New Coworker :: Old Friends
Briana, my good friend and school studio mate for over 4 years, always joked about working together. Today, that dream became a reality. Briana has officialy been hired at my firm -- we are now good friend, school mates for over 4 years, and coworkers! Work has been picking up, so my boss decided to add a member to our team. It's going to just be like studio class again -- spending hours upon hours together, everyday! And to make it even more coincidental, today was also the first day for schools! HAHA!
She is also getting her first apartment just 4 blocks from my apartment! We already have plans to have dinner nights, swimming nights, pilates nights, and more. I'm so excited -- and I just can't hide it!
Meet you on ‘J’ Street, Washington, D.C.
In two weeks I am attending the National American Society of Landscape Architects 2010 convention. The convention is four days (Friday to Monday). My Boss decided to make it our summer vacation time so we are all taking a week off (Wednesday to Wednesday). I thought it was a good idea to kill two birds with one rock and make it a week vacation and business trip in DC -- so I am going to DC for seven days!
I have a lot planed; sight seeing, lunches with old friends, a trip to the zoo, seeing my old stomping grounds, and of course the ASLA convention! The convention looks fantastic. The conference is featuring a lot of good speakers and presentations. I also got funding from Helen to register for the Landscape Architecture Examination Exam prep class that is being held at the convention (Thank You, Helen!) The class is over the design, grading, and water management (C and E) sections of the test -- the hardest sections. I hope it helps!
It will be good to go home again -- I have not been back to DC in eight years... wow.
National Landscape Architecture Month 2010
April is National Landscape Architecture Month. I am proud to be in the profession that for the third year in a row, U.S. News & World Report has named among the best career choices! National Landscape Architecture Month is most likely April because it is the birth month of Me! -- but I guess more importantly Frederick Law Olmsted's bday, the father of Landscape Architecture. Olmsted designed many very well known national treasures during his career, such as Central Park in New York, Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C, the Niagara Reservation at Niagara Falls, Boston's Emerald Necklace greenway park system, and the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition (AKA 1893 World's Fair). Not in comon knowledge, Olmsted and his associates also designed many of the prestigious academic campuses in the US, such as Yale University (Connecticut), Wellesley College (Massachusetts), University of California, Berkeley (California), Stanford University (California), Cornell University (New York), University of Chicago (Illinois), and many others.
Olmsted was a landscape architect before the profession had a title. Olmested is accredidted with being the father of landscape architecture even though in past histroy we know of people that practiced that which we would concider landspace architecture. One that comes to mind is André Le Nôtre, best known for his garden designs for Louis the XIV palace Versailles. An interesting fact, in the Louvre Museum (Paris, France), hangs portraits of all the designers of Versailles. Jules Hardouin-Mansart portrait has "L'architecte" under his portrait and the other designers have their respective tittles too. But, when you come to André Le Nôtre's portrait, it only has his birth/death year.
This use of "landscape architect" became established after Frederick Law Olmsted, and others, founded the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) in 1899. One of the goals for having ASLA and National Landscape Architecture Month is to promote the profession. Becuase landscape architecture is relatively a young profession, we still need to explain what we are. What most people do not realize is, in North America and Europe, landscape architecture is a very heavily regulated profession. Much like the timeline in becoming a medical doctor, landscape architects are in school for 4-5 years, then complete a 2-5 year internship, during which they must pass the Landscape Architect Registration Exam (5 tests totaling 16 hours and 45 minutes) -- which I have endearingly began calling "the landscape bar," which upon passing receive licenser, then pick a specialization or stay a general designer. And to remain licensed, they are required to receive a minimum of 6 hours of continuing education each year. As you might be wondering, with all of the regulation, landscape architecture must be more then just planting plants in a backyard. You would be correct; landscape architects work on (all at varying scales of design, planning and management):
- urban design
- site planning
- town or urban planning
- environmental restoration
- parks and recreation planning
- green infrastructure planning and provision
- private estate/ residential landscape master planning and design
Landscape architects are also vital members of multi-disciplinary projects including:
- The planning, form, scale and siting of new developments
- Sustainable development, sustainability
- Stormwater management including rain gardens, green roofs, groundwater recharge, and treatment wetlands
- Civil design and public infrastructure, highways, transportation structures, bridges, and transit corridors
- Reservoirs, dams, power stations, reclamation of extractive industry applications or major industrial projects and mitigation
- Environmental assessment and landscape assessment, planning advice and land management proposals
- Coastal and offshore developments and mitigation
- Ecological Design any aspect of design that minimizes environmentally destructive impacts
So now you know! I believe I have done my online duty in spreading and explaining what landscape architecture is. Do me a favor and tell some other people it is Landscape Architecture Month. And if they ask you what that is, try and tell them or, better yet, send them to this blog or ASLA's National Landscape Architecture Month website.
