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What is a typical day like being a Landscape Architect?
My name is Christa and I am 19 years old. I am looking to see what type of job would most fit me and my skills. I want to know more about the routine of a Landscape Architect to have more or less of an idea of what it might be like. #architecture
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Aaron Scales
Creative Director, Architectural Designer, Artist & Muralist
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Aaron’s Answer
Although not a Landscape Architect myself, I've worked with several of them and have noticed their work can be very diverse! One project was for the 9/11 Memorial in Washington, DC, where a landscape architect in my team selected regional plants that not only thrived in that climate for a berm around the memorial, but the plants had to look great with our design and help block the view of traffic. She also helped engineer a new grass solution for the National Mall in front of the Capitol because the lawn get's so much foot traffic!
Later, in my hometown, landscape architects designed "rain gardens" to beautify the downtown for the World Equestrian Games. Rain gardens are attractive replacements for street storm drains where water fills them up, but plants, stones and soil filter the water back into the ground instead of into a waterway.
Another landscape architect just called me last week to paint a mural on a parking garage for an office complex she's helping beautify. She often calls me for public art ideas and cool street activations she's including in her urban landscape projects.
One of my favorite landscape architecture firms is called "West8," from the Netherlands. They taught one of my classes when I was in architecture school, and sometimes their work seems more like public art or architecture than landscape. It's full of color, extremely creative, and it often blurs the lines between land and buildings. One park they proposed was designed to float over a freeway several stories above a river, and it had pathways in the shape of the state flower that could only be fully viewed if you were looking down on it from a skyscraper next door!
Check out West8's landscape architecture work here: http://www.west8.com/projects/
Check out NYC's High Line landscape architecture project here: https://dsrny.com/project/high-line
Later, in my hometown, landscape architects designed "rain gardens" to beautify the downtown for the World Equestrian Games. Rain gardens are attractive replacements for street storm drains where water fills them up, but plants, stones and soil filter the water back into the ground instead of into a waterway.
Another landscape architect just called me last week to paint a mural on a parking garage for an office complex she's helping beautify. She often calls me for public art ideas and cool street activations she's including in her urban landscape projects.
One of my favorite landscape architecture firms is called "West8," from the Netherlands. They taught one of my classes when I was in architecture school, and sometimes their work seems more like public art or architecture than landscape. It's full of color, extremely creative, and it often blurs the lines between land and buildings. One park they proposed was designed to float over a freeway several stories above a river, and it had pathways in the shape of the state flower that could only be fully viewed if you were looking down on it from a skyscraper next door!
Aaron recommends the following next steps:
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Lauren’s Answer
Hello! I finished my graduate degree in landscape architecture about a year ago and now I work at a landscape architecture firm. This is a job for people who are creative and love solving problems and want to create positive change in the physical (and sometimes social) world around them. I am not yet licensed, so my job title is just a landscape designer. In order to become licensed, you need either a 5 year undergraduate degree or a 3 year graduate degree. Afterwards, the requirements differ from state to state. Most states require experience working under a licensed landscape architect. Some states also allow experience working for an architect or engineer. Each state has differing amounts of years required. North Carolina requires 4, Louisiana requires 1 year. You also need to pass a 4 part licensing exam. Some states require extra testing.
Being a landscape architect is a very diverse field. We can design anything in the outside world, sometimes indoors- like an indoor botanical garden. You can design parks, roadways, playgrounds, wetlands, green roofs, etc. Landscape architecture allows you to find your niche, depending on your interest. You can specialize in plants and planting design, stormwater management, climate change and disaster resilience, environmental justice, habitat restoration- you name it! I personally specialize in designing a site to mitigate or absorb and clean flood waters.
A typical day you will work on different stages of multiple projects. You could have client meetings, conceptual design, construction documentation, model making, a visit to a site you're working on, and so forth. You will work closely with architects and engineers. We spend a lot of time on the computer making construction documents, or drawings that show how to construct your design. We also will use photoshop, sketchup, rhino or other software to virtually show how the design will look. In most firms you will have to occasionally work over time, especially when deadlines come up.
Hope that helps!
Being a landscape architect is a very diverse field. We can design anything in the outside world, sometimes indoors- like an indoor botanical garden. You can design parks, roadways, playgrounds, wetlands, green roofs, etc. Landscape architecture allows you to find your niche, depending on your interest. You can specialize in plants and planting design, stormwater management, climate change and disaster resilience, environmental justice, habitat restoration- you name it! I personally specialize in designing a site to mitigate or absorb and clean flood waters.
A typical day you will work on different stages of multiple projects. You could have client meetings, conceptual design, construction documentation, model making, a visit to a site you're working on, and so forth. You will work closely with architects and engineers. We spend a lot of time on the computer making construction documents, or drawings that show how to construct your design. We also will use photoshop, sketchup, rhino or other software to virtually show how the design will look. In most firms you will have to occasionally work over time, especially when deadlines come up.
Hope that helps!
Updated
Jeffrey S.’s Answer
Hi Christa! I received my undergraduate degree in landscape architecture 3.5 years ago and I have been working for a multi-disciplinary ever since. The role and projects of a landscape architect can vary vastly. Landscape architects strive to design places that people will enjoy while also being environmentally focused and conscience. You could work on different project types like parks, streetscapes, green roofs, pool decks, hospitals, universities, regional planning and many many more. As a professional you are expected to have the imagination and technical knowledge to revision what a site could become and then how to make it happen from a construction level.
