Landscape architectsEveryone enjoys attractively designed residential areas, public parks and playgrounds, college campuses, shopping centers, golf courses, parkways, and industrial parks. Landscape architects design these areas so that they are not only functional, but also beautiful, and compatible with the natural environment. They plan the location of buildings, roads, and walkways, and the arrangement of flowers, shrubs, and trees. Landscape architects work for many types of organizations—from real estate development firms starting new projects to municipalities constructing airports or parks—and they often are involved with the development of a site from its conception. Working with architects, surveyors, and engineers, landscape architects help determine the best arrangement of roads and buildings. They also collaborate with environmental scientists, foresters, and other professionals to find the best way to conserve or restore natural resources. Once these decisions are made, landscape architects create detailed plans indicating new topography, vegetation, walkways, and other landscaping details, such as fountains and decorative features. In planning a site, landscape architects first consider the nature and purpose of the project and the funds available. They analyze the natural elements of the site, such as the climate, soil, slope of the land, drainage, and vegetation; observe where sunlight falls on the site at different times of the day and examine the site from various angles; and assess the effect of existing buildings, roads, walkways, and utilities on the project. After studying and analyzing the site, landscape architects prepare a preliminary design. To account for the needs of the client as well as the conditions at the site, they frequently make changes before a final design is approved. They also take into account any local, State, or Federal regulations, such as those protecting wetlands or historic resources. In preparing designs, computer-aided design (CAD) has become an essential tool for most landscape architects. Many landscape architects also use video simulation to help clients envision the proposed ideas and plans. For larger scale site planning, landscape architects also use geographic information systems technology, a computer mapping system. Throughout all phases of the planning and design, landscape architects consult with other professionals involved in the project. Once the design is complete, they prepare a proposal for the client. They produce detailed plans of the site, including written reports, sketches, models, photographs, land-use studies, and cost estimates, and submit them for approval by the client and by regulatory agencies. When the plans are approved, landscape architects prepare working drawings showing all existing and proposed features. They also outline in detail the methods of construction and draw up a list of necessary materials. Although many landscape architects monitor the installation of their design, the developer�s project general contractor or a landscape contractor usually directs the actual construction and installation of plantings. Some landscape architects work on a variety of projects. Others specialize in a particular area, such as residential development, street and highway beautification, waterfront improvement projects, parks and playgrounds, or shopping centers. Still others work in regional planning and resource management; feasibility, environmental impact, and cost studies; or site construction. Increasingly, landscape architects are becoming involved with projects in environmental remediation, such as preservation and restoration of wetlands. Historic landscape preservation and restoration is another important area where landscape architects are increasingly playing an important role. Most landscape architects do at least some residential work, but relatively few limit their practice to individual homeowners. Residential landscape design projects usually are too small to provide suitable income compared with larger commercial or multiunit residential projects. Some nurseries offer residential landscape design services, but these services often are performed by lesser qualified landscape designers, or others with training and experience in related areas. Landscape architects who work for government agencies do site and landscape design for government buildings, parks, and other public lands, as well as park and recreation planning in national parks and forests. In addition, they prepare environmental impact statements and studies on environmental issues such as public land-use planning. Some restore degraded land, such as mines or landfills. Other architects use their skills in traffic-calming, the �art� of slowing traffic down through use of traffic design, enhancement of the physical environment, and greater attention to aesthetics. Related news articles RB emerges for winless PCC - 16 Oct 2006 Tucson Citizen,...things went, and it's good to be back," said Ribes, 28, who spent the last year in New Zealand for professional purposes (she's a landscape architect) and has ... Restoring identities for the once invisible - 16 Oct 2006 Globe and Mail,VANCOUVER -- When Vancouver landscape architect Erik Lees was looking for a symbol to mark the hard life and death of residents of the Woodlands mental ... Personnel file - 16 Oct 2006 Kentucky.com,Kentucky Landscape Architect Board: The following have been elected to the board for 2006-07: Anthony L. Barrett, Lexington, president; John L. Carman ... Board candidates all business - 16 Oct 2006 Sarasota Herald-Tribune,Soto Historical Society. OCCUPATION: Vice president of Zoller, Najjar and Shroyer, landscape architect planner. POLITICAL/CIVIC ... Log jam removal project needs a permit - 16 Oct 2006 Muncie Star Press,Kelley has hired a local consultant, Phil Tevis, a landscape architect and environmental designer, to assist him in removing the log jam and obtaining ... Planting a future - 16 Oct 2006 Nashua Telegraph (subscription),...know it, they’re having a 40-inch maple that’s been there a hundred years and they have it taken down,�? said Dave Jacobs, a landscape architect from East ... Landscape architect picked for RR park - Oct 11, 2006 AL.com,Leader, a landscape architect, was originally hired to sketch preliminary plans for the park that will span downtown and UAB, bordered by residential and ... Landscape Architect Salaries Up By 20 Percent... - Oct 7, 2006 U.S. Newswire (press release),..."Both surveys confirm what we've been hearing from our members: that it's a very good time to be a landscape architect," said Nancy C. Somerville, executive ... Landscape Architect Was Also Poet - Sep 26, 2006 Tampa Tribune,He earned it at the University of South Florida, where Chan was a landscape architect, said Greg Thiel, former USF track team coach and now athletic director ... La Jolla park building to stay put - Oct 15, 2006 San Diego Union Tribune,The Scripps Park Project is a group of volunteers who hired a Santa Monica landscape architect to draw up ideas to protect and improve the park, which sits ... Waterworks revival - Oct 15, 2006 Boston Globe,And the landscape was designed by the sons of famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who were notable designers in their own right. ... Landscape architect Scott Rykiel has a plan to bring peace to the ... - Oct 9, 2006 Baltimore Sun,Enter landscape architect Scott Rykiel, a self-described "Polish kid from Baltimore" who has worked on projects around the world but retains a soft spot for ... Landscape Architect Salaries Up By 20 Percent - Oct 9, 2006 Lawn & Landscape,...“Both surveys confirm what we’ve been hearing from our members: that it’sa very good time to be a landscape architect,�? says Nancy C. Somerville ... LOCAL BUSINESS BRIEFS - Oct 15, 2006 Asbury Park Press,She is also a registered landscape architect in New York. ... He is an adjunct professor in landscape architect at Rutgers University. ... Latino mentors deliver pep talk - Oct 15, 2006 San Diego Union Tribune,In another classroom, a MiraCosta engineering professor, an architect and a landscape architect let a group of boys use computers to design a house. ... Tree Day blooms for a 7th year - Oct 15, 2006 Miami Herald,...for Saturday. Inspiration for Tree Day came from Jeffrey Siegel, landscape architect for Plantation for the past 23 years. He credits ... Balancing nature and development - Oct 14, 2006 Sun2Surf,...landscape guidelines can be formulated. Only when this is done can the landscape architect begin work. “Landscape planning is an ... Architect's departure good news, indeed - Oct 15, 2006 Denver Post,...sculptures by noted mid-century designers: Meier, Pelli, Venturi, Saarinen, Pei, sculptors Henri Moore and Jean Tinguely and noted landscape architect Dan Kiley ... More information on Landscape architects from The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook Overview of Landscape architects occupation Number of Landscape architects in the U.S. Salary and earnings for Landscape architects Working conditions for Landscape architects Significant points for Landscape architects Training requirements for Landscape architects Labor Information Home | Occupational data by city | Search Rainforests | Madagascar | What's new |