Working and Exploring
Long time no write. Not much to report. I've just been working and exploring Dallas.
Work is going well. I really enjoy what I do. The best part, I have things to do! -- which make the days go by fast. Every task in each project is like a puzzle -- I love puzzles. My boss is good at what he does and it shows. I am glad that I get to work for someone that has a lot of experience -- and willing to share it. In school I never thought about working in high-end residential. But, I didn't realize how divers a scale high-end residential offers. We work with small residential lots (typical 1/4 acre) up to these gargantuan estates. The scale is truly amazing and has so much diversity to offer. On some of my projects I feel like I am designing a park because of the large scale.
I have worked on projects where the house is established and the existing/new owners just want to update the outside. On the other side, I have worked on projects where the lot is a clean slate because the house hasn't been built. I have had the opportunity to design pools/spas, fountains, courtyards, terraces, motor courts, cabanas, vertical green/planting walls, outdoor kitchens, recreational courts, butterfly gardens, herb gardens, even designing unique stainless steel pots (just like an artist). I think my favorite thing to design are pools/spas, whereas my favorite work task is tied between coloring and cost estimates (they make the time go by so fast!).
I'm enjoying Dallas too. It has a lot to offer. When I was here for my internship two summers ago, I did not have a car -- I really didn't get to explore. Now, true, you don't need a car in Dallas with the vast bus and expanding light-rail system, but I didn't ever think I was going to be here again -- so I didn't even try. And, all I've heard about Dallas, since I moved to Texas 7 years ago, was from people not from Dallas (from rival cities). Needless to say, most did not have good things to say, such as, "Dallitude," "Third World City," and "Self-righteous pompous rich queens." Living here for 5 months, I have come across maybe one "self-righteous pompous rich queen," but that's hardly enough to say the city is full of them. It comes down to this, either other people are wrong or I fit in nicely (and I promise I'm not a "self-righteous pompous rich queen"). As for Dallas being a "Third World City," it upsets me when people think diversity is a bad thing. Okay, maybe I have noticed something you would call "Dallitude," but that is expected from every big city. You wouldn't necessarily call New Yorker's warm and welcoming, would you?
I have not lived in a big city for a long time. I forgotten how nice it is to have culture, arts, diversity, big events, multiples of the same store -- if they are out of what you want, just head over to another one. Oh, and the restaurants! It's almost like being back in D.C. -- almost every type of restaurant you can think of. For some time now, I have been compiling a list of restaurants in cities I visit. If I have visited it, I give it a rating. If it is still on my to-go list, it has an asterisk in front of the name. I have decided to make it public so you can view my restaurant guide.
Speaking of food. I have started to cook again. Two reasons why, I feel like it again and I needed to -- to help me achieve my New Year's resolution to lose 15 pounds. Which, by the way, I have lost 5 pounds, 10 to go. When I say "cook," I mean something that takes over 15-20 minutes to prepare. In the image, I was making my mom's Tomato Zucchini Pasta. It's one of my healthy comfort foods -- and only takes 15 minutes. She makes it vegetarian, I through in cubed chicken. If you would like to see what else I love to make, check out my online cookbook -- also, feel free to send me some recipes you want me to try.
Ok, ok, back on topic. I am still finding all that Dallas has to offer. I think my next stop is the Dallas aquarium. What is fantastic, is once I am done exploring Dallas -- or get tired of exploring Dallas (whatever comes first) -- I can go explore Fort Worth! That's what is so nice about a big city. All big cities I like have another big city near by -- Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin/San Antonio, Los Angeles/San Diego, Cologne/Bonn, New York/the whole east coast, so on. That's just something I have noticed. Anyways, talk to you later.
