In the 1880s, a student disciple of famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted envisioned a giant figure "8" encircling Minneapolis and St. Paul, crisscrossing the two cities with a continuity of trails.

In time, Minneapolis embraced the idea, creating the bicycle-friendly Grand Rounds, Midtown Greenway and Chain of Lakes. St. Paul has been a slower study.

That could be about to change.

St. Paul planners on Tuesday plan to unveil a 20- to-30 year bike plan that would complete H.W.S. Cleveland's vision of Grand Rounds trails encircling the city. In addition, the plan adds a 1.7-mile trail loop, or square, within downtown St. Paul, one of the largest holes in the city's existing bike system. And it more than doubles the number of on-street, off-street and designated "bike boulevard" routes throughout St. Paul.

"As a city, we've struggled with how to accommodate bikes downtown for a number of years," said Reuben Collins, a sustainable-transportation engineer and planner within the St. Paul Department of Public Works.

The Grand Rounds improvements would add new cycling amenities along Pelham Boulevard, Raymond Avenue, Como Avenue, Wheelock and Johnson Parkways. A new off-street path for casual riders along Johnson Parkway would complement the existing on-street bike lanes, which typically draw faster riders.

Wheelock Parkway, which has no bike path, could gain both types of lanes as well. The already popular trails along Mississippi River Boulevard would be expanded. The net result is a giant trail ring around much of St. Paul.

The Grand Rounds concept, which spans 51 miles of hiking, biking and drivable trails in Minneapolis, "has been hugely popular," Collins said. Minneapolis neighborhood parks receive 5 million visits per year, and the city's regional parks receive 15.4 million visits, numbers that are no doubt buoyed by their accessibility and the trail connections between them.

Downtown St. Paul would also see changes. Modeled after the popular "Cultural Trail" in downtown Indianapolis, the plan recommends a 10-foot bike path at sidewalk elevation along St. Peter Street, 10th Street, Jackson Street and Kellogg Boulevard in downtown St. Paul, forming a rectangular loop. Curb, trees, plantings and marking would likely separate the 1.7 miles of biking paths from both pedestrian and street traffic.

Each side of the new bike square will lead off to an existing bicycle and pedestrian trail, such as the Sam Morgan Regional Trail, Gateway Trail, Bruce Vento Trail or Indian Mounds Regional Trail. Until now, city officials have wondered how to make those trails connect in ways that invite casual and not just hardcore cyclists.

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St. Paul to unveil bike plan adding 244 bikeway miles

Columbia, Md. Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. is pleased to announce the availability of the Japanese-language version of the Vectorworks 2014 line of design software, including: Vectorworks Designer, Architect, Landmark, Spotlight, Fundamentals and Renderworks.

A&A Co., Ltd., the distributor of Vectorworks software in Japan, held a series of pre-launch events last month to introduce the new version of Vectorworks software to designers across the country and, beginning today through February 24, the company will hold several online product launch events, as well. More information about the online events can be found here: http://www.aanda.co.jp/seminar/web/Vw2014.html

The Vectorworks 2014 software contains more than 130 improvements, including new BIM tools for architects, increased site design capabilities for landscape architects and designers, as well as enhancements to lighting devices, documentation and graphic controls for entertainment designers. Visit http://www.vectorworks.net/2014 to learn more about all the new features in Vectorworks 2014 software.

The release of the Japanese localized version of Vectorworks 2014 continues the global rollout of the software. The English-language version was launched on Sept. 17, 2013; several localized versions were released across Europe in October and November of 2013; the Portuguese localized version was released in Brazil on Oct. 31, 2013; and the Spanish-language version was released on Nov. 26, 2013.

Please visit http://www.vectorworks.net/international to find a local distributor.

About Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. is the developer of Vectorworks software, a line of industry-specific CAD and BIM solutions that allow designers to easily capture, develop and communicate their ideas with accuracy and efficiency. With more than 450,000 users around the world, Vectorworks software is a global leader in 3D design technologies for the AEC, landscape, and entertainment industries. Nemetschek Vectorworks was founded in 1985 and has been a part of The Nemetschek Group since its acquisition in 2000. For more information, visit http://www.vectorworks.net.

Lisa Lance Global Communications Manager Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. 7150 Riverwood Drive Columbia, MD 21046

T: 443-542-0719 E: llance@vectorworks.net http://www.vectorworks.net

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CAD Software is available with Japanese localization.

PROYEK STUDIO UAS #landscape architect

By: Nis Agnisaa

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PROYEK STUDIO UAS #landscape architect - Video

David Callahan is Kootenai County's new director of community development. A San Antonio native, Callahan started work here in November of last year after holding a similar position in Fort Morgan, Colo.

If you had it to do over, what would you do with your life?

