Becoming a Licensed Landscape Architect

At the risk of bragging, I have some exciting news. This spring I passed my final licensing exams for landscape architecture. I am officially a Licensed Landscape Architect in the State of Michigan!

You can address all of your congratulatory letters, checks, flowers etc. to Kristin Faasse, LLA.

All kidding aside, this was a pretty big deal. I studied (like it was my job) this winter and took the 4 required exams. In the process I gained a new appreciation for the many aspects of landscape architecture.

Appreciating Landscape Architecture

Maybe I should back up (in case you don’t practice landscape architecture every day) to elaborate on what I think is so neat about this profession. Landscape architecture is a complex mix of art and science. It combines social science, engineering*, horticulture, ecology and design. Studying to become a licensed landscape architect opened my eyes (again) to the breadth of specialties within this profession. It is no wonder that no two projects are ever the same! We can always do research to ensure that we develop a design that:

• Creates a distinct outdoor experience for our clients
• Addresses the goals of the maintenance team
• Integrates with the existing infrastructure on the site
• Considers the environmental conditions of the site (soil, sun exposure, slopes, etc.),
• Can be built as designed and within budget
• …and the list goes on.

Being a Licensed Landscape Architect

Now that I am a licensed landscape architect, I will be putting my customized stamp on drawings for which I am the lead landscape architect.

“Signing and sealing” (stamping) our design drawings communicates to our clients, the municipality and the contractors that they can rely on the contents of the drawing set. Being a licensed landscape architect is a weighty responsibility that also opens up opportunities to lead projects and interact with clients – all of which I’m excitedly looking forward to!

 

*In learning about various engineering concepts that overlap with landscape architecture, I truly enjoyed the Practical Engineering YouTube channel. Check it out if you have a few spare minutes!