Where I Work
I have been getting a lot of questions about my new job. So, I am going to tell you about where I work and a typical day. I am intentionally not putting the name of where I work because I do not want this entry to come up on a Google search above the new office's website. I work for a landscape architecture design studio specializing in high-end residential landscape projects. The majority of our work comes from homeowners, architects, and builders with whom we have had the pleasure of working (and yes, I built the website -- released it November 30, 2009). Most of our work is within the Dallas/Fort Worth Metro Area. We work on high profile, well known, people's houses -- just so you know, I will never write about our clients/projects on my blog -- so don't get your hopes up. But, I will tell you the average cost of the houses are $1 to 5 million.
In a typical day, I wake up at 7:30am. I shower, dress, do normal morning stuff. At 7:50am, I head to my apartment's clubhouse for free breakfast -- I get orange juice, a pastry, and either hot chocolate or tea. I then drive to work and arrive at 8am. I unlock the office, turn the lights on, and eat while I fill out my timesheet from the pervious day. I usually start my day with just general administration work. Then I continue working on things from the previous day. My boss arrives around 9-10am (he does morning client meetings -- sometimes he doesn't even arrive until after lunch). When he does arrive, he gives me a list of things to work on; usually red lined site/planting plans (changes to make), design concepts, and more recently, pool concept drawings.
When noon rolls around, I drive back to my apartment and have lunch. I usually watch my DVR-ed Price is Right or some show I did not watch from the night before. I get an hour for lunch, so I head back to work 5 min before my hour is up. Once I get back, either of two things happen. One, I continue working on red lines/concepts/the office website, or two, my Boss and I go drive around the D/FW metro area for site visits/Client meetings. A site visit consists of going to the site, making sure it is being built like we drew, and solving issues that arise (usually last minute changes). If we go for site visits, I normally get back to the office and then head home around 6pm. If we stayed in the office, I head home at 5pm -- unless I stay longer to get something finished for an early client meeting the next day; then I end up getting home at 7pm.
Once I get home, I eat dinner, do housework, watch TV, play on the computer, write blogs (duh), and chat with friends. Sometime when I know a good show will be on, I will go to my apartment's fitness center. The cardio machines all have personal 13" flat screen with cable TV. It makes working out so much more enjoyable. Just flip on the show I know I am interested in and work out -- it makes the time go by really fast. That is the one thing I hated about the REC at A&M, I like to work out for an hour, but I would run out of things to keep my mind occupied. Anyways, back to the main topic. At 10:30pm I get ready for bed and fall asleep around 11pm. That's it -- that is a typical weekday for me.
The L.A. Test
I graduated from college, but still have to take a test. Now that I have my Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree, I still need to become a licensed landscape architect. Each state does licensing differently. In Texas, after you graduate, you can begin to take the Landscape Architecture Registration Exam (LARE) after 6 months of supervised employment directly under a licensed landscape architect. You then have 5 years to complete the 5 sections of the LARE from the date you take the first section. Now heres the kicker -- not only do I have to take this life altering test, each section will cost me around $200 -- if you can't do the math, thats a total of $1000! Ouch. But, over lunch the other day, my boss made me an offer. He told me he will reimburse me for every section I pass! Ultimately -- under the best conditions of me passing every section the first time I take it (HA!) -- I could take the LARE, and get my LA license free. Looking at my calendar -- based on my internship in 2008 and my current job, I can start to take the LARE in February 2010. The first section exam is given March 2010.
I Got A Residence!
After apartment hunting for days, I found one. Get this; I was looking for apartments online around $600/month. All the apartments for that price were either outside loop 635 or in west Dallas (over 10 miles from my work, which is just north of the Medical District in east Dallas). I really wanted to find something relatively new and urban. Something with stone countertops, stainless steel appliances, and hardwood floors (something stylish). I want to live like the urban modern metro professionals. I mean, come one, I am a new professional working in Dallas!
