Rob Halpern

I often have my laptop in front of me in meetings where additional info might be helpful. Usually so does everyone else.

As for checking calls and texts, I now use this: https://getpebble.com/

There’s an app for that! http://bedbugregistry.com/metro/nyc/

This concern about germs surprises me. For one thing, more and more research is suggesting that our germ-phobia is making for more sickly children not healthier ones. Second, how many kindergartens and play groups sterilize all the toys and surfaces daily? This is a red herring.
The park was designed by a landscape architect.
It is simply a…[Read more]

Seems Rockwell (they used to specialize in restaurants) merely created a place to feature this existing model of playground
http://www.imaginationplayground.com/product.html
Plenty of these exist.
I like the idea of kids gathering around something that encourages them to play creatively together.
But the loss is that they could do this inside or…[Read more]

Depending on the project, I usually start investigating what is available  in the trade alongside what plants may be suitable. No point spending lots of time looking into plants you cannot get…. unless of course this is for the sheer joy of it.
So suitable plants for the USA may or may not help if you are working in Mexico

So perhaps something like this:
http://aridzonetrees.com/AZTimes%20Horticultural/Best%20Trees%20for%20Parking%20Lots.htm

As Barbara wrote (Hi Barbara!): depends on the desert.
I would add: depends on the style of landscaping. Do you want a horticulture based site to help with plant selection? Landscaping with native plants? Great landscape projects in desert locations?
What is the topic?

Yes, I up graded in 2012 with the support avail to upgrade to 2013. Many f my collaborators are using 2010.
I don’t plan on revisiting the issue until 2016 if I can help it.

Cows feeding on cows that people do not eat…. the mind boggles

I think there are no plants to deter cattle which also thrive in rain gardens and also are safe in public places. That is a very tight design parameter.

There are two methods that come to mind:
Cattle grids in the surrounding pavement….. which may catch as many pedestrians as it excludes cattle
Fencing/bollards

It requires physical restraint

Never used it. Appears more for homeowners and small landscapers. It is interesting to look at it: the “real plant pictures” look like photos but the “renderings” they show on their site look like Victorian valentine day cards with a tract home in the background. Ugh.

Beyond a fire barrier I imagine that you need to know something about the stone used in the patio and it’s reaction to heat. You may keep it clean but can you be certain you won’t crack it or cause it to discolor?

What is the soil type on this site? Is it an easily compacted clay (I doubt it) or a more sandy soil (most likely). Depending on the soil and how deep that existing gravel is, there may not be much of a problem. The canopy seems a bit smaller than I would have expected with this species and that trunk.
I suppose it may be worth using an air spade…[Read more]

Everyone falls differently on that. And we make a priority when we are young that we will change as we get older.
Some people would think the adventure of working for an American firm in Shanghai is not to be missed. Others wouldn’t touch it under any circumstances.
Doesn’t matter what we think.

If you are a young designer eagerly looking for high profile experience

I believe you know from your description which you would choose.
Yet your descriptions are of quality of Life rather than career possibilities. Maybe you should consider harder what your priorities are?

Or the buildings across the street!

Or accept government defense contract work

Amazing. So they design a concave mirror of huge proportions and no one on the team raises a red flag? (Or did they and it was incinerated?)

A book? Creating Freshwater Wetlands by Donald Hammer

An expert? Michael Ogden of http://www.biohabitats.com/