{"id":23174,"date":"2018-12-03T10:55:33","date_gmt":"2018-12-03T10:55:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/landscape-architecture\/2018\/12\/03\/gene-bresslers-life-of-curiosity-and-circumstance\/"},"modified":"2023-02-23T00:43:19","modified_gmt":"2023-02-23T05:43:19","slug":"gene-bresslers-life-of-curiosity-and-circumstance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/landscape-architecture\/2018\/12\/03\/gene-bresslers-life-of-curiosity-and-circumstance\/","title":{"rendered":"Gene Bressler\u2019s Life of Curiosity and Circumstance"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Gene<\/a>
Professor Gene Bressler with wife Karen at the 2018 Designlife Gala.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI used to be a very avid trumpet player, and I almost went to music school,\u201d Gene Bressler<\/a>, professor and retiring department head of Landscape Architecture, tells me as we sit in his Brooks Hall office on a hot, sunny day in June. Bare bookshelves line the office walls, and boxes rim the room, stacked above eye level. After 12 years in the College of Design, Bressler is entering phased retirement and stepping down from his administrative position.<\/p>\n

Bressler has always loved the outdoors. \u201cI was born on a mountaintop in Long Island,\u201d he jokingly says. As a kid, he would ride his bike to different neighborhood parks and wonder, \u201cwho made the park? Who decides what goes where? How did this trail get here?\u201d At the time though, Bressler didn\u2019t know about landscape architecture as a career. He stumbled upon the idea while in high school working part-time mowing lawns and doing yard work. \u201cI was mowing this one family’s house in a typical subdivision, and the Vivian, the homeowner said \u2018you do such a good job, you ought to consider landscape architecture\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cConcurrent with my interest in landscape architecture was my interest in music,\u201d Bressler continues, \u201cbut my appendix burst while a high school junior and I couldn’t practice the trumpet for several months. It was during my time of recuperation that I went out into and discovered the landscape while walking and riding my bike all over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMost people I believe think landscape architects are about landscaping\u2014equipped with a pickup truck, a lawnmower, and a rake. But the thing that was propelling me was my curiosity about who designed all the trails and parks where I rode my bike,\u201d Bressler says. After researching landscape architecture in the high school library (\u201cwe didn\u2019t have internet back in 1962 or \u201963,\u201d he reminds me), Bressler learned about Fredrick Law Olmsted, landscape architecture and decided that it was exactly what he wanted to do.<\/p>\n

Perhaps it\u2019s his natural curiosity and drive or a certain propensity for chance encounters, but Bressler\u2019s life is full of stories like this. Bressler shares with me how he felt out of date in 1981 after having taught early digital methods of landscape suitability modeling at the University of Oregon for over 10 years.\u00a0 He found other professors at Oregon teaching digital applications in various disciplines who shared the same concerns about falling behind. So, they decided to do something about it by forming an adhoc computer graphics program. In the process, Bressler launched the University\u2019s First Annual Computer Graphics Conference. He brazenly declared himself director of the Computer Graphics Department (that didn\u2019t officially exist) and proceeded to plan and book a conference using his personal credit card in the City of Eugene\u2019s new Conference Center \u00a0The fact was that the conference was not yet sanctioned by the university.\u00a0 But after having been called in by Oregon President Olum, who applauded the idea and cleared all of these hurdles, the conference ended up being a \u201csmashing success,\u201d bringing in speakers from Boeing, General Motors, and National Geographic, and becoming an annual event. In another story, Bressler tells how he once used early pre-digital GIS overlay mapping technology to analyze environmental conditions to inform the planning and design of a ski resort on Mt Bachelor, on a volcano (yes, a volcano) in Central Oregon. And there\u2019s the time in 1968 while attending Syracuse University and rushing to grab lunch in between classes when he literally ran into Robert F. Kennedy, who stopped Gene and his buddies to talk about the on-going war in Viet Nam.<\/p>\n

\u201cLandscape architecture is about creating innovative and resilient landscapes focused on human and ecosystem health, safety, well-being, social equity, and quality of life\u2014and the making of places that are physically and spiritually beautiful.\u201d \u2014Gene Bressler<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Bressler\u2019s career has been a rich and exciting mix of teaching, administration, and professional practice jobs. While chairing the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Colorado (1997-2006) Bressler co-taught an annual series of advanced interdisciplinary design studios, \u201cChallenging Suburbia,\u201d with Architecture Professor Keith Loftin that focused on challenging existing residential community design development paradigms.\u00a0 In 2003, he was named Director of the\u00a0Colorado Center for Sustainable Urbanism<\/em>\u00a0and was responsible for producing the\u00a02004 and 2005 \u201cColorado Tomorrow\u201d<\/em>\u00a0public forum that focused on population and urban growth challenges facing the State.<\/p>\n

