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This is going to be the beginning in a series of videos about landscape architects or landscape
designers, if you will, here in the Portland area. They're value is somewhat well known.
They're typically best suited for projects where there's a fairly substantial construction
or reconstruction of a landscape for either a commercial or residential property or even
a public works property. I'm guessing it's pretty well known that landscape architects
are licensed professionals meaning they have a history of formal education, higher education,
and in addition to that they have to go through a fairly rigorous licensing process depending
on the state in which they are in. All 50 states require licensing for landscape architects
and that's no different here in Oregon and the Portland area. So those are some basic
facts about landscape architects that are known by most anyone who would hire them.
However, there's one key point about landscape designers that is maybe not well known at
all and quite make quite a difference in the quality of the project. And the project quality
can really depend not just how the design is done. Again the design process typically
takes place on the computer an electronic drawing system where landscape designers can
lay out all the details of the project: irrigation, plants, drainage issues, how the landscape
interplays with buildings, parking lots, other features of the property. Obviously the design
process is very vital. However, the key point to really keep in mind if one is hiring a
landscape designer in Portland is how much time does the designer spend on site. Not
just initially on the project, but as the project continues on and at the end of project.
Because it is very common for some landscape designers to not spend a lot of time on site.
Obviously, they would spend to some extent be there to get a feel for the project. But
to actually get on site to walk in the dirt essentially and see what is going on is not
always done by many landscape designers. But those landscape designers in the Portland
area who do take the time during the project to get out on site and to walk the ground
talk to other contractors, landscape contractors, building contractors, project managers and
such. Those landscape designers who do spend that time really have a very practical understanding
of the details of the project that are not always caught in the computer based design
process. So hiring a landscape designer that's something to really keep an eye on if you're
spending the money is how much time the landscape designer spends on site and checking out what's
going on. Landscape designers are typically highly qualified professionals based on the
state in which they're licensed in. However, something that is not licensed is time and
effort and really getting a boots on the ground feel for how the project is progressing. Please
keep that in mind when you hire a landscape designer in the Portland area. Thanks a lot.