Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Site GradinG in the profeSSionaL practice
of LandScape architecture
The process involved in site grading fits into the continuum of what it
means to practice landscape architecture. Practitioners of landscape
architecture and its allied professions of civil engineering and architec-
ture, together in teams, design and oversee construction of our built envi-
ronments. The built environment may be an office or campus complex, a
regional park or zoo, individual residences or a residential community, a
public facility such as a library or museum, or a wetland restoration proj-
ect. Working individually or together with other design consultants, land-
scape architects design places for living, working, and recreation, as well
as a cornucopia of environmental restoration, remediation, and resource
management project types, at a range of scale from a quarter-acre lot to
parcels of thousands of acres. The landscape architect's role is generally
defined as the leader in the site planning, design, and management of the
areas outside the footprint of buildings and other structures such as roads
and infrastructure. While the overlap between the responsibilities of the
architect, civil engineer, and landscape architect is minimal (landscape
architects are not licensed or trained to design buildings), the distinction
between the work defined as engineering and that defined as landscape
architecture may seem at times less clear, with significant areas of over-
lap. Where overlap may occur, discussion will ensue to define and assign
responsibilities at the time of contract negotiations. For example, the
landscape architect may set preliminary elevations and design for the
built structures, preliminary site design of landscape and paved areas,
and then carry out the full design for specialized site improvements such
as fountains, pools, and outdoor uses areas. Preliminary site-grading
design may also include setting the initial grades (elevations) of park-
ing lots and areas adjacent to buildings, as well as a preliminary surface
drainage plan in landscape and hardscape areas. Once this preliminary
work is completed, the landscape architect will prepare site-grading
plans for specified work, and the civil engineer will prepare the finalized
technical plans, roadway alignments, and drainage infrastructure. This
