[Brittany Brock Birdsong]

I became a LEED-AP and took some time learning more about native plants in my area.  I finally took a part time unpaid internship at an architecture firm and that’s been the best way to keep my skills active.  It’s better for me to be building experience and relationships which will eventually help me get a paying job than staying at home looking for jobs.  I find the busier I am, the more I accomplish.

[Brittany Brock Birdsong]

I am curious about everyone else’s response to this. First of all, who is your portfolio aimed at? Schools, or potential employers? I currently also have a few construction details in my portfolio. I have restricted them to one page and I find most people just use it as recognition that you can do construction documents. These showcase what you did at your internship and will most likely be what a large part of your job will entail. I would include them for potential employers.

[Brittany Brock Birdsong]

Thanks! Unfortunately the Morocco section says it has no plants right now. Looks like a hugely informational site. Just wondering if there are any sites out there where you can search by location or climate zone rather than species name.

[Brittany Brock Birdsong]

Check out EcoLand- they’re an architecture, planning, and landscape design company in Beijing. http://www.ecoland.cn/Guidepage.html
The page is in Mandarin but maybe you can find more information online. I worked there a few years ago…great firm.

[Brittany Brock Birdsong]

I’m loving this post since I’m currently living in Paris for 4 months! If you’re looking for contemporary, I would check out the Pompidou. If you want I have a great book of descriptions of LA projects made for the LSU field trip a could years ago I can send to you if you message me.

[Brittany Brock Birdsong]

I just wanted to put in some two cents on my personal experience recently. I graduated in 08 and moved out to the Bay area with a job. Shortly thereafter, my company laid off all new employees and was hit dramatically by the recession. I have been working on and off freelance jobs and recently have relocated for a few months in Paris. I’m currently doing an internship at a young, innovative architecture firm. I was actually offered 2 internships from 2 interviews I went to, both at architecture firms. I want people to know that at least over here, design firms are busy doing projects in Morocco, Caribbean and the rest of Europe. I needed design experience and it’s good working so closely with architects and learning to think about the design process a slightly different way. Whether or not this will help me get a job when I return to the States, we will have to see!

[Brittany Brock Birdsong]

I did an internship in Beijing in 2007 for 3 months for what used to be the Oriental office of a large American firm. I really enjoyed working in China and actually still have some classmates that are working for the same company since they can’t find work in the USA. For my internship, they provided housing which was amazing and within walking distance to my job. That being said, my salary was the equivalent of around $2/hour and I was paid in cash once every 2 weeks. This salary was typical of those I worked with. China is exceptionally cheap, so I made plenty to have fun and go shopping and travel. But it wouldn’t be enough for me to pay off American student loans, etc.

My impression of Landscape Architecture over there is that it is still relatively new. They are learning from American and European projects and since there are no copyright laws, a lot of famous designs were literally copied and presented to clients. I can answer more questions that you have but my advice would be to stay in touch with them and find out details but complete your education. I am really happy I had the experience and can put it on my resume though.

[Brittany Brock Birdsong]

For some reason I thought that was it! I interviewed with them…they do seem like a great firm! Best of luck!

[Brittany Brock Birdsong]

I am interested in this as well because my husband may be relocated to Paris. I do speak conversational French but have heard it is very difficult for Americans to find work in France. I am thinking of trying to do an internship for an international firm or spend my time there as developing a series of drawings, paintings, and design.

[Brittany Brock Birdsong]

Wes- if you don’t mind me asking…what firm did you get the entry level job with in Santa Clara?

[Brittany Brock Birdsong]

I think most people will agree that the market is really tight right now. If you are looking for firms north of San Francisco, I have seen some postings for jobs in Sacramento like EDAW. Good luck!

[Brittany Brock Birdsong]

I loved Versailles! We rented bikes as well which I highly recommend since the gardens are so large. Take time walking around the fountain with the horses. It changes from every angle. We opted not to go inside since the gardens are much more interesting!!

[Brittany Brock Birdsong]

I’m looking into taking Richard Scott’s Sketching on Location workshop in San Francisco coming up. Has anyone taken this and can anyone say if it dramatically helped them? I have taken Mike Lin’s workshop for a week this past summer.

[Brittany Brock Birdsong]

My former company had over 100 employees when I started there late summer 2008 including architects, interior designers, planners and landscape architects. They had lots of large large scale international community/resort design projects. Since then, nearly all projects have been cut due to backing by financial groups like the Lehman Brothers. They are now down to about 25 people and have closed some of their smaller offices nationally. It is so sad to see great companies on the verge of closing doors.

To cope with the time, I took the LEED exam and am joining forces with some other people who were let go and we’re submitting a proposal for a local low income green housing development here in San Francisco. One of the girls is starting her own small business. We will see where it takes us!

[Brittany Brock Birdsong]

I have a BLA from LSU and I think I heard somewhere that a BLA program is 5 years and BSLA I think is 4 years.

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