Douglas C. Allen Lecture
This annual lecture on landscape architecture was established and endowed by alumni, faculty and friends in honor of Professor Douglas C. Allen (1947-2014).
In appreciation for Allen's sizeable contribution to the College of Design (formerly the College of Architecture) as a teacher, colleague, and leader, this lecture binds the relevance of Allen's expertise in landscape architecture to urban design and the community-related impact of School of Architecture education at Georgia Tech.
Douglas C. Allen, FASLA
Doug Allen taught in the School of Architecture for 37 years and made an indelible impact on the field of landscape architecture, particularly in city and urban landscapes. Allen was an influential member of the College of Design faculty (then called the College of Architecture) serving as interim dean as well as associate dean of academic affairs for five years. His thoughtful and vivid lectures left an influential impact on Georgia Tech students from 1977 through 2013. Professionally, he practiced landscape architecture for more than 40 years.
Allen died of brain cancer in 2014. This lecture invites renowned landscape architects and experts in urban landscapes to speak to students once a year at the School of Architecture.
2026: Sara Zewde
Sara Zewde is founding principal of Studio Zewde, a design firm practicing landscape architecture, urbanism, and public art. Named to Time Magazine’s TIME 100 Next, Architectural Digest's AD100, and a United States Artists Fellow, her practice is celebrated for its design methods that sync culture, ecology, and craft. In parallel to design practice, Sara serves as Associate Professor of Practice at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Sara holds a master’s of landscape architecture from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, a master’s of city planning from MIT, and a BA in sociology and statistics from Boston University. She is currently writing a book about Frederick Law Olmsted's travels through the Slave South, which is slated to be published by Simon & Shuster in 2027.
