Kim Dietzel, PLA Receives Michigan ASLA Emerging Professional of the Year
Kim Dietzel, PLA, received the President’s Award for Emerging Professional of the Year at this year’s Michigan ASLA Conference in Lansing. This great honor recognizes individuals who have achieved excellence and demonstrated exceptional leadership and contribution to the landscape architecture profession within the first ten years of their careers.
Kim Dietzel, PLA | Detroit, Michigan
Kim Dietzel, PLA, is a licensed landscape architect with over six years of experience. Since starting her career, she has been an active member of the Michigan ASLA, attending annual conferences, fundraisers, and events, such as the sketch crawls and LA Rides. She was elected the Michigan ASLA Member-at-large for 2023 and will serve on the Executive Committee. She offered her insight as a panelist for the LARE Prep Panel discussion in 2020 and has presented as part of the LACES Emerging Professionals Spotlight in 2016. She has guest lectured at Michigan State University for Introduction to Landscape Architecture (LA 200) course for five years, as well as a professional critique for the Graphics and Two-Dimensional Design Studio (LA 140) and Juried Design Studio (LA 447).
In 2020, she worked with the founding members to establish the Michigan Chapter ASLA Foundation 501(c)(3). She has served as the board secretary ever since. Her work with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee includes acting as the Education Sub-Committee chair; organizing and hosting bi-monthly diverse perspective series webinars highlighting BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ speakers in landscape architecture.
She is also a member of the Outreach & Partnership Committee. As a member, she helps plan the annual Lawrence Technological University Landscape Architecture Summer Camp for high school students by coordinating with local K-12 schools to advocate and work to diversify the profession’s future.
Kim Dietzel rappelling at the MIASLA event in Lansing, Michigan.
Most recently, Kim rappelled down 21-stories of the Boji Tower in downtown Lansing as part of the Over the Edge fundraiser for the Michigan Chapter ASLA Foundation. This event supports the organization’s endeavor to establish an endowment to provide scholarships, aid, and grants to landscape architecture students from underserved demographics. This past year, the Foundation gave out two scholarships to BIPOC bachelor’s students in Landscape Architecture.
Kim is a key player in our landscape architecture group. She develops graphic renderings, prepares designs, working drawings, specifications, and cost estimates for state and local parks, trails, campuses, and urban commercial developments. Her responsibilities include drafting master plan graphics, detailed development plans, and construction documents, including landscape plantings. She is dedicated to establishing native plantings and ecological solutions within the constraints of various project types. She has played a significant role in developing many major PEA Group parks, trails, and ecological restoration projects, including Riverside Park, Iron Belle Trail, Marathon Wildlife Habitat, Upper Riverfront Park, and Fort St. Bridge Park, and urban and commercial developments such as Ruth Ellis, Grosse Pointe Streetscape, Stellantis Mack Detroit, and Henry Ford Estate Donor Wall.
A one-of-a-kind coffee table created by Kim.
Kim is a landscape architect by day; however, she is so much more than that. She is an avid outdoorsman, a lover of live music, and an artist – creating one-of-a-kind pieces in her spare time.