Dennis Otsuji Honored with LAF Legacy Award
Landscape architect Dennis Y. Otsuji, FASLA, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the LAF Legacy Award.
The LAF Legacy Award was created in 2023 by the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) to recognize and show appreciation for past members of the LAF Board of Directors who have provided extraordinary service and contributions to the organization and its legacy.
Dennis Otsuji was instrumental in creating a pivotal point for LAF in its near 60-year history as a charitable organization. His dedicated and exceptional leadership transformed LAF, setting the stage for it to grow into the organization it is today.
During his 12-year tenure on the LAF Board of Directors from 1993 to 2005, Dennis served as Vice President of Development and as the 1999-2000 President of LAF. He served in an Ex Officio capacity while he was the 1994-95 President of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Dennis’ service to LAF was extraordinary, not just for its longevity, but for the transformation he helped foster and facilitate.
Since its founding in 1966, LAF has always been a separate organization from ASLA, with its own board of directors, bylaws, and mission: to support the preservation, improvement, and enhancement of the environment. But for most of its first 35 years, LAF operated within ASLA, sharing staff and office space because of organizations’ shared interests for the landscape architecture discipline. Dennis served on the LAF Board during the period when it decided to create the infrastructure to operate independently of ASLA, so that both organizations could focus on their distinct missions. They saw LAF as a “sleeping giant” and wanted to better poise the organization to leverage its full potential.
Dennis was Chair of the LAF Second Century Campaign which was launched in 1997 to make this transition possible. At its conclusion in 1999, the campaign raised over $2.7 million, most of which was used to establish an endowment to sustain LAF’s operations over the long term. Leading by example, Dennis was one of the first donors to the campaign, and he did the majority of the asking for others to make pledges.
The resulting Second Century Endowment Fund has provided a foundation for LAF to focus fully on its mission and further develop its programming over the years. In addition to resources and thought leadership, today LAF provides over $500,000 annually in direct support to students, researchers and landscape architecture professionals who are changing the world from a landscape perspective.
“LAF would not exist as it does today without Dennis’s leadership and service over 20 years ago,” said LAF CEO Barbara Deutsch. “Dennis helped lead this transition with grace, strategic foresight, and the best interests of both ASLA and LAF. He was and remains an inspirational force for good.”
Dennis’ more than 50 years working in landscape architecture and planning includes Principal and Owner of ONA Landscape Architects and Principal at Wimmer, Yamada and Caughey. His career was marked by service to the landscape architecture profession and endeavors to share and educate about Japanese culture, tradition, and history, including the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
LAF is honored to be among the many beneficiaries of his exceptional leadership and generous dedication. Through his service Dennis has created a lasting and impactful legacy for LAF.
