Andrew Garulay, RLA

We are all in different places in our careers. One thing that does not change is the reason that someone hires a designer. It is to remove the doubt from the outcome of the project. As the value of removing that doubt increases the willingness to pay for design increases. Scrutiny of the potential designer increases with that value as well.
 
It…[Read more]

We are people, not machines. We are all different despite the fact that we all like to pretend that all people are the same. What is the school of hard knocks to one is pure torture to another. What is trying your best to one, is inadequate to another. There is no way to properly advise Thomas because we neither know whether the boss is a hard…[Read more]

I would suggest that you don’t get sucked in to getting more of the same certifications that many other landscape architecture job candidates get.
 
It looks like you are near the coast in Maine. Your best bet for opportunities while staying put is with high end residential I would suspect. The niche expertise that I suggest that pursue is in…[Read more]

Alan Bloom

“Move On Up” by Curtis Mayfield

Bookmark the forums page then hit the down arrow where it says “View:categories” and change it to “discussion” and all is well.

I’m not in an architecture office, but  have worked as the sole LA in two different local civil engineering offices. We did not market landscape architecture in a very visible way because other LAs liked to stay with surveyors and engineers that did not have an LA.
I did do some design work for some landscape contractors and architects on…[Read more]

Occupy the Water Swamp – OWS
 
No one is going to write “hippopotami”?

I attended a two our presentation by a business consultant on employee/management relations this evening at a regional landscape association meeting. It was very interesting and covered what both employers and employees need from each other I wish you and your manager were there. It covered what employees need other than pay and benefits to be…[Read more]

Even if it is not a good situation, opportunities are few these days. Take what you an from the position in order to grow. Try to make lemonade out of lemons, if that is the situation.
 
This may be a great place to develop thick skin and a strong work ethic – maybe not for the right reasons, but think how much easier working in less demanding…[Read more]

I know that it was not directed at me, but I did it  …. two. I was laughing at myself and being supportive of Jason and you in pointing out that we all make mistakes.
 
Group hug.
 
 
 

I don’t know how to spell it.  I’m glad to see that you, like myself, also discovered that Olmsted has no “a” and no longer use one. It is wonderful that we can all learn from each other as we network together. Thanks.

Have those of you who have gone through it benefitted from it?

A hire is just like any project. There are specific needs for each position needing to be filled. Much like a site analysis – needed skill sets are determined. A conceptual plan of that hire is made. Aesthetic needs in a landscape might be likened to personality in an office place. Then there is budget – how much to pay. Maintenance comes in when…[Read more]

Two directions of hipocracy can be taken from this – both based uopn not practicing what they preach.
 
The first and obvious is that the choice of the new location is clearly poor design from the development of criteria to the execution of picking the location and design itself. … this would be hipocracy by doing the wrong thing while…[Read more]

Agreed

I appreciate the notion that students should not be spoon fed …. but, let’s be honest here. In a world of smart phones, Google, and downsized offices, which would be that course of action taken by the people signing the payroll checks? Cut/paste/alter or start from scratch?
 
He is doing what is in fact the way it is done these days. We might…[Read more]

These are general planting notes that I put on residential plans . Note that “Digsafe” is an agency in Massachusets that oversees the marking of underground utilities and other states have similar agencies of different names.

Are you looking for site construction notes regarding drainage, paving, sewer, … ?

1)  ALL PLANT MATERIAL SHALL C…[Read more]

These are raised septic leaching systems that are heavily regulated. There are state health laws which vary from state to state. Rhode Island (where Chris is) is a neighboring state of Massachusetts (where I am) and more than likely has similar inluences and therefore similar regulations. We are not allowed to build structures over this type of…[Read more]

She wants one outdoors, although most are indoors. She lived in Japan for quite some time and now Singapore and has enjoyed them indoors and outdoors. It is the simple hot water tub- no jets, no soap, just hot water. There are many for outdoor use available made of hinoki or cedar…or concrete, porcelain, fiberglass for that matter. I’ve done…[Read more]