Introduction to the Landscape Design Professions
This introductory course covers the history, scope, types, and scale of landscape design professions; licensure; professional societies; and current issues. Terminology, construction concepts, basic graphic skills, and model-making are also introduced.
Instructor
Pamela Brief
Steve Lang
Nicole Volpe
Project Location
Santa Barbara
judges
Dylan Anslow – Herrera Environmental Consultants
Jessie Corea – WEBB
Stacie Preven – KFA
Elementary School Site Proposal
Student: Brian Bautista
This was the final project which was a site plan and model for an Elementary School Project that emphasizes restoring the natural landscape, carbon sequestration, passive cooling and curvaceous, organic arrangements inspired from the nearby ocean and beach.
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Elementary School Landscape Architecture Presentation
Student: Marie Darnell
Introduction to Landscape Design Professions – assignment was to create a school with classrooms, library, admin building, parking lots, amphitheater and cafe. First opportunity to be creative and design. My design has the classrooms surrounding a heritage oak and overlooking the pacific ocean as the site is bisected with an alley of the oaks as the main circulation through campus.
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SCASLA Honorable Mention
The judges praised the project’s graphic sense, calling it professional and fun. The plan, while beautiful, could benefit from labels and a more organic design that better aligns with the natural site. The rectilinear layout was noted as successful but felt more suited to an English garden than an elementary school. The section was described as beautiful, especially the rendering of trees, though a bit more differentiation was suggested. The model was cohesive with the overall narrative, though adding more color and orienting the buildings to take better advantage of the views would improve it.
Welcome Wise Stewards
Student: Joan Grasser
Elementary School Site Proposal
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SCASLA Achievement Award
The judges appreciated the strong storytelling behind the mycorrhiza and mother trees concept, praising its big-picture thinking. The plan was well-organized, taking advantage of the site’s orientation and highland features, with clean linework and clear hierarchy. The enlargement was noted for its nice design touches, and the model demonstrated great craftsmanship, adding understanding and a sense of place. The playful elements, like the monkey, were a fun and fitting touch for the project’s theme.
Elementary School
Student: Stephanie Jin
Elementary school site in central coast California
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SCASLA Excellence Award
The judges appreciated the clear presentation of themes and inspiration at the beginning of the project, noting that it provided helpful context. The outdoor play area, with fun elements like a goat platform and jungle gym, was a highlight for its kid-friendly design. The enlargement was praised for its clean lines and successful use of line weights, creating an inviting garden space. The model was especially commended for its high-quality craftsmanship, blending landscape and built elements seamlessly, and effectively conveying the design’s fit with the site and its ocean-inspired theme.
Central California Elementary Campus Proposal
Student: Alana Katzner
Central Coast Elementary School Campus Master Plan
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Intro to the Landscape Design Professions
Student: Brenden Lewis
Coastal Elementary School Campus Design: site plan, enlargement, section, 3d model.
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Elementary School Landscape Architecture Presentation
Student: Leslie Paugh
Elementary School Site Project
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SCASLA Achievement Award
The judges praised the thoughtful and well-executed title page, as well as the site plan, which was described as organic, intentional, and responsive to the coastline. The design’s flow and connection to the site were highlighted, along with the careful placement of buildings, sports areas, and amphitheater. The enlargement added nice detail, particularly in defining the stream. The section was appreciated for its clarity and modernist building style. The model was well-executed, with good use of textures, though the judges suggested toning down the color saturation for better harmony with the plan.
Coastal Elementary School Design
Student: Mariia Pugacheva
Developing a conceptual design for the elementary school grounds
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SCASLA Honorable Mention
The judges appreciated the plan’s nice smooth lines and the balance between square and natural shapes. They commended the design’s strong circulation thinking, highlighting how well the designer considered how people navigate through the space. The amphitheater’s placement facing the bluff was a great choice, effectively taking advantage of natural views. The model successfully demonstrated circulation hierarchy, and the use of colors on the ground plane was noted as a strong feature.
Intro to the Landscape Design Professions
Student: Nicole Rietveld
This is a site plan for a coastal California private school, inspired by the concept of “Exploring the Lessons in Nature.” The design encourages students to engage with nature throughout the property. Some features include a nature pond, a hiking trail around the perimeter of the campus, multiple native plant gardens, an observation area/deck, and many outdoor learning and play spaces! Included in this project is a site plan, an enlargement area plan, a section line, and a physical model of the enlargement area.
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SCASLA Achievement Award
The judges appreciated the well-executed front page design, noting how the image masking for text worked nicely. The spatial design of the plan was praised, though line weights and hierarchy could use more differentiation, and the parking lot could be more efficient. The spiral garden and community-oriented design were highlighted as intriguing and thoughtful. The enlargement and section both demonstrated nice attention to detail, especially in the drawing of trees and the inclusion of the coastline. The model reflected a lot of thought, particularly in the rendering of the cliff and the inclusion of the fence.
Elementary School Design Proposal
Student: Danielle Siqueira
Elementary school design proposal
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Intro to the Landscape Design Elementary School Site Proposal
Student: Ashley Van Pelt
Elementary School Site Proposal – Site Plan, Enlargement Plan, Section Elevation and Model of Enlargement
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Central California Coast Elementary School Proposal
Student: Marissa Vega
Presentation of proposed coastal nature-based elementary school including plan, enlargement, section elevation, and model photos
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SCASLA Honorable Mention
The judges appreciated the plan’s nice organization, clean linework, and hierarchy. They praised the clear use of labels, which made the plan easy to understand. The enlargements were particularly well done, with great use of callouts and well-defined spaces. The clean, crisp lines and excellent line weights were also highlighted. The key map was noted as a strong feature, helping to guide the viewer through the design. The model was well received, with the fun use of succulents as trees and a thoughtful use of materials.
The Owl
A School Campus
Student: Patrese Winter
My project involves designing a school campus in the shape of an owl, creatively reflecting the school’s mascot. The design uses pathways, landscaping, and architectural details to enhance the owl motif, symbolizing wisdom and knowledge while providing a functional and engaging space for students and staff.
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SCASLA Excellence Award
The judges were impressed with the project, calling it outstanding overall. The plan was praised for its clarity, thoughtful zoning, and effective use of labeling and color coding, making the programming easy to follow. The integration of outdoor classrooms and habitat restoration was a highlight. The model stood out for its craftsmanship and use of color, successfully representing the design and its fit with the site. Thoughtful details like play areas, gathering spaces, and key maps added depth to the presentation.
Central Coast Academy
Student: Helen Pollock Wolfe
This elementary school design proposal emphasizes community, nature discovery and the singular beauty of California’s central coast. The project is anchored by a central learning village, with classrooms, art studio, library and outdoor spaces for play, learning and exploration. Sensory gardens with native and climate-adapted plants in a serene palette – accented with red and orange in high-energy areas – retreat outside the central village into lightly cultivated meadows, chaparral and oak woodland.
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Coastal Oak Academy
Student: Kelsey Woodworth
The purpose of this assignment was to design an elementary school campus on the central California coast for kindergarten through fifth grade.