Transform a Lakefront Park, Shape the Future of Urban Shorelines

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Join the American Ecological Engineering Society's prestigious Certified Ecological Designer (CED) Program for an extraordinary opportunity to engage in a design charette for an innovative, multi-functional park along Burlington, Vermont’s scenic waterfront on Lake Champlain! Active participation in this AEES-sponsored workshop will meet the requirements for the Certified Ecological Designer | AEES program*.

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Schedule

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Thursday, June 4 – 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | Site Tour with Local Experts
Friday, June 5 – 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | Design Charette

Water and light snacks will be provided on both dates. Basic tools for the design charette (e.g., base maps, tracing paper, pens/markers, technical drawing templates, straight edges) will also be provided. Transportation to and from the site will be provided from UVM campus and the two conference hotels. Participants should bring a laptop.

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Cost

 

$150 per person. This fee can be paid at the same time as AEES 2026 conference registration.

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Registration will be limited to 20 participants for this year's workshop

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Your Challenge

 

Use ecological design to recommend enhancements for a public park parcel on the Burlington waterfront that hosts the Hoehl Park & Sculpture Garden and Lake Champlain Navy Memorial, as well as the adjacent parking area.

The project site is an underutilized waterfront park with opportunities to retrofit its green stormwater infrastructure and connect visitors to the lakeshore. The site has strong potential to become actively used by a larger portion of the Burlington community. It is located next to the Burlington Greenway, the University of Vermont Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory, and ECHO, a lakefront aquarium and science center at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. The charrette will explore ways to combat urban shoreline degradation and underutilization with input from relevant experts who cannot wait to see your designs.

This dynamic project presents a unique intersection of ecological engineering and urban planning challenges:

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• Stormwater management

• Parking lot material selection

• Retrofit of existing BMPs

• Nutrient management

• Invasive species removal 

• Shoreline stabilization

• Wildlife habitat restoration

• Soil remediation/bioremediation

• Pollinator-friendly plantings

• Cold climate ecological design

• Accessibility

• Memorial design

• Environmental education (all ages) 

 
What We Offer

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• Collaboration with leading experts in ecological landscape design

• Access to comprehensive site data and historical context

• Direct engagement with local stakeholders

• The chance to influence the future of Burlington’s waterfront

 
Who Should Participate

 

Forward-thinking landscape architects, planners, and ecological engineers who:

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• Excel at complex urban water management challenges

• Value innovative, community-centered design approaches

• Understand the delicate balance between ecological function and human use

• Are ready to contribute to the next generation of lakefront ecological design

• Have completed ecological engineering, landscape architecture, and/or ecological sciences coursework 

This workshop and design charette represent a rare opportunity to grapple with common waterfront issues while working alongside a diverse team with backgrounds in ecology, engineering, and design. Join us in transforming the design for this Burlington site along Lake Champlain from challenge to triumph. The future of lakefront ecological design and restoration starts here.

* We anticipate that the next AEES-sponsored CED workshop will be held in the Pacific Northwest in June 2027.

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