Landscape Architects Find A Balance Between People And The Environment (NAPSA)—Do you enjoy spending time outdoors? Do you think it’s important to preserve the environment? Would you enjoy creating places that provide a balance between people and the environment? Do you think about how to improve the quality of life for people? If you answered yes to these questions you may be suited for a career in landscape architecture. Landscape architecture has strong roots in the U.S. Early examples range from private estates like Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, to entire city plans like Pierre L’Enfant’s design of Washington, D.C., to public gathering places like San Francisco’s Pershing Square. The actual term “landscape architecture” became common after 1863, when Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed New York’s Central Park. Landscape architects plan and design traditional places such as parks, residential developments, campuses, gardens, cemeteries, commercial centers, resorts, transportation facilities, corporate and institutional centers and waterfront developments. They also design and plan the restoration of natural places dis- turbed by humans, such as wet- lands, stream corridors, mined areas andforested land. Members of the profession can work on a variety of projects, such as the development and preservation of open spaces, recreation areas, wildlife refuges, zoos, parks, golf courses, transportation systems, and more. It is a growing profession and in such demand that the average salary is over $75,000—although Landscape architecture firm Peter Walker and Partners won a 2004 ASLA award for the design of Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food, and Arts in Napa, California. (photo by Tim Wight) experienced landscape architects and firm principals can make much more. The American Society of Land- scape Architects (ASLA) hascreated an online resource that provides information and assistance to individuals who want to investigate a career in the field. The site includes: an online brochure and articles aboutthefield, information on academic requirements, an interest test, * amovie, a survey of recent graduates with salary information. Founded in 1899, the American Society of Landscape Architects is the national professional association representing landscape architects. To learn more, visit the Web site at www.asla.org.
