Keenan Gibbons Wins National ASLA Honor Award for Urban Heat Research

SmithGroup’s Director of Landscape Architecture Keenan Gibbons has received an American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Honor Award for research the ASLA says is “revolutionizing a new approach to measuring (urban) heat at the experiential scale.” 35 winners were chosen from 468 entries for this year’s ALSA Professional Awards program, showcasing the highest level of innovation and achievement in the landscape architecture profession.

Extreme heat is the leading cause of climate change-related deaths in the U.S. and worldwide.  Heat Health: A pre- and 5-year post-occupancy thermal case study highlights Keenan’s findings from nearly a decade of committed work. Using drones outfitted with thermal cameras, Keenan is able to quantify the heat impacts of urban design and material choices at a site-specific scale and address their critical implications for human health, climate resilience and building more equitable cities.

The award win follows Keenan’s selection earlier this year as the ASLA’s 2026 Climate Action & Biodiversity Fellow. He will continue to share his findings and knowledge through the ASLA’s Fellowship program as well as his ongoing work as a lecturer at the University of Michigan.