AECOM's understanding of how peoples lives shape and are shaped by their environments has provided unique insights into the design and planning of places at all scales. Whether working on a multi-acre corporate landscape, a small urban park, or a year-round resort, our landscape architects and urban designers consider the site's physical surroundings and the needs of the client as well as the financial mechanisms, long-term political effects, implementation, and maintenance of the project.

Our practice is not simply focused on buildings and sites but on systems: the physical framework of streets, squares, parks, plazas and gardens that contribute to sense of place. Effective design requires careful integration of the myriad features of a particular site, from issues of aesthetics and to those of ecology, circulation, infrastructure, visual impacts, and economic viability. AECOM's interdisciplinary approach brings together the best creative and strategic thinkers to facilitate the reciprocal relationships between specific sites and surrounding context.

Our work takes place in a variety of settings, from established downtowns to new communities to university campuses. What all of our projects have in common is the need for practicality, quality, and attractiveness. Underlying all that we do is the ideal of making places where we ourselves and ultimately, many others will want to be.

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Enjoy a photo gallery of some of the winners.

The tropical look, the woodsy look, the grass-is-good look -- all seem to have given way to the waterwise look in this year's crop of awards from the local chapter of the American Institute of Landscape Architects.

Handed out earlier this month, the chapter recognized big and little civic projects, such as the county government's Waterfront Park on Harbor Drive downtown opened in May and a little leftover freeway right-of-way garden, Tweet Street linear park completed in 2007.

But other winners signaled something else, said chapter president Patricia Trauth.

"Things have picked up," she said. "So you're seeing a lot more development going on."

She also said more submissions came from younger designers than in recent years.

Substantively, she said, many designs feature less ornamental and more drought-tolerant plant palettes.

"You're seeing a lot of businesses and institutions taking the time and money to really convert their landscapes into something that's more sustainable," she said.

That means more native grasses which also complement modern architecture.

Besides the winning projects, the chapter also granted its first stewardship award to county Supervisor Ron Roberts, an architect and leading proponent of the waterfront park.

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Landscape 2014: Waterwise trumps flowers

IOC Pardee Ctr. Sea Level Rise Panel: How Cities Are Adapting to Rising Seas Shifting Coastlines
A panel discussion featuring Brian Swett, Chief of Energy, Environment, Open Space for the City of Boston; David Uschold, Historical Landscape Architect for the US National Park Service;...

By: bu

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IOC & Pardee Ctr. Sea Level Rise Panel: How Cities Are Adapting to Rising Seas & Shifting Coastlines - Video

Waldwick A planning consultant for the proposed assisted living facility on Wyckoff Avenue testified Dec. 17 that the facility is "an inherently beneficial use" of the 3.5-acre site and that six of eight conditions that qualify it for approval as a "conditional use" have been met.

Michael Kauker of Wyckoffs Kauker& Kauker said the proposed 85-unit, 100-bed assisted living facility is a permitted conditional use in the R-1 single-family residential zone. He said under the states Municipal Land Use Law , assisted living facilities "are universally considered a value to the community."

Formation-Shelbourne is proposing to build the facility north of Wyckoff Avenue and west of Walgreen's. The facility, to be known as Solana of Waldwick, would require the demolition of houses at 237, 239, 241, and 247 Wyckoff Ave. As proposed in May, the facility would require four variances and a minor subdivision. Approximately 40 residents attended the hearing.

Kauker said the facilitys parking on its east and west sides which require a variance because only rear parking is permitted and its need for an "emergency access" driveway were exceptions to "conditional use" guidelines.

Kauker said the site is "unique" as it provides more than triple the minimum square footage required for such a facility, is designed for easy access and its sloping topography helps the facility blend into the landscape.

"No one should bend over backward to screen this from anyones view," he said.

Kaukers testimony will continue at the next hearing Jan. 28.

Landscaping

Landscape architect James Langenstein returned to answer additional questions about landscaping. He said that Waldwick "has no criteria in its ordinances" to mandate the size and quantity of trees to replace ones cut down. He said of 305 trees on site, 202 would be cut down due to their "questionable" quality, including overly pruned, misshapen and dead branches.

Langenstein said some trees were growing on steep slopes and others were "poor quality and poorly maintained" and required removal. He said that Formation-Shelbourne would replace removed trees on a 1:1 basis. He told zoning board chair Patrick Hunter that the developer "will work with you" on putting in new trees as large as possible given site constraints to help screen adjacent homeowners views of the facility.

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Expert: Assisted living facility inherently beneficial

The British actor takes the reins for the first time in more than a decade

British favourites Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman have reunited for Rickmans first film as a director in more than a decade: A Little Chaos. The upcoming romantic drama, which Rickman has also written, is centred round Winslets widow Madame Sabine De Barra, a landscape architect who is recruited to design the gardens of King Louis XIV.