I'd be a jazz pianist. Jazz is one of the art forms that is cerebral while being all at once emotional. It can reach people in a way that gets to them on multiple levels.

After high school, I was already in the jazz program at University of Texas, Austin, when I realized I had to switch careers. When I saw talent like Lyle Mays and others of that caliber barely eking out an existence, I realized there was some real competition out there and that I wasn't really that talented. I decided that my strengths were in other areas.

How did you learn about landscape architecture as a possible career?

I had some vocational counseling while I was in junior college and that was when the idea of landscape architecture first popped up.

At the same time, my best friend was at Texas Tech and Texas Tech, as it turned out, also had a good landscape architecture program. Oh, and I wanted to get as far away from home as I could and still stay in Texas.

Sounds like the educational equivalent of the trifecta. Do you think you made the right choice?

In the end, I was thrilled with the idea of being a designer. I was at the top of my class and very good at it. It was something entirely new and I positively sank into it and embraced it. I figured I would be a practicing landscape architect for the rest of my life.

What do landscape architects do?

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David Callahan: Planning to solve problems

MONTEVALLO, Alabama -- The Montevallo City Council is considering enlisting the services of a Birmingham landscape architect firm to create a master plan that would outline development of the 167-acre property donated to the municipality last November.

The City Council during its meeting on Monday night briefly discussed using Kelly Landscape Architect to develop the Shoal Creek Park master plan. The document would cover the land donated by Elizabeth A. Mahler and Shoals Creek Farm Inc. located near the Alabama National Cemetery and American Village on both sides of Highway 119.

The donation of land that includes an antebellum home comes with a request to the city to preserve the property as a park and other municipal purposes, possibly the site of a new City Hall.

Kelly Landscape Architect's Chuck Kelly told the council he has submitted a proposal that would create a process for developing the master plan. The process would include public hearings and opportunities for comment.

"A final master plan would be subject to review and comments," Kelly said.

The donation of land appraised at $670,000 includes the white home prominently located off Highway 119 that city leaders are planning on using as a possible museum or visitors center for Montevallo. Plans call for naming the area Shoal Creek Park under Mahler's request.

The council will consider Kelly's request at an upcoming meeting.

Also on Monday night, the council approved an agreement with Lonnie Bearden and John Nix to allow them to use the Mahler property to run up to 60 cattle for grazing on the land.

In exchange for paying rent to the municipality, the two men will maintain fences on the property and keep the hayfields and open areas cut. The lease approved by the council carries a one-year term and can be terminated by either party with a 90-day written notice.

Councilman Don Hughes raised concern about the cattle on the land polluting the creek that runs across the property. The council agreed to approve the contract with a stipulation to abide by any state regulations concerning runoff into the creek caused by the cattle.

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Montevallo working on plans for 167-acre donation along Highway 119

The Landmarks Preservation Commission largely praised a preliminary design for the Town Hall Square Historic District restoration project presented Thursday by architect Mark Marsh and landscape designer Jorge Sanchez.

Well done so far. This is gorgeous, said Commissioner Elizabeth Murphy.

I love the pleached oaks. I think they are brilliant, said alternate member Anne Fairfax, an architect.

The plan calls for adding 22-foot parallel parking spaces and tabby-concrete sidewalks to the perimeter of Memorial Park; changing the existing rows of tall Royal Palms to shorter coconut palms; placing a large kapok tree on each side of the Addison Mizner-designed fountain to create a canopy; adding stairs to the south side of the Addison fountain; installing an allee of live oaks with tops clipped into squares on the south side; and changing parking spaces on the west side of the two-block area of County Road to parallel spaces. The design would increase spaces in the district from 41 to 66.

The stairs make the park much more usable because once you are in the park, you can go down the center, said Commissioner Penny Townsend.

The plan also would increase green space in the island north of the town-owned park and eliminate a curb that divides the park from green space just north of Town Hall.

Thats a big improvement, Murphy said.

Chairman Ted Cooney said hes glad the Town Council has gotten behind the project. In November, the council designated up to $5.7 million through bond financing for park and district improvements, expecting that residents and businesses also would contribute money.

Cooney argued for keeping Royal Palms on each side of the reflecting pool, but others including Murphy, William Feldkamp and William Strawbridge, agreed with Sanchez that tightly spaced rows of the shorter coconut palm would provide more shade. Marsh called Cooneys idea to add narrow landscaped areas to existing sidewalks a good one.

Fairfax suggested that a crosswalk closer to the center of the park might be more convenient than having to use crosswalks at the north and south ends of Town Hall, but Marsh said doing so could cost up to eight parking spaces. District merchants, Marsh said, are thrilled at the prospect of more parking.

