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re: Career advice: Landscape Designer/Landscape Architect questions
Posted on 6/12/14 at 12:16 pm to TRUERockyTop
Posted on 6/12/14 at 12:16 pm to TRUERockyTop
If I could start over, I would probably at least try for a minor in LA or maybe even double major LA and CE. I work with a few LA's and now use their insight on multiple projects.
Go LA and get a minor in urban planning.
Go LA and get a minor in urban planning.
0
Posted on 6/12/14 at 12:26 pm to Cdawg
- While you are in school get a lot of internship experience (even unpaid), makes a huge difference when you need to find a job
- Think about a focus on sustainable practices, water management and resiliency, its where the field is heading
- If classes permit think about a minor in pubic policy, public administration, economics, those are key skills that will help, especially in the public or non-profit sector
- This has nothing to do with you LA skills, but if you can take a few GIS courses do it
- Think about a focus on sustainable practices, water management and resiliency, its where the field is heading
- If classes permit think about a minor in pubic policy, public administration, economics, those are key skills that will help, especially in the public or non-profit sector
- This has nothing to do with you LA skills, but if you can take a few GIS courses do it
Posted on 6/12/14 at 1:25 pm to NOLALGD
Thanks again for the insight and advice guys.
Truly do appreciate it
Truly do appreciate it
Posted on 6/12/14 at 1:52 pm to TRUERockyTop
I’m a landscape architect and former military so feel free to PM me. As others have said, it’s a pretty diverse field. I’ve worked for boutique firms that specialized in high-end residential, medium sized firms that were strictly landscape architecture and larger inter-disciplinary firms that have engineers, architects, planners, etc. The field is very diverse – I’ve worked on some very cool high end residential single family homes and hi-rise condos, master plans for new-urbanist communities, parks and trails, and design guidelines for new communities just to name a few of my projects.
I find it very satisfying but also incredibly frustrating at times. Tight deadlines and a lack of understanding of what landscape architecture is and the value it can bring to a project are my biggest complaints. The pay-off for me is the knowledge that I’m designing something that will be around long after I’m dead and buried. Not a bad legacy to leave the world.
Salary might not be as bad as some here have made out. I started out in 1999 in a large-interdisciplinary firm making $32,500 a year. I’m currently at $80k. My boss makes $115k. It largely depends on your skill set and the market where you are. A guess on starting salary in my firm would be around $45k.
I would say you definitely have to have a degree in landscape architecture to get started in the field. Although you can take the exam and get licensed without a degree – it takes a lot longer and you’ll have to find a firm willing to hire you and teach you what you need to know. If you have to go to grad school then get a degree in a related field such as urban planning that will increase your marketability upon graduation.
Another thing – be prepared for a lot of all-nighters in school and, to some degree, in the professional world. And by all-nighters, I mean ALL night long. I stayed up for 76 hours straight finishing my senior design in college as did the majority of my classmates. Thankfully I was used to it by that time so it wasn’t that bad. During that mad building boom of the 2000’s I pulled more than one all-nighter because we had so much work and not enough landscape architects.
A few pieces of advice if you do decide to go the LA route:
1. Learn how to sketch – it’s a lost art. Almost everyone coming out of school knows Photoshop and/or Sketchup but almost none of them know how to do a quick sketch that conveys their design ideas.
2. Your portfolio coming out of school very important to being able to land an entry-level position. Work on it from day one in school so you’re not scrambling come graduation.
3. Learn AutoCAD. Your first job out of school won’t be as a lead designer – it’ll be producing construction documents for design ideas developed by others. If you have a good working knowledge of AutoCAD then you’ll be an immediate asset to whoever hires you.
4. Learn how to type. It’ll save you ton of time when you’re drafting meeting minutes or even writing e-mails.
I find it very satisfying but also incredibly frustrating at times. Tight deadlines and a lack of understanding of what landscape architecture is and the value it can bring to a project are my biggest complaints. The pay-off for me is the knowledge that I’m designing something that will be around long after I’m dead and buried. Not a bad legacy to leave the world.
Salary might not be as bad as some here have made out. I started out in 1999 in a large-interdisciplinary firm making $32,500 a year. I’m currently at $80k. My boss makes $115k. It largely depends on your skill set and the market where you are. A guess on starting salary in my firm would be around $45k.
I would say you definitely have to have a degree in landscape architecture to get started in the field. Although you can take the exam and get licensed without a degree – it takes a lot longer and you’ll have to find a firm willing to hire you and teach you what you need to know. If you have to go to grad school then get a degree in a related field such as urban planning that will increase your marketability upon graduation.
Another thing – be prepared for a lot of all-nighters in school and, to some degree, in the professional world. And by all-nighters, I mean ALL night long. I stayed up for 76 hours straight finishing my senior design in college as did the majority of my classmates. Thankfully I was used to it by that time so it wasn’t that bad. During that mad building boom of the 2000’s I pulled more than one all-nighter because we had so much work and not enough landscape architects.
