Search Results for 'sections'

[Lynn Wilhelm]

That’s an interesting idea, Meg.
I also like to count/edit manually for totals. A red marker really helps. The weird thing for me is that I can no longer print larger than 11 x 17 at my office. I’ve outsourced to FedEx. It just takes getting used to printing smaller–or maybe in sections. (I do save paper and ink!) I always have a “draft” layout for in-office printing. Big plans can be tough, but doable.
To save more paper and ink, I’ll try any online technique.

[Nate Hommel]

I just want to use the response by Terry DeWan as a great example of what an amazing resource Land8 has become. The fact that people take time out of their days to assist others who they likely have never met, is just amazing.

I agree with several of the comments and will also stress the value of showing Process. Thumbnail sketches, even quick dirty sections, or a site analysis done in the field. If I were reviewing a portfolio I would expect to see good technical skills, (which you clearly possess) and I believe that you need to show that in order to get your foot in the door. The key is for me to understand how you think, showing process gives the reviewer that opportunity.

And 3-30-3 is excellent advice!

[Jonathan Smith, RLA]

I’m a designer in Moscow, Idaho. I charge $55 an hour for design work and have been working at this rate for long enough that I’m able to estimate how much time each stage of design will take. A couple pointers: make sure you charge for meeting time and driving. If your clients know you will be charging them by the hour for meetings and to get to their residence, they will tend to be more prepared for meetings and won’t waste your time. Also, break down the stages of design work, eg, site analysis, concept development, design development, working drawings, meetings, etc. and estimate how much time you will use for each stage. It may be helpful to add that the number you give them is an estimate and that do not charge for hours not used during the design work but that, since design is often very collaborative (between client and designer) that your estimate may be exceeded and that you will notify them before any overages are incurred.

Here’s a copy of a recent contract for residential design work:

Mosaic Land Design, LLC.
132 Styner Ave.
Moscow, ID 83843
Phone: 208-562-7324

RE: property owners.

Mr. and Mrs.,
Thank you for the opportunity to present you with this proposal for landscape design service for your property at

My proposal is as follows:

1.0 Scope of Work

The scope of work for this project is the design of the exterior of your residence.

2.0 Stages of Work

The stages of work encompass schematic design, design development, working drawings (if requested), and specification drawings (if requested). The stages of the work I propose are as follows:
1. Preparation of three distinct concept landscape plans, showing hard and soft landscape complete with sufficient information to explain the general form, content and quality of the proposal.
2. Preparation of a scaled design development plan, showing hard and soft landscape complete with sections or elevations where necessary. These drawings will establish the basis for commencing with the preparation of working drawings and technical considerations.
3. Preparation of working drawings for hard and soft landscape works at grade sufficient for tendering and construction.
4. Preparation of an approximate cost estimate of the landscape works to be carried out at the schematic and design development stages.
5. Attendance at relevant meetings for a total of 4 hours.
3.0 Hard Landscape Works
For the purpose of this proposal, “hard landscape works” means:
1. Design, selection and specification of paving materials, excluding structural bases for vehicular surfaces.
2. Layout of landscape walls, fences, screens and other landscape structures.
3. Selection and layout of landscape light fittings. Electrical supply system and any required photometric studies is to be carried out by your electrical engineer.
4. Design and specification of the irrigation system.
5. Conceptual design and layout of water features, if any, excluding the design of related mechanical systems.
6. Layout and specification of drainage fittings for at-grade hard paved and planted landscape areas. Our responsibility would be limited to the selection and placement of fittings. Underground pipe work and off-site connections are to be the responsibility of your civil and/or mechanical engineer. Drainage on roof structures is to be the responsibility of your architect or engineer.
4.0 Soft Landscape Works
For the purposes of this proposal, “soft landscape works” means:
Design, selection and specification of all plant materials.

5.0 Deposit and Fees

Before I progress with this project I require a 50% deposit on the estimated cost of this service. The hourly rate for my services is $55 per hour.

I estimate each stage of the design process to take the following period of time:

Schematic design: 10 hours
Design development: 14 hours
Material Estimate 4 hours
Meetings 4 hours

Total hours: 32 hrs. @ $55/hr.

