BSLA Fieldbook BSLA 2015 Spring Fieldbook | Page 43

etc. Project types ranged from small
neighborhood parks and playgrounds to
large multi-use facilities, bicycle paths, and
environmentally and historically sensitive
parks. Two aspects of this job that I enjoyed
most were the satisfaction of actually seeing
my designs implemented in a relatively
short amount of time, and seeing children
and adults enjoying and actively using the
parks and playgrounds that I designed.
Not having much exposure to the private
practice world (other than managing
consultant designed jobs while at the Parks
Department), it was quite an adjustment
for me to make the move from public to
private practice when I decided to leave
NYC and move back to the Boston area.
I was also definitely leaving my comfort
zone when I took the job at HNTB to work
primarily with Engineers and very few
Landscape Architects (I am currently
the only Landscape Architect in HNTB’s
Boston office). I must admit I was a bit
nervous as I was entering uncharted
waters— I wasn’t sure what types of jobs
I would be working on and if they would
be as rewarding as designing NYC parks. I
learned quickly that HNTB provides design
services for a wide range of project types
and found myself involved in some exciting
Landscape Architecture projects including
parks, streetscapes, bike paths, trails, and
greenways and historic landscapes. I have
also expanded my knowledge base through
collaboration with our Wetland Scientist on
the design of wetland mitigation projects.
An added benefit of working at a large
national engineering firm is the huge pool of
resources available and the ability to share
work and resources among the different
offices. One obvious difference between
working at the NYC Parks Department and

Started Out
Education
Now

HNTB is that the majority of the projects are
managed by engineers at HNTB, whereas
Landscape Architecture was the lead
discipline at the Parks Department.
Both work experiences have provided
great opportunities for me to grow as a
Landscape Architect and I am glad I was able
to experience both public and private sector

R i g h t o f f t h e ba t
( a nd wi t h o ut a ny
r e a l ex p e r i e nc e) ,
I wa s g ive n g r e a t
r e s p o ns i bi l i t y a s
p roj e c t ma na g e r f o r
mu l t i p l e c o ns ul t a nt g e ne ra t e d d e s i g n
c o nt ra c t s
jobs. As the sole Landscape Architect in an
engineering office, it has been an education
working with and learning the language of
the engineers, though I miss having a fellow
LA around who speaks our language. I have
enjoyed my time in both New York City and
Boston and feel fortunate that I have been
able to contribute to the shaping of these
two great urban environments.
This has truly been an amazing journey
and I look forward to continuing to do what
I knew I wanted to do with my life when I
was in high school: to design outdoor spaces
and places for people to enjoy, improving
their quality of life now and for future
generations. Landscape Architecture is not
just my profession, it is my passion… I can’t
imagine myself doing anything else.

Beverly, MA
BS, UMass Amherst (Environmental Design); MLA, UMass Amherst
HNTB Corporation, Boston

Boston Society of Landscape Architects Fieldbook

41