction, and maintenance upholds public safety and reduces liability.

Richard S. Roark, ASLA, AICP

CPO and Partner

OLIN

Richard Roark, Partner and Chief Purpose Officer at OLIN, embeds sustainability and environmental justice into his design practice. His work ranges from community projects to large-scale initiatives like the Los Angeles River Master Plan. Roark's approach emphasizes public enrichment, ecological balance, and has earned accolades including the ASLA/IFLA Global Impact Award and the ASLA Urban Design Award of Excellence. His innovative research projects, such as the Circular Soil initiative, have received EPA grants and ASLA honors. Roark's contributions to rewilding and urban resilience demonstrate his commitment to creating spaces that foster community well-being and environmental sustainability.

Michael Grove, FASLA

Principal

SASAKI

Michael is a principal at Sasaki, where he leads much of the firm’s international work. He is a fierce advocate for the vital role that landscape architects play in shaping contemporary cities and believes that the role of the designer is to make places more livable, equitable, resilient, and just. Michael is a graduate of Cornell University, a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, and serves as Past President of the Landscape Architecture Foundation. His work has been recognized with numerous awards and he is an avid teacher and mentor, speaking at conferences and universities around the world.

Carlos Claussell

Board Chair

PennFuture

Carlos Claussell Velez leads the Community Benefits and Social Impact strategy for the World Wildlife Fund, focusing on aligning climate action with benefits for local and disadvantaged communities. Carlos Chairs PennFuture Board, Pennsylvania’s environmental watchdog, serves as Board Member for the Center for Progressive Reform, a legal scholars-led national nonprofit advocating for a responsive government. Carlos is the former Vice-Chair of the City of Philadelphia’s Environmental Justice Advisory Commission, Climate Justice Design Fellow from Harvard University, CELI Fellow and an ELP Senior Fellow. Other roles include SPO for the Institute for Sustainable Communities, Urban Conservation Manager for The Nature Conservancy.