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Town Hall Square restoration plan impresses commission

A New Zen Home Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors
A "Mid-Century Marvel" located in the upscale waterfront community of "Coral Shores" Oakland Park/Wilton Manors, Florida! Less than one mile from the beautif...

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A New Zen Home Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors - Video

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Listen and learn about Kings legacy

If youre less into volunteering and more into listening and learning, theres still lots you can do in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The fourth annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast comes to Clark College, beginning at 9 a.m. Jan. 20 at Gaiser Hall. The subject is violence and the keynote speaker is Dr. Alisha Moreland-Capuia, a doctor and psychiatrist who is an expert in addiction medicine and healing trauma. Tickets start at $30.

Washington State University Vancouvers Jan. 20 Day of Service event features interactive morning workshops and a lunchtime talk on Women and Poverty: Dispelling the Myths and Breaking the Cycle by associate professor of English Desiree Hellegers. She is the author of a book about homeless women in Seattle. RSVP to Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

The Bahais of Vancouver will host Beyond the Dream, a showing of videos of Kings lesser-known speeches. That takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 20 at 4016 East 13th Street. Refreshments will be served after the program. Its free.

Clark College hosts Lee Mun Wah, a Chinese American educator and filmmaker, speaking on diversity issues at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 22 at the Gaiser Student Center. There will be a 1 p.m. student dialog with Wah, and at 5:30 p.m. a showing of Lee Mun Wahs film If These Halls Could Talk, an unflinching look at racism on college campuses, followed by a discussion with the filmmaker. Gaiser Student Center, with light refreshments served.

Next weekend, you may notice big groups of your neighbors roaming the landscape, performing good deeds. You wouldn't want to miss that fun, would you?

What started out as the Martin Luther King Day of Service has evolved, here in Clark County, into an extra-long weekend of opportunities to pitch in and make your world a better place. Clark County, the city of Vancouver, Clark College and Washington State University Vancouver have teamed up to coordinate many activities, from planting trees and painting walls to yanking weeds and building trails..

It's all in honor of slain civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was born on Jan. 15, 1929. His birthday became a federal holiday in 1983. It took another decade for a federal law to create the King Day of Service, which is always the third Monday in January. This year, it's Jan. 20. "Make it a day on, not a day off," is the slogan.

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MLK Day of Service fills more than week

Posted: 1:22 pm Mon, January 13, 2014 By NancyCrotti Finance and Commerce Tags: AECOM, HGA Architects and Engineers, James Corner Field Operations, James/Snow Architects, Julie Snow Architects, Julie Vandenberg Snow, Louis Kahn, Midway Stadium, Mike Veeck, Museum of Russian Art, Phillips Plastics Corp., Robert Cervenka, Ryan Cos. US Inc., Saints ballpark, St. Paul Saints, Vincent James 1:22 pm Mon, January 13, 2014

Editors note: Point Person is a new monthly feature about people who are making news as a result of their involvement in high-profile projects of interest to Finance & Commerce readers.

Julie Snow, who unveiled the design for the St. Paul Saints ballpark in December, has been involved in designing the 7,000-seat stadium for seven years, long before it came to the publics attention. (Staff photo: Bill Klotz)

Architect Julie VandenBerg Snow has designed homes and private office buildings, restaurants and federal customs stations.

She has also put her stamp on such divergent spaces as the Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis and the new St. Paul Saints ballpark.

The winner of numerous awards for her restrained and minimalist designs, Snow elicited this comment in 2011 from an American Academy of Arts and Letters awards jury: She and her studio make the marvelous happen. Elegance balanced by pragmatism she is a ballerina who can dance in work boots.

The founding principal of Minneapolis-based Julie Snow Architects likes to work collaboratively. Its a philosophy she adopted as a young woman studying architecture at the University of Michigan in the early 1970s.

Youre going to be hanging out with the guys and theyre your colleagues, said the Grand Rapids, Mich., native. The real challenge is whether or not there are really great talents in your studio.

If youve got really talented, energetic people, I dont think who you are or where you came from (matters). Youre getting pushed by other people with ideas. To me that was more interesting than gender issues.

Snow has spent her career in Minneapolis, working at HGA Architects and Engineers from 1974 through 1987, when she left to form James/Snow Architects with architect Vincent James. In 1995, she formed her current firm, which also provides interior design services, custom furnishings and furniture specifications. Eighteen people work for the firm.

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Point Person: Meet the architect for Saints ballpark

Landscape Architect migrating from Philippines to Australia
Mabuhay! This is a quick overview on how to migrate from the Philippines to Australia as a Landscape Architect. Jose Respall is a Registered Migration Agent ...

By: Jose Aniceto Respall

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Landscape Architect migrating from Philippines to Australia - Video