Jason T. Radice

It makes all the difference in the world when you go to take the licensing test in your state. If your degree is not accredited by LAAB, you do not qualify to sit for the exam after 3 years of practice or so. It will take you 10 years or so to become qualified. A BSLA is not accredited and is not a professional degree, whereas a BLA is accredited…[Read more]

I heard grape Kool-Aid does the same thing. Its more the smell than the taste (birds can’t taste too well, as evidenced by squirrel repelant in bird-feed…hot pepper flakes). This was a long time ago, but I heard that one project in Boston was rid of bird nesting by placing grape Kool-Aid around the ledges where they were nesting. It supposedly…[Read more]

The Swamp White Oaks should have no problem in that area, they are really tough (thats why they were ultimately chosen over another species). Given the high-profile of this project, and its symbolism, there will not doubt be very high levels of maintenance. I’m sure all the soils are designed and are trucked in (hopefully the innoculate them), and…[Read more]

You need to research the ‘Complete Streets” movement, of which there are many aspects. It is mostly implemented by departments of transportation as a way of incorperating bicycle and pedestrians in with vehicular traffic.

One very valuable resource for you will be the work of Jan Gehl. He’s a Danish architect and is a world-wide leader on bicycle…[Read more]

Agreed. Because of the budgets here around DC, most of the medians aren’t even mowed this year. Its great. It looks sooooo much better than when it is mowed and the clppings are all clumped and nasty. I think they should just mow 8′ in (for a shoulder) and let the rest go natural…trees and all. But we all know what traffic/trans engineers thing…[Read more]

Does anyone have time to even see it with the needle pegged?

I’ve seen this done by using slurry over sand bed system, in turn over concrete. The setting is 3 parts masonry sand and 1 part portland. The slurry is 1/2 bag of portland for 5 gal of water. Use acid/brick wash to clean efflourescence/surface mortar 3 days after install.

Never having actually done it myself, I would probably hire a contractor to…[Read more]

Oh, one more thing. Having dedicated GIS people in your firm doesn’t count…the LA must use the software as part of everyday work…THANKS!

Corner is known for his ‘ecological’ types of plantings. The High Line is one of the most intensely cultivated parts of NYC. It just looks naturalistic. The special soils, the irrigation, the constant pruning, thinning, and weeding…its no more natural than Central Park. Pieces of it are already falling apart due to poor construction details and…[Read more]

TOPOS is serious money over here ($150 for 4 issues!!!!!) . We already pay $300+ for LAM, we can’t afford any more for a TOPOS subscription.

As Henry stated, Dr. Yu is the head of Turenscape in China. It’s a 600 person strong firm that has been trying to change the Chinese perspective of beauty (current ideals are evidenced by the Olympic spectacle). He won 3 ASLA awards at this years convention (which is why he was here). I went to a private presentation of Dr. Yu’s at the University…[Read more]

I had the same kind of meeting with Peter Walker, he was very encouraging and a very nice man. I was suprised how many of the big names in LA were so approachable, especially since most didn’t have entourages constantly surrounding them (although, Dr. Yu had quite a contingency with him).

There were presentations with regards to the state of the business, primarily aimed at firm owners and those who have recently ventured out on their own as a result of the depressed job situation. It was not ignored as LAM has seemed to do. Even within many other presentations, the state of the profession was mentioned, often in jest as to when…[Read more]

Contact your local arborist, they can be very good with soils. Or you can try your local extension office. They usually are partnered with the USDA and can address soil issues on a very local level. I don’t know how far he will travel, but James Urban is the best there is with soils and trees. He has a book out as well.

No more fed-subsidized loans from banks, you are essentially borrowing right from the feds. Grace period? Try 90 days. Plus, an obscene (in this era of low interest rates) rate of 7 to 10%, which starts to accrue as soon as you take any money.

I’m trying to self-finance my MLA by taking secured loans against myself, in which I will actually make…[Read more]

I second the statement that most want the license as soon as they can get it. I waited a few years in practice and it was worth it. I doubt I could have passed if I took it right when I became eligible to. I made sure I knew exactly what the heck I was doing before I sat for the test, and made it through with no problems. Was it easy, no. I’ve…[Read more]

My reccomendations as a local:

Kogod Courtyard in the Smithsonian American Art/Portrait Gallery (Sir Norman Foster w/ Gustavson Guthrie Nichol) – Hopefully they will have the water scrims fixed by then

Dumbarton Oaks – Beatrix Farrand

US Capitol Grounds – F L Olmsted

FDR Memorial – Halprin

National Gallery Sculpture Garden – Olin

Thats a…[Read more]

so simply defining the practice and craft by one’s ability to earn licensure seems a little silly..

I agree, my point was semantics…and legalese. Passing the exam does not make you a LA. Because of practice and title laws, it is a separate piece of paper (with a fee, of course) make you a LA in the eyes of government and the industry. But one…[Read more]

The legal definition is not someone who passes the exam, as the exam is only a metric. The legal definition, which actually varies by state, is that a Landscape Architect is LICENSED to perform specific duties by said state. Yes, you do need to take the exam to get a license, but those rules set by a state. They do not specifically need to require…[Read more]

One thing I saw in your text has me wondering…you memorized the setbacks and radii. That may be your issue. They sometimes change those, you need to use the PACKET THEY GIVE YOU WITH THE TEST! The other thing to be aware of are minor drafting errors, like how the lines end at sidewalks and buildings.

CLARB, just like NCARB, must maintain…[Read more]