Baumer Lecture Series: Mike Albert
Mike Albert is a partner and board member at Design Workshop, where he leads the firm’s Aspen studio and a team of 45 landscape architects and planners.
Gui Auditorium
Raised on his family’s working ranch, Mike developed an early connection to the land. At age 14, he started a small business selling houseplants, which sparked his curiosity about design and the relationship between people and the environments they shape. After earning his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Oklahoma State University, he joined Design Workshop, where he quickly earned professional licensure, became a LEED Green Associate, and achieved certification as a planner with the American Planning Association.
After five years of professional practice, Mike pursued graduate studies at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, earning a Master in Landscape Architecture with Distinction. He returned to Design Workshop soon after, where he was named principal—and, shortly thereafter, partner.
With a portfolio recognized by over 75 design awards—including thirteen National ASLA Awards—Mike’s practice is rooted in ecological stewardship, cultural heritage, and design excellence. Notable projects include the rehabilitation of the Aspen Pedestrian Mall, the reimagining of Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids, and the Joplin Public Library following an EF5 tornado.
In recent years, Mike has become a leading voice in high-performance, restorative residential landscapes across the Intermountain West, with current commissions in The Hamptons, Hawaii, the Cayman Islands, and Sardinia. Regardless of scale or setting, his work consistently integrates ecological systems and cultural context to create lasting, meaningful places.
In 2021, committed to advancing the profession, Mike established the Landscape Architecture Leadership Endowed Fund at OSU to support students with both design talent and leadership potential. That same year, he was elevated to the ASLA Council of Fellows. Mike has also held leadership roles with ASLA, the Urban Land Institute, and served on the Board of Directors for The Cultural Landscape Foundation—reflecting a career dedicated to shaping the future of landscape architecture.
This event is part of the Autumn 2025 Baumer Lecture Series.
The Baumer Lecture Series invites prominent researchers and practitioners of architecture, landscape architecture, and city and regional planning to present their work and to engage subjects both topical and enduring.