Hosted by the ICAA Southeast Chapter
The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, Southeast Chapter is proud to present the ICAA Garden Symposium: Shaped by Water hosted in Charleston, South Carolina March 20-22, 2026. The symposium will include a series of events focused on how water has shaped the landscape of Charleston and the surrounding area over hundreds of years.
Join us as we explore the historic and contemporary gardens of one of the Southeast’s most visited cities. From graceful fountains and reflective pools to the ever-present challenges of coastal design, this year’s focus delves into water as both a creative muse and powerful force of nature.
Participants will be inspired by keynote speaker Kona Gray, FASLA and immediate past president of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Kona is a principal with EDSA, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The 2026 Symposium seeks to build on the successes of the past four iterations where we have sought to uncover the layers that represent the locale of the symposium, exposing the participants to the history of the landscape and traveling through time while exploring current manifestations and practices. These events are intended to provide both educational and inspirational experiences while offering opportunities for greater connections to be made among the participants.
The event ticket includes all meals and cocktails beginning Friday evening through Saturday dinner. Saturday evening dinner is planned as heavy hor d'oeuvres at the final stop. AIA and ASLA Continuing Education credits will be offered. Hotel accommodation is not included.
Speakers:
Keynote Lecturer: Kona Gray, FASLA, PLA-Principal-EDSA, Inc.
Lecture Title: Resilient by Design: Embracing Natural Ecosystems Towards a Sustainable Planet
As a firm leader with 31 years of experience in 30+ countries, his global design and management sense positively shapes many environments. Kona envisions welcoming places that promote quality of life in diverse neighborhoods worldwide. His portfolio includes award-winning developments that solve meaningful global issues with emphasis on communities, parks, hospitality, gardens, museums, aquariums, healthcare, and campuses.
A Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), Kona currently serves as ASLA Immediate-Past President. He is a Past President of the Landscape Architecture Foundation and active member of the Urban Land Institute. Kona serves on the University of Miami Architecture School and Nova Southeastern University Business School Real Estate Advisory Boards as well as the University of Georgia School of Environment + Design Dean’s Council. He is a registered Landscape Architect holding a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia and Commercial Real Estate Certificate from Cornell University.
Eric Mann – General Manager American Gardens – Charleston
As General Manager of American Gardens, Eric Mann oversees day to day operations and brings the park’s guest experience to life, leading teams across programming, partnerships, and on-site execution to ensure every detail supports a welcoming, well-run environment for the Charleston community and visitors alike. He recently joined the Charleston Parks Conservancy Board, where he supports the organization’s mission to protect, enhance, and advocate for Charleston’s public parks and green spaces. Eric is a graduate of Saint John’s University.
The American Gardens, a reclaimed parking lot in the heart of Charleston converted to a park open to the public. The property was purchased and developed by a private entity in collaboration with the City of Charleston and is open to all.
The ICAA is very grateful to the Gerard B. Lambert Foundation for its generous support of this program, along with our Bunny Mellon Curricula Sponsors:
Lead Sponsor, Hollander Design Landscape Architects
Garden Symposium Sponsor, Kathryn M. and Ronald J. Herman Charitable Foundation
Garden Design Prize Sponsor, Betty and Robert Balentine
Continuing Education and Public Programs Sponsor, Charlotte Moss Film Series Sponsor, Janice Parker Landscape Architects
This event is hosted by an ICAA Chapter. Please check the Chapter website or contact the Chapter directly for the most up-to-date details including dates, times, and pricing.
This event is sold out.
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
Morning Keynote Lecture:
1) Understand the ways we can live with water, leverage biomimicry, and work with natural ecosystems to create a sustainable environment.
2) Understand the history of human impact on the planet and the beginnings of the environmental movement triggered by concerns around nuclear fallout and pollution and how it has evolved around global warming and rising sea levels.
3)Recognize the importance of celebrating our ecosystems and curating experiences that support all species and cultures, including the cultural practices of local indigenous peoples and revealing nature’s secrets to create a harmonious coexistence.
4) Understand why a shift away from human-centered to life-centered design that emphasizes the value of our interconnected ecosystem relationship is necessary for the planet to survive.
American Gardens Case Study:
1) Understand the importance of landscape architecture and its role in reshaping public space to meet the challenges of ecological and social resilience.
2) Understand how public and private partnerships can assist in the ecological, cultural, and historic preservation of the land as it is repurposed for public use in ways that honor the history of the land and surrounding environment.
Afternoon Residential Garden Tour:
1) Study the composition and contrast of residential landscapes at all scales within a tightly knitted urban and historic environment.
2) Understand the ecosystem and the unique challenges of the residential landscape within a coastal environment challenged by rising sea levels, regular flooding, king tides, and increasing storm activity.
3) Study the challenges of maintaining and preserving historic cultural landscapes among the pressures of environmental issues and the impact of tourism on the landscape.
4) Understand how the decisions of previous generations in reclaiming and expanding buildable land within a coastal environment has contributed to unintended challenges and how consideration of these lessons should be integrated into the design process.
5) Study of how diverse and resilient plant materials contribute to the health of residents and the environment.