Starting Your Landscape Architecture Project: What You Need to Know & What to Expect

Thinking about starting a project with our Landscape Architecture firm? This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started! Keep reading to find out if we are the right fit for your project and what services we provide to you as you look to develop an impactful project for your community. Whether it’s a college campus, playground, or community project, we’ll help bring your vision to life while addressing sustainability, function, aesthetics, cost, community engagement...and so much more. 

 ✅ The essential details of the kick-off meeting.

The goal of the project kick-off meeting is to learn everything possible about your project goals, potential and established partners, and funding sources for planning and implementation. Ideally the meeting takes place once board or funding source support has been established, but conceptual plans may be used to acquire this funding (stay tuned for the next blog for more information on grants). Having a topographic and boundary survey completed for the project property is not necessary in the early planning stages but will be required later in the process.

✅ What happens during site inventory and analysis

This is where we learn about your project site. Landscape architects have a lengthy list of site features to document and assess for every project. The existing vegetation, surrounding context, views, slopes, and existing features are usually obvious. However, seeing larger drainage patterns extending beyond the site, assessing the quality and condition of existing vegetation, investigating the proximity of utility infrastructure , and understanding local zoning requirements are details we study that will help avoid unexpected costs and streamline the development process.

✅ How we develop and refine your design vision

With a thorough understanding of our client’s goals, the project site, and the opportunities and constraints of the physical and regulatory setting we can start thinking about the uses proposed on the site and how they interact with each other, the character to be conveyed, and balancing wants and needs with the project budget. Landscape architect’s work encompasses sites ranging from a few hundred square feet to thousands of acres with equally wide-ranging budgets. But regardless of the project, the process starts with big ideas that are gradually refined down to the fine details, preferably with the client closely involved throughout. We typically incorporate a few design review meetings to share ideas and create unique and effective solutions. Public and municipal projects may include public input sessions to gather more feedback.

✅ The role of collaboration in shaping the final plan

Landscape architects’ work usually includes some level of architecture, civil engineering, lighting design, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing. Projects that are coordinated across the entire design consultant team are more creative and cost-effective because there are fewer design changes and unexpected costs during construction.  OCBA works with several firms in the area to create cohesive designs. If your project is going beyond conceptual plan or master plan level, we develop construction documents. These are the official contract documents that are bid on by general contractors and include all the information needed to purchase and build the design. If your municipality has a site plan review process to approve proposed projects, we regularly assist with preparing these documents and information and helping you through the approval process before going out to bid.

✅ What to expect during construction and implementation

With a thorough understanding of site construction and the administration process, landscape architects serve as the owner’s representative when their project construction gets underway. Putting together contracts with the contractor, conducting progress meetings, issuing bulletins and recommending change orders, reviewing pay applications, and answering contractor questions are a few of the services we can offer.

Let’s get started! If you are seeking or already have grant funding let’s talk more about that in our next blog...