Kaia Nesbitt Elevated to Fellow of American Society of Landscape Architects
HDR’s Urban Design, Planning and Landscape Architecture Cross Sector Director Kaia Nesbitt, has been elevated to the 2025 Class of Fellows of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), one of the highest honors the organization bestows.
“The 2025 Class reflects the very best of landscape architecture,” said ASLA President Kona Gray, FASLA, PLA. “Their careers are defined by excellence, service and a deep commitment to shaping a more inclusive, resilient and beautiful world.”
Nominated by the ASLA Colorado chapter in the Leadership/Management category, Nesbitt was honored for her ability to lead multidisciplinary teams in delivering transformative community, campus and urban redevelopment projects that advance resiliency, green infrastructure and healthy, sustainable communities.
“Kaia is a passionate landscape architect who is always seeking new opportunities to demonstrate to the world the value that we can — and should — contribute,” said Kim Case, president of ASLA Colorado. “Whether it’s through the projects she leads, the initiatives she guides or the networks she has cultivated, her message is consistent and clear: landscape architects are integral to designing a just and equitable world.”
“Above all,” Case added, “Kaia demonstrates the best attributes of a leader. She is unselfish in sharing her time, knowledge and talents, always looking to lift others up.”
During her 20-year career, Nesbitt has consistently reached “across the aisle” to connect allied professions. She is currently the District Council Chair for the Urban Land Institute’s 1,400-member Colorado chapter — the first landscape architect to serve in that role. She is a frequent speaker in local, regional and international forums and co-created ULI’s “Breaking the Glass Ceiling” mid-level career mentoring program for women.
In her leadership roles at HDR, Nesbitt has influenced and expanded urban design and landscape architecture teams into a variety of market areas, including health-oriented development, parks as infrastructure, resilient community development and the intersection of mobility and land use.
Nesbitt will be elevated as part of the 2025 Class of the Council of Fellows during a special investiture ceremony at the ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture in New Orleans, Oct. 10-13.