Total Estimated fees: $ 1760

6.0 Stipulations

The client will not be billed for hours that remain unused at the culmination of the design stage of this project, however, the above figure is an estimate and we reserve the right, if necessary, to bill additional hours above the estimated time provided in this contract. The client will be notified of such overages prior to the event of the overages.

7.0 Acceptance of Proposal

The above prices, specifications and conditions are satisfactory and hereby accepted.

Signature of Client

Hope that helps.

[Terry DeWan, FASLA]

Tim~

Since you asked… Here’s a few comments that you may find helpful. I’ve got a 10-person firm in Maine and see a fair number of portfolios.

The overall first impression is quite impressive. Strong layout, good variety in scale and techniques. Good understanding of spatial relationships. However, you know that. I’d like to see the following things addressed in your next iteration:

1. Well-rounded Technical Competency. Include examples of planting plans, grading plans, stormwater management solutions… the proverbial nuts and bolds that are the underpinnings of our profession.

2. Hand graphics. You’re quite accomplished at photoshop and other electronic tools. I’d like to see examples of hand sketching, simple cross-sections, details, etc. An employer will want to have a sense that you can think on your feet..quickly.. since you will not always have to luxury of the time it takes to complete digital renderings. Your Viral Green project has some wonderful pencil sketching… I’d like to see a lot more!

3. Alternative solutions. There should be an example or two that shows how you developed alternative plans for the same program. I totally agree with an earlier responder who stressed the need for process images. Examining a variety of alternatives is an important part of the process of design.

4. References. Include people who know you as an individual and as an office employee. You may want to reduce the number of academic references down to three.

5. Work Listing. Include an address, just to give prospective employers a better sense of where you’ve worked.

6. Resume Pages. Each page should follow the 3-30-3 rule of thumb that is used for interpretive signs… i.e., reviewers will either spend three seconds; 30 seconds; or 3 minutes examining each page. The text and the images should give the reviewer an increasingly greater understanding of your design / intent through attention to captions, typeface, and layout. Many prospective employers will only spend a few seconds on each page… but that should be enough time to let them know that the work is well thought-out and competent.

7. Project descriptions. Read, and re-read each of them. Then have a non-landscape architect friend / colleague do the same with a very critical eye. Avoid run-on sentences, repetitive use of the same phrasing, and jargon!

8. Inspiration for Forms. What is the source of inspiration for the forms that you use? E.g., the Community Gardens, with their flowing leaf-patterns? How do they fit their intended function?

9. Legibility. Some of the text is very difficult to read… e.g., the Garden of Flowing Fragrance. Most reviewers will not print your pdf out, so it needs to create a great first impression. The font size is too small to be legible.

10. Design + Build. Is the top image a photo? It’s a testimony to your earlier work that I ask the question. But it doesn’t really do much for me, with the spotty plantings, block wall, expansive grass panel….

Good luck! You’ve obviously on the right road.

[Juan Antonio Lopez]

Landscape Plants for California Gardens by Bob Perry. Bob Perry was a professor of mine at Cal Poly Pomona last year. This is the greatest book for California Plants. It has all of the climate zones, water needs, plant factors, Eto calculations and sections of plant palettes with plants that work well together. An amazing book. It was great to have him sign my copy.

[nca]

I have less ‘office’ experience than you perhaps even though with my residential design experience while in school and prior to school I probably have more like a decade of ‘professional experience,’ but what I can offer is this; I interned at two large (40+) offices while in school and now work at a two person operation (my boss and I).

In my opinion, it is MUCH more challenging working in the small office. It can feel like the boss is peeking over your shoulder every minute, you hear about financial woes and feel it, and I think the work tends to be much more conservative (especially now) because you really can’t afford to lose a client.

All things considered, I can only hope my experience in a small office is good for me as a professional and I think it will be. Sure, the design work is conservative and safe for the most part, but I’m getting my hands on things I wouldn’t work on for years in a larger firm.

I’ve been able to design a new logo, letterhead, cut sheets, respond to RFP’s/RFQ’s, complete compile and file annexation and master plan applications, bring projects through CD and even some CA, design subdivisions, all sorts of site plans, work closely with consultants, and design a few pretty cool projects.

