Search Results for 'sections'

[Jason T. Radice]

I think they had their fun making giant mulch berms. They even have them on BOTH sides of the sidewalk in the middle of the parking lot that connects the huge grocery store to the fake main street, with parking on both sides of it. You mount the mulch just to use the sidewalk. Oh, and them planters (30″ diameter) also are at the intersections, which majorly block your view trying to get in and out of the parking areas.

 

[Jason T. Radice]

You ain’t kiddin’. This is a pretty big development with a Target, a theater, a fake poorly done “main street’ and a huge grocery store. There are probably a few hundred of these planters with trees in them on site. All the parking shade trees and decorative Crape Myrtles are in them, the line the sidewalks, and actually block vehicular views at intersections. I wonder how the developer got talked into this mess?

[MLCC]

Dear Temp Impact,

Where do I begin?

When notification of the exam transition came out last summer , I was a little taken aback at

1) The short notice and

2) how Section D was assimilated into the new Sections 3 and 4.

And then as I looked into it closer and realized that I could potentially lose credit for tests I have already PAID for and PASSED. I was outraged. CLARB expertly dodged all of my questions and aggravations  as well, on Facebook, and from my direct emails. I, as well as some other colleagues contacted our local ASLA president, who basically saw nothing wrong with this (which tells me he must be associated with CLARB somehow; what the hell?). I also contacted my state board (Texas) who said they could do nothing, as CLARB is its own entity. Scary.

Long story short, I got nowhere. Due to my state’s rolling clock deadline, I now have only 2 more chances to take and pass Section 4 (Grading / Drainage), and it also includes the old section D (Construction Materials & Methods), which I took and passed in 2008. But of course, now I will basically be taking –AND PAYING FOR– that section again. I can’t overstate how angry that makes me. When I signed up for that test, NOWHERE did it ever say that I could potentially lose credit for it, because CLARB could change things at their own whim. You have basically summed it up perfectly: there is zero accountability here.

To Anthony – I know it’s “hard to believe”.. but trust me, and others on here.. CLARB has and IS taking credit away from people. I’m about to spend $500 in the next couple of days to take Section 4 ( I took it as Section E two years ago and failed). I just have to muster up the courage and balls to pay CLARB  this huge amount of money without throwing up. If I could help it, I would never give CLARB another dime. But guess WHAT?? They’ve got me by the balls. B/c I need to be licensed. Or the last 15 years of my working life are a waste, and I’ll need to find another career. Thanks CLARB.  Oh and not to mention the $150 I have to pay to reinstate my CLARB record. Don’t even get me started on the ridiculousness and meaninglessness of a “CLARB Record”  What a joke.

I could on and on. I will be a part of any petition, protest.. anything to make this madness end.

[MLCC]

In reading others’ comments, I very much agree with Jordan; I think he is right on. Stephen’s situation sounds pretty wonderful, and unfortunately, free lunches, golf games, and 40 hr max work weeks are definitely NOT the norm in our field. Hahaha. If only.

Anyway It sounds like you’d like a view into a typical work day for an LA. Here is what I do on any given day (some days it’s very technical, other days it’s creative. BTW I have 13 yrs experience, small firm, I’m 1 test away from being licensed):

-work on cad details

-work on cad plans

-make a presentation book in InDesign, including photos of inspiration projects, hardscape, site furnishings, plantings, colored renderings of the plan and / or details and sections

-write specifications

-coordinate items with sub-consultants (arch, civil, structural, MEP, irrigation, lighting, graphic design) and/ or fix things they have done wrong. (i.e lighting designer selected lights that you dislike; structural engineer misunderstood your walls and detailed the footings wrong; irrigation consultant not connecting to water main in the right location, etc…)

-write a descriptive narration of a completed project (for the marketing department of the owner, or for our own marketing materials)

-do a cost estimate for all items in the landscape scope; for example would include all hardscape elements (paving, deck, walls, arbors, water features, site furnishings), planting (soil, filter fabric), grading and drainage (drain inlets, piping), irrigation, tree protection, demolition.

-make a plant book with specific information photos about plants selected for the project

-go to a nursery to select and tag trees

-visit a job site while under construction; take photos and notes, and issue the information in a formal report to the project team as a progress report

I arrive at work @ 8:30, and leave somewhere between 6:30 and 8. (used to be even later, all the time,  but I have kids now). Sometime I can take an hour lunch, sometimes I have to work straight through lunch.

