Andrew Garulay, RLA

Chad, if you see me mugging people for work in front of a box store, just put a bullet between my eyes. Things are not that bad. It has actually been status quo for the three and a half years that I have been with this current firm. I should be thankful for that under this economy, but I’m looking to do better despite the economy.

Thanks Tanya.…[Read more]

This is a good discussion. The common “thread to the thread” seems to be that graphic representation is important, but it does not substitute for knowledge and understanding about creating the built space.
I don’t use black & white line work because I think it works better. I use it primarily because I lacked hand drawing skills early in my…[Read more]

Speaking from the residential design perspective, technology has enabled inexperienced designers to make professional looking presentations. However, I feel like I benefit from that as an experienced designer (RLA) because I do focus on the idea behind the design and marginalise the graphic presentation by using black and white line work…[Read more]

A good way to get an installed planting price estimate is to go over previous bids for plantings. They tend to vary on how they show you what you would be paying for, but you can usually figure out what the total price is for the listed plants and materials and labor to plant them.
I make a spreadsheet (or actually use one provided by a nursery,…[Read more]

There are plenty of landscape architects out there “taking the work”. They are taking it because they are out competing their competition. They ARE better than the competition. The other side of that coin is that when a landscape architect or LA firm it is not because the public is unaware, or ASLA let them down.It is because someone else out…[Read more]

There are LDs who know about sight lines in parking lots and those who don’t – the same can be said for LAs, although after years of school, internship, and practice there is a much greater chance that they do consider that..

That is one example, but you can substitute countless other things besides plant pallet that the comparison works on. You…[Read more]

We all get caught up in words. I’m not sure if that is good or bad.

I’m a guy who started with a shovel in my hand, spent time behind a lot of 48″ walk behinds, worked as a designer in “low end” projects (pretty sure I’m the only one documented to have done so on the planet), got my BLA at 35, I’ve done design/build//working supervisor as a…[Read more]

Landscape design is not a Profession. It is an occupation or a task. Landscape Architecture is an established Profession.

You probably could contact another state just to do a redline review of the exams that you already took. I did get a redline review in Maine ( living in MA, testing for ID, and testing in ME). It was a big help because I was repeating a graphical error which was what was killing me. I passed it the next time.
Also look for states that exam twice a…[Read more]

I personally know more people with landscape architecture degrees who are not licensed than who are (not recent graduates, either). Most of them are functioning as any licensed landscape architect (title act state). The reason for many of them not to be registered is that they were either in business already when they got degreed (like that word?)…[Read more]

They will come around because the question will no longer be about recruiting new members. It will be about keeping those that they have. I think they’ll be a little slow coming around because of the identity crisis that I think they have. They need to remember that development is what makes all of the “good things” possible.

They are like government and academia, it is about growth of students and membership and the money that comes with it. You have to attract students and members. You can’t do that if you say there is no job when you get out. They excited a lot of environmentalists to get LA degrees and join ASLA by making them think the profession is something…[Read more]

That is a great point. LAs are trained to work by responding to a program where most landscape designers are more focused on placement of materials without as much focus on the intangibles that should influence the placement.

Our approach is to use the materials as a means to enhance or mitigate experiences while those not trained in this…[Read more]

Its all good. … my opinion.

I’m not a fan of exclusion.

Don’t think of it as a landscape design tool. First think of it as a drafting tool and keep in mind the same drafting principles that you would use while using your hand. Figuring out how to use lineweight is one of the most significant things you can learn with your hands or with your mouse. Initially the difference is just in the input. Later on…[Read more]

All landscape architects are landscape designers. Some landscape designers are landscape architects. Landscape architecture is an extremely diverse field and since landscape architecture is a portion of landscape design, landscape design is an even more diverse field.

Yes, it is the exact same test. … on the exact same days, if I’m not mistaken. Some have other state sections as well. LARE is Lare, however and where ever.

I did take it in another state because my state offered it only once a year while another offered it twice. … and I was taking the exam for a third state which I had just moved from.…[Read more]

Look for the various “Intellicad” programs that are out there. They are Autocad clones which are licensed by a consortium and customized by the individual companies such as Progecad, Briscnet, and several others. You should be able to get a fairly complete clone for about $400.

I went back to school in ’94 because of CAD (dropped out in ’83 because I could not draw well enough), so I know where you are coming from. I had not even used a computer when I went back.

Fortunately they had a great Autocad class where they taught from a “process oriented” perspective rather than a “product oriented”. The book that we used was…[Read more]

Jay,

Yes, no change in hours, no change in pay, no change in benefits. I’m in a civil engineering office, though. Eight people including two office staff and two survey solo field crew people in the company. We did lay off an office staff person and a septic design/soil evaluator person a year ago. We had a ups and downs on the work load – looks…[Read more]