Wes Michaels

Wes Michaels is an Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at Tulane University and principal of Spackman Mossop Michaels (SMM), a landscape architecture firm based in New Orleans. He holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia. His professional experience spans over 25 years, with a focus on adaptive communities through green infrastructure, ecological restoration, and culturally driven design strategies.

Education:

• Harvard University: Master of Landscape Architecture
• University of Georgia: Bachelor of Landscape Architecture

Research Interests: Michaels’ work bridges practice and academia, emphasizing the integration of cultural understanding with ecological and infrastructural systems. He explores how communities can build resilience through nature-based solutions, including flood mitigation, heat preparedness, and wildfire strategies. His research also investigates digital media’s role in shaping design processes and fostering adaptive landscapes.

Awards & Recognition:

• ASLA National Awards (Excellence: 2008, 2009, 2012; Honor: 2017, 2022, 2023)
• Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize (2023)
• Fulbright Fellowship for Baltic Sea wind farm research

Advising & Grants: Michaels collaborates with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on green infrastructure projects and leads Tulane’s Disaster Resilience initiative. His firm, SMM, has been involved in major projects such as the New Orleans Reforestation Plan and Miller Park District. He previously taught at Louisiana State University and Auburn University.

Labs & Teams: His research is embedded within SMM’s practice, focusing on interdisciplinary teams that combine design, ecology, and community engagement to address climate challenges. He also contributes to academic discourse through his book Digital Representation in Landscape Architecture (2010).