Chip Crawford Honored with LAF Legacy Award
Chip Crawford, FASLA, PLA, has been selected as the 2026 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. The 2026 Legacy Award will be presented to Chip Crawford at the LAF Gala Dinner on September 16 in Los Angeles, CA.
Chip served as an LAF board member for 10 years through a period of growth and transition for LAF from 2004 to 2014, which included the development of the LAF Olmsted Scholars Program during the early part of his tenure, a leadership transition during the 2008 financial crisis, and the development of the LAF Landscape Performance Series when he was President of LAF in 2010. Chip continued to provide leadership on the board after his presidency, serving as Vice President of Communications, helping LAF modernize its communications infrastructure and grow its capacity through in-kind advisory support on emerging digital engagement strategies.
“Chip has a unique ability to inspire creative and visionary thinking and bring people together around ideas that lead to meaningful, lasting outcomes. His infectious optimism and big-picture thinking led LAF through some difficult times with strategies that remain transformative to LAF, the discipline, and the development community over 15-20 years later.” -Barbara Deutsch, CEO of LAF
Since 2008, LAF has recognized a growing community of 1,351 past and present LAF Olmsted Scholars. The prestige and opportunities associated with the award underscore the significance of landscape architecture and help cultivate the next generation of inspired and motivated leaders.
Since 2010, LAF has produced over 200 case studies for the Landscape Performance Series with over 250,000 views world-wide each year. The vital resource is used as precedents by students, practitioners, and advocates to show the value of a landscape approach to design and development through quantified environmental, social, and economic benefits.
“We were working to launch the Landscape Performance Series with the board and leading designers were struggling to develop the case studies within a timeframe that met the rapid project delivery. I very clearly remember the board meeting when Chip said “We need a better model. We don’t have the time it takes to wait for the traditional years of research. If LAF could just get these firms an intern, they could create case studies in shorter time.”. What started as an idea for an intern, turned into the LAF Case Study Investigation program, which launched in 2011. It engages students and faculty to conduct post-occupancy evaluation on landscape projects, and continues to be the primary strategy to develop LAF case studies.” -Barbara Deutsch, CEO of LAF
Chip was an early champion of landscape performance, working with the Biomimicry Institute, which in turn has brought nature’s ideas to the design table and boardroom of 250+ companies including Nike, HOK, GE Procter and Gamble, Levi’s and General Mills. As LAF Board Emeritus, Chip continues to engage with LAF Olmsted Scholars and promote the role of LAF in the discipline to support the people and ideas that are driving the future of the profession.
LAF is deeply grateful for Chip’s vision and leadership during a pivotal period in LAF’s history, which helped elevate LAF’s role and impact and shape it into the organization it is today. We are delighted to honor Chip with the 2026 LAF Legacy Award.
