Landscape Architecture Jobs | Landscape Architect Jobs | Landscape Design
Landscape Architect Career - What is the Job of an Landscape Architect? What Do Architect Landscape Design Careers Involve?
Most people enjoy a beautiful public parks and the verdant landscaping on college campuses, golf courses, and shopping centers. The people responsible for designing the architecture of the natural environment are called landscape architects.
The job of landscape architecture is to plan the arrangement of flowers and trees, in addition to walkways and roads, so that the landscaping scene is a aesthetically pleasing. Landscape architect jobs may also have an environmental role and protecting and restoring damage wetlands, deforested land, and mining areas.
The work of landscape architects can be for a number of companies, from corporations designing their headquarters, to the government requiring an environmental hazard to be cleaned up. These landscaping professionals will work with architects and engineers in order to determine the best arrangement of buildings, in addition to having the help of environmental scientists who know the best way to restore match or sources.
Once this is done, though studying landscape architecture design will create plans and blueprints in order to map out the new landscaping details such as trees and shrubbery features.
Landscape architects have to have an eye for design, being able to identify climate, drainage, soil, natural vegetation, and to reconcile all love these factors with new roads and buildings that will be installed.
Landscape architect jobs involve producing the project under budget, as well as complying with all state and Federal regulations regarding landscape designer. Landscape architects jobs will also include overseeing and managing the design of the landscape.
Some landscaping professionals may specialize in one area, such as parks or forest restoration, while others may take any job that comes their way.
Working Conditions for Landscape Architect Jobs - How is the Working Environment for an Landscape Architect?
Landscape architects spend most of their day in a clean office environment, and will typically have a 40 hour workweek. Landscape architecture working environments can include overtime if a project needs to be completed quickly.
In their work, landscape architects must travel to the sites to verify their design is being incorporated properly. Some landscape designers will remain on site for larger projects in order to maintain the integrity of their design.
Landscape designers will also have to attend meetings with clients and professionals in order to understand what design they want.
Residential Architect Education - Train to Become an Landscape Architect - How to Receive Your Education at a Landscape Architect Job
The educational requirements for landscape architect training are quite high, usually requiring a master’s degree. In 2007, there were 61 universities that offered landscape architecture graduate programs, which are commonly credentialed by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board.
Sometimes, a bachelor of landscape architecture or a bachelor of science in landscape architecture is sufficient for those entering the profession. The landscaping BLA and BSLA require for years of learning how to design landscapes, construction techniques, as well as training in natural and social sciences.
The landscape architecture masters degree program includes valuable courses such as landscape ecology, urban and regional planning, and surveying. Further courses may involve the study of ecology, plant and soil science, geology, and general management. Computer training for landscape architecture may also be present, as many designs are now drawn up in CAD programs.
Landscape Architect Certification - How to Become Certified in Landscape Architect Design
All states in America, except one, require landscape architect licensing by the Landscape Architect Registration Examination, which is offered by the Council of Landscape Architecture Registration Boards. This landscaping architect accreditation has a graphic and multiple choice portion.
In order to gain entrance to this landscaping design exam, a degree from one of the 61 accredited landscape architect programs in America, in addition to 1 to 4 years of work experience under an experienced landscape architect, is necessary.
Furthermore, 15 states require that the state examination, which covers environmental regulations, laws, and climate among other topics, be passed.
Since different states had different examinations, anyone who has passed the landscape architect registration exam and has had three years experience will usually meet national requirements, although they will still have to obtain a landscaping design license from that state to practice landscape architecture.
Those starting out as a landscape architect are called intern landscape architects, and they will graduate to licensed landscape architects when they gain enough experience and pass the requisite examinations. Apprentice landscape architects are mostly responsible for mundane and boring tasks, getting more responsibility in landscape design as they progress in their training.
Outlook for Architectural Landscape Jobs - What is the Future of Landscape Architecture Jobs?
Despite the perception of architecture as a hands off profession, landscape architect jobs involve working with one’s hands, strong critical thinking skills, and an appreciation for the design and art of nature.
Landscape architects should also have upstanding communication skills, as they will need to communicate ideas and concepts related to landscaping effectively to their clients and to those who work under them. Many people in management have a hard time envisioning landscape design, so the landscape architect must be able to communicate complex architectural concepts in an easy to understand manner.
Computer skills are a must, as most landscape architects will graph out the topography and blueprint of their landscaping project using the aid of CAD software.
Outlook for Landscape Architects - What is the Future of Landscape Architecture?
The field of landscape architecture is expected to grow at a rapid pace of 16% over the next decade. With the increase in the price of land, it is increasingly the responsibility of landscape architects to manage ecologically friendly solutions, and to turn less desirable property into high dollar real estate.
With an increase in concern for land reclamation and historical preservation, landscape architect jobs will play a role in government restoration of old mines, forestry sites, and preserving the past.
Aspiring landscape architects who have received their master’s degree in landscape design should have no problem obtaining work as a professional architect.
Landscape Architect Salary Pay Scale - How Much Do Landscape Architects Earn?
So how much do landscape architects jobs make? In 2006, the median annual earnings for those engaged in the profession of landscape architecture came to $55,140. Architectural and engineering firms with the largest employers of architectural landscapers, and those working under such companies had earnings of $56,060 in the same time period.