It’s a fun field for sure, but don’t get fooled by the thought that all we do is design great iconic parks like HighLine. Underlings typically don’t get to do actual design work, and high-profile, iconic jobs like HighLine are few and far between. They aren’t the meat-and-potatoes of the typical landscape architecture firm.

Also, don’t forget (and someone may have already mentioned this) is that you can work for a private firm, or public agency, i.e be the landscape architect for a city or municipality.

I hope this is helpful to you!

[Falon Mihalic]

Hello,

I have been approved to sit for the FL exam and I’m looking for insight on the best ways to prepare. I have the load of recommended reading and I’m slowly sifting through it. How long should I take to prepare? Does anyone know the pass rate? Is the exam really hard compared to the national LARE sections? Thanks in advance for any advice.

[temp impact]

I truly appreciate the kind words of encouragement. You are correct. There are many unjust things in life. As the old saying goes “life is not fair”. Not that I think that all the time… I will finish. I will not get any money back. Money is the last thing that I wanted in return.

What I had asked of CLARB and my Board was a chance to be heard, to show proof of my story (in front of their Boards). They rejected all of my requests.

I requested that CLARB and the Board provide more notice.They refuse.

For example, they knew before one year ahead of time that this restructuring would occur. They didn’t tell anyone because they knew if candidates hear they can lose money or credit then new candidates would wait until after the restructuring to register. Therefore CLARB would lose out on all of that money. They also knew that current candidates would desperately try to finish, they would make money on the exams, but lose the potential money gained from forcing candidates to retake certain sections.

I requested that CLARB define the specifics(or potentials) of restructuring in the Candidate Handbook. They refuse.

I requested that their be some kind of “grandfathering” for the 99 candidates in my exact position. Or that we be heard. They refused.

I was missing D, that’s it. Whether you believe it or not (doesn’t matter to me) I never received communication from CLARB about the restructuring. The only forms of communication they used to communicate was email, Twitter, Facebook and their website. I have an email from them stating that THEY took me off their emailing list, I don’t have Facebook or Twitter. I took 1 of 2 available Section D during the transition and failed by 1 point. During the time of registration CLARB had nothing about the transition on their website. I couldn’t make the following Section D date, therefore the next Section D I could take was 1 year later (only 2 available per year). That was the year their “transition” occurred. Buy the time I went to register for the (year later) Section D I found out that the “transition” period was over.

D was divided into 3&4. I requested that they let me take one Section as a equivalent. They refused.

But, I am the reason they offered the $500 credit for the first December Exam (only). They offered this only to candidates in my position. So I took the opportunity. It was nice of them to give me $500 of my $5000 back…

I move on. But, for the rest of my career, for the remainder of the meetings, alumni visits, ASLA events, etc. I (and the others) will tell this story.

And until CLARB offers a “countdown clock until the next exam” on their website, candidates should know what can happen, because CLARB wont let them know. And if I were a professor right now or an employer. I would highly recommend to anyone who is considering getting their license, do it now. because in 2015-2016-2017 (sometime) this will happen all over again. And I wouldn’t want anyone that I cared about to have to got through this same bullshit (please excuse this one curse).

This is how we are justified in saying that CLARB could care less about the profession and it’s people. ASLA too, since they refused to go public with these stories. They eclipsed my efforts too.

But I will take your advice to heart. Thank you.

[J. Robert (Bob) Wainner]

I also noticed on-line today…..that there are several L.A.R.E. “boot camps” or “study sessions” that are available…..yeah, for a FEE.  The fees I saw were from $100.00 to $525.00. And, some of those fees ONLY cover specific portions of the L.A.R.E. exam……..someone is making a LOT of money!!!

When I graduated (1977), I applied to take the U.N.E. (Uniform National Exam) for Landscape Architects….2-1/2 days of testing…..grading, design problems, construction detailing, professional practice, planting and multiple choice questions as well…it was very comprehensive.

AND, I don’t recall ANY “U.N.E. exam review sessions” or sample tests of any kind that were available at the time.  We were pretty much on our own.

The complexity and costs involved to prepare to take the L.A.R.E., the FEE for the test (and I realize it can take a couple of times to pass all sections)….travel expenses involved for the “boot camp” sites (hotels, food, rental car, etc.)…..same to take the L.A.R.E……this all seems pretty ridiculous.

