The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has recognized the Caño Martín Peña Comprehensive Infrastructure Master Plan (CIMP) with its inaugural American Society of Landscape Architects and International Federation of Landscape Architects Global Impact Award. Arcadis assisted project manager OLIN on the CIMP, a cutting-edge document that addresses myriad impacts of climate change in the Caño Martín Peña District of San Juan, Puerto Rico, a community of 12,000 people. The two firms and more than a dozen other organizations were honored for the project.
The master plan tackles several concerns, including flooding and stormwater collection, safe drinking water and housing projects. Arcadis provided water infrastructure analysis and planning work to OLIN during a two-year contract for The Corporación del Proyecto ENLACE del Caño Martín Peña.
Residents of the Caño Martín Peña District have taken a collaborative stance to decision making for two decades and played a role in influencing the CIMP’s development. Throughout the planning process, stakeholders were consulted to ensure the plan addressed key concerns of the community. The final plan includes sustainable and equitable solutions that reflect the wishes and necessities of people who live nestled along the channel of the San Juan Bay Estuary.
The 2023 ASLA Awards Jury said about the CIMP: “This plan integrates climate mitigation and flood protection with new belts of greenspace, community connectors, housing, and power to form a possibility of multivalence. It is a plan in which specific landscape design strategies can positively impact the environment and, therefore, quality of life while promoting resilience.”
Luis Santiago, Water Area Manager for Arcadis, said: “We’re proud to be part of the team recognized by ASLA for this important project. The development of the plan was a true collaborative process between the community and the partners on the project. As a result, we’ve been able to develop strategies to help mitigate the ongoing effects of climate change in these closely-knit communities.”
The ASLA Professional Awards represent the best of landscape architecture in several categories.
