Create a Better Living Environment for Tomorrow

What can you do to help make the Tri-Cities more beautiful, sustainable, and green?  Join our branch chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council today!

Southwest Virginia Chapter, U.S. Green Buliding Council

The Tri-Cities First Annual Green Building Gala

              June Meeting:  

Preserving green space for nature, agriculture and recreation.  

          A better urban growth vision            

By Kenneth Soergel, ASLA

 Hosted by the Holston Valley Green Building Coalition  

Tuesday, June 22nd

5:30pm – 7:00pm  

Kingsport Higher Education Center  

300 West Market St. Kingsport, TN 37660 – Click here for a map

Room 131

Please RSVP to nsafay@peopleinc.net or 276-619-2254

  

This power point presentation illustrates how many facts and issues of rapid growth and land conversion are rapidly changing the rural landscape.  Much of this change is not for the better in terms of soil erosion, water quality, available local farm products and quality of life. On the positive side, examples are included showing available legal tools and planning options as well as many images and maps, both aerial and ground level, showing examples of completed works that successfully protect land and counteract sprawl.  

About Kenneth Soergel, ASLA 

Current  

  • Member - American Society of Landscape Architects 
  • Member - Johnson City Development Authority Design Committee
  • Resident of Jonesborough, TN since 2004

Professional Experience    

  • Former Associate Professor at University of Maryland teaching undergraduate level Landscape Design courses.. 
  • Adjunct Faculty at Chatham College, Pittsburgh, PA. teaching masters level classes titled Ecological Design and Planning and also Plants in the Landscape

·                  Concurrent with teaching assignments, owner of Landscape Architecture firm while in Maryland and a Design Build Landscape firm while in Pennsylvania.

 

Interest in Transfer of Development Rights  

·                  Developed interest with Dr Philips Foster while teaching at Univ. of MD in the mid 70’s.

·                  Presented talks and encouragement to municipalities in PA and here in TN since the 90’s.

 Basic Education   

·         B.S. in Landscape Architecture, The Pennsylvania State University  

·         Master of Landscape Architecture,  Harvard Graduate School of Design

 

Recent Former Activities  

  • Planning Commission Chairman, Borough of Mars, PA.  - 2000 - 2004 
  • Land Use Subcommittee, Pine Creek Watershed Assessment – 2003 - 2004
  • Registered as Landscape Architect in PA until 2005 previously in MD & FL
  • Community Charette Coordinator for Mars Area Redevelopment Commission - 2000
  • The Coalition for Trees - Advisor to establish a pruning guide for Pennsylvania’s utilities - 1997
  • Steering committee - “Reshaping the Region” A Project of AIA in Pittsburgh’s Committee of the Environment - 1996.

What We Do

Welcome to the Holston Valley Green Building Coalition!  Dedicated to bringing the greater tri-cities areas of northeast Tennessee and deep Southwest Virginia education and advocacy for making our communities' built environment more green and sustainable.

 

Thank you to our 2010 Platinum Sponsors