Andrew Garulay, RLA

1.) How important are hand graphics?
It is a diverse profession – many parts of it do not have high value for hand graphics and many offices use other presentation strategies that no longer require a need for a high skill in hand graphics. However, in a limited job market, limiting your opportunities might not be a good idea.
 I do not have good…[Read more]

Where is your school in this matter? What software and training is available to you?

Also look for cross over skill set opportunities. In a time of reduced staff, diversity of skill sets can trump a specialist when it comes to who gets laid off and who stays full time. My job has been secure thus far because of that. I went from full time site designer to full time person who does several different different jobs rolled into one…[Read more]

Urban design is not my niche in landscape architecture, but your discussion subject is great. I’m in an area that keeps big design projects out through regulation, so most projects are designed from the building out and it makes sense that they are begun by architects. I’ve also come to realize that in such an environment the building’s interior,…[Read more]

Many Practice Acts that I have read have exemptions that you can drive a truck through (One ton dumps and little Toyotas) that make Claudia’s question a very valid one.
 
New Hampshire:

Exempt persons: …
gardener, landscape gardener,
landscape designer, landscape contractor, …..
 
Rhode Island:
Exempt…. Landscape gardeners, or nursery wor…[Read more]

State – Massachusetts: Title Act, no direct requirement that any private work requires an LA, the state may require a stamp on state projects.
 
Local communities: There is one zoning district in one of the 15 towns that requires a stamped plan by an LA (an LA was hired as a consultant when the zoning by-law was being altered). It is a commercial…[Read more]

I don’t know about anyone else, but my 2 IRAs are right back to where they were before 2008. What the heck does this have to do with Landplanner’s thread?

They out designed the quake, but nothing is going to stop a 30′ wave. Their design and standards are great for earth quakes. This was as extreme as it gets and all indications are that there was little damage from the quake.. As my professor, who happened to be from Japan, used to say “never build in a flood plain” as I type from elevation 20 (not…[Read more]

Wow Tom, just like the 60’s – protesting war on LSD (taken completely out of context, but worth a laugh).

I can’t fathom the thought without feeling like a buzzard! 
 
…. send money after the needs are assessed and the relief organizations are in place.
…  pray for them if you are religious.

1.) logistic practicality – make sure that whatever project that you choose is one that you have direct physical access to in order to research, can gain interviews or other direct contact with those involved in similar projects, and that you have the equipment and ability to execute whatever the product of your project is.
 
2.) personal d…[Read more]

Mitigation requirements are that he must re-design a piece of suburban ground as moose habitat at a 3:1 ratio to the section of woods that he’ll range in. He shall not displace any employed people as they are rare species. Catch basins, leach pits, sewer plants, drainage swales, and all forms of stormwater management are also protected wetlands…[Read more]

Let us not forget that choosing a career is an investment in the future. Why would anyone take financial investment advice from a landscape architect?

Your self control is obviously better than mine (one more good reason that you’d make a fine employee – someone hire this guy!)

Is there any other reason that you would want to be in Shanghai than your job?
 
Everyone is different, but I would prefer to be stocking shelves in a grocery store than to be a landscape architect or anything else in China. My job is not the beginning and end of me and I would rather shape my life by considering more than just my job because of that.

Clearly, you would not be the first Johnson in the White House and probably not the last. You may have the distinction of being the only bearded Johnson to swing through the oval office, though.

Rule number four  (I’d call it #1) don’t categorize your work as being landscape architecture or civil site planning.
Do everything an EIT would do AND do LA work, too. You’ll be a better LA because of all of the civil site plan experience and a better civil site planner because you can also think like an LA.
When it comes time to cut staff – wh…[Read more]

It is so easy to manipulate community input, pre-program a path for it to folloe, interpret the input such that it agrees with your pre-conceived output. We had a joint class project with architecture students when I was in school. We had the usual routine, students divided into groups focusing on certain aspects, the public goes from table to t…[Read more]

About 8 years ago I was working for a design/build.One day I had jury duty and got dismissed early. I had nice clothes on and a good pair of shoes. On the way back to the shop/office I stopped at a nursery to check the inventory as I often did. This time I had two “yard guys” going around with me, moving plants out of my way, making sure I did n…[Read more]

I use AcadLt 2008 at home and ACAD LDt 2009 at work (both 2007 dwg format). I believe that I have received only one file from an architect that was using the 2010 format. I’m sure it will be coming, though.
 
Bricscad sounds like the best way to stay current on a budget. I like ACAD because I work with it every day, but I’m considering Bricscad…[Read more]