Landscape Architect Articles

LASN Letters March 200703-07-07 | News

Old Fort Pitt

We received many comments on landscapearchitect.com re the news item ?EUR??,,????'?????<

John McCauley wrote in with this comment on 02/09/07:

The destruction of this historic place needs to be revisited immediately. Our nation?EUR??,,????'?????<

John K. McCauley Jr., RLAPenn State Graduate-Ag Sciences and Landscape Architecture
Native of Pennsylvania
Portland, Ore.

Carl Kuhns wrote in with this comment 02/09/07:

Absolutely appalling that such a destructive project would even be considered. Without the knowledge of the sacrifices of our forefathers and the ability to study history, we are doomed to repeat past failures. I have not lived in Pittsburgh for over 30 years, but I do have childhood memories of visiting Fort Pitt?EUR??,,????'?????<

Carl Kuhns, Landscape Architect
Las Vegas, Nev.

Alexander Wright wrote in with this comment on 02/08/07:

This plan is an outrageous blind stab in the eye of history. The visual presence of the artifacts at Fort Pitt is a substantial inspiration for those festival goers that may deepen their appreciation for those whose labors and lives have served to create the very place where they now enjoy their freedom to congregate in peace. Do not bury the past, honor it.

Alexander Wright
Shadow Hills, Calif.

Paul Barrosse wrote in with this comment on 02/08/07:

I cannot believe that a significant part of Pennsylvania?EUR??,,????'?????<

Paul Barrosse
Los Angeles, Calif.

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The Jan. news item ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Kevin Parsons wrote in with this comment on 01/26/07:

A perfect opportunity for the young, inexperienced LA the article spoke of. The long-term resolution for this type of thinking is not only education of the nondesign professional contractors and the public regarding the importance of what LAs are and can do, but zoning laws that require LAs to design all nonresidential projects!

Kevin Parsons, President, Principal LA
Kevin K. Parsons & Associates, Inc.
Indianapolis, Ind.

John Tilton wrote in with this comment on 01/25/07:

I recall a situation in Atlanta Ga., where we had a sign in front of a retail store that was six feet higher than zoning would approve. The problem was solved by raising the ground level rather than lowering the sign. Would that solution also lower the height of the water tower?

John Tilton, President
Design Imaging Group
Holtsville, N.Y.

Richard Miller wrote in with this comment on 01/25/07:

Landscape architects are not necessarily hard to come by, but I expect the landscape contractor?EUR??,,????'?????<

Richard Miller, Project Manager
New York City Housing Authority
Metuchen, N.J.

Chad Klever wrote in with this comment on 01/25/07:

Your article about the lack of landscape architects was of interest to me because I am a landscape architect (MLA, but not licensed) and no longer practice. I quit after just five years because with a growing family, I was unwilling to put in the extra time at work that I was told is an unwritten requirement to advance in salary and title. I now work for a management company and enjoy working with several landscape contractors on grounds maintenance and with landscape architects on parks and streetscape projects.

Landscape contractors and landscape architects are not mutually exclusive groups. At least two contractors with whom I have regular business have landscape architects on staff and often volunteer their design services if they know they have the installation contract.

The cost savings versus using a traditional landscape architect through construction documents and bidding out the project can be significant. But you need to use a landscape contractor that you can trust. You need to believe in the design (and the landscape architect or designer) and know that the job foreman will deliver what has been promised.

Thank you for this open forum.

Chad Klever, Assistant Manager
R.S. Wells
Centennial, Colo.