Kate Winslet stars as a landscape gardener challening sexual protocols

Rickman plays the French monarch and Matthias Schoenaerts plays master landscaper Andre and Winslets love interest within the gardens of Versailles.

Stanley Tucci and Danny Webb also star in this British period piece that was showcased to largely positive reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

MORE: Kate Winslet's Son Bear Blaze And Other Odd Celebrity Baby Names

The Guardian reviewer gave the film three out of five stars and described the performances as "excellent".

She continued: "Winslet manages emotional honesty with anachronistic confines and Schoenaerts escapes with dignity.

"Though ones tolerance for Stanley Tucci as a camp aide with a heart of gold wears slightly thin, he is at least ever so good at it after the 800th time."

MORE: Kate Winslet Is Tired Of People Judging Her Family

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Alan Rickman Gets Behind The Director's Chair In A Little Chaos

DAMN! This is a historical period we can TOTALLY get behind!

Kate Winslet stars in the upcoming A Little Chaos where she plays Madame Sabine De Barra, a candidate up for consideration to become the landscape architect of the Palace of Versailles.

[ Related: Kate Winslet & Leonardo DiCaprio Are STILL BFFS! ]

The flick was directed by none other than Alan Rickman, who also stars as King Louis XIV, and it looks like it's gonna be a full of tragedy, love, sexytimes, and flowers.

Seriously, there looks like there's gonna be a lot of floral shots in this film!

Ch-ch-check out Kate in the trailer (above)!!!

Tags: alan rickman, candid, candidate, chaos, consideration, film, film flickers, floral, kate winslet, king, love, palace, popularity, seriously, shots, tragedy, trailer, upcoming, versailles

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Kate Winslet Gets Into A Little Chaos In The Trailer For Her French Historical Period Piece!

Thu Dec 18 13:39:49 EST 2014

As always, Kate Winslet shines onscreen.

Focus Features has released a trailer for the 17th century-set romantic drama, "A Little Chaos," which is slated for release this upcoming spring.

The film, directed by and co-starring Alan Rickman, centers on the fictional Sabine de Barra, a female landscape architect, played by Academy Award-winning actress Kate Winslet, who is selected to design one of the main gardens in the newly built Palace of Versailles. Matthias Schoenaerts co-stars as Andr Le Ntre, the King's actual principal landscape architect according to historical records.

The trailer, which you can watch in its entirety below, provides glimpses of the court intrigue that shapes the story.

"A Little Chaos" opens in select theaters March 27, 2015.

READ MORE:Alan Rickman's Period Romance 'A Little Chaos' Picked Up by Focus

This article is related to: A Little Chaos, Alan Rickman, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Kate Winslet, Matthias Schoenaerts, Matthias Schoenaerts, Stanley Tucci, Stanley Tucci, Trailers, Trailers, Focus Features, Focus Features

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Watch: Kate Winslet Searches for Eden in Alan Rickman's 'A Little Chaos' Trailer

Published on December 17, 2014

PICTOU A local landscape architect has been awarded the tender to oversee off-site signage for the Town of Pictou.

The town received two bids on its request for proposals for a project co-ordinator for off-site signage and Rachel MacLean was the successful applicant.

Her bid was almost equal to that of another business that was located outside of the county. The town is spending $5,000 on the project co-ordinator position that will move Pictou into the next phase of its signage and branding plan.

MacLean, who has done work for other Pictou County municipalities, will be responsible for preparing a business case that could include the fabrication and installation of signage for not-for-profit groups as well as the public and private sector.

Geographic location: Pictou County

Thanks for voting!

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Pictou awards tender for off-site signage

Expectation and Reality Life as a Landscape Architect Danielle Desilets and Kristina Stevens

By: CELS @ URI

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Expectation and Reality Life as a Landscape Architect Danielle Desilets and Kristina Stevens - Video

An architect's impression of the new Busselton Health Campus.

The architect behind the $120.4 million Busselton Health Campus says the hospital has been designed to maximise the unique features of the natural environment.

Jeff Menkens, lead architect for the hospital's HASSELL design team, said vibrant colours and eye-catching materials would be used both internally and externally.

"Functionality and design must go hand in hand," he said.

"The site for the 84-bed Busselton Health Campus is truly one of a kind and we wanted to make sure that both internal and external planning capitalised on this unique asset.

"At the heart of the campus is the double-height entry, which is pivotal to the navigational flow. Landscaped courtyards link the east and west primary circulation corridors that provide simple and direct connections to key hospital services."

Mr Menkens said the landscape and planning architects had held extensive consultations with health service staff and the community to develop a state-of-the-art design reflecting the environment.

"We have worked hard to provide a warm and inviting environment balancing the use of artificial and natural light," he said.

"Generous windows are used throughout, including panoramic features in all patient bedrooms.

"The calming interior design includes materials and colours that have been matched to the external landscape using soft whites, blues, greens and greys to signify the beach, sea and peppermint trees."

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Architect eyes Busselton Hospital upgrade