I’m truly blessed to have a job that I love. While there are many things about Landscape Architecture that I appreciate, the three things that I like best are seeing people experience completed projects, the diversity of project types and doing something different every day.
A few months ago, I was doing some consulting work with another LA firm in downtown Knoxville. After a busy morning in the office, I walked to Market Square and got an ice cream cone. While enjoying the ice cream on a bench on a beautiful spring day, I watched children playing in the fountain, people enjoying lunches at cafes, friends running into each other and stopping to talk, a street musician playing a reggae version of ‘Brown-eyed Girl,’ city dwellers walking their dogs and a group of teenagers chatting on the lawn beneath the sawtooth oaks. Although my role in redeveloping Market Square and the adjacent Krutch Park was limited to Design Development drawings, Construction Drawings and Construction Administration, it was wonderful to see people using and enjoying the space. That HAS to be the best part about being a Landscape Architect!
A close second, however, would be the opportunity to work on so many different types of projects. Yesterday, for example, I spent time working on an estate residence, a modest residence, a client’s dream back-yard, and a recently-completed corporate office. Not only is every project unique, but the types vary in size and complexity. A project might be a 100 SF area, an acre or two or my personal record of a 524 mile greenway/park system. Similarly, the complexity varies. Whether the design is master planning, grading, detailing, paving, planting, lighting or irrigation, it can be simple or complex. Although it may sound boring to some, one of my favorite projects involved a high-security prison. I savored the process of plotting potential escape routes as if I were an inmate and verifying that they were secure with fences, cameras, clear site lines, etc., making adjustments as necessary, all while respecting a protected wetland adjacent to the site!
And finally, my third favorite thing about Landscape Architecture is getting to do something different EVERY day. Some days are in the office and may involve design, drawing, research, contracts, proposals, or submittal review. As a small business owner, there are invoices and accounting. Other days might involve site visits, meeting with clients, meeting with other professionals or visiting nurseries. And occasionally, I get to spend time enjoying the spaces I helped create!
Recent Comments