Everyone enjoys attractively designed residential areas, public parks, college campuses, shopping centers, golf courses, parkways, and industrial parks. Landscape architects design these areas so that they are not only functional but beautiful and compatible with the natural environment as well. They may plan the location of buildings, roads, and walkways and the arrangement of flowers, shrubs, and trees. They also may redesign streets to limit automobile traffic and to improve pedestrian access and safety. Natural resource conservation and historic preservation are other important objectives to which landscape architects may apply their knowledge of the environment as well as their design and artistic talents.
Landscape architects are hired by many types of organizations from real estate development firms starting new projects to municipalities constructing airports or parks. They are often involved with the development of a site from its conception. Working with architects and engineers, they help determine the best arrangement of roads and buildings. Once these decisions are made, landscape architects create detailed plans indicating new topography, vegetation, walkways, and landscape amenities.
In planning a site, landscape architects first consider the nature and purpose of the project and the funds available. They analyze the natural elements of the site, such as the climate, soil, slope of the land, drainage, and vegetation. They observe where sunlight falls on the site at different times of the day and examine the site from various angles. They assess the effect of existing buildings, roads, walkways, and utilities on the project.
After studying and analyzing the site, they prepare a preliminary design. To account for the needs of the client as well as the conditions at the site, they may have to make many changes before a final design is approved. An increasing number of landscape architects are using computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist them in preparing their designs. Many landscape architects are also using video simulation as a tool to help clients envision the landscape architects' ideas.
Throughout all phases of the design, landscape architects consult with other professionals involved in the project. Once the design is complete, they prepare a proposal for the client. They draw up detailed plans of the site, including written reports, sketches, models, photographs, land-use studies, and cost estimates, and submit them for approval by the client and by regulatory agencies. If the plans are approved, landscape architects prepare working drawings showing all existing and proposed features. They also outline in detail the methods of construction and draw up a list of necessary materials.
Although many landscape architects supervise the installation of their design, some are involved in the construction of the site. However, this usually is done by the developer or contractor.
Some landscape architects work on a wide variety of projects. Others specialize in a particular area, such as residential development, historic landscape restoration, waterfront improvement projects, parks and playgrounds, or shopping centers. Still others work in regional planning and resource management; feasibility, environmental impact, and cost studies; or site construction. Some landscape architects teach at the college or university level.
Although most landscape architects do at least some residential work, relatively few limit their practice to landscape design for individual homeowners because most residential landscape design projects are too small to provide suitable income compared with larger commercial or multiunit residential projects. Some nurseries offer residential landscape design services, but these services often are performed by lesser qualified landscape designers or others with training and experience in related areas.
Landscape architects who work for government agencies do similar work at national parks, government buildings, and other government-owned facilities. In addition, they may prepare environmental impact statements and studies on environmental issues such as public land-use planning.
A landscape architect prepares final working drawings after a design is approved.
Landscape architects spend most of their time in offices creating plans and designs, preparing models and cost estimates, doing research, or attending meetings. The remainder of their time is spent at the site. Before the project is actually begun, landscape architects analyze the site. During the design and planning stage, they may visit the site to verify that the design can be incorporated into the landscape. After the plans and specifications are completed, they spend time at the site observing or supervising the construction. Those who work in large firms may spend considerably more time out of the office because of travel to sites outside the local area.
Salaried employees in both government and landscape architectural firms usually work regular hours, although they may work overtime to meet a project deadline. Hours of self-employed landscape architects may vary.
Landscape architects held about 19,000 jobs in 1992. Three-fifths worked for firms that provide landscape architecture services. Most of the rest were employed by architectural firms. The Federal Government also employs these workers; most were found in the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Defense, and the Interior. About 1 of every 6 landscape architects was self-employed.
Most employment for landscape architects is concentrated in urban and suburban areas in all parts of the country. Some landscape architects work in rural areas, particularly those in the Federal Government who plan and design parks and recreation areas.
A bachelor's or master's degree in landscape architecture is usually necessary for entry into the profession. The bachelor's degree in landscape architecture takes 4 or 5 years to complete. There are two types of master's degree programs. The master's degree as a first professional degree is a 3-year program designed for students with an undergraduate degree in another discipline; this is the most common type. The master's degree as the second professional degree is a 2-year program for students who have a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture and wish to demonstrate mastery or specialize in some aspect of landscape architecture.