There are so many different things you could specialize in (but you don’t have to) like green infrastructure, green roofs, coastal restoration, climate change resiliency, playground and so many more. With the world ever growing their attention on the environment, the role and importance of a landscape architect will only expand.
A typical day varies just as much as the project types. Sometimes you’re meeting with clients to talk about projects or go over progress, you could be in the office using the many computer softwares to create construction documents or graphic renderings - sometimes too you need to pull out the paper and pencil and sketch something to figure it out before working it into the computer, or you coul be out in the field doing a site investigation or meeting with a contractor to make sure the site is being constructed correctly.
It’s a terrific field that can have a tremendous impact on your local communities while making significant national contributions. No two days are the same and you’re always working/doing something different. It can be really fun too working on some of these projects because you get to draw, color, and create awesome places in the computer that eventually fruition in real life! It’s a really rewarding profession!
https://www.asla.org
There are so many different things you could specialize in (but you don’t have to) like green infrastructure, green roofs, coastal restoration, climate change resiliency, playground and so many more. With the world ever growing their attention on the environment, the role and importance of a landscape architect will only expand.
A typical day varies just as much as the project types. Sometimes you’re meeting with clients to talk about projects or go over progress, you could be in the office using the many computer softwares to create construction documents or graphic renderings - sometimes too you need to pull out the paper and pencil and sketch something to figure it out before working it into the computer, or you coul be out in the field doing a site investigation or meeting with a contractor to make sure the site is being constructed correctly.
It’s a terrific field that can have a tremendous impact on your local communities while making significant national contributions. No two days are the same and you’re always working/doing something different. It can be really fun too working on some of these projects because you get to draw, color, and create awesome places in the computer that eventually fruition in real life! It’s a really rewarding profession!
Jeffrey S. recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Vincent’s Answer
I’m old school, having graduated in Landscape Architecture in 1967. Today’s work environment is accomplished with technology that didn’t exist when I began my career, but a private sector design office still has the same elemental approach to projects. New projects require analysis and conceptual development ideas, which interns and younger professionals get to work on, usually under a more senior designer or project manager. The actual design concepts are usually developed by the senior designer, but being involved in the steps will help you understand the structure and evolvement of a design. A typical day in the office can start with a project start meeting, advising the team of the nature of the project, timelines, and assignment of tasks.
Updated
Matt’s Answer
Hi Christina! The profession of landscape architecture is varied. Most graduates begin by working in a private-sector design consulting firm. This firm might include engineers, planners, biologists, surveyors... essentially any profession that deals with the built environment. In this sector, landscape architects use a lot of software programs to create illustrations and construction documents. Many firms value hand drawing skills and creativity.
Software programs include AutoCAD, Revit, Sketch-up, Lumion, GIS, Photoshop, and others.
There’s also firms that specialize in high-end residential design-build. In this case, designers work closely with homeowners to create outdoor spaces, pools, outdoor kitchens, etc.
Landscape contracting is another popular field. People in this field usually spend their days outdoors leading a crew of laborers and tradespeople. Cost estimation and construction scheduling is crucial to success as a contractor.
The public sector provides many opportunities as well. Some jobs require design skills, others have more emphasis on management. Potential employers include city government, city/ county/ state parks and recreation, Army Corp of Engineers, National Park Service, National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, civilian jobs within the military, and more.
Some landscape architects become sales representatives for construction materials manufacturers and suppliers because of their knowledge and network.
Landscape architecture is a broad profession that generally is well suited for people interested in design, outdoors, public spaces, and construction. Urban planning, urban design, and ecological restoration are closely related.
Considering you are from El Paso, arid and semi-arid land management is a growing area of expertise for which landscape architects are well suited. I encourage you to visit universities, design offices, and public departments. They would be eager to talk about the profession. UTEP has a fantastic landscape designed by Christine Ten Eyck, a graduate of Texas Tech University.
Software programs include AutoCAD, Revit, Sketch-up, Lumion, GIS, Photoshop, and others.
There’s also firms that specialize in high-end residential design-build. In this case, designers work closely with homeowners to create outdoor spaces, pools, outdoor kitchens, etc.
Landscape contracting is another popular field. People in this field usually spend their days outdoors leading a crew of laborers and tradespeople. Cost estimation and construction scheduling is crucial to success as a contractor.
The public sector provides many opportunities as well. Some jobs require design skills, others have more emphasis on management. Potential employers include city government, city/ county/ state parks and recreation, Army Corp of Engineers, National Park Service, National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, civilian jobs within the military, and more.
Some landscape architects become sales representatives for construction materials manufacturers and suppliers because of their knowledge and network.
Landscape architecture is a broad profession that generally is well suited for people interested in design, outdoors, public spaces, and construction. Urban planning, urban design, and ecological restoration are closely related.
Considering you are from El Paso, arid and semi-arid land management is a growing area of expertise for which landscape architects are well suited. I encourage you to visit universities, design offices, and public departments. They would be eager to talk about the profession. UTEP has a fantastic landscape designed by Christine Ten Eyck, a graduate of Texas Tech University.