A few pieces of advice if you do decide to go the LA route:
1. Learn how to sketch – it’s a lost art. Almost everyone coming out of school knows Photoshop and/or Sketchup but almost none of them know how to do a quick sketch that conveys their design ideas.
2. Your portfolio coming out of school very important to being able to land an entry-level position. Work on it from day one in school so you’re not scrambling come graduation.
3. Learn AutoCAD. Your first job out of school won’t be as a lead designer – it’ll be producing construction documents for design ideas developed by others. If you have a good working knowledge of AutoCAD then you’ll be an immediate asset to whoever hires you.
4. Learn how to type. It’ll save you ton of time when you’re drafting meeting minutes or even writing e-mails.
Posted on 6/12/14 at 2:24 pm to SadSouthernBuck
quote:
I’m a landscape architect and former military so feel free to PM me. As others have said, it’s a pretty diverse field. I’ve worked for boutique firms that specialized in high-end residential, medium sized firms that were strictly landscape architecture and larger inter-disciplinary firms that have engineers, architects, planners, etc. The field is very diverse – I’ve worked on some very cool high end residential single family homes and hi-rise condos, master plans for new-urbanist communities, parks and trails, and design guidelines for new communities just to name a few of my projects.
I find it very satisfying but also incredibly frustrating at times. Tight deadlines and a lack of understanding of what landscape architecture is and the value it can bring to a project are my biggest complaints. The pay-off for me is the knowledge that I’m designing something that will be around long after I’m dead and buried. Not a bad legacy to leave the world.
Salary might not be as bad as some here have made out. I started out in 1999 in a large-interdisciplinary firm making $32,500 a year. I’m currently at $80k. My boss makes $115k. It largely depends on your skill set and the market where you are. A guess on starting salary in my firm would be around $45k.
I would say you definitely have to have a degree in landscape architecture to get started in the field. Although you can take the exam and get licensed without a degree – it takes a lot longer and you’ll have to find a firm willing to hire you and teach you what you need to know. If you have to go to grad school then get a degree in a related field such as urban planning that will increase your marketability upon graduation.
Another thing – be prepared for a lot of all-nighters in school and, to some degree, in the professional world. And by all-nighters, I mean ALL night long. I stayed up for 76 hours straight finishing my senior design in college as did the majority of my classmates. Thankfully I was used to it by that time so it wasn’t that bad. During that mad building boom of the 2000’s I pulled more than one all-nighter because we had so much work and not enough landscape architects.
A few pieces of advice if you do decide to go the LA route:
1. Learn how to sketch – it’s a lost art. Almost everyone coming out of school knows Photoshop and/or Sketchup but almost none of them know how to do a quick sketch that conveys their design ideas.
2. Your portfolio coming out of school very important to being able to land an entry-level position. Work on it from day one in school so you’re not scrambling come graduation.
3. Learn AutoCAD. Your first job out of school won’t be as a lead designer – it’ll be producing construction documents for design ideas developed by others. If you have a good working knowledge of AutoCAD then you’ll be an immediate asset to whoever hires you.
4. Learn how to type. It’ll save you ton of time when you’re drafting meeting minutes or even writing e-mails.
I'm slammed at the office and can't respond to as much as I would like to, but thank you for the response. This entire thread has been helpful.
My concern is that UT doesn't offer LA as an undergrad. However they do offer Landscape Design & Construction. In your opinion, is that something potential employers wouldn't value as much? A degree in LD instead of LA. Also, do you know if there are differences in pay scales between the two degrees? I would imagine with 15 years of experience you've run across situations/questions like that along the way.
Again, thanks for the insight.
This post was edited on 6/12/14 at 2:26 pm
Posted on 6/12/14 at 3:16 pm to TRUERockyTop
quote:
However they do offer Landscape Design & Construction. In your opinion, is that something potential employers wouldn't value as much?
I would say yes but not with every company. Some larger design firms would probably hire an LA grad over LD grad. But smaller design firms to mid size design/build companies may not. So yeah, there may be some hesitation unless you can prove otherwise. If you've shown that you worked hard to get experience in the summer and have the CAD skills, you could get hired. Pay difference may not be that much different.
But all things equal, most will probably hire an LA over LD grad. But don't let this discourage you if that's the only option you have. The field is so diverse you can find your niche. If being a registered LA is your goal, then go to grad school and get your masters. That's only one more year than most LA schools(5 year programs). I have a A&M architecture grad working for me b/c all of her experience is actually with LA firms. She has great computers skills and a eye for design with an understanding of putting construction drawings together.
Posted on 6/12/14 at 3:24 pm to TRUERockyTop
quote:
However they do offer Landscape Design & Construction. In your opinion, is that something potential employers wouldn't value as much? A degree in LD instead of LA. Also, do you know if there are differences in pay scales between the two degrees?
