14 Jun Weeks One and Two: Introductions!

Hello! My name is Ashley Crespo and I am currently in the Masters of Landscape Architecture program at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) in Syracuse, NY. Before starting my MLA, I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Architecture and Environmental Science in 2017.

I am a first generation college student. I am the daughter of two hardworking Puerto Rican parents who inspired passion, joy and dedication in me and my siblings. I am a reader and an explorer. I am on a journey to figure out my role in Landscape Architecture and environmental design.

Back in 2017, as if it was that long ago, I had the opportunity to travel the county. For over 100 days, my partner and I drove from New York to the Artic Circle in Alaska and back around. We visited 31 states, 4 Canadian provinces and 12 National Parks. Turns out, I had a lot of learning to do about the outdoors. From campground procedures to changing tires, I spent that summer pushing my personal boundaries beyond what I thought was possible. This trip really made me realize I am meant to be outdoors, to work outdoors. I realized I want to design spaces so that others can create their own experiences, the way I was lucky enough to do just a few short years ago. 

So how about 2020? Well, I am certainly not outdoors nearly as much as I would have liked, but my internship through OCLP has allowed for new experiences that I may have otherwise not have participated in. For one, the main focus of my work does not necessarily involve being in the field. While it would be incredibly informational and beneficial to visit the Flight 93 National Memorial, my time can now be devoted to developing the graphics needed.

As with almost all models, creating the base is the most time intensive process. My last two weeks have been almost solely focused on editing and combining CAD documents and working on the early stages of terrain mesh creation. It’s a work in progress, but this will soon by the base for some exciting modeling experiments in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for future updates!