What does a landscape architect do?
A landscape architect specializes in developing external areas into functional natural environments. Their responsibilities typically revolve around meeting with clients to identify their needs and preferences, drawing designs and creating models, and presenting proposals to clients with sustainability and environment conditions in mind. A landscape architect is also responsible for liaising with contractors and other external parties, obtaining certifications, and performing research and analysis as needed. Furthermore, as a landscape architect, it is essential to coordinate and encourage the team to reach goals within budgets and deadlines.
Landscape architect responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real landscape architect resumes:
- Manage streetscape improvement program and implement urban forestry programs.
- Manage technical architects for development and support of existing and new terminal platforms to support Walmart mobile and batch application infrastructure.
- Supervise teams of consultants including structural, civil, and MEP engineers and lighting, leer, code & waterproofing consultants.
- Respond to incoming RFI's.
- Process 3D renderings and animations in lumion.
- Design 3-Dimensional models of designs and project elements using SketchUp 3D.
- Lead sustainability efforts, training and leer documentation within the office.
- Coordinate the preliminary and final plat drawings and wetland replacement plan.
- Create colored conceptual designs as well as perspective drawings utilizing sketch up.
- Work alongside senior architects on renovation and redesign projects within the healthcare sector.
- Discuss BIM design standards and procedures with the directors of design and architecture.
- Utilize BIM technology for the development of digital models of buildings and their components.
- Create web role and worker role, write a code and deploy it to azure.
- Create GIS maps and exhibits to help educate clients on site specific improvements and best practices.
- Assist with the design of healthcare interiors by selecting materials, creating renderings, and producing finish boards.
Landscape architect skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Landscape Architects are proficient in Cost Estimates, SketchUp, and Site Analysis. They’re also known for soft skills such as Problem-solving skills, Analytical skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Landscape Architects that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Cost Estimates, 13%
Developed detailed cost estimates and specification documentation.
- SketchUp, 9%
Introduced 3D modeling in SketchUp to the company to give clients a better understanding of a space during a proposal.
- Site Analysis, 9%
Performed site analysis and inspections.
- Landscape Design, 9%
Interacted directly with government officials and design firm seniors for developing architectural and landscape design projects.
- Site Inventory, 7%
Developed site selection reports for the Technology Centers consisting of a site inventory and comparative analysis of development constraints.
- GIS, 6%
Passed Section B of the Landscape Architecture Licensing Exam Skills Used GIS Photoshop Microstation
"cost estimates," "sketchup," and "site analysis" are among the most common skills that landscape architects use at work. You can find even more landscape architect responsibilities below, including:
Problem-solving skills. The most essential soft skill for a landscape architect to carry out their responsibilities is problem-solving skills. This skill is important for the role because "when designing outdoor spaces, landscape architects must be able to provide solutions to unanticipated challenges." Additionally, a landscape architect resume shows how their duties depend on problem-solving skills: "solved technical problems, as they arose, with landscape architects and engineers to ensure project phases were completed as planned. "
Analytical skills. Many landscape architect duties rely on analytical skills. "landscape architects must understand how their designs will affect locations," so a landscape architect will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways landscape architect responsibilities rely on analytical skills: "performed geographic information systems analysis and mapping created promotional and presentation graphics produced cadd construction drawings assisted with park planning and design"
Communication skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of landscape architects is communication skills. This skill is critical to many everyday landscape architect duties, as "landscape architects share their ideas, both orally and in writing, with clients, other architects, and workers who help prepare drawings." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "created project design plans for multiple urban design and landscape architecture projects through communication and coordination with project team and sub-consultants. "
Creativity. For certain landscape architect responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "creativity." The day-to-day duties of a landscape architect rely on this skill, as "landscape architects create the overall look of gardens, parks, and other outdoor areas." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what landscape architects do: "developed site selection reports for the technology centers consisting of a site inventory and comparative analysis of development constraints. "
Technical skills. A commonly-found skill in landscape architect job descriptions, "technical skills" is essential to what landscape architects do. Landscape architect responsibilities rely on this skill because "landscape architects use computer-aided design and drafting (cadd) programs to create representations of their projects." You can also see how landscape architect duties rely on technical skills in this resume example: "prepare preliminary and conceptual documents using county information services system and cost estimates for technical services. "
Visualization skills. While "visualization skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to landscape architect responsibilities. Much of what a landscape architect does relies on this skill, seeing as "landscape architects must be able to imagine how an overall outdoor space will look once completed." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of landscape architects: "developed supplemental sections, elevations, perspectives, and interactive computer models for project visualization during design development. "
The three companies that hire the most landscape architects are:
- Hr International133 landscape architects jobs
- Kimley-Horn37 landscape architects jobs
- Dewberry30 landscape architects jobs
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Compare different landscape architects
Landscape architect vs. Structural design engineer
A Structural Design Engineer designs drawings, specifications, and computer models of structures for building contractors. They help design hospitals, office blocks, houses, bridges, ships, and other structures.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a landscape architect are more likely to require skills like "sketchup," "site analysis," "landscape design," and "site inventory." On the other hand, a job as a structural design engineer requires skills like "structural design," "cad," "autocad," and "aerospace." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Structural design engineers earn the highest salaries when working in the manufacturing industry, with an average yearly salary of $88,526. On the other hand, landscape architects are paid more in the media industry with an average salary of $66,080.structural design engineers tend to reach similar levels of education than landscape architects. In fact, structural design engineers are 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Landscape architect vs. Golf course designer
A landscape designer is responsible for ensuring that the plan arrangement meets the client's best interests with the highest quality standards. Landscape designers must have strong attention to detail, outstanding communication skills, and excellent analytical skills to provide the best services as the client instructs. They should also be creative and knowledgeable about the trends in the market, analyze site conditions to suggest design options that would fit the client's preference. A landscape designer should also provide expense estimates for the client and construct the project efficiently within the budget goals.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real landscape architect resumes. While landscape architect responsibilities can utilize skills like "cost estimates," "sketchup," "site analysis," and "landscape design," golf course designers use skills like "course content," "learning management system," "subject matter experts," and "html."
In general, golf course designers achieve higher levels of education than landscape architects. They're 9.8% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for landscape architects in the next 3-5 years?
Dak Kopec Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Coordinator, BA Interior Architecture and Design and Master of Design Program, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas
Landscape architect vs. Director of landscape architecture and planning
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a landscape architect is likely to be skilled in "cost estimates," "sketchup," "site inventory," and "gis," while a typical director of landscape architecture and planning is skilled in "landscape architecture," "cad," "approval process," and "leed."
Most directors of landscape architecture and planning achieve a similar degree level compared to landscape architects. For example, they're 1.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Landscape architect vs. Landscape designer
Types of landscape architect
Updated January 8, 2025
