Landscape Architecture

1. Landscape Architecture A Career Guide To

2. Significant Points • More than 26 percent of all landscape architects are self employed. • A bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture is the minimum required for entry-level jobs. • Landscape architect jobs are expected to increase due to a growing demand for incorporating natural elements into man-made environments.

3. Nature Of The Work • Design areas that are functional, beautiful, and compatible with the natural environment. • Help determine the best arrangements of roads and buildings. • Collaborate with to other professionals to find best way to conserve or restore natural resources.

4. Communication Skills • Mediation and Negotiation. • Team Building. • Technical Writing. • Project and Draft Presentation. • Dispute Resolution.

5. Communication Skills • Cliental Meetings. • Communication with peers, supervisors, or subordinates. • Communication with people from outside of the organization. • Work with the public. • Establish and maintain relationships.

6. Interpersonal Relationships • High level of social contact. • Working closely with clients, experts, and office staff. • Often work as a group or as a part of a team. • Communicate by phone, letters, memos, and in person on a daily basis. • Are moderately responsible for the results of work done by others.

7. Technical Skills • Architectural construction methods. • Preservation and compliance. • Working knowledge of landscape preservation materials and processes. • Basic construction cost estimating.

8. Technical Skills • Construction management. • Codes. • Reading, writing, and interpretation of specifications. • Technical reporting. • Sustainable practices.

9. Work Activities • Observe and gather information about the site, such as lighting, water flow, and surrounding buildings. • Create the design, considering how the area will be used. • Discuss project with architects, engineers, and environmental scientists. • Use Computer Aided Design (CAD) for many stages of design and drawing. • Use Geographic Information System (GIS) on larger jobs to gather information.

10. Work Activities • Present drafts to clients and get feedback. • Submit plans to government agencies for approval. • Prepare final proposal, including cost estimate, site plans, or models. • Outline in detail the methods of construction and draw up a list of needed materials. • May supervise planting and construction.

11. Common Tasks • Make decisions and solve problems. • Think creatively. • Provide information about devices, equipment, or structures. • Organize, plan, and prioritize work. • Schedule work and activities.

12. Common Tasks • Monitor events, materials, and surroundings. • Evaluate information against standards. • Update and use job-related of others. • Judge the value of objects, services, or people. • Inspect equipment, structures, or materials. • Identify objects, actions, and events.

13. Physical Working Conditions • Work both indoors and outdoors. • May on occasion be exposed to hot temperatures. • May be exposed to hazardous equipment. • May on occasion be exposed to hazardous situations.

14. Physical Demands • Sit for a long periods of time. • Speak clearly so listeners can understand. • See details of objects that are either less or more than a few feet away. • Determine the distance between colors, shades, and brightness. • Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls. • Focus on one source and ignore others.

15. Work Performance • Must be exact in their work. • Make decisions that affect workers and clients on a daily basis. • Work in a highly competitive environment. • Almost always set their daily tasks and priorities without consulting a supervisor first. • Abide by strict daily deadlines. • Work is always on display to the public, and can affect their company’s reputation. • Many rely on reputation and word of mouth to attract new clients.

16. Hours and Travel • Usually work regular hours during the off season. • May work overtime during the warm season to meet project deadlines. • May work evenings of weekends to meet with clients. • Often travel to work sites in a company car, van, of truck. • May travel to sites outside the local area.

17. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities • Possession of at a minimum a bachelors degree or equivalent qualifying experience. • Experience in civil, electrical, mechanical, architectural engineering, architecture or landscape architecture. • Ability to hold and maintain a valid state drivers license in required categories necessary to operate government vehicles and equipment assigned. • Ability to apply basic professional knowledge to design of entry level complexity and construction management.

18. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities • Ability to perform on-site design services, interpret drawings, specs, codes, standards, and regulatory requirements. • Ability to review project work performed by other engineers. • Knowledge of special requirements of the contract as safety, EEO, labor standards park rules and regulations to ensure contractor compliance.

19. Leadership and Management Skills • Program and budget formulation. • Project management. • Creative problem solving.

20. Employment Opportunities • Landscape architects held about 25,000 jobs in 2004. • 6 out of 10 workers were employed in firms that provide architectural, landscape architectural, engineering, and landscaping services. • State and local governments were the next largest employers. • About 1 out of 4 landscape architects was self-employed.

21. Employment Opportunities • Employment of landscape architects is concentrated in urban and suburban areas. • Most landscape architects work in suburban areas. • Few landscape architects work in rural areas. • The Federal Government employees landscape architects to plan and design parks and recreation areas.

22. Job Outlook • Employment is expected to increase faster than average through the year 2014. • The need to replace architects who retire or leave the labor force will produce additional jobs. • Employment will grow because of the expertise of landscape architects. • The development of new residential, commercial, and other types of construction to meet the needs of a growing population will continue to produce in this field.

23. Earnings • Median annual earnings are $53,120. • The middle 50 percent earned between $40,930 and $70,400. • The lowest 10 percent earned less then $32,390. • The highest 10 percent earned over $90,850. • The average annual salary for all landscape architects in the Federal Government in non-supervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions was $74,508.

24. Related Occupations • Architects. • Surveyors. • Cartographers. • Surveying Technicians. • Civil Engineers. • Urban and Regional Planners.

25. Final Thoughts Everyone enjoys attractively designed residential areas, public parks, playgrounds, college campuses, shopping centers, golf courses, parkways, and industrial areas. As a landscape architects, you will help to design areas so they are not just functional, but also beautiful, and compatible with the natural environment.

26. What did I gain from this project? • A better understanding of career opportunities in Landscape Architecture. • Community contacts • Potential Employment Opportunities • A better understanding of the potential earnings of Landscape Architecture. • Understanding of audio “overdub” technology. • Understanding of the need for good communication skills. • Greater confidence in my own ability to gain employment in Landscape Architecture. • Gained insight into academic needs for advancement in this field.

27. Credits • Produced By: Hendrix Bradford • Created By: Hendrix Bradford • Executive Producer: Hendrix Bradford • Project Advisor: John D. Story • Project Advisor: Dianne Phillips