The Edward D. Stone, Jr. Lecture Series has been a key part of the University of Florida’s Landscape Architecture program, fostering intellectual conversation and engagement with practitioners for the past decade. Since its inception in 2015, the series has brought leading voices in landscape architecture and urban design to share their insights and experiences with students, faculty, and professionals. This series has been made possible by the Edward D. Stone Jr. Friends Group, a group of friends and colleagues whose efforts have preserved his legacy.
Edward Stone, Jr., the lecture series’ namesake, founded the renowned firm EDSA (Edward D Stone Jr. and Associates), which has helped shape the practice of landscape architecture in Florida and around the globe. EDSA’s work spans urban design, parks and public projects, hospitality and tourism, campus planning, as well as commercial and mixed-use development.
Over the years, the firm has been a strong supporter of the department, reinforcing its commitment to the next generation of landscape architects.
The inaugural lecture, hosted in 2015, featured a panel of speakers including:
- Jim Chaffin – Friend, Co-founder of Chaffin-Light Associates preeminent developers of master-planned communities in the United States, former Chairman of the Urban Land Institute.
- Peter Rummell – Friend, former Chairman of Disney Development Company and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the St. Joe Company.
- Dave Howerton – Friend, Chairman of Hart Howerton.
- Peter Capone – Friend, Architect, former President of Edward Durell Stone Architects, President and CEO of Peter Capone Design.
The lecture series has hosted a diverse array of speakers, including practitioners, scholars, and other leaders who have challenged conventional wisdom and expanded the discourse on sustainability, resilience, and the future of landscape architecture. Find out more information and watch previous lectures here. Speakers have included:
- Laurie Olin, Global, Regional, Local: Re-examining ‘Regionalism’ and ‘Genius Loci’ in an Effort Toward Meaningful Landscape (2016)
- Gerdo P Aquino, Infrastructural Futures (2017)
- Thomas L. Woltz, Time, Place and Story: Design at the Crossroads of Ecological and Cultural Systems (2018)
- Gary Hilderbrand, Living Surface (2019)
- Marc Treib, Landscape as Sculpture, Sculpture as Landscape (2020)
- Walter Rodriguez Meyer, Landscape-Led City Making: Disturbance Based Design for Atmosphere and Ethnosphere (2021)
- Chelina Odbert, Putting the ‘Public’ Back in Public Space (2022)
- Martha C. Fajardo, Landscape Initiatives Journey: Connecting people, building collaboration, and inspiring human places (2023)
- Kona A. Gray, Grounded Landscapes – Exploring the Land, Sea and Culture (2024)
- Meg Calkins, A Climate Positive Approach to Materials and Details for Resilient Sites (2025)
These lectures have not only served as moments of inspiration but have also helped shape the perspectives of UF’s students, preparing them to tackle the complex environmental and social challenges of the profession.
As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of this distinguished lecture series, we reflect on the impact of past speakers and look forward to continuing the tradition of bringing world-class expertise to the UF Landscape Architecture community. The series stands as a testament to the power of knowledge-sharing and the university’s commitment to fostering dialogue that advances the field.
Here’s to the next decade of innovation, education, and meaningful conversations in landscape architecture!