Sustainable Land Development Today - April 2008 - (Page 16) EDUCATION Developing T omorrow’s Leaders in Landscape Architecture By Paul Kissinger International planning and landscape architecture firm EDSA, has embarked upon a corporate partnership with Broward County School District at Northeast High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to help promote the field of landscape architecture to local highschool students. The teaching program, which began in February, is introducing students to the basic planning and design principles of landscape architecture and enlightening them with concepts that inspire today’s design professionals. The firm realized the importance of reaching out to high school students within the community as the profession of Landscape Architecture is projected to expand by 18-26-percent over the next six years, making it one of the fastest growing design professions. The demand for services can be matched only if collegiate landscape architecture programs experience significant growth and increase by an average of six-percent a year. Currently there are only 1,400 landscape architects graduating per year – which is not enough to keep up with a profession growing at such a fast pace. With so few landscape architects in the U.S. and the continued demand for landscape-architectural services, there is great opportunity for young people who are considering the profession. The program is intended to assist colleges in recruitment for landscape architecture candidates. The goal is to broaden the students’ horizons about the field and introduce them to the mission of being stewards of the environment so they will be more likely to pursue the profession in college. landscape architecture offers tremendous creative and financial fulfillment, but with climate change and sustainability both having a major impact on where and how people live, demand for services has quickly overcome supply. By partnering with Northeast High School, EDSA responded to the issue by getting students excited about the profession. As a leader in the industry, the firm’s professionals hope to pass on their passion for landscape architecture to the students in order to sustain the profession and protect the quality of work being produced by today’s young designers. They want to show them that landscape architecture is not just a career, it’s a way of life. The Profession Landscape architects are licensed professionals that combine open space, functionality, and beauty in a way that enhances people’s lives. They are a collective group of experts in design and the environment who work to benefit the health, safety and welfare of the public. But more importantly, they are advocates for the profession. The lack of graduates is not a new issue and has become a global concern surrounding the profession. A career in The Partnership EDSA, a leading landscape architecture firm and the largest employer of landscape architects in the state of Florida, united with Broward County Public Schools, one of the top-ten largest public-school districts in the nation. Northeast High School hosts the only Architecture and Engineering magnet school in Broward County where students outside of the school district who prefer the specialized curriculum can test-in to attend. “We’re looking forward to our partnership with EDSA, as they are an international firm and will bring great exposure to our students and have a positive impact on our recruiting endeavors,” said Jonathan E. Williams, principal of Northeast High School. The firm’s landscape architects are in the classroom facilitating teachers in introductory design classes once or twice a week for the duration of a six-week program. EDSA devised a curriculum of EDSA Principal, Paul Kissinger, offers advice and makes suggestions on how to take this high school student’s concept plan to the next level. 16 April 2008 Sustainable Land Development Today
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