Separating Fact From Fiction.

Landscape Architecture…known to some people as landscapers, designers, architects, or even contractors.

While we do offer a wide variety of skillsets and services for our clients, we often are mis conceptualized for what we do…

Fiction: Landscape Architects and Architects are the same thing.

Fact: No we are not the same thing. Our practice focuses on the infrastructure outside the building and on/in the ground. Understanding micro-climates outdoors, where water goes, and how people move from interior space to interior space. We do work together on many things but we look at the fabric and bones of the outdoors as they look inside the walls. We are also not landscapers, or civil engineers, or horticulturists.

Fiction: Landscape Architects do not need to be licensed to do their job.

Fact: We have both PLA and Landscape Designers on our staff and we work incredibly cohesively with each other, gaining new insight from each other, designing solutions to new problems and learning about long-time solutions that have worked for generations. Sometimes our team does not need to stamp documents and they just need planting plans, or just need a rendering, media, or graphic representation…we also have clients that look for master planning community input, and/or contractors that need the big ideas as a design-build element to their company. We have licensed staff that is essential in our line of work for the projects that require stamps for construction documents and … both are important, if you are stamping documents yes…you need to licensed.

Fiction: Landscape Architects just pick out plants for projects.

Fact: We do research and have several references for what plants are best suitable for the projects goals, this is basic knowledge that most of us in the practice come “programmed with”. By trade we are educated to understand planting design styles, native vs invasive plant materials, and environmental understanding. But take it a few steps further and we also analyze soil, infiltration, grade, accessibility, shade, site furniture, irrigation, flow, traffic, use, noise, culture, longevity and more. So yes we can pick out the plans for a project but more often then not we are an all-in-one service that can also manage an entire project from backyards to street engineering.

Fiction: Landscape Architecture can be designed after everything else and will have a lower budget.

Fact: Landscape Architecture is an essential part of any successful project. Weather that is parking, accessibility, storm water management, or even just plantings. The framework should always be communicating with each other to create a cohesive design and give all the pieces an interlocking system that works together. Yes it can take a long time but that means design options are being explored and time is being spent to make sure projects are carefully designed for users to experience each space intentionally inside and out.