Activity

I know…I want to go out and take pictures of sidewalks and walkers now.

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/walking/2012/04/walking_in_america_send_us_your_photos_of_its_most_unwalkable_parts.html
 
And for the chaser…all you LAs MUST have some good pics of ‘unwalkable America’!

I worked for the City here…as the sustainability intern a few years and agree with the notion that the term “green” much like “sustainability” has negative connotations. Lets not forget that ANYONE can claim to be “green” or “sustainable”…much like we see the meaning of the term “organic” mean different things to someone interested in…[Read more]

These responses are all very helpful. Thanks.

Michael just remember it’s not just this particular recession that you will have to worry about if you commit yourself to this field.  As you’ve probably realized by now, LA is a very up and down industry, more so than most professions.  Consider too that if there are particular aspects of the field that you enjoy, you may still be able to find w…[Read more]

Its not going to bounce back in 4 years, or even 10 in my opinion.
Nick what do you base this on? Not suggesting you are right or wrong, but I hear this a lot from people, what are your sources?

Your first two years of college is very general, so you can switch majors and apply to another college if needed without much wasted time.
 
What college are you applying to?

There are some good prefab kits out there. That might save you some heartburn.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/garden/new-gardening-apps.html?scp=1&sq=gardeners%20apps&st=cse
article in NYT on gardening apps..probably too simplistic for Land8? It is greek to m e..

90% Civil problems. It got so bad that every single project I was involved with, I had to review the civil drawings and send them back redlines to fix. Some of them were greatly offended. I didn’t care.  These were both within the past few years.
 
1. One retail project, not a single sidewalk met either ADA or IBC codes for egress. There were c…[Read more]

To expand on your question.  The pre-manufactured masonry fireplaces are usually about 8′ tall (total height) with a chimney heigh (from top of firebox to top of chimney) of about 3 1/2-4′.  I have never had a fireplace “backdraft” from the firebox outward–smoke problems happen when the wind pushes down the smoke after it comes out of the top o…[Read more]

Yesterday, it was the landscape contractor and or site project manager who did not communicate that the Special Permit that allowed the addition to the Doctor’s office required that the existing trees were to stay and that the hedge row in front of them was to supplement the screening for the residences that border the property.
 
The landscaper…[Read more]

CEQR is pretty much national in one form or another – in New York it is SEQR.
I don’t mean to demean trust fund babies, I am just pointing out an area of work for LA’s that is huge, and will only be getting bigger.
I also don’t mean to diminish small gardens, just to clumsily depict levels of projects that require review. Actually even residential…[Read more]

Great question.  
Wow, where to start?  The screw ups that really bug me usually revolve around a choice of material or process which do not hold up over time, or cause maintenance headaches.    
I’m in design/build and we are usually the first to find and use a new thing., which means a lot of thin ice.  For example:
1.  The early trex type of de…[Read more]

There are no compatibility issues. I have an HP laptop.

You have a good degree Heather and there are ways to make it pay off. Sounds like you are doing well with the design-build. I used to do design-build but am strictly design and planning now but it’s slow.
I’m toying with an advertising idea to stress that LAs can do the design, get the client lower cost by the bidding process and improve…[Read more]

Yup Autocad is what I’m most experienced with, I’ve been trying to learn revit because I don’t think I’ve seen any architect use autocad for the plans I see at my work.  It looks like everything is done in revit anymore.  Electrical engineer sounds pretty good actually, but the college I already put money and stuff down for doesn’t offer that.  …[Read more]

agree and well stated……………..

 
Relax, think clearly, and don’t panic. If you like cad, then civil engineering is similar to LA.  You can do bridge design, factory layout, road design, dams, drainage systems, waste water treatment, water treatment plants and the list goes on. Electrical engineering is really big in the computer field. My sister-in-law designs electrical cir…[Read more]