Biography

Robert C. Hoover, President, ASLA
Rob has over 30 years of professional experience in the practice of Landscape Architecture including eight years of elected public office. As President of HBLA Inc., he specializes in designing evidence informed therapeutic landscapes and gardens for healthcare and wellness related projects in the Northeast. He is published, teaches and lectures throughout the country. His work has won numerous awards, has been recognized in national publications and exhibited internationally at the European Reminiscence Network Conference in London, England.

In 1982 after four years of professional practice, Rob crossed his first professional threshold. Enrolling in Harvard University's Graduate School of Design, he began his personal quest to answer the question, "I love what I do, but why?" At Harvard, he was introduced to environmental art by Professor Cherie Kluesing, the healing component of landscape by LOEB Fellow, Vince Healy and design excellence by the Landscape Architecture program and its Chair, Laurie Olin. Upon graduating as one of three students recognized with "Distinction", Rob relocated to Portland, Maine and in 1987 founded Studio L.A., his first Landscape Architecture firm. During this period he continued his exploration knitting together nature, healing and design via public art. In 1990 he was registered as a "Sculptor" with the Maine Arts Commission. In 1993 he was elected as a "Maine Touring Artist" and went on to win several, public art design competitions. In 1995 Rob crossed his second professional threshold when asked to design three gardens, one for each of the three phases of Alzheimer's disease, for the internationally acclaimed Sedgewood Commons. Applying his public art experience and recognizing the need to "get it right", he developed, published and implemented the first-of-its-kind therapeutic landscape design theory / method for the complete spectrum of Alzheimer's disease. The paper, "Healing Gardens and Alzheimer's Disease", was published in 1995 March / April issue of The American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. The project Sedgewood Commons and the paper, remain to this day, remarkably relevant. In 1996 Rob relocated his work to Portsmouth, New Hampshire and in 2001 officially changed the office name to HBLA Inc. Based on his professional experience and pioneering efforts, Rob was invited to participate in the establishment and program development of the Chicago Botanic Garden's flagship Healthcare Garden Design, Professional Development Certificate Program. He remains involved as advisor, faculty, lecturer and design critic. In 2010 Utah State University honored Rob by asking him to deliver a Keynote Address at their 11th Annual Sustainable Landscape Conference. In 2012 Rob will present, "Something to think about", the prestigious, closing lecture at the Chicago Botanic Garden's Healthcare Garden Design Program. Today, having completed over 125 therapeutic gardens, Rob Hoover is more committed than ever to the study, advocacy and inclusion of nature, healing and design.

Rob earned his Bachelor of Science, majoring in Environmental Design from University of Massachusetts and holds a Master of Landscape Architecture, graduating with Distinction from Harvard University Graduate School of Design. He is registered as a Landscape Architect in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania and with national, Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Board.

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