Landscape Architect and Urban Planner

What is the difference between a Landscape Architect and an Urban Planner?

Landscape Architects:

Landscape architects design beautiful gardens, public parks, playgrounds, residential areas, and other public spaces for everyone to enjoy. It is the responsibility of the landscape architect to create functional and beautiful spaces that match with the surrounding environments. They plan the locations of flowers, shrubs, trees, walkways, and buildings within a space. Furthermore, landscape architects enhance and restore natural spaces that may have been disturbed by human contact, such as streams and wetlands. Landscape architects also develop environmentally-friendly designs and research ways to reduce their environmental impact. Additionally, landscape architects preserve and restore historic landscapes, national parks, and forests. 

In order to become a landscape architect, you will need to obtain a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture. Be sure the institution and the degree is accredited and approved by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB). Throughout your academic journey, your coursework may include landscape ecology, landscape design and construction, surveying, site design, and urban or regional planning. Furthermore, you may have coursework in the areas of plant and soil science, professional practice, general management, and history of landscape architecture. Designing landscape designs are a vital component to your educational journey. You will be assigned actual projects as a landscape architecture student and perform computer-aided design and drafting and model building.

Urban Planner:

Urban planners act as activists for individuals and communities; they are the voice of a community when deciding the best use for a community’s land and resources. Organizing community groups, overseeing projects, and carrying out community plans are a part of an urban planner’s job. In order to create new buildings or areas for land usage, urban planners utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which analyze population density. Financial spreadsheets, database software, statistical software, and presentation software play a crucial role in presenting information about a community to public officials. The job of an urban planner is incredibly rewarding, as they can be the voice and action of a community. 

If you wish to pursue a career in urban planning, you will need to obtain both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Urban Planning. A Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning will include urban neighborhood analysis, government budgets, site planning, and public and private development. Additional coursework or double majors may vary and might include topics such as environmental design, civil engineering, landscape architecture, and public administration. It is vital to complete an internship in areas such as public development and community planning. Upon graduation from a Bachelor’s degree program, you may find employment as an assistant or a junior urban planner. A Master’s degree in Urban Planning will include workshops, laboratory courses, and seminars in the field of urban planning. Also, throughout your studies, urban planners will solve and analyze urban planning issues in populated areas.

Studio W is passionate about what we do and look forward to working with many talented students in the field of landscape architecture and urban planning.  For more information, or to schedule a speaker on landscape architecture and design, contact us at:  info@thestudiow.com.

source: careerigniter

Our Team: Meet Ryan Grider, Associate/Production Manager

At Studio W, our company values, integrity and knowledge are never more apparent than when you meet our employees. Studio W feels fortunate to have such wonderful people on our team! 

Ryan Grider
Studio W,  Associate/Production Manager

The field of landscape architecture was the catch all profession that allowed me to explore my passions in life.  Growing up in rural Oklahoma around agriculture and my family’s construction business helped shape my interests in the natural and built environments.   My interest in the outdoors began by spending weekends on my family’s farm assisting my uncles with their cattle operation and at our cabin on Lake Eufaula.  This eventually led to a part time job at vineyard during high school where I discovered my love of horticulture and plants.  These elements combined with lifelong passions for serving others, the arts, and intellectual curiosity for everything imaginable led me to the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Oklahoma State University where I earned my Bachelors of Landscape Architecture with a minor in Studio Art.

While at OSU, I was heavily involved in the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Alpha Zeta, a honorary fraternity for students of agriculture, and the OSU Student Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) where I served as President and the Executive Director for the Finding Center Conference for sustainable design. 

My current position at Studio W is Associate/Production Manager.  My task is to manage and ensure the quality of documents both graphic and technical that the firm produces and to utilize artistic techniques to communicate the intent of our designs. I am involved in all design review and consultation meetings with the clients and assist Jason Wilke and Zach Murphy with insuring that the clients desire for their outdoor environment is fully realized at both residential and commercial scales.

Community involvement is extremely important to both the firm and myself.  Outside of Studio W, I am involved with the leadership of several boards at local, state, and national levels.  These include the Oklahoma State University Kappa Sigma Housing Corporation where I serve as Secretary, Secretary of the Stillwater Multi-Arts Center Board of Directors, Treasurer of the Oklahoma Chapter of The American Society of Landscape Architects, a member of the ASLA National Emerging Professionals Committee, a member of Young Professionals of Stillwater, OK, and a regular volunteer at Payne County Youth Services.  

Historic Oklahoma: Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum

As a landscape design firm, we take pride in showing off historic places Oklahoma has to offer.  Each month in 2017 we will highlight a few places that are on the map. We hope you will follow us on this journey!

This month we would like to highlight the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum 
Pawnee, Oklahoma

The 500-acre grounds include the original Ranch blacksmith shop, a 1903 log cabin, a large barn built in 1926, and an Indian Flower Shrine—all available for the public to tour. 
photo credit:  Oklahoma Historial Society

The Pawnee Bill Ranch was once the showplace of the world-renowned Wild West Show entertainer Gordon W. "Pawnee Bill" Lillie. Visitors can tour Pawnee Bill and his wife May's fourteen-room mansion, fully furnished with their original belongings. Their dream home, completed in 1910, is filled with Lillie family memorabilia, photographs, original art work, and much more. The Ranch property also houses a museum with exhibits related to Pawnee Bill, the Wild West Shows, and the Pawnee tribe. The 500-acre grounds include the original Ranch blacksmith shop, a 1903 log cabin, a large barn built in 1926, and an Indian Flower Shrine—all available for the public to tour.

A herd of bison, longhorn, and several draft horses call the Pawnee Bill Ranch home and can often be found grazing in the drive through exhibit pasture. The Ranch is also a day-use facility and several outdoor amenities can be reserved for private functions. The Ranch has covered picnic shelters, tipi-covered picnic tables, fishing ponds, a playground, and a meeting room. The Big Barn, shelter, meeting rooms, porches, and lawns can be rented for weddings, reunions, meetings, and more. The Pawnee Bill Ranch also proudly recreates Pawnee Bill's Original Wild West Show in June every year.  ~Oklahoma Historical Society

Source:  OK Historical Society
View photos at Travelog.com

Planning Your Outdoor Living Space - What Is The Best Time of Year?

So, you've decided to invest in a backyard living space.  You will be adding a pool, kitchen and sitting area.  But when should you start planning?

The answer isn't black and white.  A lot of factors come into play - but we can tell you one thing... don't wait until summer.  The ideal time is August through April if you want to get your space completed before the warm spring/summer months arrive.

OuterLiving / Outdoor Construction

When the weather starts to heat up in the spring, so do sales for outdoor actives.  Starting a project in spring means you will probably be able to enjoy it throughout the summer months.  You do have to take into account it is the rainy season so schedules may need to be adjusted.

Mid-early summer is usually the busiest time to start a pool or outdoor kitchen project.  Most contractors have already set their schedule and you may be pushed back to July or August before construction can begin.

If it is just an in-ground pool you are wanting, fall through early spring is the best time to start planning and to get it on the schedule.  That way, you will be able to enjoy your pool when the weather turns warm.

Studio W can help you design your space and landscaping.   For more information or to schedule an appointment to discuss your outdoor living space, contact:  info@outerlivingok.com