What Do Landscape Architects Do?
The objective of landscape design is to arrange the placement of many different objects and parts of the land to complement each other. By arranging an area in the right manner, designs can be not only beautiful but functional as well. The buildings, walkways, and locations of trees are all planned before they are ever constructed. These jobs may be part of the construction of new apartment buildings, housing, parks, or college campuses. There are many aspects that must be considered. The location of everything that is going to be in the area must be planned down to the last detail.
When getting into entry-level landscape architecture jobs, the aspiring architect will be under the supervision of an experienced architect. The architects may be working with surveyors, foresters, and engineers depending on the type of project they are doing. There may be natural water sources involved and these may be incorporated into the plans and used to enhance the area. There are many decorative items that can be used in a landscape project as well.
Many people hire landscape architects to design their lawns and gardens. The use of different plants and shrubs that are indigenous to the area is among the things that a landscape architect will learn. They will want to learn how to make the most natural-looking areas and to enhance what nature already has in place.
The landscape architect is involved from the beginning phase of the project all the way through to the final stages. He or she may be consulting with architects who design buildings and other professional people who will be involved in the project, depending on what is being designed. The landscape architect will have to prepare written details of the project -- models, sketches, photos, and estimated costs -- for final approval before the project can even begin. Once approval is given, the landscape architect will begin working on drawings showing every aspect of the project. The drawings will include all the features that are already there plus the ones that will be added. They will show what is going to be used to accomplish the finished project and how. Once the project is ready to be started the landscape architect will be in more of a supervisory position, making sure the landscape contractors and general contractors are performing the construction according to plan.
If the landscape architect works for the government he or she may be involved in the design of public areas such as parks, buildings, and even specialized areas such as government nature reserves. The landscape architect must be aware of the regulations that govern any aspect of the project on which he or she is working. Since some rules and regulations concerning these types of environmental issues change from time to time, keeping up with new laws and regulations is a necessity.
Necessary Education for this Position
The educational requirements for this position will be either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in landscape architecture. This is almost a minimum for getting into a field such as landscape architecture. There are two acceptable undergraduate degrees. The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) and the Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA) are available for a person wanting to go into landscape architecture. Acquiring one of these will take about five years of study in the following:
- Design
- Art
- Construction techniques
- Natural science
- Social science
- History
What is the Rate of Pay for a Landscape Architect?
According to recent statistics the median earnings per year for landscape architects are $55,140. The middle 50 percent of this group averaged between $42,720 and $73,240. The highest 10 percent earned more than $95,420, while the lowest percentage earned less than $34,230. Nationally, the more populated areas had the highest amount of work for the landscape business. For example, landscape architecture jobs in Atlanta were far greater in number than in some other areas of the country.
The job prospects for landscape architects will be increasing faster than normal, with an increase of 16 percent projected for the years between 2006 and 2016.
