| | | | American Academy of Landscape Design
| February 16, 2009 | | | | | Greetings! Just a quick update as a deadline approaches for the Grading and Drainage Workshop.
Also, I posted some feedback from the last newsletter on the Blog.
And, for those of you studying for the L.A.R.E., I have a "like new" study guide for Section E listed on eBay for a very nice price!
Sincerely, 
American Academy of Landscape Design
www.aaldweb.com
847-657-7900
| | What is the maximum number of steps you can put in a driveway?Yes, it's an absurd question, but one I asked jokingly of a few colleagues about a year ago. I was working on a project with some complicated existing conditions: Older home with detached garage and some serious drainage issues that went unnoticed only because the old gravel driveway allowed water to percolate rather than run off. They had puddles for sure.
 Anyway, while working out a new configuration it became apparent that the grades were pretty impossible. I was fortunate to have a lot of information to work with and was able to determine early in the design process that there were going to be problems that needed a creative solution.
I've simplified the description a bit, and the solution would be difficult to describe here, so I won't bother. The point is, even for someone reasonably well-versed in solving grading and drainage problems on residential properties, this one was a challenge. The good news is that we figured it out in the office. Had we decided to "work it out in the field," as many of us do in a design-build scenario, there would most definitely have been some unwelcome and possibly expensive surprises. With those surprises come uncomfortable client conversations. Been there. Done that. No thanks.
If you've been there too, and still aren't comfortable with it, please do yourself a favor and sign up for our Grading and Drainage Course in March.
| Grading and Drainage
Chicago, March 12-13 (link)
Tuition: $495 (Save $50 if you register by 2/19)
Okay, we all know that water flows from high places to low places. We also know that it travels by the path of least resistance. Now what? You just got that design project on the sloped site. You know you'll need some steps. But how many? How big? Grading can a tough thing to get your head around. In this course we'll take it down to its very basics. We'll explore how to read a grading plan and how to create our own. Participants will shoot grades with various instruments, from the very low tech up to state-of-the art electronics. By doing it ourselves, we understand better. We'll translate field measurements into plan form, take our spot elevations and interpolate contours. You have to understand what you're starting with before you can design something new. Following are comments from last year's Grading and Drainage Workshop.
"You presentation was excellent, as was the facility and the course materials provided to us. I especially appreciate the time you took to address our individual comments and questions during the seminar. The information was presented in a manner that was very practical, so as to be implemented immediately in the field." - Scott M.
The Earlybird Deadline is quickly approaching. If you think you may sign up, even after the deadline, please let me know that you are thinking about it. Also, let me know if you have any questions.
APLD 5.0 CEUs
PLANET 2 Education Units
enroll now
| 10 Step Design Process
UPDATE: DOCUMENTS FROM OUR 10-STEP DESIGN PROCESS WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE ONLINE. GO LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW AND LEARN HOW THEY WILL HELP YOU GROW YOUR BUSINESS. SUBSCRIBERS TO THIS NEWSLETTER WILL NOTIFIED WHEN THEY ARE ONLINE.
 Recently I did an interview with Chris Heiler at LandscapeLeadership.com where we discussed the 10-Step Design Process we developed at Garden Concepts. It is the process that governed a client's experience from start to finish.
Correction! This podcast is a FREE DOWNLOAD from LandscapeLeadership.com!
| | | | | | | |
