What should the goal of the Landscape Architect be on the project team?

[Bob Luther]

When you get a new project or new client, how much of a role should the landscape architect play in the development of the theme, and goals of the project? I often find that LA’s get the base plan after the building is designed and sited and the traffic ad pedestrian flow is designed. IF you are in the beginning of a project how much room have you found for input (layout, theme, sustainable issues) who is the lead on the project? and if you get a “polished” base how much latitude do you have to make changes? DO you find that the Architect, engineer, or LA has the power in the design and development of a project?

[nca]

I like to think that landscape issues are taken into consideration from project kickoff. If this is the case, a landscape architect should probably be involved from the beginning. Though I think it obviously depends on the role of the LA, which is as vast as the profession from urban planner through garden designer.

[Bob Luther]

I am looking at a general topic… what is your experience with dealing with other disciplines in a team attmosphere? How have you interacted with clients? Can you promote enviromental / sustainable issues if you are on the lower rungs of the totem pole? Are you more often the lead agent in the the team?

[Chad Crutcher]

I suggest this question has to be answered in terms of what the goal/objective of the LA firm is; I include sole practitioners in that label. If the firm is struggling financially, then the obvious objective might be to improve cash flow, thereby making accommodation of the team’s needs a priority in order to curry favor and land the project. If the firm is attempting to build a reputation for design impact, then perhaps their interest lies in advocacy of their agenda as an advantage to the project. It all depends on how you are marekting your services and what you need/want to accomplish in the long run.

My experience varies from starting out as a draftsperson to my own firm to department head in a large multi-disciplinary firm. In all cases, my role also varied depending upon the character of the project, client and design team. I have designed multi-story hotels at destination resorts (controlling siting, massing, style and floorplates, as well as the grounds) and served as the plant guy or irrigation specialist. That is the real beauty of landscape architecture. Ours is a generalist’s profession, in spite of increasing specialization to serve niche market segments. Most of us, facing the reality of scraping enough work together to keep the doors open, must accept the lowly duties of service to the team in a limited way (stuck in the softscaping role only) in order to position ourselves for those all too infrequent opportunities to demonstrate landscape architecture’s full potential.

Chad
Do well doing good.

[Roland Beinert]

What do all of you think about the role of reputation? At the first firm I worked for my boss had a reputation for using native plants. Usually no one objected. He was also able to get civil engineers to work with him on stormwater issues sometimes. The firm was not large, so I wouldn’t call them heavy hitters. Then again, there weren’t too many LA’s in Reno. Maybe it’s easier when most of your clients are residential and choose your firm specifically for your reputation on environmental issues.

[Tim Marten]

It’s funny how often I get this same question from students. They see and study big landscape driven projects and wonder why there summer internships projects all began and end with the engineers or architects final base plane. Ultimately this year I have given the same response, only you can prevent being on the bottom of the pile. Andrew as in this cases has hit the nail on the head but I still say if we want more then we need to grow up and prove we can sit at the adults drafting table.

[Chris Whitted]

For the original title question, I think Chad is right – it’s too dependant on the specific circumstances of client, project, team, and LA. If, as LA, your goal is to push native plants and sustainable design, then that’s your goal. You’ll either go somewhere with it if your client agrees or is open and willing to spend the money, or if they want it done as quickly and cheaply as possible you’ll get as far as you can within those bounds.

My experience has generally been the opposite of most people responding so far, though it has run the gamut. Most of the time we as the planner/landscape architect were the lead on a project or at the very least involved in early discussions. We have received ‘completed’ site plans from both engineers and architects that we ended up completely redesigning because they failed to meet local regulations or address site conditions. We have done plans where our only job was to ‘shrub it up’. The majority of the time we worked WITH our architects and engineers to get to the end solution – sometimes they needed a change, sometimes we did, and sometimes a little refinement in their base work beyond what was technically required could go a long way toward making a better project. No matter who the project lead is, things have to get done and it is a project TEAM for a reason – everyone has their area of expertise. That said, I have also worked with some consultants (from all fields, including our own) who don’t have much of a collabrative spirit and seem only to want to grab as much scope as they can while keeping everyone else in the dark or dictating how things are going to be. Fortunately that’s been pretty rare.

[Bill Wilber]

I feel your pain on this topic.
As a Landscape Architect I am continually frustrated when I am brought in on the tail of the project.
As you described, the architect and engineers have, most times, put together a rather complete project, and I’m left wondering if I should even ask what could be changed. If I do say anything, my objections are usually minimal, at best, considering that their portions have, in some cases, already been approved by the city/county. Not to mention that being brought in on the tail usually means that most of the budgeting has been allocated and the client would not be too pleased to have the design process drag on.
I recently passed the LEED and absolutely love the idea of the holistic design approach and all design professionals getting together at he beginning of the process. As landscape architects we have a unique viewpoint on the possible programming for a site. And it is OUR job to educate the rest of the A/E/C community as to our value in the earlier stages of the project. So to sum up your last question, we definitely could have the “power”, but most times we’re not given the opportunity.

If I could add to the discussion another question or two…
How many LA’s get the first call on a project from the owner/client? Before the Architect or Engineer?
My guess is not many.
So if my guess is correct, what is to stop the A/E’s from some selling as many services to the client, ie. site selection & planning, before bringing the LA on board?

These views are based on my experiences as a “sole proprietor” business, an LA that works for one of the big “factories” might think differently.

[Lizelle Wolmarans]

Sometimes you can still change the base plan. There have been many times that I have done an alternative layout, especially parking layouts (they are always to rigid) and they have taken up the changes whole heartedly! YOu still have a say!

[Dean “Mack” McKenzie]

I don’t know about other people’s experience, but for myself I have seen that all three of the groups you mentioned have egos. I have seen Architects, Engineers, and LA’s that all want to be in charge. So what has worked for me is to see who is writing the checks, who brought you to the table? Then an open and frank conversation is all that is needed to see what latitude is there. That way you are not steeping on toes or bruising egos. Most would be open to suggestions and ideas that will help the over all project.

[Bob Luther]

I like deans approach, follow the bread crumbs to find the power behind the project and then see where your latitude and power is located.

[Jason Turner]

As was mentioned in one of the responses above, it does kinda seem to depend on a number of factors, not least how good you are and how many skills you bring to the table. In this neck of the woods (Cape Town) things are very ‘clique~y’ and once you get in with a team, you seem to end up working with the same people and developers repeatedly. As they develop confidence in your skills, you get to shoot your mouth off more, and you get called in earlier on projects, so you can have earlier input. When you are a new kid on the block, you kinda have to hold your peace until you prove yourself, and make do with mitigating the imposition of others on the landscape.

I remember a landscape architect in Ireland who dictated everything on some of his sites, from road positions, finishes and lighting down to the facades of buildings. It gives you an idea of how far you can go i you have enough skills on offer.

[Dr.Thiruvelavan]

Landscape Architect is the responsible person, who will co ordinate with different contractors to bring the landscape design into the reality.

[Steve Bartley]

I dont know about anybody else but in my humble experience all the other professions take three steps backwards when a landscape architect comes to the table….I wonder why!!

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