Grove has spent his entire 22-year career at Sasaki. He has expanded the firm’s footprint with his focus on growing Sasaki’s global presence and reputation, spearheaded the opening of the firm’s Shanghai office, and amplified the landscape architecture profession’s influence and reach by welcoming new voices and encouraging progressive change.
“Michael is the kind of partner that you always feel safe and excited to bounce ideas off of," said Sasaki Principal Tao Zhang, ASLA, PLA. "He is never judgmental or short-tempered in a profession that can be stressful and intense. He sees talent and potential in people, and wholeheartedly nurtures it. His egalitarian beliefs manifest in his daily work and his many initiatives at Sasaki and beyond. He truly embodies the collaborative spirit at Sasaki."
“As a great storyteller, writer, and thinker, Michael can conceive compelling big picture ideas very quickly at the beginning of a project, and articulate the final design in such an eloquent way that academics and laypeople can equally appreciate it," Zhang said. "This is why he is a sought-after speaker around the world.”
“Michael’s energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to design and social responsibility has inspired and led the LAF Board of Directors to take key actions towards diversity, equity, and inclusion, climate change, and working more upstream on regional and urban design projects to increase the impact of the profession,” said Barbara Deutsch, FASLA and Chief Executive Officer of the Landscape Architecture Foundation. “He proactively continues these conversations in his practice and to a global audience, making him not only a talented designer, but a transformative leader.”
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ASLA Fellowship recognizes those whose contributions illustrate a mastery of the art, stewardship, and social responsibility of landscape architects. For Grove, this honor is a significant milestone in his career, and an affirmation of his passion for landscape architecture that began in childhood.
“I’m still shocked that the joy of buildings islands, waterfalls, and miniature cities while playing in a nearby creek as a kid has translated into a career that has presented me with so many extraordinary opportunities,” Grove said. “This recognition is incredibly humbling, and the amount of gratitude I have for the professors who inspired me, the family and friends who supported me, the mentors who guided me, the clients who trusted me, and the talented professionals at Sasaki who I have the privilege of working with every day is infinite.”
