SEPTEMBER

29-30, 2026 

EARLY-BIRD
REGISTRATION
NOW OPEN

The Modern Living: Inside Outdoor Spaces

Providing landscape architects, residential architects, and custom builders with relevant data and innovative technology. Experts and journalists from around the country give lectures and presentations, while industry manufacturers and specialized suppliers offer hands-on demonstrations. Continuing education credits are available where specified.

Two-Day Agenda

  • 08:00 AM – 09:00 AM
    Registration

    08:15 AM – 08:45 AM
    Highfield Hall Grounds Tour led by George Chapman, Landscape Director of Highfield Hall

    09:15 AM – 09:30 AM
    Welcome & Announcements

    09:30 AM – 10:30 AM

    Keynote: Period-Inspired Residential Landscape Design
    Cindy Brockway, Managing Director of Cultural Resources at The Trustees

    10:45  AM – 11:30 AM
    Session 1 & 2 Learning Labs

    • Field Sketching with Christopher DeOrsay, AIA, ICAA, Principal of
      DeOrsay Campbell Smith Architects

    • Siting for Residential & Landscape Architects with Lyle W. Bradley, AIA, Architect, Partner at Albert, Righter & Tittmann

    • Arborists’ Guide to Preserving Century-Old Trees on Historic Estates with Harrison MacPhee

    12:45 PM – 01:45 PM
    Lunch & Resolution Workshops

    02:00 PM - 02:45 PM
    Check in @ Autocamp

    02:45 PM – 03:00 PM
    Symposium Announcements 

    03:00 PM –04:00 PM
    Keynote: Living Legacies: Reimagining Historic Landscapes Through Preservation, Craft, and Innovation
    Doug Hoerr, FASLA, Landscape Architect, Hoerr Schaudt

    04:00 PM – 04:45 PM
    Intro to the Collaborators

    05:00 PM – 06:30 PM
    Cocktails & Oysters

    07:00 PM – 10:00 PM
    Glamping Dinners & Fireside Chats

  • 07:30 - 9:00 a.m.
    Day Pass Registration

    08:00 –08:30 AM
    Check Out & Networking Breakfast

    08:30 – 09:30 AM
    Keynote: Lessons from the Catskills
    Kevin Lichten, AIA, Founder and Principal, Lichten Architects

    09:45 AM – 10:45 AM
    Session 3 Learning Labs

    • Building, Growing, & Exiting Your Business
      John Steiger CFP®, AIFA®, President and Founder, Wealth Family Resources

    • The Science of Color at Colonial Williamsburg
      Kirsten Travers Moffitt, Sr Conservator & Materials Analyst, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

    • Designing with Reclaimed Granite
      Ryan W. Ackerman, President, Monti Ackerman Sculpture, Inc.

    11:00 AM – 12:00 AM
    Session 4 Learning Labs

    • From Waste to Resource
      Zac Tolbert, PLA LEED AP, Sr Territory Manager, Cambium (Carbon Smart™ Wood)

    • Stop Planting That (Seriously!)
      Carl Hesselein. President, Pleasant Run Nursery

    12:15 PM – 01:15 PM
    Keynote: Restoration & Invention: Transforming Historic Architecture
    Damien Samora, Partner, Ferguson & Shamamian

    1:30 PM
    Damien Samora Book Signing & Networking Lunch

Continuing Education

AIA and ASLA continuing education credits are available. Other crediting bodies may be approved for CEUs where appropriate.

What’s new this year

A collaborative outdoor living experience involving multiple organizations working together to create and showcase a unique design exhibition

Sign up

Why you should attend?

  • Statistics

    Following value and cost considerations, connection to the outdoors and nature was predicted to be the most significant driver of home design choices over the next three years.

  • Networking

    Providing opportunities to connect with key influencers, learn from others' experiences, and share knowledge, ultimately leading to professional growth and business success. 


  • Knowledge

    This symposium aims to provide you with a competitive edge and a realistic perspective of the rising needs of homeowners who want more from their outdoor spaces. ASLA, AIA, ASID continuing education units available.

Book Now

The national luxury real estate market is increasingly prioritizing outdoor living and wellness features.

This trend is driven by a desire for more space, privacy, and a connection to nature.

Why people come back

  • Fireside Chats

    Enjoy informal discussions with industry peers about current topics.

  • Networking Dinners

    Wind down and make new connections in a relaxed atmosphere.

  • Hands-on Learning Labs

    On-site training with resources, tools, and equipment.

  • Resolution Workshops

    Explore the root of challenges and develop resolutions.

  • Educational Lectures

    Insight into shared experiences and expert thinking.

Become a part of the community

  • Register

    Learn about the latest trends and cutting-edge ideas that will help you master your craft, grow your business and improve your network

    Early-Bird Registration

  • Sponsor

    Gain valuable recognition through various channels, including the symposium website, event marketing materials, and social media

    Sponsor

  • Speakers

    We invite industry experts and authors who are authorities within their niches of residential landscape design to speak at the Symposium.

    Speak