UNM School of Architecture and Planning alumna Jitka Dekojava was named one of ENR Southwest's Top Young Professionals of 2020 – one of only three women to make the list.
“I am humbled to be recognized, grateful to have a strong team behind me, lucky to do what I love, and giddy to still fit into the Under 40 category,” Dekojava said.
The ranking assesses professionals across several industries including architecture, engineering and project management. Winners are chosen based on their commitment to their industry and communities, as well as mastery of technology, teaching and technique.
Dekojava earned her master's degree in Landscape Architecture from The University of New Mexico, as well as a graduate certificate in Urban Design and Regionalism. Dekojava now works at Dekker/Perich/Sabatini as a landscape architect, where she recently served as a landscape and site designer on the renovation project of Civic Plaza. The downtown Albuquerque project won a 2019 ENR Southwest Best Projects award.
From the full article on ENR Southwest:
"A native of the Czech Republic, Dekojava launched her career working on ecological revitalization in Europe and went on to earn a master’s degree in landscape architecture and a certificate in urban design and regionalism from the University of New Mexico. Her goal is to design landscapes that are both aesthetically pleasing and ecologically sound.
Dekojova spent several years working for HeadsUp Landscape Contractors in Albuquerque, where she connected design development with construction and long-term landscape maintenance. The experience of evaluating her designs from both the end-user’s and contractor’s perspectives informs her design work today.
An urban cyclist and promoter of alternative modes of transportation, Dekojova participates, along with her colleagues, in urbanism projects and activities such as the upcoming PARK(ing) Day installation by University of New Mexico students, helping connect Dekker/Perich/Sabatini employees and their communities."
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