I only know of one landscape architect in my firm (out of 35 nationwide) that have a degree in LD and they went on to get a master's degree in LA. When I think of LD I think of the people that work for landscaping firms/contractors who churn out backyard designs for single family homes - planting plans, pools and basic patios. I have no idea what the starting salary would be with a degree in LD but I imagine it would be less than if you had an LA degree. Most states are very specific about what someone with an LD can design versus what an LA can design.
Here's a link to the Department of Labor job outlook for LA's:
LINK
I'd be more than happy to call or e-mail you over the weekend to discuss the profession in more detail.
Posted on 6/12/14 at 4:29 pm to TRUERockyTop
quote:
However they do offer Landscape Design & Construction. In your opinion, is that something potential employers wouldn't value as much? A degree in LD instead of LA. Also, do you know if there are differences in pay scales between the two degrees? I would imagine with 15 years of experience you've run across situations/questions like that along the way.
This all depends on what type of job you want. If you want to work at a design firm, you need an LA degree. If you want to work as a contractor, than the one UT provides works, but you are limited depending on what your local codes are for landscape drawings. Its not a conventional field and i don't recommend it if you are thinking 6 figure income.
Posted on 6/12/14 at 5:06 pm to Geauxld Finger
quote:
Its not a conventional field and i don't recommend it if you are thinking 6 figure income.
How many LA's think 6 figure incomes?
if you went design/build route with that degree, you would probably reach or have the opportunity to reach 6 figures quicker IMO than going through the ranks of a large design firm. I know that would be the case in Houston.
Posted on 6/12/14 at 5:17 pm to Cdawg
quote:
if you went design/build route with that degree, you would probably reach or have the opportunity to reach 6 figures quicker IMO than going through the ranks of a large design firm. I know that would be the case in Houston.
i agree BUT it requires a huge time commitment and investment to even start. If you go into it thinking I want to own my own business then you will be as successful as you want to be as long as you work your arse off, can sell, do high quality designs, and do high quality construction.
Posted on 6/12/14 at 9:33 pm to Cdawg
I was going over a design for a project we've got coming up in a few weeks and noticed the architects name for the first time. I remembered seeing the name on the UT website and that he had contact information listed. Tomorrow I'm going to shoot him an email and get some info/recommendations on everything and try that Avenue as well. Thanks again
Posted on 6/12/14 at 9:37 pm to SadSouthernBuck
(no message)
This post was edited on 6/13/14 at 5:33 am
Posted on 6/12/14 at 9:45 pm to TRUERockyTop
I'd consider fencing and maybe light patio work too. Tree services are in demand as well.
I mean really, how much landscape architecture work is out there?
Most of the landscape work is in mowing, then nurseries, which is dominated by the big box stores.
What does a good career in landscape architecture look like?
I mean really, how much landscape architecture work is out there?
Most of the landscape work is in mowing, then nurseries, which is dominated by the big box stores.
What does a good career in landscape architecture look like?
Posted on 6/12/14 at 9:46 pm to BottomlandBrew
Just curious because I'm sure I've met with you before. Do you work for DBA in NO?
Posted on 6/12/14 at 9:56 pm to TRUERockyTop
I've experienced both sides of the profession. I worked as a PM/lead designer at an engineering firm for 11 years. I met with clients (municipal, commercial, residential), designed behind the computer and did CA during construction. I even did PM on architecture and CE jobs.
Then I moved and partnered with a fellow LA graduate of mine in a design-build business. The freedom is great, but like someone said, the field is saturated so it is very competitive. I enjoy though, and it has really opened up my eyes dealing with the built environment on a daily basis and how that affects design. Which is sometimes hard to see when you work behind a desk.
Like someone said, making people "get" the benefits of LA has been challenging, but it's getting better. The laws/codes are starting to change to feature it more and the influx of a younger professional group of people in the Greater New Orleans area will certainly benefit the profession long term.
Then I moved and partnered with a fellow LA graduate of mine in a design-build business. The freedom is great, but like someone said, the field is saturated so it is very competitive. I enjoy though, and it has really opened up my eyes dealing with the built environment on a daily basis and how that affects design. Which is sometimes hard to see when you work behind a desk.
Like someone said, making people "get" the benefits of LA has been challenging, but it's getting better. The laws/codes are starting to change to feature it more and the influx of a younger professional group of people in the Greater New Orleans area will certainly benefit the profession long term.
Posted on 6/12/14 at 10:22 pm to TRUERockyTop
Wrote it down so you can delete it now.
Posted on 6/12/14 at 11:57 pm to landarky
We might have met and you possibly helped me out on those LID maintenance costs, if that rings a few bells. One of these days we'll convince the people in charge that's a worthwhile investment and we can get shovels in the ground. Still trying to play the political game to get that going. I'd love to see that project happen. It would be great.
Posted on 6/13/14 at 10:50 am to BottomlandBrew
You're thinking right. Yes it would be nice to see some progressive thinking in our area. I do think it will eventually happen with the influx of younger, open-minded people moving to the city.
Posted on 6/13/14 at 10:59 am to SadSouthernBuck
Buck,
Thanks
Thanks
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