The San Diego Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, (ASLA SD), announces the Association’s new President for the coming year: Michael Douglas Brennan, Principal Landscape Architect, Carson Douglas Landscape Architecture (CDLA).

Brennan says, “For me, this next year will be about empowering and engaging the next generation of Landscape Architects, promoting diversity in all levels of our profession, and elevating the role of Landscape Architecture in the public realm.”

As incoming President of ASLA SD, Brennan feels this is where he can have the most impact on the profession. He intends to continue the strides of his predecessors in making the chapter even more accessible and engaging to all members.

Brennan also wants to enlist ASLA’s professionals to lead in creating local solutions to fight climate change and to be recognized as critical change-makers in the public realm.

Brennan, 38, is co-owner of Carson Douglas Landscape Architecture with William Carson Joyce, his East Coast partner. The firm’s name comes from both partner’s middle names. Carson Douglas is a boutique design firm that focusses on high-end residential and commercial clients in Southern California and New England. Their San Diego office is moving to Golden Hill, after being in Hillcrest for three years.

Some of Brennan’s notable work includes Orchid Award-winning Sofia Lofts, a LEED-platinum development centered around a renovated historic residence that will become CDLA’s new office location; Alcazar Court, the historic bungalow court renovation in the heart of Hillcrest and SOHO preservation-award winner; and the Hillcrest Pride Flag and LGBT Monument, a cultural landmark at the intersection of University Avenue and Normal Street.

Carson Douglas is also on the team developing Solana 101 in Solana Beach. The project is a mixed-use development proposed by client Zephyr Partners.

Brennan’s firm also has a substantial portfolio of East Coast clients. Says Brennan, “Working on both coasts represents certain challenges in adapting to the regional aspect of projects, but more interestingly, it is a vast opportunity to develop a fusion of styles. Bringing East Coast design elements to West Coast projects— and vice versa—has been extremely rewarding for our clients.”

With a degree from CalPoly San Luis Obispo, Brennan previously worked at Urban Green, Gillespie Moody Patterson, Inc., and Lightfoot Planning Group. He has received many awards including ASLA’s Student Design Award in 2002, Circulate San Diego’s Momentum Citizen Award in 2016, San Diego County Bicycle Coalition’s Advocate of the Year award in 2017, CLCA’s Trophy Award first place for the Alpine Special Event Site in 2011.

Brennan is also an elected representative serving on the Uptown Planners city planning group and former appointee on the City of San Diego’s Bicycle Advisory Committee.

Carson Douglas Landscape Architecture is a firm dedicated to creating imaginative, functional, and attractive landscapes that elicit lasting responses. They are committed to stewardship of the land, responsible use of natural resources, appreciation of the physical landscape, and incorporation of regional materials for the betterment of the local ecology.

Read more about Brennen’s appointment in the San Diego Business Journal article:
https://www.sdbj.com/news/2017/dec/12/incoming-president-asla-sd-chapter-aims-engage-nex/

Michael Brennen also had a related feature story in Gay San Diego – view the article here:
https://gay-sd.com/making-his-mark/