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Orrin Burke

Orrin Burke

Willoughby, OH, US

 

About 

As a recent graduate from West Virginia University with degrees in the fields of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture, I am very excited to begin my professional life and provide a positive impact to development in urban/suburban communities .  

Growing up in small-town, suburban Cleveland, Ohio, my parents kept myself and two brothers outdoors as much as possible. I attribute this to my love of the outdoors and desire to help transform our outdoor environments into comfortable usable spaces. 

Design has always been a part of my life, ever since I received my first set of Legos at the age of three. Professionally, I strive to help create designed outdoor spaces that not only enhance the aesthetics of project sites, but also help to alleviate the impact of human development within urban and suburban spaces around the globe.

Feel free to contact me, even if its just to say hello!  I am always excited to meet like minded individuals who strive to provide a positive impact, helping ensure future generations can enjoy this world as much as we have.

Employment 

Exscape Designs LLC., Claridon, OH, US, Landscape Enhancement Foremen

• Managed a crew of 2-3 enhancement team members for up to one day without supervision of senior team members.
Planned for daily scope of work with senior team members and effectively communicated duties/materials/equipment needs with crew members.

Recorded accurate logs (mileage, expenses, crew hours, etc) and accounted for material and equipment at the end of day-to-day procedures.

Preformed site layout for enhancement projects based off contractors specifications; mostly planting and softscape installation.

Preformed basic landscape enhancement services including, clean-ups, pruning, lawn care/installation, bed service, fertilizer/pesticide application, drainage/irrigation repair, electrical repair, etc.

May 2013 - current
 

West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, US, Head Lifeguard

Enforced pool rules throughout the aquatic facility to ensure a safe environment.

Provided first-aid medical attention when necessary.

Maintained pool facilities based on WV State Code and WVU safety policy.

Recorded daily bather load and chemical reports to be given to facilities management for record keeping purposes.

Instruct weekly swim lessons to children ages 5-12

Jan 2009 - May 2013
 

Aristotle Design Group, Newbury, OH, US, Landscape Architecht Intern (Summer Only)

Worked alongside resident designers/contractors on high-end residential design/build projects throughout Northeast Ohio.

Preformed site analysis, dimensioning, preparation, and layout procedures, both under direct supervision of project managers and unsupervised.

Installed hardscape features (patios, pavers, etc.), including elevation (seat walls, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, etc.) under direct supervision of senior foremen/technicians.

Provided general landscape enhancement services such as pruning, clean ups, water feature/pond maintenance, lawn care/installation, bed service, fertilizer/pesticide applications, etc.

Provided rendering services, both 2D and 3D, in order to meet required deadlines.

Designed presentation board layouts for featured projects.

Converted hand-drawn design documentation into digital CAD files for safe keeping/storage.

Worked alongside resident horticulturalists to learn local plants/fauna, and proper management procedures within the landscape.

May 2011 - May 2012
 

Chagrin Valley Hunt Club, Gates Mills, OH, US, Head Lifeguard

Enforced pool rules throughout the aquatic facility to ensure a safe environment.

Provided first-aid medical attention when necessary.

Maintained pool facilities based on OH State Code and CVHC safety policy.

Recorded daily bather load and chemical reports to be given to facilities management for record keeping purposes.

Use of soft skills to act as the liaison between club members and management.

May 2006 - Aug 2010
 

Education 

West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, US (Main Campus), Bachelors, Horticulture

The horticulture program at WVU is very hands on, providing students with numerous opportunities to obtain real-world experience prior to leaving the world of academia.

Through basic plant science classes, hand-on green house experience, and numerous professional tours and lectures, I feel I could not have received a better education to prepare me for a job in the horticultural industry.

WVU's unique approach to their capstone courses, allowing students to work in the greenhouse on individual research, was what I would consider one of the most beneficial ways to engage students to ensure they truly grasp the content that was taught during their time at WVU.

Aug 2010 - current
 

West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, US (Main Campus), Bachelors, Landscape Architecture

The landscape architecture program at WVU is a 4 year, accrediated LARC program taught by highly respected professors within the field.

The program offered a very well-rounded education, exploring topics such as wetland delineation, urban planning/development, sustainable design, adaptive reuse, water/wastewater management, masterplanning, and plant sciences, to name a few.

Overall I feel like the education I received from WVU was excellent and taught me a great deal about what is necessary to become a successful professional landscape architect

Aug 2008 - May 2012
 

Awards 

Friends of Deckers Creek Environmental Design Contest Winner, Award

As a school project for our environmental design studio, our class paired with a local organization in Morgantown, WV known as Friends of Deckers Creek.

This non-profit organization in Morgantown, WV was established to help reclaim the Deckers Creek watershed from acid mine drainage, a problem all too common throughout West Virginia and the rest of Appalachia.

Using only natural materials found on site, we were asked to design a space of reflection based off narratives provided by the teacher explaining the negative impact that mining has on local and regional waterways throughout Appalachia. The site chosen was adjacent the Deckers Creek Rail Trail, a popular pedestrian byway within the community, that is highly visible to the public eye.

Though no physical award was received, my design, titled "Insight" was featured in local and regional news publications as well as the universities website, highlighting our public involvement and cry to curtail an epidemic that is destroying natural waterway ecology in the state of WV.

2010
 

Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Award, Award

As a life-long member of the BSA, I was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout in November of 2008 for my services with BS Troop 185 in Willoughby, OH.

For my service project I designed an outdoor recreations space for a local retirement community. As part of my design, I implemented low impact active recreation opportunities such as horseshoes, bocce, hopscotch, and crushed limestone walking paths. In addition, spaces for passive recreation and picnicking were also provided.

2008
 

Areas of Specialization 

Skills