Rehabilitating A Cultural Landscape: Ralph D. Cornell at the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
Tracy Wolk
SCASLA Achievement Award
The judges were blown away by the comprehensive nature of this project, praising its strong analysis, clear goals, and its balance of past, present, and future elements. The use of AI to create the plant palettes was noted as both innovative and evocative, with the crepe myrtle image being particularly striking. The project’s well-organized presentation made complex information easy to follow, even with text-heavy sections. The renderings towards the end added an emotional depth that set this project apart. Some of the judges felt this project was so exceptional that it could have warranted its own category of recognition.
This project focuses on preserving and revitalizing the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library Garden, completed by Ralph D. Cornell in 1937, with an emphasis on cultural and historical preservation. It highlights the role of landscape architecture in conservation and its connection to built heritage and the surrounding environment.
About Tracy
After two decades of a successful career as a personal trainer, in 2020, Tracy Wolk decided to change her vocation, unite her love of outdoor spaces and historic preservation, and seek a degree in Landscape Architecture. A few years later, she is in the final week of her postgraduate work to achieve a Landscape Architecture Certificate from UCLA Extension.
Tracy is also nearly finished with a Historic Preservation Certificate from Boston Architectural College. She expects to finish her course of study in the Spring of 2025, setting her up for a longtime dream to preserve and restore some of the world’s most important public spaces.
Currently working as a Freelance Landscape Designer in Los Angeles, Tracy is interested in expanding her experience in historic preservation. Her Capstone project is the restoration of the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library. “I feel so lucky to have found a path that excites and fulfills me,” she says. “I love my work and am looking forward to contributing to making the world a more beautiful place in my new profession.”