Tosh K

Curious that the chapter can’t find them a home. Would think that any of the firms nearby [if there are any] or a program would at least take them to redistribute.

What I’m seeing: Brexit has caused screeching halts across architecture firms in Britain, seems like we’re taking similar approaches in doing international business; firms are bracing to lose H1B workers, younger US workers seem to be asking for more and doing less to take advantage of that; funded work is continuing / unfunded or funding pending…[Read more]

I’d say take a look around and see if you can find the disk version of an older AutoCAD (even back to 2012) – while some things have remarkably improved in recent versions, the basic command set for putting a drawing set together hasn’t changed all that much in 10 yrs. 
Once you get familiar with the software you could ask some more experienced…[Read more]

Some of it is influenced by where the applicant is in their life.  In the big cities there is a lot to do (often for free): lectures, gallery openings, vendor parties, etc.  In NYC, it seems the younger folks all go out, and are less concerned with living in a smaller apt further out (you can still easily pay well under $1k/month in Manhattan f…[Read more]

2nd Andrew’s recommendation – I learned AutoCAD on the job in a city engineering department.  Alternatively maybe with a contractor (shop drawings).

Are you looking for those graphic zoning books that were quite popular in the 90s and 00s down in FL? The kind produced for Celebration, Seaside, WaterColor, etc or parts of Charleston?  I know it’s been central to the push for NU developments but often has come under criticism for being a mechanism to enforce ‘taste police’ and a homogeneous…[Read more]

Turnaround in exam has partially to do with them analyzing the ‘tryout questions’ – the small body of volunteers available to write and review exam questions makes it difficult for rapid turnaround.  I’m assuming you’re heavily lobbying local veteran professionals to help chip in on the process.
Exam study books are the books the writers of the…[Read more]

Some of Shlomo Aronson’s monographs include historical landscape references (Israel).

not around fire, but the recycled rubber surfaces are pretty nice – you can also use the gravel ones too (I would think the urethane binder is flammable thought)

stone dust and oyster shells?

work for places that will give you a good work/life balance – I know too many people that traveled for work or worked in foreign places only to find that they only worked.  As with all jobs, have a great presentation ready (portfolio, resume, enthusiasm), know the language of the business (if not the place), and have some type of network.  A lot o…[Read more]

US, but engineering and history undergrad.  I find it helpful to have a different background.

Not sure what you’re looking for – it’s nearly impossible to do a universal assessment.  Even license exams aren’t that thorough.  You’d be asking to test: horticulture knowledge, grading, drainage, materials, detailing, specifications, software, office standards, writing, codes, erosion sediment control, design, drawing, modeling, etc, etc, e…[Read more]

Classes you might look for to boost your portfolio: drawing (horticultural based one if you can find it), photography.
Work experience that could be helpful outside of LA: construction, nursery work.
If a LD certificate program is available, it may not hurt, though it would depend on the relative strength of the program and who’s teaching (if…[Read more]

I’d check and see what the senior faculty and director of the program has done previously (assuming they’ve taught at a senior level elsewhere, it may give some indication of where they’re headed).  Even in established programs they rely on student feedback, but the changes come after you so it’s not a self driving aspect (that can be established…[Read more]

Pay is tied to work produced – we get paid for the work produced (not hourly rate, though it’s not entirely unrelated).  When proposals and contracts are written up, the hours for tasks is approximated, with the associated rate and the total fee is estimated.  Licensed staff can help reduce insurance costs and project qualifications, but it’s u…[Read more]

I’m curious to see where the LA River work is going to go – lots of work that will happen related to it.  Getting in touch with the consultants on that project should help (Mia Lehrer, Frank Gehry, etc).

As others have pointed out, a lot has to do with positioning.  I had a similar job while in grad school, mostly CAD jockey, but I got work on planting plans were I managed to get some freedom to design mostly based on understanding what planning boards may be looking for (an engineer might say less-evenly spaced shrubs, while you might call them…[Read more]