[Tracey]

I’m in a similar position, but my background is marketing so I’m even further from the field of LA. I contacted my local ASLA chapter, and the president is going to have me shadow her and do some office work and help in preparing for ASLA events.

I’m also taking a beginning drawing class at my local college, in the extension program. It doesn’t focus on landscape, but it’s helped me learn just how to perceive things and given me basic drawing skills – and I had none before.

I met with a local landscape architect to ask him a bunch of questions about the day-to-day job. That was extremely helpful. (I just looked up local firms on the Internet, and emailed him – he was nice enough to make time for me). I also spoke with a professor at Berkeley who was very helpful.

Lastly, I’m considering taking an AutoCAD class too. Hope that helps…

[Tracey]

Having worked in childcare before, I have to say that no, playgrounds are not too safe. Generally, I agree that America is sue-happy and more sanitized than I’d like. However, even safe-looking playgrounds are not as safe as they appear. We used to call them “accidents waiting to happen.”

Even “safe” playgrounds require vigilant child supervision. When I was in childcare, we had a lot of trained staff people working with the kids. Even then, kids got hurt. If the structures were taller or less stable, kids could get permanently injured (which is why they took them down).

So in theory, I’d love to say let’s just teach our kids to keep themselves save — but when you are actually watching kids or have your own, I think you change your tune.

[Tracey]

There’s a video on their website, http://www.imaginationplayground.org – under photos. It’s pretty neat.

Jonathan Fell said:

That sounds fantastic. So, does it tour around or is it on a fixed site? Brighton would be a great place for something like that wonder if something like that could happen here. I’ll have a look into it. Are there any sites showing that project anywhere?

Jonathan

[Tracey]

Cool, thanks for the list. I use Pageflakes, which graphically shows the top posts from my favorite blogs on one page (using RSS feeds). I’ve created a public page at: http://www.pageflakes.com/croughwell/22836207. Check it out. I’ll add some of those blogs you listed, too.

[Tracey]

I agree with nrschmid. There’s an assumption that if you’re getting an MLA (w/ no previous LA experience), that you have some professional experience that a BLA doesn’t. When I talked to the owner of a firm, he implied that someone with an MLA with business experience would earn more than an MLA with no business experience. Now, I would need to pitch my business experience as being applicable to the job, of course. Something like project management would be a lot more relevant than, say, computer programming.

That said, if you’re a BLA with more LA and life experience than an MLA, I think you can negotiate a better salary.

[Tracey]

Hi Nick —
As I am looking at getting into the profession, I recently met with a San Diego area landscape architect who owns his own firm to find out more about the profession. I asked him about salary numbers, and he was refreshingly frank. Here’s what I learned.

His firm pays on the high end, but he said his salaries are just on the high end of average for our area. MLAs with no experience (and no business experience in other careers) earn 45-55k out of school. The mid-level guys make around 85k. The top guys in his firm make 160k.

His impression was that a lot of professors give a gloomier outlook on salaries than is necessarily true. His firm had about 18 LAs, and did mostly international hotel projects with some real estate projects and very little civic work. Hope that helps.

[Tracey]

Wow, I really love the natural feel of those photos… especially the dragon! Very imaginative.

Phillip Smith said:

This looks fantastic Tracey. I’d like to read more about the process of developing this stuff. We’ve been looking at a similar less technical approach at the community centre I work at. We’ve been working on ideas the theme ‘things animals build’ – birdsnest, spiders webs etc. and developing a range of safe building materials that kids can use to construct their own playground.

[Tracey]

Are you going to Spain? The temple of la Sagrada Familia is one of the most (maybe THE most) original pieces of architecture I’ve ever seen. Worth spending an afternoon there and getting the audio tour.

[Tracey]

I actually spoke with one of the professors recently; his name is Carlisle Becker. I would recommend contacting him; he’s full of information, and I’m sure he’d be happy to chat with you. His one criticism of the program is that it takes most students more than 6 years to get their certificate. I think that’s because the advisors aren’t pushing the students enough and class availiability can be tight.

However, if you’re not going for the certificate, the classes are rated highly. I haven’t taken any, so that’s the extent of my knowledge.

[Tracey]

I really love the Ginko bilboa. Beautiful in summer and fall, and the leaves have a uniquely beautiful shape. It has remarkable genetic flexibility… relatives of the tree have been around for 270 million areas in a wide geography.

Oaks are a favorite of mine, too, because they remind me of the West and the area I grew up in (Ventura County). We have many jacarandas in San Diego and they are widely enjoyed.

[Tracey]

I’m not sure if these sites will have what you need, but http://www.sxc.hu/ is a site for free stock photography. Also http://www.istockphoto.com is not free but really cheap (usually $1-10 per photo).

[Tracey]

Perfect — thanks everyone for your feedback. Makes me feel a lot more sure I’m heading in the right direction!

[Tracey]

I’m looking at Cal Poly Pomona (accredited) and the Conway School of Landscape Architecture (not accredited). I’m currently in San Diego and can’t move, so Cal Poly is my only choice of accredited programs. The Conway School is In Massachusetts but is only 1 year, which I can do.

I guess my question is, what does the certification do for you? Do most jobs require the certification to work at higher levels?

I intend to be in the profession for the rest of my life, and of course I want to keep moving up. My hunch is that the certification is worth the sacrifice, but wanted to check with people who have practical experience. I’d hate to go for the certification just to learn later on that employers don’t even look at it.

[Tracey]

That makes sense; thanks for the feedback. While not having enought time for clients must be hard, I am at least heartened by the fact that LA is an in-demand profession.

[Tracey]

Awesome, thanks… I will check out that issue!

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