I feel for the young LA University graduates of today….and all of the LA’s who have not yet passed the L.A.R.E…..the entire process really does just look like a “money making scam” for a lot of people…..and many of these “people” are Landscape Architects……nice.

I also noticed that there is an “Annual CLARB Meeting” scheduled this Fall in Minneapolis, Minnesota……WHY? I can only “assume” that all of the expenses for the (11) CLARB Board Members will be paid for by CLARB – and these Board Members are located all over the U.S.  And, this Annual Meeting is NOT free for students or Landscape Architects….a FEE and travel expenses will be involved.  I guess I’m not really understanding the “purpose” of this CLARB Annual Meeting. 

[Anonymous]

Temp as an old warrior LA I admire your tenacity. Fight your fight, but don’t let it consume you. I understand $5,000 is real money, but don’t spend $20,000 in time and energy trying to make things right. I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but in the long run it will probably be easier to retake sections and lose the cash, as opposed to fighting CLARB. This will be just one of the many unjust things you will have to deal with as a landscape architect, so choose your battles wisely and study hard. 

[J. Robert (Bob) Wainner]

Thank you for enlightening me further about the L.A.R.E. (based on your personal experiences).

And, yes, I understand that (as it is also written in the by-laws of every State’s LA licensing laws)….that Landscape Architects must “Protect the Health, Safety & Welfare of the Public).  However, that’s only a small portion of our profession encompasses.

The L.A.R.E. really should test “candidates” to determine if they are “competent” with regards to graphics, drawing, sketching, detailing, grading and design skills.  I don’t see HOW you can determine that using ONLY a computer and a ton of multiple choice questions.

And, since the L.A.R.E. is graded via computers…I would think that the costs of administering that exam would be “reasonable and fair”.

The FEE for a CLARB Certificate should also be “fair & reasonable” as well as the FEE for having one’s CLARB file sent to another State where you are applying for reciprocity.

I understand there are a total of (11) Members of the CLARB Board…all, I believe are Landscape Architects.  However, WHY is the Executive Director (who has been in that position for OVER 6 years…NOT a Principal Landscape Architect…and WHY is his Salary over $270,000.00 per year?  CLARB is a “non-profit” organization and even on the CLARB website, it states that most of the work at CLARB is handled by many VOLUNTEERs….really?  Out of curiosity, I looked up the Salaries for a couple of State Governors (who have, I feel certain, all have many more important responsibilities than the Executive Director for CLARB.  The California Governor’s salary is $206,000.00.  The Texas Governor’s salary is $150,000.00.  Yes, they have “perks”, but, still…I just don’t see ANY justification for the salary of the CLARB Executive Director’s annual income!

I haven’t yet seen a CLARB annual Financial Statement…..but, I have seen here on LAND8 that CLARB’s travel expenses are very “extensive”…WHY?  And, I read in the CLARB by-laws, that CLARB holds an “Annual Meeting“….What is the COST for that Meeting & WHERE does it take place?  Have these Board Members ever heard of “Skype”?  In case the (11) CLARB Board Members & the CLARB Executive Director haven’t yet heard……the U.S. is in the middle of the worst national economic crisis since the Great Depression.  I think it would be “wise” of them to search for ways to CUT expenses and costs of doing business…..keeping in mind there are thousands of Landscape Architect trying to keep their heads above water.  Having to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars in an effort to PASS the L.A.R.E. is absolutely absurd!

It just appears to ME….that CLARB (with the way they have the L.A.R.E. exam set up) is diluting the profession of Landscape Architecture. 

And…WHY continually change the L.A.R.E. exam?  Why not just review it every 5 years…then, if changes are deemed necessary, revise the L.A.R.E., but, give NOTICE to everyone well in advance…..and give CREDIT to candidates who have previously “passed” specific sections of the test.  As everyone knows, once a candidate gets past all of the expenses of passing the L.A.R.E….then, they have to go through the costs of applying for a State LA License…and pay the annual fee. Then, of course, you have the annual expenses of the “continuing education courses” that every state now requires.  This is a HARDSHIP, especially on the young University graduates and LA’s just starting their design careers.

There just seems to be too many QUESTIONS and not enough ANSWERS here about CLARB & the L.A.R.E…….I believe that the approximate 28,000 Landscape Architects here in the U.S. deserve “accountability & transparency” from CLARB – it’s Executive Director and the (11) Board Members!

