Case Study Investigation (CSI)
Forecasted
Case Study Investigation (CSI) supports faculty-student teams partnering with practitioners to quantify built landscapes’ benefits and build evidence for the value of sustainable landscape solutions.
This grant was recently updated
Applications for the 2027 CSI program are now closed, and selection is underway. The introductory text also changes the program dates from February–early August 2026 to February–early August 2027.
Funder: Landscape Architecture Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): November 2027 (Faculty and firm/project applications)
Funding Amounts: One case study: $500 faculty honorarium, $4,500 student stipend, up to $600 F&A; two case studies: $1,000 honorarium, $9,000 stipend, up to $1,200 F&A; six-month program
Summary: CSI supports faculty-student teams partnering with practitioners to quantify built landscapes’ environmental, social, and economic benefits.
Key Information: Faculty and design partners apply together but submit separate applications; projects must be built and open for at least one year.
Description
The Landscape Architecture Foundation’s Case Study Investigation (CSI) is a collaborative research and training program for faculty, students, and practitioners. Funded academic teams work with design firms to document exemplary, high-performing built landscapes and produce Case Study Briefs for LAF’s Landscape Performance Series. Research includes planning, site visits, field data collection, and quantification of environmental, social, and economic benefits.
CSI bridges research and design practice by generating evidence to evaluate landscape performance and demonstrate the value of sustainable landscape solutions. It emphasizes valid, defensible, replicable methods usable by non-experts with limited time and resources. LAF provides training, iterative feedback, interaction among teams, and peer review before publication.
