I want to be an architect but I’m curious if I’ll have the freedom to also work in landscape architecture even if I don’t have a degree in landscape architecture?
Some landscape projects will require you to be a landscape architect. I know in my area of western Colorado all city planning submittals must have a landscape design done by a landscape architect. Final CD's must have a landscape plan done by an LA.
Short Answer is yes. But I know in many jurisdictions the Landscape Architecture Associations are becoming more formal about who can sign and seal letters of assurance / schedules etc. Which would then require a registered Landscape Architect to design / sign documents.
In some places landscape architect is a protected title. You can work doing whatever you want, but in some places you'd be considered a landscape designer.
If your state law has an actual landscape architecture license then the short answer is no. In a general principle, one license is not suppose to be used in lieu of another license. The principle is that you would be licensed in each licensed profession that you want to practice.
There are exceptions built into laws of some states that allows you to engage in the scope of work that may be of another related profession as long as it is incidental to the practice of the profession you are licensed in and the particular project. This so-called "incidental practice" is by exception not by general rule of the laws governing a license. This is not the case, everywhere.
In Oregon, for example, there is a "landscape architect" license but not a "landscape design" license. Architects can offer landscape design services but those are generally what would be seen as landscape design for residential.... so what is residential landscape architecture is called residential landscape design. Landscape architecture on non-residential projects like school campus landscape design, city parks, and so forth, you need to be a landscape architect to design.
Architects and landscape architects works together as part of an overall project team as well as engineers where needed.
What do you want to do? If you have the skills, can meet the standards, and there are no laws or regs restricting it, you can do it. An architect can prepare grading plans, planting plans, design driveways and pavilions, ponds, paths, etc.
Depends on where you’re practicing. You most likely won’t be able to sign off on stormwater, outdoor water use & water efficiency; etc requirements and many places will require Landscape Plans to be signed by Landscape Architects once it gets over a certain square footage. . .
It’s your risk and liability at the end of the day, but you may not actually be able to submit the required docs you need to get permits or complete your project.
Additionally, 99% of the time, govt. agencies, companies, residential clients are not putting out RFPs or asking for park, garden, etc designs from Architects that design buildings, they’re reaching out to Landscape Architects.
It can be kind of a yes and no and depends on all the facts. Yes, if you have a license as a landscape architect and as an architect. Yes, you can functionally do much of landscape architecture but maybe not by the title landscape architect or referring to the service as landscape architecture but referring to service as landscape design and maybe the title landscape designer for landscape design aspects without going into construction details and do the construction details under the "Architect" drawing. Sometimes, there are nuance laws and rules to navigate around. Some of the No aspect related to misrepresentation. If landscape architecture is regulated and the title, you have to be careful. They will look at the title use and how you refer to services. You can offer architecture services but might not be able to offer landscape architecture services, depending on the specific laws of the jurisdiction. The lines in the statutory sandbox had been drawn in numerous states. Do yourself a favor and really study and understand the laws and if necessary and probably ideal, consult an attorney. If this is a business, you can hire a landscape architect and potentially offer the services. Check the laws and rules if there is any sort of firm license/registration requirements.
Would you sign and seal MWELO calcs in California? Unless there is a pre-approved list of plants, would you risk specifying plants that may die due to climate or excessive irrigation? How about certifying irrigation demand when a municipality has a water conservation ordinance? I sure as heck wouldn't want to be in that position, just like I wouldn't want my landscape architect being in charge of egress...
May 14, 24 2:34 pm ·
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Can you do landscape architecture as a licensed architect?
I want to be an architect but I’m curious if I’ll have the freedom to also work in landscape architecture even if I don’t have a degree in landscape architecture?
yes
but like anything else quality experience matters
Depends on:
Where you are practicing.
What type of project it is.
Some landscape projects will require you to be a landscape architect. I know in my area of western Colorado all city planning submittals must have a landscape design done by a landscape architect. Final CD's must have a landscape plan done by an LA.
The question should be "Should you do landscape architecture as a licensed architect?"
Short Answer is yes. But I know in many jurisdictions the Landscape Architecture Associations are becoming more formal about who can sign and seal letters of assurance / schedules etc. Which would then require a registered Landscape Architect to design / sign documents.
no
In some places landscape architect is a protected title. You can work doing whatever you want, but in some places you'd be considered a landscape designer.
If your state law has an actual landscape architecture license then the short answer is no. In a general principle, one license is not suppose to be used in lieu of another license. The principle is that you would be licensed in each licensed profession that you want to practice.
There are exceptions built into laws of some states that allows you to engage in the scope of work that may be of another related profession as long as it is incidental to the practice of the profession you are licensed in and the particular project. This so-called "incidental practice" is by exception not by general rule of the laws governing a license. This is not the case, everywhere.
In Oregon, for example, there is a "landscape architect" license but not a "landscape design" license. Architects can offer landscape design services but those are generally what would be seen as landscape design for residential.... so what is residential landscape architecture is called residential landscape design. Landscape architecture on non-residential projects like school campus landscape design, city parks, and so forth, you need to be a landscape architect to design.
Architects and landscape architects works together as part of an overall project team as well as engineers where needed.
What do you want to do? If you have the skills, can meet the standards, and there are no laws or regs restricting it, you can do it. An architect can prepare grading plans, planting plans, design driveways and pavilions, ponds, paths, etc.
Depends on where you’re practicing. You most likely won’t be able to sign off on stormwater, outdoor water use & water efficiency; etc requirements and many places will require Landscape Plans to be signed by Landscape Architects once it gets over a certain square footage. . .
It’s your risk and liability at the end of the day, but you may not actually be able to submit the required docs you need to get permits or complete your project.
Additionally, 99% of the time, govt. agencies, companies, residential clients are not putting out RFPs or asking for park, garden, etc designs from Architects that design buildings, they’re reaching out to Landscape Architects.
It can be kind of a yes and no and depends on all the facts. Yes, if you have a license as a landscape architect and as an architect. Yes, you can functionally do much of landscape architecture but maybe not by the title landscape architect or referring to the service as landscape architecture but referring to service as landscape design and maybe the title landscape designer for landscape design aspects without going into construction details and do the construction details under the "Architect" drawing. Sometimes, there are nuance laws and rules to navigate around. Some of the No aspect related to misrepresentation. If landscape architecture is regulated and the title, you have to be careful. They will look at the title use and how you refer to services. You can offer architecture services but might not be able to offer landscape architecture services, depending on the specific laws of the jurisdiction. The lines in the statutory sandbox had been drawn in numerous states. Do yourself a favor and really study and understand the laws and if necessary and probably ideal, consult an attorney. If this is a business, you can hire a landscape architect and potentially offer the services. Check the laws and rules if there is any sort of firm license/registration requirements.
Would you sign and seal MWELO calcs in California? Unless there is a pre-approved list of plants, would you risk specifying plants that may die due to climate or excessive irrigation? How about certifying irrigation demand when a municipality has a water conservation ordinance? I sure as heck wouldn't want to be in that position, just like I wouldn't want my landscape architect being in charge of egress...
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