[Jonathan J. Bob]

Keith,  There are other sources for NJ CEC’s.  Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve in PA. has a Land Ethics Symposium that gives 5 CEU’s (at least the 2011 session did). 

 

Jonathan

 

[Jonathan J. Bob]

Jason,

     You are forgetting the major tenet of modern/contemporary design…”coolness over function”

[Jonathan J. Bob]

Jason,  it came in on my BB Storm just fine. 

 

Jonathan

[Jonathan J. Bob]

I’m in design/build.  I just went to a Techo-bloc seminar and they have an app for iphones and ipod touch that allows you to calculate areas.  You set your pace distance, hold the phone flat and pace the perimeter of the area for the proposed patio and/or walls.  You can then input which of their products you want to use and it will give you the quantity required.  They also have their entire product line w/pictures and details so you can show a client (kind of small photos) some examples.  Also they will give you a list of closest suppliers to job site using GPS.  Obviously this is limited to this manufacturer but maybe shows what is coming.

[Jonathan J. Bob]

What letters you put after your name will also depend upon in which state(s) you are licensed.

In New Jersey, LA’s are Licensed Landscape Architects.  Since I am licensed in NJ, PA and NY

I just use Landscape Architect after my name since in all states on licensed professionals can use

the title.  And for some reason whenever I see a lot of letter designations after someones name

(no matter what the profession) I tend to add (hopefully only in my head) M-O-U-S-E.  Now i’ve dated

myself.

[Jonathan J. Bob]

Just because you are licensed in one state, it doesn’t automatically guarantee reciprocity even if the state has a reciprocity agreement.  I was licensed in NJ in the 80’s (the first year they had licensing), met the education and experience requirements and passed the UNE.  In 2005 I applied for licensing in NY via reciprocity.  I had to prove my education (easy to do) and my work experience under a licensed LA.  This was more difficult because for 4 years of my employment there was no such thing as a licensed LA in NJ and while i did meet the work experience under a licensed LA,  20 years later he was a competitor of mine.  He turned out to be a stand-up guy and had no problem signing off on my work experience.  I got my NY license just before they changed the requirements.  In my opinion it’s all BS.  Aside from some state specific requirements (plants, etc.) that are necessary for obvious reasons, there should be 1 national standard for licensing.

[Jonathan J. Bob]

Visit Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia Church (even if you can’t get in). Go to a bar, drink sangria made from Cava, eat tapas, and think about the insanely amazing detail and the fact Gaudi was able to “sell” his design. Oh, and its going to take about 150 years to build. I was there in October and I plan on going back in ten years (or when it’s finished) to take in the full grandure. Oh, and for more sangria and tapas

[Jonathan J. Bob]

I agree that $100/hour seems right however since this is a side job can you make due with less. You need to charge enough so you don’t feel you sold yourself short. Figure out how many hours you think it will take, figure out what a fair price would be. Add on 10-15%. What does the hourly rate come out to be? Will you be happy with that? Also jobs like these can lead to others through referral. Will you be happy if you are expected to do other jobs at the same rate? Since it is a small residential job, you can’t get hurt too badly even if you underestimate the time. Good luck.

[Jonathan J. Bob]

Andrew,
Why would someone previously self-employed in design/build be less desirable as an intern? Would it be their drive to start their own company in a recession? Would it be their knowledge of how things are actually built and real world experience? I think that if Glenn decides in the future to go the “office” route, his practicle experience will only benefit his chances.

[Jonathan J. Bob]

When i meet with a client and discuss my fee, occasionally I will get “ABC Landscaping will do a free design or that they will credit back the cost of the design fee if we contract with them to do the work”. I then explain that “free” design is often worth what you paid for it and that if a contractor is “refunding” the design fee back if he does the work, the cost of the fee is worked back into the cost of the work. Therefore no free design. Also certain contractors may try to design what they have available or in surplus and not what is best for the design or client. I do design work for sevseral contractors and I design towards the clients needs (as it should be) and not to what the contractor needs to install.

[Jonathan J. Bob]

First I’m a dinosaur, I took the UNE (precurser to the LARE) in 1986 in NJ. THis was before the advent of the CLARB (I think). But I believe to obtain licensure through reciprocity you will need to have a current, active license in another state. I obtained my original license in NJ, got my PA license via reciprocity (fairly easy at the time) and my NY license also through reciprocity but had to prove 2 years working under another licensed LA. That may not normally be an issue but I had been working on my own for 15 years and was now in competition with my previous employer. Delayed for a few years in asking to fill out the paper work but it turned out not to be an issue. If a CLARB record would allow you to avoid some hassles, keep it. Regarding CE requirements in NJ, NY is no better, and in fact you have to sign in at every lecture session and sign out at the end and pick up an education certificate (at least for education sessions approved by NY in the NJASLA annual meeting). Additionally most sessions at the NJASLA annual meeting are generally approved by NJ,NY and PA. Attending the full meeting and attending the sessions fullfills your yearly requirements.

[Jonathan J. Bob]

I think that it is important to realize that how much a designer charges is based upon multiple factors. While experience tends to be the obvious, overhead may be the most important. With all things being equal, two designers with equal experience, sales ability, etc., may charge two very different rates. Designer “A” may be have less need for a higher net income, i.e. he may be comfortable with less. Also, in this economy, a designer may be willing to lower his rates to get work and may be willing to work more hours per week to make the same amount of money. Like it or not this is capitalism. In the residential design marketplace, LA’s have to compete with other LA’s, LD’s and others in the landscape field. There are all types of designers and all types of clients. How much should you charge? Enough. Enough so you are getting a fair rate for your time. Enough so you can pay your bills. Enough so you don’t resent the client for the rate you gave them. Enough so that when the client refers you, you will make money on that job too. While I think it is important to know what other designers in your area are charging so you can be competitive on the level you need, everyone has to find their own way.

[Jonathan J. Bob]

I don’t think that LA’s as a whole are better qualified to design these “structures” but I think we are better qualified to Design these “structures”. There is more to the design than getting the calculations and math correct. As Design professionals we are better equipped to handle what comes after the calculations.

I’m currently working on a large, single family residence that requires a large amount of retention. The engineers solution is a large retention/detention basin in the front yard. Not good. How about thinking beyond the obvious solution. How about sub-surface retention and using the water for irrigation (cost is not a big issue on this project). Or modifying the design as a bio-retention basin, with appropriate planting.

We are better to suited to this type of work because we are (for the most part) more creative (or at least we’re supposed to be). While it can be a pain, the math is the easy part.

[Jonathan J. Bob]

Jason,
According to the ASLA’s 2008 survey, 32% of the respondents billable hours were for residential design. Certainly not a small part of the profession. I think the broad scope of the profession, in some ways, allows for the general public’s confusion and misconceptions (and the fact that ‘Landscape” is in the title). Architects for the most part are involved in some way with the design, re-design, construction/engineering of structures. People tend to know what they do. As Josh stated in this discussion, HGTV is “Home and Garden TV” so of course their focus is the residential end of the profession.
Also if you run into anyone in NJ, NY or PA, that is looking for a residential LA, please send them my way.

[Jonathan J. Bob]

The perfect dinner-ware for me to pile my mash potatoes into the shape of Devil’s Tower.

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