 

[J. Robert (Bob) Wainner]

WOW…….How things have CHANGED with respect to the NATIONAL Landscape Architect’s License!!!  I do realize that costs of everything goes UP over time, but, the FEES for the L.A.R.E. are absolutely ridiculous!

When I took the National LA Exam in 1977-78……it was called the U.N.E. (Uniform National Exam).  Cost = $75.00.  Passed it the 2nd time.  Within approx. 30 days, I applied for and was issued my LA License in both Florida & Texas…..easy, simple.  That exam was 2-1/2 days in length….a combination of some multiple choice questions as well as some drawing sections.  Had to pass a Grading Exam.  Also, a 3 hour long “design problem”.  And a portion that test for “construction detailing”.  I don’t recall there being ANY practice tests available.  All tests were graded by (3) qualified Landscape Architects to determine if a candidate passed or failed all or some of the sections.

A few states have “STATE EXAMS”……like The State of Florida, California & Nevada, I believe.

I also once had a CLARB Certificate for several years.  I believe the initial fee was $100.00.  And, I wanted to get an LA license in a new state, I sent $50.00 to CLARB and requested that they send a copy of my CLARB file to that state LA Board.  I understand that NOW…..these fees are much higher.

Still…..I don’t understand HOW….CLARB can justify the costs to administer the L.A.R.E.  And, they really should make an effort to have the L.A.R.E. exam administered in a variety of major cities (if they aren’t already doing so)….so, to help reduce the travel expenses of those wishing to take the exam.

[temp impact]

To: Jorden Lockman,

Sections C and E (graphic exams)
Diagnostic Vignettes (Practice Exams) $50(*6): $300
Application Fee: $100
Registration Fee $75(*3): $225
Section C* (passed on second) $270 & $360.00: $630
Section E $360.00 (passed on first): $360
Total Estimated Hotels (I stayed in cheaper hotes than those where the exams were held): (*3 trips) $400.00
Total Estimated Travel (Planes and Cars as necessary to reach testing location) $400(*3 trips): $1,200

Total Estimate Cost for Sections C & E: $3,215

*Note: Graphic Exams: 33% increase, then 7% increase, for a total 40% increase in 2 years

Section D (multiple choice exam) Note: I took this exam twice and didn’t pass. Hence, I lost credit for all 3 exams.
Section D Prep Test (*1): $60
Registration Fee: $75(*2): $150
Section D $290.00(*2): $580
Total Estimated Mileage $50(*2): $100
Total Estimate Section D: $890

Total Estimated Cost for Sections C, D & E: $4,105

This doesn’t include the new Registration Fee ($150), nor the cost for “new” Sections 3&4 ($1000 total if passed on the first attempt). Include cost for the new exams and its over $5000. Notice I didn’t I include any cost for personal time or materials (ex: trace paper, pencils printer ink, days off work for the exams) dedicated to the study. That would be imposable to calculate. But I have to go through all of that again…

What was that you said about taking the test and failing 12-13 times? Maybe I misunderstood your comment… Or maybe you misread what I said: I alone have lost close to $5000.00 because of CLARB’s restructuring.

I have lost that much. I don’t live in the same City where they hold the exams. I must travel and stay in a hotel… Maybe that’s how you calculated the 12-13 times comment? I bet you passed on your first attempt. Congrats! Thanks for the words of encouragement!

[Jeremiah Farmer]

I’ve only seen a couple of vaguely usable techniques.

One was to place the Cross hatch in the area, then explode the hatch and use the intersections as snap points for the blocks.

The other was to offset the polyline inward, and use those concentric polylines with the Measure command.

But both of these run the risk of wildly overlapping plants — the former at the edges, and the latter in the interior.

When you say it requires a lot of adjusting, you’re not kidding.  But you’re using the equivalent of millions, if not billions, of lines of code, perceiving geometric shapes and their relative distances to each other.  It’s a bit of a challenge to translate that into computer code.  The only way a computer could approximate that, would be to keep “nudging” individual symbols, attempting to minimize the wasted space.  The end result might look fantastic, but it might well sit there chugging for many minutes for a fairly typically shaped area.

I’ve been experimenting with something that is a little of both — basically, give the user a control panel to more easily adjust them, taking ownership of that “nudging” process.  Or as I’ve been thinking of it, similar to shaking an irregular piece of tupperware filled with marbles.