I was loosing hope of finding my dream apartment -- until I went by a new (built in April new) multi-use apartment complex just 2.3 miles form my work. I drove by it on my lunch break my first day of work (it has a Thai restaurant and a Jimmy John's on the first floor). I just went in to see how much something I dreamed of would run in Dallas. Let me explain what they told me:
- Two Bi-Level Resort-Style Pools with Infinity Edges/Tanning Pools
- Garden Courtyards
- Entertainment Lounge with 50" Hi-Def Flat Screen/Internet Cafe
- Fully-Equipped Fitness Center
- Arcade with Pool Table
- Gourmet Kitchen (Granite Countertops, Mahogany Cabinets, Stainless Steel Appliances)
- Faux Hardwood Floors in Kitchen and Bath
- Full-size Washer and Dryer in Every Unit
- High-speed Internet Access
- Gated 4-Story Parking Garage
After they showed me the studio apartment -- which I instantly feel in love with -- we went back to the leasing office and looked at prices. She said the rent was $650. I looked at her and said, "a week?" She laughed and said, "No, a month." Then she said that they were having a deal that if you rented before October 31st, you got November rent free! I said, "I'll take it!" I signed a 12 months lease. Because of the economy and that they are only 30% occupied, they have low rent and good deals. I am so excited. I get the keys October 30th -- I will fully move in November 1st.
I cannot believe I found this apartment. Everything I was looking for: price, near my work, hardwood floors, new appliances (w/ washer/dryer), pool, fitness center, near downtown, near upscale grocery store, near urban center, and soon to be on the green/orange DART public transportation lines. I am glad it is small too -- this way I only need a bed, night stands, sofa, side table, and TV stand. Now I am even more excited! I wanted to see how far things would be from my new place, so I did some research:
- My work is 2.3 miles
- My Bank of America Branch is 1.2 miles
- My Kroger Grocery Store is 1.5 miles & Whole Foods Grocery Store is 2.1 miles
- My Bars are 1.7 miles
- My Bread Winers Cafe (my fav Dallas restaurant) is 2.7 miles
- My Magnolia Theater is 2.8 miles
- My Williams-Sonoma is 3.2 miles & Bed Bath and Beyond is 7.2 miles
- My Z Gallery is 3.5 miles & Target is 3.7 miles & West Elm is 4.8 miles
- Oh, and my future DART Station (Southwestern Medical District/Parkland Station; being built right now) will be .1 mile -- across the street
I cannot wait for people to come visit me once I am settled in. Which you must -- consider this your invitation!
I Got A Job!
I got a job offer! I accepted the job offer from Archiverde Landscape Architecture in Dallas, Texas. The position is full-time with paid vacation and holidays. My salary is just a bit more than the average $35,300 starting salary reported by the 2009 Graduating Student Survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).
Amazingly, I start Monday (October 26, 2009)! Because of the short notice, my boss is paying for up to two weeks at an extended hotel until I find a place to live. I am very excited and stunned. I thought I would have a few weeks after I accepted an offer to see friends and move. Oh well, you never know what will happen. Wish me luck!
Post Resume, Get an Interview
I was reading the blog of one of my studio mates (Briana). She said that she posted her resume on ASLA.org and in one day was contacted by a landscape architecture firm about an open position. When I read that, I said to myself, "Oh yeah! I forgot we could post our resumes on ASLA." So I instantly logged-in and found my two year old resume posting for an internship and updated it for full employment. Just like my good friend Briana, I was contacted by a landscape architecture company with an open position. They are a small firm dealing with high end residential projects and they are located in Dallas (just a bit south of where my internship was). I am going up to Dallas this Saturday for an office visit -- keep your fingers crossed.
Gardening at Midnight
I've been bored. I have been so bored. I have been sitting around the house, for around four weeks, doing nothing. I find myself going on spontaneous trips just to get out of the house. On Monday, I randomly got into the car around 5 pm -- driving to Target to putter around the store, but instead, I had a hankering for greek food. So I called Meryl, picked her up, and drove to Yia Yia Mary's in Houston (my favorite Greek resturant in Texas). I have way to much free time.
I have now been finding myself sweeping just to do something. Today I cleaned the toilet because I was so bored. My sleeping schedule is all screwed up -- I have been going to sleep around 3 am and waking around 1 pm. I found myself the other night so bored I went into the yard and pulled weeds -- yes, I was gardening at midnight!
I must find a job. I have been applying all over, yet, no call backs. I have cabin fever and am going batty. The problem with finding a job right now is that everyone is looking for people with 1-2 years experience. Where are all the entry level jobs?