I think I’d be drawing sections all day if I were working for a big firm. At least I keep telling mysel f that.

[nca]

Help me settle a little argument here.

 

I’m pretty sure I remember there being a way to cut sections in Arcmap. Could any of the GIS gurus help me remember how to do it?

 

The file in question is using a contour lines shapefile. First step–create a tin?…

 

Thanks in advance..

[Mike G]

Interesting article and great site Thomas.
However I think we owe groundcovers credit for setting the tone for contemporary and ‘naturalistic’ aesthetics. In many situations gcs act as a gateway drug for the horticultural community and those weary of an untamed nature, as some see in a restored prairie or meadow. As a gateway drug, it starts with getting rid of a little turf, adding a few perennials, and then moving onto larger sections of property. Gcs are, and will continue to be, a great leaping point for planting alternatives that consume turf.

[Jason T. Radice]

You simply cannot make the comparisons the authors have made. LA is not Venice. European urban culture is vastly different than US pedestrian tendencies. Besides, The Italian car culture is firmly rooted in Modena, where Detroit and LA are home to it here. I love when the “smart growth crowd” asserts simplistic conclusions such as this. There are SO many more factors. One thing I did not see mentioned was that where there tend to be more intersections, traffic is slowed as a result. So you are not walking next to a highway, its a comfort thing. I would like to see more comparisons from all domestic and regional sources, you simply cannot compare Italy (or Europe) to the US; they are completely different cultures.

[Adam Trujillo]

So for the article to say that walkability is a one variable formula can be pretty misleading. Because the actually study’s results say “Walking is most strongly related to measures of land use diversity, intersection density, and the number of destinations within walking distance.” Roland pretty much hits the nail on this issue. I don’t think that comparing Venice, LA and Irvine really proves that more intersections leads to more walking. If you’ve ever been to Venice you’d notice that the restaurants, shops, offices and houses are all zoned together with high density. The high density, number of destinations and the close proximity to each other is the really seems to be the formula to walkability. If you were to break Irivne’s sprawling housing developments into smaller intersections I don’t believe you would have more people walking because they wouldn’t have anywhere to walk to other than their neighbor’s houses.

[Roland Beinert]

Good article. It’s certainly one of the main keys, although I’m not sure it’s THE key. I think a number of factors need to be combined. The role of density and diversity is downplayed in the article, but I don’t think the number of intersections cannot bring about walkability without those factors. You can have a residential area with lots of interconnectivity, but it does little good unless there’s a destination worth walking to within a reasonable distance (a store, a park, etc.). Quality and safety of the walking environment is important, too.
Jane Jacobs has a great discussion of all those factors and how they relate to one another in Death and Life of Great American Cities.

[Gregory Leichty]

http://www.grist.org/article/2010-06-04-good-neighborhoods-have-lots-of-intersections/

[Jordan Lockman]

I am pretty sure that the rational method and pipe sizing are out and that is why it is showing up on section D.

Everyone is confused on why handrails were removed. My only guess is that we will not be tested on it. Just to be safe I have looked back at the last guide and studied that. It is also fairly simple so they may just expect us to know this?

I am guessing there will be at least one problem grading with underground storm water. Not pipe sizing, but dealing with minimum depth of pipe, inverts, head walls, day-lighting drain pipes, etc.

There also seems to always be a problem that deals with ridge-lines/watersheds/siting something based on contours like the practice problem with the birds nest and overlook.

Since they removed the rational method and pipe sizing information from E there has been a focus on storm water problems. Such as siting a storm water pond or detention basin. So it would not hurt to look at time savers and graphic standards at these sections. Most importantly we have found that we need to be deliberate with guiding water as it runs on site. Eliminate any doubt where water can flow. Even if this means adding additional contours around drain inlets or small berms/dams.

We are anticipating, hard surface grading one with fairly tight parameters.

This is just we have come up with in our study group so we will see.

[Jarrod Katzer]

Here’s a blog post I just made…for what it’s worth. I primarly used LA graphic Standards, Time saver standards, Engineering for LAs, and the handbook for LAs.

