Other recurring themes were the economy, the search for work, managing limited project budgets, competition, climate change and water scarcity. While these challenges may seem insurmountable at times, there is still a lot of optimism to be found. Increased risk Often, leading a team also requires the lead consultant to assume the risk of all the consultants on the team, which can often cause some problems, since landscape architects are often not covered by their insurance and, therefore, can increase the cost of insurance for the landscape architect ( depending on the country). It's key to understand the risks and responsibilities that the lead consultant assumes.
There are ways to structure the project contract to minimize risk. Increased administration: A higher level of project management may be required as a principal consultant, since he often has to manage the team on behalf (depending on the structure of the contract) of the client, leading to landscape architects devoting more administration and time to project management, something that many Landscape architects would like to do less or not more. This can lead to landscape architecture firms too often hiring specialized project managers or requiring the client to hire a project management consultant or company to manage the team and hire landscape architects as lead designers. Better projects: We may be biased, but when landscape architects take the initiative, it's better for the design company and also for the project in general.
Landscape architects are good generalists who can see the macroscale and how to unite different disciplines to create a holistic design. The more landscape architects can lead projects, the more they will be asked to lead better projects. Florida's south coast is a hostile environment for plants and gardening materials used in landscape design. The daily attack of salty air and intense sun can damage many landscape materials in a short period of time.
The floods, tropical storms, hurricanes and storm surges that hit the region also threaten the longevity of designed landscapes and their overall performance. Landscape architects practicing in the region must choose their palette of plants and materials wisely and also use the right techniques to ensure the durability and long-term survival of their designs. Two common problems are that budgets are too small and deadlines are too short. It seems that landscape construction is also the lowest priority of all subcontractors when it comes to conflicts and value engineering.
New employees waiting to be licensed can be called trainee landscape architects. While tasks vary depending on the type and size of the employing company, interns generally must work under the supervision of a licensed landscape architect for the experience to count towards being licensed. Prospective landscape architects can benefit from completing an internship at a landscape architecture firm during their educational studies. Interns can improve their technical skills and understand the company's daily operations, including learning to recruit clients, generating rates and working within a budget.
When designing outdoor spaces, landscape architects must be able to offer solutions to unforeseen challenges. These solutions usually involve analyzing challenges from different perspectives and offering the best recommendations. Landscape architects use computer-aided design and drawing (CADD) programs to create representations of their projects. Some must also use geographic information systems (GIS) for their designs.
Environmental concerns and efforts to conserve water and prevent waterway pollution may also generate some demand for landscape architects. For candidates without a degree in landscape architecture, many states offer alternative pathways that generally require more work experience to qualify to take the LARE. Climate change, rapid urbanization, species extinction and inequity make the need for sustainable landscape solutions greater than ever. Having greater understanding and empathy for consultants leads to more qualified landscape architects who can manage projects more fluently, as they have increased their understanding of the process and the requirements involved to achieve the best project results.
And, in fact, there are great stories to tell about landscape architecture, a profession that is an integral part of the ongoing urban renaissance and to mitigate the effects of climate change, social equity and other issues. Managers must be involved in the landscape design and planning process to avoid landscapes that are expensive and difficult to maintain. Some maintenance contractors often don't recognize their role and landscape architects aren't always able to help extend the life of the project. As ASLA points out, the value of this qualitative and quantitative research with solid data helps to communicate the importance of the profession to those who have no experience in landscape design.
Landscape architects must fly the flag of their profession if they want to receive the recognition they rightly demand and deserve, says Charles A. Birnbaum. Licensed landscape architects can also obtain voluntary certification from the Council of Landscape Architects Registration Boards, which could make it easier to obtain a license in another state. The WLA article suggests several ways to promote the profession, but there is still an inferiority complex in the message: humble achievers in the background make landscape architects look like wallflowers at the prom.
Improved technologies are expected to increase the productivity of landscape architects, which should reduce overall demand for employment over the decade. Therefore, it is key as landscape architects that we acquire project management skills and that we also understand the scope required by the client and, therefore, the reach of each consultant. When designing a building's drainage system, for example, landscape architects must understand the interaction between the building and the surrounding terrain. Landscape architecture is an innately ephemeral art that involves constantly changing components (light, temperature, seasonality, ecology, hydrology, soil, spatial orientation, social organization, growth and decline, etc.) and that requires maintenance and management.
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