Berkshire Design Group Quality through hands-on experience and close client contact by Troy R. Sanders The Berkshire Design Group, Inc., is located in Northampton, Massachusetts, nestled in the heart of the Pioneer Valley, ninety miles away from the bustle of downtown Boston. Richard Klein, ASLA and Peter Wells founded the firm in 1984. After five years of successful practice, Klein and Wells made a marketing decision to lead the way in computer technology in LA firms and hired Mark Lindhult, FASLA, a University of Massachusetts professor who had spent 10 years studying the integration of computers into the profession. A year later, Lindhult became a full partner and the firm embarked in earnest in the integration of computer technology in the office. In 1993, BDG added Mark Darnold, P.E., a civil engineer, to the office to add a dimension of support in the realm of drainage design, roadway design, and permitting. The firm is now in the process of making him a partner. From its humble beginnings, the firm has now grown to a staff of thirteen talented individuals. Computers are integrated into all aspects of practice. Currently, all thirteen employees have their own computer workstation linked into the office network, with several other computers available for busy periods or special functions, such as scanning. Integration is the critical concept when dealing with the computer. It is understanding how information from multiple sources (consultants, the client, towns, state GIS databases, etc..) can be woven together to get a holistic view of each site. Because of BDG's active participation in Community Assistance Team projects for ASLA Annual Meetings in Los Angeles, Cleveland, Atlanta and Boston over the last five years, the firm has established a national reputation in the use of computers in landscape architecture. However, the firm is most proud of its local reputation for quality, detail oriented, contextual design. The firm's work, which has won numerous design awards, focuses on parks and recreation design and campus planning and design. BDG has designed over 100 parks in New England, including many historic renovations such as Elm Park in Worcester, MA, Elizabeth Park in Hartford, CT, Putnam State Park in Redding, CT, and Holyoke Heritage State Park in Holyoke, MA. The firm's list of schools for campus planning and design includes Deerfield Academy, Northfield Mount Hermon School, Williston Northampton School, Hampshire College, the University of Massachusetts, Trinity College, Amherst College, and Brandeis University. Current projects of note include master planning for all 13 parks in Auburn, MA, site planning for new high schools in Fitchburg, MA and Springfield, MA, visual assessment planning for the State of Vermont, and the master planning of a 1500 acre new town. BDG's philosophy is for each partner to have close client contact and hands on experience with each project to ensure a quality design. Attention to detail and the continuing push to remain a state-of-the-art firm are what allow this western Massachusetts firm to compete with its larger eastern brethren. lasn