by Ben Pethel | Dec 6, 2011 | News
As the Holidays approach, we all know someone who is almost impossible to shop for. Perhaps its a spouse, a parent or a grandparent, but they either seem to have everything or to be the type of person for which clothes, trinkets or electronics don’t provide much excitement.
The Penland Studio might be able help. How about giving that special person a gift certificate for a Landscape Master Plan? As we’ve discussed in other posts, Master Plans are individually customized tools which homeowners can use to improve the aesthetics, function, personalization and value of their property. For holiday gifts, we can arrange the details discretely and provide you with a Certificate to present as the gift, with the design and documents to be provided throughout the following year.
In sincere appreciation of the growth we’ve experienced during the sluggish economy, The Penland Studio is offering a 10% discount on Professional Services for the first five (5) Residential Master Plans under contract prior to January 1, 2012. For reference, fees for Master Plans of single-family homes on less than 2 acres are typically between $1500 and $2500. For this promotion, a signed agreement and a deposit of $250 will be required, with the remaining fees due after services have been rendered. Simply call or email Ben Pethel (bpethel@penlandstudio.com / 865-335-3584) and mention this post to receive your discount!
by Ben Pethel | Nov 2, 2011 | News
Congratulations to BSP and MHM! The John Duncan Jr. Knoxville Station Transit Center has won additional design awards including a Merit Award from the Tennessee ASLA. The Penland Studio is honored to be part of the Design Team.
http://www.pitchengine.com/bullocksmithpartners/knoxville-transit-center-design-honored–again
by Ben Pethel | Oct 12, 2011 | News
Because many clients question Construction Administration and the associated fees, I would like to explain what is and how it’s ultimately to the client’s advantage.
Design Professionals, such as Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers, produce Construction Documents. These documents typically include drawings and written specifications which describe the materials, components and assemblies which a Contractor will construct, install and/or provide for the client (Owner).
The Design Professional has a contract (agreement) with the Owner to provide the Construction Documents. The Contractor has a separate agreement with the Owner to provide, construct and install what is described in the Construction Documents.
Each agreement describes the scope of what will be provided. The Design Professional will obviously be providing the drawings, but we may also offer “Construction Administration.” This service relates to the construction phase of a project. In summary, it states that the Designer will visit the project site during construction and observe the Contractor’s work to make sure it complies with the Construction Documents and report any discrepancies. In addition, the Designer will be available to answer questions or provide clarifications about the Construction Documents.
Because the time required for the site visits, reports, questions and submittals may equal or exceed the time required to produce the Construction Documents, this service may result in fees which are more than double the cost of the drawings alone.
The Penland Studio considers Construction Administration to be essential and we include it for all Construction Documents we provide. From our point of view, it is critical to ensure that projects are constructed as designed, without shortcuts or unapproved changes, and that we are available to assist with the changes that inevitably occur during construction.
Owners concerned about the fees must keep in mind that our Agreement is completely separate for the Construction Agreement. We are working FOR the Owner and working to ensure that they get what’s described in the Construction Documents. Let’s face it, even great Contractors are seeking a profit and the Owner may not have the time or construction knowledge to recognize deviations from the documents. Having the Design Professional who provided the Construction Documents provide Construction Administration ensures that Contractor is held accountable for providing what is specified and typically pays for itself several times over in cost savings during construction, while keeping the Owner informed throughout the construction process.
by Ben Pethel | Oct 5, 2011 | News
I’m truly blessed to have a job that I love. While there are many things about Landscape Architecture that I appreciate, the three things that I like best are seeing people experience completed projects, the diversity of project types and doing something different every day.
