Landscape Architect Articles

LASN Survey Shows Growing Revenues and Strong Outlook for 200701-10-07 | News

LASN Survey Shows Growing Revenues and Strong Outlook for 2007

It is surprising that only about a fourth (28.5 percent) of the surveyed firms have a dedicated marketing department. Some indicated they rely on client word-of-mouth. With smaller firms, the principals are responsible for bringing in work, so it is not unusual not to have a marketing specialist. Of those firms who do have marketing people, the range was from one person to 30! The median range was 2-8 people.

LASN conducted an online survey of landscape architect firms across the country. We began tallying the numbers after we received responses from 156 firms. We wanted to know if revenues were up in 2006, what the outlook was for 2007, if they hired in 2006 and expect to hire in 2007, what sectors they anticipate growth for their firms, if they had a marketing department, what the trends are and what design software/technologies they?EUR??,,????'???re employing.

What Trends Are You Seeing?

The comments we received on trends were vast and varied and not conducive to a graph. Here, however, are a few of the comments:

Marketing to larger engineering firms.
Entry-level landscape architects lack some rudimentary design and technical skills, i.e., site planning, horticulture spec. documentation, because of over-reliance on computer applications.
Stricter municipal ordinances addressing landscape, irrigation, water conservation.
More emphasis on community participatory design and planning, leading to the development of master plans and strategic business plans.
Big shift toward entire outdoor living environments.
Entry-level salaries increasing.
Evolving understanding that there exists a strong ?EUR??,,????'??planning/design nexus?EUR??,,????'?? between the allied professions, i.e., APA, ASLA and AIA.
Lot more players getting into the site furniture industry; costs is starting to be the main factor (over quality) with the new players.
Sustainable development, though not new, is being more widely embraced.
Aggressive water conservation native plant using LEEDS site design goals.
Younger staff are willing to change jobs on a whim. This is very much supply and demand driven.
Increased recreation and open space master planning for municipalities.
More green space communties being planned.
Green architecture institutional and campus development.
Permitting process is more onerous.
Email and file transfer allow me to work for an architect in Nashville, and an engineer in San Antonio with a client in Atlanta, while I?EUR??,,????'???m in Dallas.
More opportunities for LAs to lead the team.
More large-scale, themed communities aimed at retirees.
Growing need for creative design in site layout, grading and storm-water management.
Housing subdivision work continues to dominate
Landscape architects are getting worse and worse when it comes to planting design.
LA?EUR??,,????'???s are great community planners and should consider this route in the future.
Increasing interest in technological innovation and environmental awareness.
The Dallas (north Texas) market seems to be booming despite what the media says.
More retail development and mixed-use development
More urban renewal and ?EUR??,,????'??smart growth?EUR??,,????'??? type mixed use development.
We are moving away from suburban ?EUR??,,????'??cornfield?EUR??,,????'??? type developments.
More use of native plant material required by city and county governments.

What Software & Design Technology Are Firms Using?

Regarding software and technology applications to help the design professional, AudoCAD is pervasive (Sketch Up), as is 3D design software. GIS applications are growing. Respondents use a variety of programs: VectorWorks, Land F/X, PowerCADD, Eagle Point, Autodesk Viz 2007, InDesign, form-Z, ArcView, GPRS, DeoPak, to name a few. One firm touted DynaSCAPE CAD software as 50 percent faster than AutoCAD. A few firms indicated no use of drawing software?EUR??,,????'??+it is done the ol?EUR??,,????'??? fashion way?EUR??,,????'??+by hand.