Rebecca Martin (supplied image)
Rebecca Martin recognized by American Society of Landscape Architects
Published: November 14, 2025
Rebecca Martin, a graduate of the University of Toronto’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, has received a 2025 Award of Excellence from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) as part of its annual Student Awards.
The awards recognize students from around the world for graduate work in one of eight categories, providing a glimpse into the future of the profession.
Martin received the top honour in the general design category for her master of landscape architecture project, "Opaque Ground: Reimagining Human-Soil Relations in the Lower Don."
The project proposes an urban soil survey followed by the creation of experimental gardens in existing soil along a 10-kilometre trail in Toronto’s lower Don Valley sub-watershed. It promotes soil literacy by demonstrating the role of soil in regulating water cycles, storing carbon and sustaining life. Martin's faculty adviser was Associate Professor Alissa North.
The jury citation said Martin’s project made for a “richly illustrated exploration of our essential but underappreciated soil and its role in renewing our urban environment.”
