On March 27, 2026, the University of Florida Department of Landscape Architecture hosted the annual Edward D. Stone, Jr. Lecture Series<\/a> featuring Sierra Bainbridge, RLA, ASLA, Co-Founder and Senior Managing Principal at MASS Design Group<\/a>. The annual lecture series honors the legacy of Edward D. Stone, Jr., a beloved colleague, mentor, partner, advisor, and friend of the department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Framed around the theme of her recent book, \u201cSeeking Abundance,” Bainbridge began the lecture by diving into her own background, exploring the influences that shaped her design approach. She pointed out her fascination with anthropology while studying architectural history at Smith College, specifically the work of James Clifford, an author and anthropologist who expanded on the concept of reflexivity, which implies that one cannot observe communities and people from a truly objective perspective. This concept acts as a through line for Bainbridge\u2019s work as a designer and place-maker, ensuring she remains conscious of community needs and values while drawing from her own knowledge and experiences.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n