Now, after being in academic leadership positions for over 20 years, Bressler is excited to get back into the classroom. Stepping back from an administrative role will allow him to focus more on landscape architecture, which he says, \u201chas been the real motivating imperative of my life.\u201d He is also excited to spend more time with his family\u2014his wife Karen and his daughter Elle\u2014and on hobbies like biking, writing, reading, and music. Bressler will also confess his particular interests are nice cars and fine stereo equipment.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor years, all of my spare money went into car payments and stereo equipment,\u201d Bressler says. He had to slow the pace of his purchases, however, because \u201cI’ve had to save money to put Elle through college and pay off medical bills.\u201d But with Bressler\u2019s daughter nearing the end of her time at school and with his new retirement status, Bressler splurged on a new very high-quality DVD player. \u201cYou can really tell the difference,\u201d he says, \u201cThe detail it reproduces in terms of both audio and visual images is so precise and so clean that it brings a whole new level of excitement to how I perceive and enjoy music and video.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Bressler clearly has high standards for audio equipment (he did almost go to music school, after all) the same applies to himself as an educator, his hard-working passionate students, and for the profession of landscape architecture.<\/p>\n

Sitting back in his chair, Bressler confesses \u201cIt was a hard decision to step down as department head. \u00a0But, I\u2019m doing so at a good time. The department is going strong. Our faculty and students are doing great work. And, I accept that I am the past and it\u2019s time to turn over the reins to my game-changing faculty colleagues and our students who are taking our profession into the future\u2014the next generation who will be thinking and doing the extraordinary!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Staci Kleinmaier is a professional writer and photographer in Apex, North Carolina. She uses words and images to tell stories. To see her work, visit\u00a0www.stacikleinmaier.com<\/a><\/u>.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

This post was originally published<\/a> in College of Design Blog.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false,"raw":"[caption id=\"attachment_15478\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"800\"]\"Gene<\/a> Professor Gene Bressler with wife Karen at the 2018 Designlife Gala.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n\u201cI used to be a very avid trumpet player, and I almost went to music school,\u201d Gene Bressler<\/a>, professor and retiring department head of Landscape Architecture, tells me as we sit in his Brooks Hall office on a hot, sunny day in June. Bare bookshelves line the office walls, and boxes rim the room, stacked above eye level. After 12 years in the College of Design, Bressler is entering phased retirement and stepping down from his administrative position.\r\n\r\nBressler has always loved the outdoors. \u201cI was born on a mountaintop in Long Island,\u201d he jokingly says. As a kid, he would ride his bike to different neighborhood parks and wonder, \u201cwho made the park? Who decides what goes where? How did this trail get here?\u201d At the time though, Bressler didn\u2019t know about landscape architecture as a career. He stumbled upon the idea while in high school working part-time mowing lawns and doing yard work. \u201cI was mowing this one family's house in a typical subdivision, and the Vivian, the homeowner said \u2018you do such a good job, you ought to consider landscape architecture\u2019.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cConcurrent with my interest in landscape architecture was my interest in music,\u201d Bressler continues, \u201cbut my appendix burst while a high school junior and I couldn't practice the trumpet for several months. It was during my time of recuperation that I went out into and discovered the landscape while walking and riding my bike all over.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cMost people I believe think landscape architects are about landscaping\u2014equipped with a pickup truck, a lawnmower, and a rake. But the thing that was propelling me was my curiosity about who designed all the trails and parks where I rode my bike,\u201d Bressler says. After researching landscape architecture in the high school library (\u201cwe didn\u2019t have internet back in 1962 or \u201963,\u201d he reminds me), Bressler learned about Fredrick Law Olmsted, landscape architecture and decided that it was exactly what he wanted to do.\r\n\r\nPerhaps it\u2019s his natural curiosity and drive or a certain propensity for chance encounters, but Bressler\u2019s life is full of stories like this. Bressler shares with me how he felt out of date in 1981 after having taught early digital methods of landscape suitability modeling at the University of Oregon for over 10 years.\u00a0 He found other professors at Oregon teaching digital applications in various disciplines who shared the same concerns about falling behind. So, they decided to do something about it by forming an adhoc computer graphics program. In the process, Bressler launched the University\u2019s First Annual Computer Graphics Conference. He brazenly declared himself director of the Computer Graphics Department (that didn\u2019t officially exist) and proceeded to plan and book a conference using his personal credit card in the City of Eugene\u2019s new Conference Center \u00a0The fact was that the conference was not yet sanctioned by the university.\u00a0 But after having been called in by Oregon President Olum, who applauded the idea and cleared all of these hurdles, the conference ended up being a \u201csmashing success,\u201d bringing in speakers from Boeing, General Motors, and National Geographic, and becoming an annual event. In another story, Bressler tells how he once used early pre-digital GIS overlay mapping technology to analyze environmental conditions to inform the planning and design of a ski resort on Mt Bachelor, on a volcano (yes, a volcano) in Central Oregon. And there\u2019s the time in 1968 while attending Syracuse University and rushing to grab lunch in between classes when he literally ran into Robert F. Kennedy, who stopped Gene and his buddies to talk about the on-going war in Viet Nam.\r\n

