ASLA-NY congratulates these outstanding professionals for their achievements and their continued dedication to advancing the field.
Meet the New York Chapter ASLA Fellow-Elect Members:
Gonzalo Cruz, ASLA
AECOM LAUD | New York, NY
Nominated in Works by the New York Chapter
Gonzalo Cruz, ASLA, is a nationally recognized leader in the design of urban landscapes, whose work is helping redefine how cities respond to climate change while creating public spaces that are welcoming, equitable, and deeply connected to community life. As Vice President and Senior Design Principal at AECOM LAUD NYC, he has built an exceptional body of work focused on resilient waterfronts, civic landscapes, and public spaces that protect people while enriching everyday urban experience.
Cruz is especially distinguished by his ability to turn complex infrastructure challenges into inspiring public places. Trained in both architecture and landscape architecture, he brings together design vision, technical expertise, and the diplomacy needed to guide ambitious projects through political, environmental, and construction realities. His early leadership on Liberty Park at the World Trade Center established his talent for shaping landscapes where memory, security, and civic life must coexist.
Since then, he has led or played key design roles on some of the New York region’s most important resilience and public realm projects. These include the Lower Manhattan Coastal Resilience master plan, which has become a national model for integrating flood protection with public space, and Wagner Park, where coastal defense is reimagined as a civic asset. His work on Sendero Verde in East Harlem and East Newark Riverfront Park further shows his commitment to environmental justice, affordability, and community-driven design.
Beyond his projects, Cruz is a visible advocate for the profession through his service on the Landscape Architecture Foundation Board, his national speaking engagements, and his mentorship of emerging designers.
Through visionary leadership and built work of lasting public value, Gonzalo Cruz has expanded the role of landscapes in shaping more resilient, inclusive, and inspiring cities.
Bob Rumsey, PLA, ASLA
The Central Park Conservancy | New York, NY
Nominated in Works by the New York Chapter
Bob Rumsey, ASLA, is a distinguished design leader whose work has shaped one of the world’s most iconic public landscapes while exemplifying clarity, precision, and long-term stewardship. Over a 36-year career, he has built a body of work that seamlessly bridges intimate residential landscapes and large-scale civic environments, demonstrating how thoughtful design can endure and perform over time.
Rumsey is exceptional for his ability to translate design intent into built reality with rigor and consistency. As Studio Director of Landscape Architecture for Capital Projects at the Central Park Conservancy, he has led nearly fifty projects that restore, enhance, and sustain Central Park for millions of visitors each year. His work spans a wide range of landscape types—from Playgrounds and woodlands to formal gardens and major civic spaces—each carefully designed to respect the Park’s historic legacy while meeting contemporary needs.
Among his most significant contributions is the transformation of the Davis Center at the Harlem Meer, an ambitious project that restored ecological systems, reconnected circulation, and reimagined public experience in the Park’s northern end. His leadership also guided the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Conservatory Garden and the restoration of Grand Army Plaza, ensuring these treasured spaces remain vibrant and accessible for future generations.
Earlier in his career, Rumsey’s award-winning residential work established his reputation for design restraint, environmental sensitivity, and meticulous detailing—principles he has carried into his public work.
Through disciplined design, technical excellence, and a deep commitment to stewardship, Bob Rumsey has made enduring contributions to landscape architecture, enriching Central Park and advancing the profession’s role in shaping meaningful, lasting public spaces
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The full list of Fellows can be found HERE.
2026 ASLA Fellows will be elevated during a special investiture ceremony at the Conference on Landscape Architecture in Los Angeles this September.
The 2026 ASLA-NY nominations committee included:
Taewook Cha, FASLA, (co-chair), Jennifer Nitzky, FASLA, (co-chair), Nicholas Koster, ASLA, Elizabeth Moskalenko, ASLA, Annie Phaosawasdi, ASLA, Nancy Prince, FASLA, David Russo, ASLA