A few months ago, I was doing some consulting work with another LA firm in downtown Knoxville. After a busy morning in the office, I walked to Market Square and got an ice cream cone. While enjoying the ice cream on a bench on a beautiful spring day, I watched children playing in the fountain, people enjoying lunches at cafes, friends running into each other and stopping to talk, a street musician playing a reggae version of ‘Brown-eyed Girl,’ city dwellers walking their dogs and a group of teenagers chatting on the lawn beneath the sawtooth oaks. Although my role in redeveloping Market Square and the adjacent Krutch Park was limited to Design Development drawings, Construction Drawings and Construction Administration, it was wonderful to see people using and enjoying the space. That HAS to be the best part about being a Landscape Architect!
A close second, however, would be the opportunity to work on so many different types of projects. Yesterday, for example, I spent time working on an estate residence, a modest residence, a client’s dream back-yard, and a recently-completed corporate office. Not only is every project unique, but the types vary in size and complexity. A project might be a 100 SF area, an acre or two or my personal record of a 524 mile greenway/park system. Similarly, the complexity varies. Whether the design is master planning, grading, detailing, paving, planting, lighting or irrigation, it can be simple or complex. Although it may sound boring to some, one of my favorite projects involved a high-security prison. I savored the process of plotting potential escape routes as if I were an inmate and verifying that they were secure with fences, cameras, clear site lines, etc., making adjustments as necessary, all while respecting a protected wetland adjacent to the site!
And finally, my third favorite thing about Landscape Architecture is getting to do something different EVERY day. Some days are in the office and may involve design, drawing, research, contracts, proposals, or submittal review. As a small business owner, there are invoices and accounting. Other days might involve site visits, meeting with clients, meeting with other professionals or visiting nurseries. And occasionally, I get to spend time enjoying the spaces I helped create!
by Ben Pethel | Sep 16, 2011 | News
There are a number of people in the landscape business who refer to themselves or advertise as Landscape Architects when, in fact they are not. ‘Back in the day,’ this was occasional and would often show up in the Yellow Pages, but with the advent of online media, the practice has become much more common. While it’s an illegal action, our legal system has plenty of more pressing matters. The most common misuse is by nurseries or landscape installation companies who include design services for free or at reduced rates with the purchase of landscape installation.
So, what is the difference between a Landscape Designer and a Landscape Architect? To start, anyone can call themselves a Landscape Designer, but to be a Lanscape Architect, one must be registered (often called licensed.) While many universities offer degrees in Landscape Design which are certainly beneficial, there is no educational or experience required to practice as a landscape designer. This results in wide range of ‘practitioners’ which may be extremely talented or may not have any knowledge whatsoever about landscaping. The running joke is “Green side up!…”
A Landscape Architect, on the other hand, must meet the following requirements:
- Receive a degree from a College with an Accredited Landscape Architecture program,typically 5 years for an Undergraduate Degree or 3 years for a Graduate Degree
- Practice under a Registered Landscape Architect for a period of time. (Apprenticeship). The time varies by state; The State of Tennessee requires a minimum of 3 years. During that time and until Registered, one is called a Landscape Architect Intern.
- Take and pass a National Standardized exam called the L.A.R.E. (Landscape Architect’s Registration Exam) The multiple-part test takes several days and often takes several attempts to pass all sections. Approximately 5% pass the entire text on the first try.
- Depending on State of Registration, an additional section may be added to the L.A.R.E. Georgia, for example, has an additional section on plants.
- Maintain an active Registration in each state of practice. This typically involves obtaining a specified number of Continuing Education credits during a one or two year cycle, as well as fees for each state.
- Some states, such as Tennessee, require taxes in addition to standard state and federal taxes, such as the Professional Privilege Tax.
So, there’s the difference between the two names. Soon, we’ll discuss some of the differences in services offered by each.
by Ben Pethel | Aug 31, 2011 | News
The Penland Studio is pleased to announce that the John J. Duncan, Jr Knoxville Station Transit Center received a 2011 Excellence Award from the MPC in the category of New Development.
As part of the Design Team, our responsibilities included design of the landscaping, the exterior hardscaping, planters, paving and drainage on structure at the Pedestrian Plaza and Green Roofs. In addition The Penland Studio consulted on the project’s application for LEED Silver approval.
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