Lois Brink

Lois Brink is a Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Colorado Denver’s College of Architecture and Planning (CAP). She pioneered the Learning Landscapes initiative in 1998, a $50 million program transforming Denver’s 96 public elementary schoolyards into multifunctional green spaces. Her work integrates design, health, and community empowerment, funded by grants from the NIH, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Children & Nature Network. Brink is also a founding member of the International School Grounds Alliance (ISGA) and Chief Strategist for The Big Sandbox, Inc.

• Education: Master of Landscape Architecture (1978) and BA in Environmental Design (1976), both from the University of Pennsylvania.

Research Interests: Brink’s work focuses on the health and social benefits of green schoolyards, addressing children’s social, emotional, academic, and nutritional well-being. Her projects emphasize community organizing, sustainable urban design, and data-driven evaluation of schoolyard transformations. Recent efforts include the Nature Everywhere Campaign in New Orleans and collaborations with Philadelphia schools on green infrastructure.

Scientific Awards:

• 2022 ASLA National Student Community Service Award
• 2021 CU Diversity & Inclusive Excellence Grant
• 2010 Researcher of the Year Award at CAP
• 2006 Colorado ASLA Design Award

Teaching & Mentorship: Brink leads immersive studio courses, including travel projects like the 2023 Lower Ninth Ward park design in New Orleans. She mentors students such as Katie Fillenwarth, linking them to global opportunities like ISGA internships.