What's Next for LABash? ASU's Team Shares Their Vision for 2027
Lucian Lombard: Maybe we can start with introductions, who we are and what we’re doing here?
Sam Clemente: Yeah.
Winston Watkins: Especially for Neil too, since he didn’t get to meet you guys.
Lucian Lombard: Yeah. You’ve all met me. I’m Lucian, one of the directors for LABash 2027 at Arizona State University. Neil is also a director, though you haven’t met him yet. We have one more director, Avery, but he couldn’t make it today. And you’ve already met Winston.
Winston Watkins: Yeah, I’m one of the co-marketing chairs for LABash 2027. I’m super excited. Even though I wasn’t a director, I’m really glad I got to meet you all and experience LABash. I probably wouldn’t have gone to another one if I wasn’t involved in marketing, so I’m really excited to be part of the whole process.
Sam Clemente: Nice. What year are you guys?
Neil Kaviyarasu: We’re year three.
Winston Watkins: Finishing it up.
Lucian Lombard: Almost there, one more month.
Neil Kaviyarasu: What about you guys?
Sofia DiNovo: We are too.
Sam Clemente: Yeah, we’re all in this together. We’ll still be around next year if you need any help.
Lucian Lombard: Are you guys going to come to LABash 2027?
Claire Baltimore: That’s the plan.
Sam Clemente: That’ll be fun.
Claire Baltimore: I think we have to see it.
Lucian Lombard: We got to experience Ohio, you’ve got to experience Arizona.
Claire Baltimore: Yes. I’ve never been, we need to go.
Winston Watkins: The weather should be really nice when you come.
Lucian Lombard: It depends. It’s been 100 degrees recently in March.
Sofia DiNovo: Oh.
Lucian Lombard: You never know, but usually spring is around 70 to 80.
Winston Watkins: Today’s high is like 87, which feels perfect to me.
Claire Baltimore: Definitely very different from Ohio weather.
Sofia DiNovo: Yeah, that was a little unfortunate, but we persevered.
Winston Watkins: Neil, do you want to introduce yourself?
Neil Kaviyarasu: Yeah. I was supposed to come to the Ohio LABash, but work came up and I swapped with Winston. I heard you guys had a great time and gave really helpful feedback. We’re trying to implement what we learned into next year’s LABash.
Winston Watkins: Yeah, we’re trying to keep momentum going after coming back from Ohio. We’re excited and want to make sure we’re not rushing but still covering all our bases. We’ve already started brainstorming themes and getting feedback.
Lucian Lombard: One of my favorite things from OSU was the 1000 Trees installation. It was really inspiring, bringing people together through making something physical. We’d love to create something similar that reflects the Southwest.
Winston Watkins: One idea we had was a seed collection, inspired by that. People could bring seeds from their regions. For themes, one idea is “warmth,” both literal heat and community connection. Another idea is “Thorns,” which is more bold and graphic, focusing on shifting perspectives, like how the real challenge isn’t cactus spines but water conservation.
Lucian Lombard: For me, “Thorns” is about resilience. Living in a harsh climate shapes how we grow and protect ourselves. It’s metaphorical but grounded in the environment.
Neil Kaviyarasu: We’re also thinking about showcasing student work so attendees can connect lectures to real projects.
Lucian Lombard: We’re still figuring out naming. Like your “cross-pollination,” it doesn’t have to be stated outright, just reflected in the experience.
Sam Clemente: What are you excited to show on campus?
Lucian Lombard: Our design school, the arboretum, the School of Sustainability, and A Mountain. There’s a lot of variety and places to explore.
Winston Watkins: We also want to do site visits since everything is walkable. That’s a big opportunity for learning directly from built work.
Lucian Lombard: And our irrigation and xeriscaping strategies are really unique. We only get about 7 inches of rain a year, so everything is intentional.
Neil Kaviyarasu: A lot of campus projects reflect that, especially redesigns focused on heat and water conservation.
Sam Clemente: What makes your cohort unique?
Lucian Lombard: We’re very connected to professionals. We have frequent juries, mentorship events, and strong internship pipelines.
Winston Watkins: Yeah, it makes finding work much easier because people already know you.
Claire Baltimore: Are there shared values in your cohort?
Lucian Lombard: Sustainability is huge. People here really understand the value of water and long-term design.
Neil Kaviyarasu: Every design decision has to be justified. It has to last decades in a harsh environment.
Sofia DiNovo: Can you explain the “Thorns” idea again?
Winston Watkins: It’s about recognizing real challenges like water conservation, and also using thorns as a metaphor for protection. Landscape architects act as protectors of the environment.
Sam Clemente: That seems to connect to your visual style too.
Winston Watkins: Yeah, it ties into the local art scene and a bold, expressive aesthetic.
Lucian Lombard: It’s more about vibrant culture than just grunge.
Lucian Lombard: Overall, OSU LABash 2026 was really successful. The lectures, the diversity of perspectives, and the way everything tied into the theme were great.
Winston Watkins: I learned a lot, especially from emerging professionals. It felt very relevant.
Lucian Lombard: The closing event stood out to me. Meeting people from all over and building connections was really meaningful.
Claire Baltimore: That’s exactly what we hoped people would get out of it.
Claire Baltimore: Is there anything you’d do differently?
Lucian Lombard: More interactive elements, especially in exhibitor spaces. Things people can touch and engage with.
Winston Watkins: Yeah, encouraging exhibitors to bring interactive pieces would make a big difference.
Sam Clemente: Any final thoughts for future attendees?
Sofia DiNovo: Focus on what makes your LABash unique and exciting.
Lucian Lombard: It’s going to be a great event. ASU has a fun reputation, but we’re also focused on professionalism. We hope people enjoy the experience and the environment.
Neil Kaviyarasu: We want attendees to see and learn things they haven’t before.
Winston Watkins: The Sonoran Desert is incredibly unique. We want to give people a real sense of that, even in just a few days.
Lucian Lombard: We hope to see all of you at ASU LABash 2027.
Winston Watkins: Go Sun Devils.
Lucian Lombard: Thank you guys so much.
