What Do Landscape Architects Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Landscape Architects plan and design land areas for projects such as parks and other recreational facilities, airports, highways, hospitals, schools, land subdivisions, and commercial, industrial, and residential sites. They also confer with clients, engineering personnel, or architects on landscape projects.

Other tasks include:

• Prepare site plans, specifications, or cost estimates for land development.
• Analyze data on conditions such as site location, drainage, or structure location for environmental reports or landscaping plans.
• Develop marketing materials, proposals, or presentation to generate new work opportunities.
• Inspect landscape work to ensure compliance with specifications, evaluate quality of materials or work, or advise clients or construction personnel.
• Prepare graphic representations or drawings of proposed plans or designs.
• Present project plans or designs to public stakeholders, such as government agencies or community groups.

We asked Landscape Architects how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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73% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 71% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Landscape Architects confer with clients, engineering personnel, or architects on landscape projects. They prepare site plans, specifications, or cost estimates for land development.

A typical day for a Landscape Architect will also include:

• Develop planting plans to help clients garden productively or to achieve particular aesthetic effects.
• Integrate existing land features or landscaping into designs.
• Manage the work of subcontractors to ensure quality control.
• Collaborate with architects or related professionals on whole building design to maximize the aesthetic features of structures or surrounding land and to improve energy efficiency.
• Research latest products, technology, or design trends to stay current in the field.

We asked some Landscape Architects a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	93% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	50% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	64% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	39% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	21% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Landscape Architects also manage the work of subcontractors to ensure quality control. They may also analyze data on conditions such as site location, drainage, or structure location for environmental reports or landscaping plans.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Landscape Architects Develop marketing materials, proposals, or presentation to generate new work opportunities. They might also Inspect landscape work to ensure compliance with specifications, evaluate quality of materials or work, or advise clients or construction personnel.

In addition, they Prepare graphic representations or drawings of proposed plans or designs.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Collaborate with estimators to cost projects, create project plans, or coordinate bids from landscaping contractors.

To some Landscape Architects, it is also their responsibility to Inspect proposed sites to identify structural elements of land areas or other important site information, such as soil condition, existing landscaping, or the proximity of water management facilities.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Landscape Architect, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/architecture-and-engineering/landscape-architects.htm

http://www.asla.org/

https://www.clarb.org/