?EUR??,,????'??How ya doin’ guy, good to see ya” filled the lobby as the 59-year-old L.A. with the 18-year-old stride appeared around the corner. I stood to greet the man many considered the most active Landscape Architect in the past 30 years, when he grabbed my hand in the traditional handshake and quickly turned it into the more modern ‘soul shake.’ Letting go and pulling at the same time he led me through the open workshop, back to a colored glass semi-private office. Shade trees kept the sun at bay without blocking a quiet view of the greenbelted corporate plaza.

On one of the walls, over the desk of the principal with whom he shares his office, an eight-foot sailfish stared black eyed at all within. In the middle of the room on a wooden table a set of plans were open. While on the other wall, next to where the one time president of the California State Board of Landscape Architects has his desk are 27 plaques, three photos, and a bronze key. All honoring Landscape Architect extraordinaire Courtland Paul FASLA.

When Cort Paul first opened his private practice in 1951, Landscape Architects were struggling to gain recognition as professionals. He had just left his position as head of design for a Pasadena nursery. In two years time his department had grown from one designer and three crew members to four designers and 20 crew members. At age 24 he decided to branch out on his own.

Courtland Paul and Associates started out as a design/build operation with a pick-up, a wheel barrow, three rakes, three shovels and a hose. By the end of the first year there were 30 employees and things were looking pretty good.

When licenses were first issued Cort was one of the first few to get one. That was 1954. The same year he was elected as the president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the California Contractors Association.

Upon leaving the directorship of the AILA Cort was appointed by Governor Pat Brown to a four-year term on the California State Board of Landscape Architects. There he became president in 1964 and was reappointed for another four year term by the governor.

While serving his second term on the state board Paul found the time to chair the City of Los Angeles, Hillside and Mountain Development GOALS Committee. He also added a partner to the firm and changed its name to Courtland Park/Arthur Beggs and Associates.

Since that time Courtland Paul has won 11 major awards including three Major Achievement in Merchandising Excellence (MAME) awards. He has received two Distinguished Service Citations from the State Board, a certificate of appreciation from the California Department of Mental Hygiene for work on a special campground for the mentally disabled, an Outstanding Service Citation from the California Council of Landscape Architects (CCLA), and has received a Life Membership Award from the Committee of Landscape Architectural Student Scholarships (CLASS) Fund. He also has been certified by the Council of Landscape Architects Registration Board (CLARB), was elected Trustee to the Newport Harbor Art Museum and was elected president of the Landscape Architectural Foundation (LAF). Most recently he has become a member of the Executive Board of the Council of Fellows ASLA. He is definitely an achiever.

“One saying that sticks out in my mind,” offered Cort as he reflected on his list of achievements, “is that old saying... anyone who benefits from a profession must give something back.’” And obviously he has given plenty. But has he benefited from all his efforts? You bet he has!

With all the positions he has filled and with all the honorary citations he has received, it is his firm, The Peridian Group, that really tells the story about Courtland Paul. “We changed the name to The Peridian Group in 1976 to reflect an aura of permanence about the company,” according to Cort. “The developers like to know that your company will continue to exist regardless of the status of each individual. We’ve just recently switched to a corporate structure with a Chief Executive Officer and specific duties for the other principals. If someone leaves, or retires, or whatever the Peridian Group will carry on.”

‘Peridian’ comes from the Greek words peri-, which means around or about, and idios, which means ones own. Around and about ones own. The environment. These are the concerns of the Peridian Group. The 75 member team of Landscape Architects, Designers and Business Professionals. Here the ‘Group’ part of the name is a key factor to the philosophy of the firm.

With offices in Irvine, California, Las Vegas, and Fort Lauderdale, The Peridian Group is one of the largest Landscape Architectural and Planning Firms in the nation. But even with its international capabilities, the people of The Peridian Group are all equally important to the workability of the company. “We have 11 Principals and 64 other employees,” said Cort. “In harder times all the people of the Peridian Group have pulled together and have done what is needed, even taken voluntary pay cuts, to keep the team together and working efficiently.” Part of the reason behind this group effort is a management practice called the ‘rule of the minority.’

“If 10 of the principals feel one way about a certain situation but one has a real gut feeling that his solution will work we have been known to hand the ball over and let him run with it... It doesn’t happen every time,” said Cort. “But it does happen and it really encourages everyone to participate. Everyone in the company can say ‘l am The Peridian Group.’”

Cort has one pet peeve with the industry, which is a continuation of his ‘stay together’ attitude. “The one thing that really bothers me are the Head Hunters,’ he continued. “Those firms that call from firm to firm offering people better salaries or status if they switch to their firm. So many times someone will switch and then find themselves worse off than before. They end up going backwards to go forward.” Understandably, you end up spending a lot of time getting back to where you were. Time is something that Cort has been forced to reckon with lately.

Having suffered his second heart attack about a year ago Cort has slowed down... a little. He prefers to walk to lunch if plausible. And has cut his work schedule ‘in half.’ The day after the interview he was supposed to go to Mexico to check out an upcoming project but the phone rang and the trip was delayed by one day. “It’s like finding an extra day in your life,” cheered the opportunistic L.A. ” I love it!” That extra day was probably spent paying extra attention; to his confessed ‘secret weapon.’

“I couldn’t have done it,” he offered with a tone in his voice reflecting the true authenticity of the statement, “without my childhood sweetheart and loving wife of 39 years, Nadine.” She was there at the start and has given him the support he has needed to accomplish so many things. It is true that behind every great man there stands a great woman.

All in all Courtland Paul is one of the most dynamic men in the field. His knowledge into the intricacies of the Landscape Architectural Profession is probably matched by no one. He certainly has given more than his share back to the industry and will continue to give for some time to come.

Cort, You’ve done it all baby! The whole industry is better because of you. Thanks.