In 1992, approximately 50 colleges and universities offered 65 undergraduate and graduate programs in landscape architecture that were accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
College courses required in this field usually include technical subjects such as surveying, landscape design and construction, landscape ecology, structural design, and city and regional planning. Other courses include history of landscape architecture, plant and soil science, geology, design and color theory, and general management. In addition, most students at the undergraduate level take a year of prerequisite courses such as English, mathematics, and social and physical science. The design studio is an important aspect of many landscape architecture curriculums. Whenever possible, students are assigned real projects to work on, providing them with valuable hands-on experience. While working on real projects, students may become more proficient in the use of technologies such as computer-aided design, geographic information systems, and video simulation.
Forty-four States require landscape architects to be licensed. Licensing is based on the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.), sponsored by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards. Admission to the exam usually requires a degree from an accredited school plus 1 to 4 years of work experience, although standards vary from State to State. Nineteen States require additional examinations focusing on laws and/or plant materials indigenous to their State.
Because States' requirements for licensure are not uniform, landscape architects may not find it easy to transfer their registration to another State to practice. However, those who meet the national standard of graduating from an accredited program, serving 3 years of internship under the supervision of a registered landscape architect, and passing of the L.A.R.E. can satisfy requirements in most States.
In the Federal Government, candidates for entry positions should have a bachelor's or master's degree in landscape architecture. The Federal Government does not require its landscape architects to be licensed.
Persons planning a career in landscape architecture should appreciate nature and enjoy working with their hands. Although creativity and artistic talent are also desirable qualities, they are not absolutely essential to success as a landscape architect. High school courses in mechanical or geometric drawing, art, botany, and mathematics are helpful. Good oral communication skills are important, because these workers must be able to convey their ideas to other professionals and to clients and to make presentations before large groups. Those interested in starting their own firm should be skilled in small business management.
In States where licensure is required, new hires are technically called intern landscape architects until they become licensed. Intern landscape architects' duties vary depending on the type and size of employing firm. They may do project research or prepare base maps of the area to be landscaped, while some are allowed to participate in the actual design of a project. However, interns must perform all work under the supervision of a licensed landscape architect. Additionally, all drawings and specifications must be signed and/or sealed by the licensed landscape architect, who takes legal responsibility for the work. After gaining experience and becoming licensed, landscape architects usually can carry a design through all stages of development. After several years, they may become associates, and eventually they may become partners in a firm or open their own offices.
Employment of landscape architects is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005. The level of new construction plays an important role in determining demand for landscape architects. Anticipated growth in construction is expected to increase demand for landscape architectural services over the long run. An increasing proportion of office and other commercial and industrial development will occur outside cities. These projects are typically located on larger sites with more surrounding land which needs to be designed, in contrast to urban development, which often includes little or no surrounding land. Also, as the cost of land increases, the importance of good site planning and landscape design increases. Because employment is linked to new construction, however, landscape architects may face layoffs and competition for jobs when real estate sales and construction slow down, such as during a recession.
Increased development of open space into recreation areas, wildlife refuges, and parks will also require the skills of landscape architects. Continued concern for the environment should stimulate employment growth because of the need to design development projects which best fit in with the surrounding environment.
In addition to the work related to new development and construction, landscape architects are expected to be involved in historic preservation, local, city, and regional planning, land reclamation, and refurbishment of existing sites.
Although landscape architects are increasingly using computer-aided design and other technologies, employment is not expected to be affected because these technologies will be used to create more and better designs rather than reduce the demand for landscape architects.
In addition to new openings due to job growth, nearly as many openings are expected to result from the need to replace landscape architects who retire or leave the labor force for other reasons.
According to the limited data available, graduates with a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture started at about $20,400 in 1992; those with a master's degree started at about $30,600. Although salaries for experienced landscape architects vary by location and experience, the median salary for all landscape architects was about $41,900 in 1992. Those who are partners in well-established firms may earn much more than their salaried employees, but their incomes may fluctuate with changing business conditions. In 1993, the average annual salary for all landscape architects in the Federal Government in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions was $46,855.
Because many landscape architects work for small firms or are self-employed, benefits tend to be less generous than those of other workers with similar skills who work for large organizations. With the exception of those who are self-employed, however, most landscape architects receive health insurance, paid vacations, and sick leave.
Landscape architects use their knowledge of design, construction, and land-use planning to develop a landscape project. Others whose work requires similar skills are architects, interior designers, civil engineers, and urban and regional planners. Landscape architects also know how to grow and use plants in the landscape. Botanists, who study plants in general, and horticulturists, who study ornamental plants as well as fruit, vegetable, greenhouse, and nursery crops, do similar work.
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Reprinted with Permission of U. S. Department of Labor