–J

[temp impact]

Sections C,D&E alone cost me roughly $5000. I passed some on the first try. Never passed D. CLARB took my money and my credit. Told me there are 99 people in my exact same position. That’s an estimated $495,000 dollars. Doesn’t even include people who only passed one Section.

[temp impact]

Changes made = a modified format from A,B,C,D,E to 1,2,3,4. Same material, but 4 sections. If you find it hard to believe CLARB took credit, believe it, because it happened. No grandfather, no refund. CLARB claims the sent out Twitter, Facebook, email and USPS notices. They claim to have sent this information out over 1 years time. The problem is… I was out of the country twice, I got married, my wife was out of the country for 6 months, and had my first child all in that same year. I didn’t think about taking an exam, so I never checked their website. I don’t use Facebook or Twitter. I have written confirmation from CLARB that they had removed me from their email list. Ad I have testimonials from about 50 people that they never received anything USPS, and CLARB cant produce any documentation that any postcards were sent at that time. Needless to say… I fell through the cracks.

I went to the Board. Long story short, after much confusion, they said sorry (too bad)… the uploaded files show that CLARB is saying the Board is responsible for contacting candidates. The Board is saying it was CLARB’s responsibility.

I have contacted the Dept. of Professional Reg. (which administers the Board) and the Dept of Agriculture (which administers non-profits). Both are saying it is the responsibility of the other to regulate the contract with CLARB. So now we had to go to internal investigations with the State to investigate who is actually responsible for regulating CLARB’s contract. I have been waiting about 3 weeks to hear from them. Emailed them again this week, with no response.

All of this happened while legislation was being voted on in the State Senate to deregulate the profession. Everyone is making this as cloudy as possible. I have a feeling it will be hard to find a non-partisan judge if it goes to court.

By the way… ASLA said they will not go public with my story or this issue. I contacted them over a year ago for help, with no luck. I need student, candidate and professional voices to hear this story, and the voice of the other candidates who have spoken to me about their frustrations. There was even a petition signed by over 100 people voicing their frustration. There are at least 99 candidates in my exact situation, who lost the most amount of credit and money possible. But no one will voice our story.

CLARB has been unbelievably rude and condescending in their communications. They have told me I am lying, that I don’t know what I am talking about, and that I will never see a dime of money or point of credit.

They offered a one time $500 credit. But you had to take both new exams 3&4 at the same time, with less than one weeks notice before the registration cut-off. CLARB falsely advertised the availability of practice exams, which were never offered. They claim to have offered 3 websites and video training (including two training seminars on Land8). The two seminars on Land8 were the exact same. The second one was actually a video recording of the first seminar, so technically it was one seminar twice. The other video was a generic “restructuring” video.

At the beginning of the new exams (when candidates were forced into taking both exams if they wanted to receive any credit), CLARB said (online) that they would provide practice exams in September. Then they changed the word September on the website to October. Then a note was added that no practice exams were provided for the December 2012 exams. 

Not to mention… the first time I bought practice exams for the exams I previously passed, not a week later, they were available for free on the ASLA website. The same website where they are available now. But that’s a whole other issue. This epitomizes CLARB’s business ethics.

Jim Penrod is the CLARB representative who signed all of the letter I received calling me a liar, and blaming the Board for the lack of communication.

The $5000 includes cost of exams, cost of practice exams from CLARB, travel & lodge receipts. It does not include study time and time off work.

They continue to make it as hard as possible and refuse to refund any money or credit. Now, once I get money or credit, I will let everyone know.

Not only do I want compensation, I want CLARB to admit fault publicly and change their policy so that this never happens to anyone again. They should state up-front in the Candidate Handbook that you can lose credit or money. They either intentionally leave that out, or their a bunch of idiots. Neither is good, and either way someone should be fired for this.

[Anthony Parziale]

What are the changes? I find it hard to believe they can take any credit away for previously passed sections as they would have happened before the change and should be “grandfathered” in. What kind of a notice was sent out? Does the state you’re in have a Board of Architects (might be part of the Board of Ed as it is in some states) Or Office of Consumer Affairs? Those are some I’ve dealt with in the past regarding licensing.

$5000? That’s a lot of cash to have spent on that rediculous test. I hope you either some of it back or at least get credit for what you paid for and earned.