- People enjoy attractively designed gardens, public parks and playgrounds, residential areas, college campuses, shopping centres, golf courses, and parkways.
- Landscape architects design these areas so they are not only functional but also beautiful and harmonious with the natural environment.
- They plan the location of buildings, roads, and walkways, and the arrangement of flowers, shrubs, and trees.
- They also design and plan the restoration of natural places disturbed by humans, such as wetlands, stream corridors, mined areas, and forested land.
- Working with building architects, surveyors, and engineers, landscape architects help determine the best arrangement of roads and buildings.
- They also collaborate with environmental scientists, foresters, and other professionals to find the best way to conserve or restore natural resources.
- Once these decisions are made, landscape architects create detailed plans indicating new topography, vegetation, walkways, and other landscaping details, such as fountains and decorative features.
- In planning a site, landscape architects first consider the purpose of the project and the funds available.
- They then analyze the natural elements of the site, such as the climate, soil, slope of the land, drainage, and vegetation.
- They also assess existing buildings, roads, walkways, and utilities to determine what improvements are necessary.
- At all stages, they evaluate the project’s impact on the local ecosystem.
- After studying and analyzing the site, landscape architects prepare a preliminary design.
- To address the needs of the client, as well as the conditions at the site, they frequently make changes before a final design is approved.
- They also take into account any local, State, or Federal regulations, such as those protecting wetlands or historic resources.
- In preparing designs, computer-aided design (CAD) has become an essential tool for most landscape architects.
- Many landscape architects also use video simulation to help clients envision the proposed ideas and plans.
- For larger scale site planning, landscape architects also use geographic information systems (GIS) technology, a computer mapping system.
- Throughout all phases of planning and design, landscape architects consult with other professionals, such as civil engineers, hydrologists, or building architects, involved in the project. Once the design is complete, they prepare a proposal for the client.
- They produce 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.
- When 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.
- Landscape architects then monitor the implementation of their design, while general contractors or landscape contractors usually direct the actual construction of the site and installation of plantings.
- Some landscape architects work on a variety of types of projects.
- Others specialize in a particular area, such as street and highway beautification, waterfront improvement projects, parks and playgrounds, or shopping centres.
- Still others work in regional planning and resource management; feasibility, environmental impact, and cost studies; or site construction. Increasingly, landscape architects work in environmental remediation, such as preservation and restoration of wetlands or abatement of stormwater run-off in new developments.
- Historic landscape preservation and restoration is another area where landscape architects increasingly play a role.
- Landscape architects who work for government agencies do site and landscape design for government buildings, parks, and other public lands, as well as park and recreation planning in national parks and forests.
- In addition, they may prepare environmental impact statements and studies on environmental issues such as public land-use planning.
- Employment will grow as the planning and development of new construction, together with the continued redevelopment of existing buildings, creates more opportunities for landscape architects.
- With land costs rising and the public desiring more beautiful spaces, the importance of good site planning and landscape design is growing.
- Additionally, environmental concerns and increased demand for sustainably designed construction projects will spur demand for the services of landscape architects.
- For example, landscape architects are involved in designing green roofs that are covered with some form of vegetation, and that can significantly reduce costs associated with heating and cooling a building, as well as reduce air and water pollution.
- Landscape architects will also be needed to design plans to manage storm water run-off in a way that avoids pollution of waterways and conserves water resources.
- There should be good job opportunities overall as demand for landscape architecture services increases, but new graduates can expect to face competition for jobs in the largest and most prestigious landscape architecture firms.
- Many employers prefer to hire entry-level landscape architects who have internship experience, which significantly reduces the amount of on-the-job training required.
- Opportunities will be best for landscape architects who develop strong technical skills—such as computer design—communication skills, and knowledge of environmental codes and regulations.
- Those with additional training or experience in urban planning increase their opportunities for employment in landscape architecture firms that specialize in site planning as well as landscape design.
- During a recession, when real estate sales and construction slow down, landscape architects may face greater competition for jobs and sometimes layoffs.
- But because landscape architects can work on many different types of projects, they may have steadier work than other design professionals when traditional construction slows.
Landscape architects use their knowledge of design, construction, land-use planning, and environmental issues to develop a landscape project. Others whose work requires similar skills are Architects; Construction managers; Engineers, Survey, cartographers; photogrammetrists, and surveying and mapping technicians; Urban and regional planners.
Others workers concerned with the environment include Environmental scientists and specialists; Geoscientists and hydrologists.
- Bachelor’s degree in Architecture Landscaping
- Master’s degree in Architecture Landscaping
This career information is drawn from data provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.