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92 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / September 2019 / The Hub / in a formal closeout meeting. For Mendenhall, measur- ing effectiveness and capturing lessons learned across a wide range of project and client types is one of the firm’s most important initiatives. As a board member of the Landscape Architecture Foundation, Mendenhall helped refine the Landscape Performance Series (landscapeperformance.org) . This innovative, nationwide program makes a tactical in- vestigation of design effectiveness, by pairing academic research partners with a built landscape to review de- sign objectives against in-use realities. Thirteen differ- ent Design Workshop projects have been accepted into the program, allowing the firm to collaborate with re- search teams from five different universities to review projects. Included among the 13, the case study submit- ted on the improvements to Filmore Plaza and Cherry Creek North showed a significant validation of benefits across all of Design Workshop’s Legacy Design metrics. Among the results, improvements reduced annual water consumption in the plaza by approximately 3.3 million gallons; reduced energy consumption by outdoor light- ing by 223,000 kilowatts a year; contributed to markedly lower district crime; and helped boost a 16% increase in sales tax revenue in the first year after the street was reopened. “The wonderful thing about the Landscape Perfor- mance Series is that each of these case studies becomes a valuable reference, a precedent benchmark for anyone looking for a design idea with an environmental, social or economic landscape benefit,” says Mendenhall. “These aren’t marketing pieces. Where projects have shortcom- ings, the rigor of this type of review will expose them. Sharing lessons learned is essential to moving the best sustainable methods forward.” Asked about landscape architecture as a practice today, Mendenhall is effusive in her enthusiasm for the grow- ing impact her professional has on the design process in general. “I think landscape architects are incredibility well-suit- ed to convene and lead important conversations around urban planning, design, social interaction, and salient topics that impact placemaking and livability,” says Men- denhall. “As landscape architecture has more thought- ful about establishing performance goals and meeting them, we are able to better make the case for landscape as an important part of the client’s investment on proj- ects that aim to realize environmental, social, and eco- nomic benefits.” Just as Design Workshop is keen on quantification to understand the value of design proposals, so too is the design and construction industry. In November, Men- denhall will be elevated to Fellow by the American So- ciety of Landscape Architects, the highest distinction be- stowed on members, and one she is exceptionally proud of. “Being recognized by the ASLA as a Fellow for lead- ership rather than a collection of projects is thrilling to me,” says Mendenhall, whose post-nominal title follow- ing the professional organization’s fall meeting will be FASLA. “I am thankful that Design Workshop has en- abled me to carve out a unique role focused on develop- ing ways to improve process and performance and deliv- er measurable results.” \\ ABOVE: The view of Millennium Bridge from Riverfront Plaza.