Role of a Landscape Architect

You wouldn't bake a cake without a recipe? Wouldn't build a building without an engineer? Why would you create an outdoor space without an landscape architect?

The Landscape Architect: From First Sketch to Final Site

A successful landscape project is about much more than choosing plants and drawing a beautiful plan. In British Columbia, landscape architects play an important role in bringing a project from an initial idea through design, approvals, construction and to completion. Their involvement creates continuity between what is designed, what is approved and, most importantly, what is built.

This blog is the beginning of a series where we will take a deeper look at each phase of the landscape architectural process.

1. Inventory & Analysis

Every good project starts with understanding the site.

Inventory and Analysis involves documenting the existing conditions, opportunities and constraints of a property. Understanding the site before designing allows the landscape architect to make informed decisions rather than designing in isolation. It establishes the foundation for everything that follows.

2. Concept Design

Once the site has been understood, we can begin to develop the overall vision.

Concept Design explores how the landscape will function, look and feel. It considers circulation, outdoor spaces, planting character, grading, amenities, connections to architecture, and the broader site context.

At this stage, ideas are tested and refined before the project moves into the more technical phase. A strong concept provides a clear direction for the entire project team.

3. Detailed Design

This is where the concept becomes a buildable landscape.

Detailed Design translates the overall vision into technical drawings, specifications and details that can be used for permitting, pricing and construction.

This stage is critical because good design is not only about how something looks—it is also about how it will function, be constructed, and perform over time.

4. Tender & Request for Proposals

A well-designed project still needs to be clearly communicated to the people who will build it.

Our team will prepare tender and Request for Proposal (RFP) documents. Clear documentation and communication help contractors understand the scope of work and reduces ambiguity during pricing. The more clearly a project is documented before construction, the fewer opportunities there are for unexpected costs, substitutions and misunderstandings later.

5. Contract Administration

Once construction begins, our team of landscape architects are continuously involved.

Contract Administration provides an important link between the design documents and the work happening on site. During this time, we review construction progress, respond to questions, review shop drawings and submittals, observe completed work and help address issues as they arise.

The Landscape Architect as the Project's Subject Matter Expert

Think of a landscape architect as the thread connecting each phase of the project.

When the same professional is involved from Inventory and Analysis through to Contract Administration, they carry knowledge forward at every stage. Instead of revisiting old decisions or trying to interpret the original intent, our team already understands the project history and can help resolve issues efficiently. This continuity can save time, keep the project on budget, and reduce surprises during construction.

The Book Ends: Schedule L & Schedule C-L

For projects in British Columbia where a landscape architect is involved, it also requires the need for landscape schedules.

At the permit stage, the Landscape Schedule L provides the assurance to municipalities the intended design will be constructed, forming part of the overall permit.

At project completion, the Landscape Schedule C-L provides the certification associated with the completed landscape work.

These two schedules can be thought of as the book ends of the landscape architectural process. The Schedule L establishes what is intended to be built, while the Schedule C-L helps confirm what was ultimately constructed. When a landscape architect has been involved throughout the project, the transition from the initial approved design to final completion is much easier to manage. It allows for a quicker sign-off on the Schedule C-L which means a quicker release of boned landscape items and start of the warranty period.

Why Continuous Involvement Matters

Landscape architecture is about managing the relationship between design intent, technical documentation, approvals, construction and the finished landscape.

In the coming articles, we will take a closer look at each phase of the landscape architect's role—from Inventory & Analysis and Concept Design, through Detailed Design, Tender & RFP, and Contract Administration—and explore what happens at each stage, why it matters and how it contributes to a successful project.