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
STEVE LANG
NICOLE VOLPE
Project Location
LOS ANGELES
judges
JACQUELINE WEE – CITY FABRICK
ANDY CHEW – WALT DISNEY IMAGINEERING
Scribes
LINDA HSI
VICTORIA THYCOLIS
Central Coast Elementary School Site Proposal
Student: Bella Smith
Tasked with redesigning a California Central Coast elementary school campus. While given a program to follow requiring certain site amenities, goals of the redesign were to not alter the existing land or natural features, not to obscure the ocean view, and to create an engaging and creative learning environment for students to thrive in.
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Elementary Academy Site Proposal
Student: James Kang
Elementary Academy Site Proposal, including site plan, enlargement, section/elevation, and photos of physical model
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SCASLA Achievement Award
Strong overall layout—from the drop-off sequence through site organization, circulation, and a clear graphic hierarchy. Strengths include the underlying 45° grid, logical parking, well-placed amenities, a planted border, axial organization, clean readable graphics with good line weights, clear labels, helpful topography, and a bold section cut line that grounds the sheet.
A Coast Elementary Academy Site Proposal
Student: Laura Williams
This is a proposed site design for a new elementary school on California’s Central Coast. Students were given a list of required programmatic elements, a base plan, and some time to discuss the vision for the site with the client. The final project consists of a site plan, enlargement, section/elevation, and 3D model.
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SCASLA Achievement Award
The judges awarded a Silver Medal for a refined graphic style—clean cross-hatching and a circular structure that fits the site plan—and for strong overall layout and site organization. They praised the clear introduction, labeled/key-plan slides, rich site-plan texture, open space along the edge, parking to the side, and the park/stair connection, noting that model views add helpful context, and the thank-you background is a nice touch.
Central Coast Elementary
Student: Ricardo E. Gálvez
Central coast elementary. An organic and fluid site design project for a private elementary school.
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Central Coast Elementary School
Student: Ryan O’Leary Jones
Hand-drawn site plan, enlarged plan detail, section, and physical model for a proposed coastal California elementary school. The design creates a strong arrival sequence using trees to guide visitors, positions main buildings inland to frame views toward the cliffs, and opens a large lawn in the foreground. Sports courts are separated from classrooms for functional flow, administration and multipurpose spaces are placed near parking for community access, and the library and art studio are sited near the ocean to capture scenic views.
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SCASLA Achievement Award
The judges awarded Silver for presentation and organization, noting the work went above and beyond requirements—holistic, complete, and easy to follow. They praised the inclusion of a topography map (the only student to do so), a clear summary of site considerations, and context around the heritage oak (the “Mother Oak”). The theme and cultural inspiration read strongly, with design inspiration visible in the master plan; graphics are clear, the site plan and enlargement make the program legible, and the circulation slide/narrative held interest. Pathing feels fun and coherent with the spiral idea.
Central California Elementary Campus Proposal
Student: Tato Maizza
Final Project