Unlocking Potential: Creating a Regenerative Landscape Rooted in Culture, Ecology, and Justice
Amy Douglas White
SCASLA Excellence Award
The judges praised the project’s excellent research, which addressed social justice with sensitivity and insight. The analysis transitioned seamlessly into the design, supported by a strong inspiration image that anchored the project vision. Graphics were commended for their richness and honesty, offering a compelling depiction of the site.
Once a symbol of confinement and systemic injustice, the Lincoln Heights Jail is transformed into a thriving landscape of regeneration—where land, water, air and community are restored. Through phytoremediation, riparian habitat restoration, and stormwater filtration, the degraded environment is rehabilitated, addressing long-standing pollution and ecological scars. In addition, the site becomes a platform for community empowerment, mending the social fabric frayed by systemic injustice. This revitalized landscape creates a dynamic public space that supports environmental renewal, climate resilience, and social healing.
About Amy
Amy Douglas White was born and raised in Madrid, Spain. She attended Emerson College in Boston and later moved to Los Angeles where she worked in the music industry for several years. She toured and recorded with various artists, culminating with the release of her solo album “Ashes” in 2021.
During the pandemic, she decided to change careers and seek a degree in landscape architecture. She believes that our society will prosper if we give space, value and respect to all living things. The opportunity to improve communities by creating and fostering stronger connections between people and nature is what fuels her passion for landscape architecture.