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Reston has an urban town center, but it is not new urbanist by definition. It is still a nice visit though.

There is a long articla in the most recent LA mag, about great places to visit in and out of d.c.

I meant to mention it before, but wasn’t sure you were interested in the natural – Great Falls Park is a really incredibly geological event – it’s a ‘great fall’ in the Potomac – really dramatic – I love it..
Have fun! I used to live in the nasty suburbs of Mclean Virginia for much of my life, when not posted abroad..I always think that is why I…[Read more]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, my only other question would, are there any good parks to visit out in the area?

Zach

In total agreement with standardization and having the right tools to do the job efficiently. I am consistently surprised at how many of my former employers did not actively seek time and labor saving software or hardware, and then refuse to spend the money on the best equipment to fulfill those goals when presented with a cost/benefit analysis.…[Read more]

I agree and its a lesson I have to keep learning over and over again – principles / owners / managers / partners don’t really like being told how to run their business even when they ask employees their opinion. Corporate culture, once entrenched just does not change. It might help to chant ‘Bend like the reed, bend like the reed.’

I appreciate everyone’s interesting responses. I guess i’m in a unique situation- i’m a ‘junior’ level employee with more advanced responsibilities. This is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing, because I know the ins and outs of every single project they hand to me…meeting with the client, setting schedules, coordinating with other…[Read more]

Damian – Great observations and explanations. I totally agree.

I’d add that equally as negative as having some seniors doing CAD is having some juniors organize the office. Simply put, we don’t know what we don’t know (why do I think this phrase will be the next “it is what it is”?).

Not the case at all in the case of my boss. Part of it is that the owner can do everything and has no fear of making a deadline promise or responding to “emergencies” for our regular clients. The man is amazing, but it is not a kind of flow that is either logical or comfortable for people who like clean organization and predictability like most of…[Read more]

I can only speak for what I do: Transportation Dept. Normally, Landscape Architect will prepare a construction document. After completion, the project will be advertised and qualified contractor can submmit their bids. The lowest bid will get the project. Construction document including plans, and specifications will have to be quite precised to…[Read more]

I know that feeling. I work in a very chaotic office that is often more reactionary and last minute hurries to meet a deadline oriented than any sane person would operate under. That is the personality of the office from the top and despite several of us trying to change that, it just does not change at the top. However, as hectic as it is, the…[Read more]

Thanks Alessandro.

That’s reassuring and at least in part what I expected.

This brings up another roundabout efficiency issue. How efficient can you really be if you’re being inefficiently managed in your office? What if you’re the most organized, well structured worker in the office….who’s being tossed into a chaotic work pattern by the ‘higher ups’? Who is ultimately responsible for the ‘efficiency’ of the office?

I…[Read more]

Reston, Virginia is another New Urbanist community in the area. I’m not sure how far away it is. I just know it’s on one of the tours (Vanguards of New Urbanism) for this year’s ASLA meeting.

Dennis.
Thanks for your input.
Laith

I second Jason with the Dumbarton Oaks suggestion – it’s really beautiful, although NOT the best time of year, of course..Disagree about the National Botanic Gardens..did nothing for me, we have so many incredible Botanic Gardens in america..
I love the Hirshhorn sculpture garden, and the Freer, on the mall, and if you’ve never seen it, of course,…[Read more]

Hi there,

I “ended” the Bachelor degree in 2006 (all courses passed plus thesis) anyhow due to changes in the European system there has been a huge delay in the examination…they kind of forgot about me… The response was given only in 2009. So long story short, I am about to represent a new Bachelor thesis in accordance with the “New…[Read more]

The beauty of our profession is that you never have only one door in front of you. Every doorway opens to a hallway with several doorways in it. Some are are locked, some are closed, and some are open. Some lead to places you don’t want to go to. Some lead to new places that you never heard of. Few of them close behind you.

The exception is if…[Read more]

Check out the US Capital Visitors Center attached the the Capital Bldg designed by RTKL Associates. New Urbanism examples would be Reston Town Center and Pentagon Row. You may also try to google new urbanism/DC to see what comes up.

Thanks for the wise words Andrew.

David–I take it you’re alluding mainly to licensure? I agree. Eventually, I’d like to finsih the degree and become licensed.