While Texas is experiencing a lull due to the depressed oil industry, the rest of the sun-belt is experiencing accelerated growth. The yuppie movement is opening up new areas of growth in landscape architecture as these home buyers are spending more time and money improving their environment. It is becoming the in thing to have a professionally designed landscape in the race to keep up with the Joneses. This movement is also putting pressure on developers to incorporate an overall landscaping concept to housing, multi-family complexes and industrial parks.

Other positive signs come from the acceptance of licensed Landscape Architects by the AIA. Developers and design/build firms are incorporating licensed Landscape Architects into their design teams strengthening your position in the construction industry. ASLA has done a fantastic job under the direction of Ed Able to solidify this position. There are however a few areas that still need some improvement.

Currently there are still eleven states that don’t require licenses for landscape design. Colorado is one of these states and while there are many respectable firms operating out of Colorado, this lack of professional recognition keeps the door open to the less than professional “landscape designer.” We look for the ASLA with its increasing lobbying powers to close the door on these unregulated states by putting national pressure on the construction industry to recognize only licensed Landscape Architects.

Only when all states are regulated can the profession of Landscape Architecture overcome the possy planter image carried in the eyes of the vast majority of the population. There are less than 12,000 licensed Landscape Architects in United States with more than 7,000 located in the 18 states reached by the Landscape Architect and Specifier News. It is our responsibility to keep the pressure on those states that refuse to recognize Landscape Architecture as a profession within itself. By writing to congressmen and by supporting local and national professional Landscape Architecture and construction associations it shouldn’t be long before all states require a license to practice Landscape Architecture. In this age of growth and specialization we cannot afford to let even the smallest state hold us back from national recognition.

When this day arrives The Landscape Architect and Specifier News will be there to proclaim the celebration. In the meantime keep the cards and letters coming and thank you for making us the leading trade journal to the profession of Landscape Architecture.

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