How I passed Section D the first time

Please forgive any appearance of arrogance. I wrote this because I didn’t have much luck when I went looking for suggestions. I promised myself if I passed section D the first time I would give an account of what I did. I don’t mean to imply that my path is the best or only path possible. I would encourage others to post their preparation experiences so that all can benefit from the variation.

Background

I did not attend an accredited LA program. I didn’t come over on the Mayflower but I am an ardent supporter of the profession and, when the day comes, have every intention of proudly calling myself a Landscape Architect.

Study Time

I didn’t start consistently studying until three weeks prior. Unless you are a masochist I do not recommend putting it off for as long as I did. This time frame may seem a bit short for some, about right for others, and too long for a few braggarts but when viewed through the prism of responsibility I think it is too short. During the week I studied for a couple of hours in the early morning and three to four hours in the evening. During the weekends I put in about six hours each day. There may have been a day or two that I was unable to study at all due to overriding obligations.

The Psychological Aspect

I came across two bits of interrelated wisdom that provided me with both motivation and relief. I was endowed with this wisdom by a few people and confirmed it through a few other people and through my own testing experience. The first point was that I would be relying on educated intuition for much of the exam. This caught me off guard in the beginning but it makes sense when you think about how many potential questions are possible. Accepting this set the stage for my study routine. I knew that I could not rely on the pre-purchased bullet point, strict outline approach to studying. A cursory review of major topics will not be sufficient. It made sense to become very familiar with the books suggested by CLARB – or at least the books I could get my hands on. The second point was that I will walk out of the exam not really knowing if I passed or failed. Although I had an apprehensively ok feeling this was true for me in the end.

Misery loves company and those who tend to freak out over exams will gladly share their alarmist perspectives with you in an effort to get you to commiserate. Do not allow negativity to creep in. Do not go in with the attitude “I’m just going see what the test is like – I don’t care if I fail it”. Go in fully prepared, well read and therefore convinced you will receive a passing grade. Thoughts become things.

Method

I bought a digital handheld recorder and the some of the books from the new, shortened list of books suggested by CLARB for section D. I was not able to get my hands on two of them but I was able to acquire the books more pertinent to this section. I highly recommend you get all of them. I have heard that you will not see a question on the exam that can’t be found in one of the recommended books.

CLARB has prepared a summary of the major topics you will need to know for a given section. Using this summary I created an index indicating which book(s) discuss those major topics and on what pages the topics can be found. Although it was tempting to using this index as an exclusive blurb targeting tool I did not. I prepared this index to act as a general guide, a check list, a panic cessation tool (oh crap! What’s that thing that had to do with that other thing that I need to make sure I know!), and it gave me a preview of what was before me.

I perused each book for chapters that I felt reflected CLARB’s summary. I then perused each chapter for pertinent sections. I found that I was recording the entire book in some cases. This was not as taxing as I thought it was going to be. After all, I was already reading the entire book so I may as well captured it for all time. During this process I made the mistake of reading too fast. You will ingest it much easier if you are able to listen to it at normal speed so start early. Recording these passages allowed me to listen to them in the car, on an ipod, on a phone, or on a computer because the recorder came with MP3 conversion software. You can ingest a lot of information while recording and you will solidify it when listening to it later.

There will be elements that cannot be efficiently described into a digital recorder such as details and fasteners. You will obviously need to identify these for yourself and give yourself enough time to review those items. On the topic of details, fasteners, adhesives, etc., study these items together under the flag of the details. It is more important to know the applications of various materials and fasteners rather than just knowing how to identify or define them. If you know under what circumstances you can use a lag bolt this will inherently teach you what one looks like.

Study with your main goal being the creation of associations with all the other items studied. This will reinforce the information.

Testing

I dressed in layers so I could take a sweater off if I became too hot or keep it on to beat the AC. I checked in with the receptionist as soon as I arrived. I was asked to empty my pockets and place everything except for my driver’s license in a locker. Although there was an official test start time I was able to begin testing as soon as I felt comfortable. I checked in at another desk where they took my picture, logged me in and asked me to verify that my pockets were empty. I was then given a marker and two laminated sheets for a scratch pad and asked to wait outside the testing room until the attendant set up my station. She then motioned me in. The instructions on screen were very simple. I began with a tutorial that I had more than enough time to get through. In that tutorial I learned how to flag questions so I could easily return to them. I clicked a button and the test began.