\u201cLandscape architecture is about creating innovative and resilient landscapes focused on human and ecosystem health, safety, well-being, social equity, and quality of life\u2014and the making of places that are physically and spiritually beautiful.\u201d \u2014Gene Bressler<\/blockquote>\r\nBressler\u2019s career has been a rich and exciting mix of teaching, administration, and professional practice jobs. While chairing the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Colorado (1997-2006) Bressler co-taught an annual series of advanced interdisciplinary design studios, \u201cChallenging Suburbia,\u201d with Architecture Professor Keith Loftin that focused on challenging existing residential community design development paradigms.\u00a0 In 2003, he was named Director of the\u00a0Colorado Center for Sustainable Urbanism<\/em>\u00a0and was responsible for producing the\u00a02004 and 2005 \u201cColorado Tomorrow\u201d<\/em>\u00a0public forum that focused on population and urban growth challenges facing the State.\r\n\r\nNow, after being in academic leadership positions for over 20 years, Bressler is excited to get back into the classroom. Stepping back from an administrative role will allow him to focus more on landscape architecture, which he says, \u201chas been the real motivating imperative of my life.\u201d He is also excited to spend more time with his family\u2014his wife Karen and his daughter Elle\u2014and on hobbies like biking, writing, reading, and music. Bressler will also confess his particular interests are nice cars and fine stereo equipment.\r\n\r\n\u201cFor years, all of my spare money went into car payments and stereo equipment,\u201d Bressler says. He had to slow the pace of his purchases, however, because \u201cI've had to save money to put Elle through college and pay off medical bills.\u201d But with Bressler\u2019s daughter nearing the end of her time at school and with his new retirement status, Bressler splurged on a new very high-quality DVD player. \u201cYou can really tell the difference,\u201d he says, \u201cThe detail it reproduces in terms of both audio and visual images is so precise and so clean that it brings a whole new level of excitement to how I perceive and enjoy music and video.\u201d\r\n\r\nWhile Bressler clearly has high standards for audio equipment (he did almost go to music school, after all) the same applies to himself as an educator, his hard-working passionate students, and for the profession of landscape architecture.\r\n\r\nSitting back in his chair, Bressler confesses \u201cIt was a hard decision to step down as department head. \u00a0But, I\u2019m doing so at a good time. The department is going strong. Our faculty and students are doing great work. And, I accept that I am the past and it\u2019s time to turn over the reins to my game-changing faculty colleagues and our students who are taking our profession into the future\u2014the next generation who will be thinking and doing the extraordinary!\u201d\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nStaci Kleinmaier is a professional writer and photographer in Apex, North Carolina. She uses words and images to tell stories. To see her work, visit\u00a0www.stacikleinmaier.com<\/a><\/u>.\u00a0<\/em><\/span>"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Professor Gene Bressler, FAIA has followed a path of curiosity and interest that has resulted in successful leadership roles in landscape architecture, which includes his knack and passion for influencing others.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":270,"featured_media":23175,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"ncstate_wire","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[5],"class_list":["post-23174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-_from-newswire-collection-280"],"displayCategory":null,"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/landscape-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/landscape-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/landscape-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/landscape-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/270"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/landscape-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23174"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/landscape-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23174\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27246,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/landscape-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23174\/revisions\/27246"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/landscape-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/landscape-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/landscape-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/landscape-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}