AmericanHort’s International Plantscape Awards bestowed the Diamond Award on Planterra for the installation of the Parkview Cancer Healing Garden in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Diamond is the highest honor given to any plantscaping firm in North America.
The atrium space - designed by Landscape Architect Cathy Offenberg, ASLA of CRJA-IBI Group - offers an escape that replicates a stylized walk in the woods, with forms of plant material that evoke a sense of familiarity, warmth and comfort.
Planterra’s creative director Sarah Stalker remains enthusiastic about this design. “This project was a fantastic opportunity to showcase what Planterra does best: creating an awe-inspiring green space through a combination of aesthetic passion, technical knowledge, and logistical precision. I believe in the power of plants to promote peace and to aid in healing and am proud to have created this space for patients and their families to enjoy together.
Planterra was hired to procure and install the healing garden’s specimen trees, understory plantings and flowering plants. The trees - which included 16 to 18-foot Bucida buceras, Ficus alli and Ficus nitida - were scouted for their sculptural qualities and then acclimatized for interior use for a 14-month period. Planterra is a nationally recognized authority on acclimatized tree procurement, which ensures the long-term success for interior landscapes.”
Shane Pliska, president of Planterra, is passionate about incorporating plants into healthcare settings. “Plants greatly contribute to healing environments and it is a privilege every time Planterra is part of a product which benefits the health and well-being of society.”
This is the second time the professionals at Planterra have earned the Diamond Award. Judging is conducted by a panel of horticulture and interior plantscape peers. One Diamond Award is given annually by the panel to highlight a project deemed to have merit considerably greater than any other project at the conference.
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