You will likely be provided with headphones. I’m not crazy about using publicly available headdress but I’m glad I used them because they cut out all noise. There was some guy in my room I heard sniffling before I put them on and after I took them off.

Take each question as it comes. Nothing else exists in the universe except you and that single question. Don’t underestimate the value in knowing that the answer is right there on the screen. The answers to many questions will likely be the safest, most efficient or least impactful of the choices.

Complex choices are your friend. I’m referring to the “Is it A) I, II, IV, and V or is it B)…” These give you more elimination tools than you would have with the standard 4 options.

If you get done early always go back and review your answers. By the time you get to the end of the exam you will feel calmer then you were at the beginning. I first went back through my flagged questions and then went back over the entire exam reviewing my answers. There is the saying that your first response is usually the correct one. There may be some merit to that but you can also correct some silly initial responses because you are no longer feeling the pressure of the clock.

Take it all in. Let the information fill in the holes, confirm suspicions, create relationships with other bits of information, and affirm your relationship with the profession. Fall in love all over again. Make it a religious experience and you will smoke the exam. Words to test by: Calm, Logic, Reason, Common Sense, Health, Safety, Welfare.

Good luck!

[Ray Freeman]

This is a reminder that I will be teaching a 3 day Section E review at NC State University in Raleigh, NC on May 7-9.
There are still some seats available in the class. Details, and the link to the registration web site are below. This is a great chance to get some serious insights and practice on section E generally not available to those folks East of the Mississippi!

North Carolina Section E

Date/Time: May 7-9, 2010 (25 hours)

Description:
Through lecture, group discussion, and practice exercises, this intensive three day course focuses on preparing students to take Section E: Grading & Drainage of the Landscape Architects Registration Examination. The course includes a look at how the performance sections of the LARE are organized, what material is typically covered on the exam, strategy tips on attacking the vignettes and how the vignettes are evaluated by the licensing boards. The course covers the fundamentals of grading and drainage, intermediate-level concepts for grading and problem solving techniques applied to example exercises. Exercises of increasing difficulty will be given and reviewed during the course, ultimately reaching the level of the actual exam vignettes. Each student will receive a course syllabus containing approximately 130 pages of information pertinent to Section E and a minimum of 20 exercises and vignettes. Desk crits while working are part of the class.

The program includes:
• Overview of the Exam and Section E
• Basic Exam Preparation Techniques
• An Introduction to Grading & Drainage
• Solving Watershed Planning Problems
• Grading Platforms
• Foundation Systems and Setting Finish Floors
• Accessibility Requirements
• Roadway Grading
• Grading Processes and Procedures
• Effects of Urbanization on Watersheds
• Storm Drainage and Stormwater Management
• Pond and dam components, functions and design
• Sizing Stormwater Basins
• Vision Cone Problem Solving
• Practical Techniques for Solving Vignettes
• Accessibility Requirements
• Grading Processes and Procedures
• Grading as a Design Process
• Interpretation of soils maps and reports

Students will complete timed vignettes typical of those on Section E of the LARE. The class takes a programmed approach to Section E, with lectures covering concepts and techniques applicable to specific vignette types, followed by a timedvignette which tests the skills taught. Individual feedback will be given to students as they work. Each vignette will then be reviewed by the class as a whole. The instructor will provide tips on how to break problems down and conceptualize a plan of attack for developing solutions. All three days will generally follow this format.

Location: NC State College of Design, Raleigh, NC.
Nearby hotel has block of rooms at discounted rates.

Instructor: Ray Freeman, ASLA, RLA, CPESC

Cost: $400.00. Refreshments and lunch included each day.

Contact: http://216.119.116.120/content/index.cfm/mode/1/fuseaction/page/filename/LARE.html

Questions: Course content: rayfreeman3@comcast.net
Administrative: jm_livaudais@ncsu.edu