Planterra Earns Three National Awards from PIA

, a nationally acclaimed landscape firm specializing in interior landscape design, received three National Awards of Excellence by the Plantscape Industry Alliance (PIA) at the 2011 Plantscape Expo in Las Vegas in September. 

The awards recognized three of Planterra’s botanical projects: the renovation the Palmhouse at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Canada;  the Meditation Garden at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Ypsilanti Michigan; and the signature Living Wall and Bar at the newly constructed Planterra Conservatory in West Bloomfield, Michigan. 

Planterra Conservatory Living Wall, West Bloomfield, Michigan:

This garden is a living tapestry designed and planted by Larry M Pliska, founder of Planterra. The wall is comprised of epiphytes, ferns and succulents reclaimed from the benches, walls, and the redwood framing the Planterra’s former 1930’s era greenhouses. The spirit of the original greenhouses continues to live on and thrive in Planterra Signature “Living Wall.”

“It is an extreme honor to be recognized by the PIA for Planterra’s work,” said Shane Pliska, Planterra President. “As individuals and as a company, we strive to create living works of art for our clients and believe that the presence of living plants at work, at home, and in public places improves life and benefits society.”

The Award of Excellence is the highest honor bestowed by the Plantscape Industry Alliance, who judged submissions from renowned landscape architects and designers throughout North America. 

Palmhouse at Rideau Hall, Ottawa, Canada:

Best described as Canada’s “White House,” Rideau Hall is the official Canadian residence of Queen Elizabeth II. The Palmhouse is a signature feature of Rideau Hall and is a National Historic Site of Canada and is used frequently for receptions with heads of state and the greenhouses are utilized daily for the Governor General’s ceremonial dog walk. As the official residence of the Canadian Monarchy, Rideau Hall is the site of Prince William and Kate first royal state visit abroad as a married couple. The greenhouse features a collection of tropical foliage selected by the National Capitol Commission which significant to the grounds for historical and horticultural reasons. 

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ypsilanti, Michigan:

The Meditation Garden at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital is a therapeutic garden for patients with compromised immune systems. It was constructed as the final part of the hospital’s $294 million expansion of their Ypsilanti campus. The client wanted to construct the garden from replica plantings. Thirteen private chemotherapy infusion bays have views of the meditation garden.

About PIA
The Plantscape Industry Alliance is an organization of professionals who design, install and maintain plants in the interior environment. Dedicated to bringing nature indoors, we advocate the use of living plants in interior landscapes to enhance human well-being. Living plants are an esthetic improvement to any indoor area, and function to remove air pollutants from the interior environment. For more information, visit www.piagrows.org.