BSLA Circle of Support

David Bartsch & Associates

Geller DeVellis, Inc.

Shadley Associates, P.C.

Jacques Whitford

ExCom Meeting

April 21
7:30 AM
Geller DeVellis
77 N. Washington St.
Boston

Next Issue

April 25 , 2005

Annual BSLA Celebration Gala

Send your information and announcements for the EBulletin to the BSLA Chapter Office, info@BSLAweb.org

Something for Everyone During
National Landscape Architecture Month

This is the month where your profession is getting extra attention from a variety of places - mostly due to the efforts of ASLA. However, your chapter wants to provide you with a number of personal opportunities to do something special as a landscape architect. We have learning, celebration and advocacy opportunities. Surely there is something for everyone.

As of today, there are nine tours and workshops available for our members - plants, hardscapes, art, history. There is the Celebration Gala, featuring this year's award winners on Thursday, April 28. And the final details are being worked out for a State House Luncheon, tentatively scheduled for Monday, April 25, 2005.

All of these events require signing up ahead of time - and many have space limitations. Most are during the week, but take any current design challenges you have with you - meet with the expert, network with colleagues. Also, check the website periodically as there will be informational updates. But most of all, find something that can help you celebrate your profession.

Tours and Visits for BSLA Members
(additional information will be available on the website www.BSLAweb.org)

IMPORTANT: PREREGISTER PLEASE. Email info@bslaWeb.org with the event you would like to attend. Some sessions have capacity limits, so don't delay. The website will continue to be updated with full information (including some nice discount opportunities).

April 13 (Wednesday) - 8:30 am
Ideal Concrete Block - Westford
Learn about the production and best use of interlocking concrete pavers and segmental retaining wall block. We'll have a short overview presentation and then tour the plant. www.idealconcreteblock.com

April 14 (Thursday) - 11:00 am
Olmsted Center (presenting at the National Park Service Office, Boston) Roundtable discussion and brown bag lunch. From 11 to 1 we'll focus on the challenges faced in "Managing and Maintaining the Historic Character of Cultural Landscapes." Managing historic character is a challenge for anyone involved in historic preservation, but the complexities are amplified when working with a resource as dynamic as a landscape. We'll highlight issues the Olmsted Center for Landscape preservation has (and continues to) face with historic landscapes as diverse as forests, formal gardens, agricultural landscapes and historic homes.

April 18 (Marathon Monday) - 8:00 am
Weston Nurseries, Hopkinton
Yard Tour, Start of the Marathon, Cookout Come at 8:00 am (roads close by 8:30 am) and spend the morning getting the latest information on shrubs and perennials and walk the Commercial Yard. Wayne Mezzit will be speaking on the future of the business and we'll tour the Commercial yard with plenty of time to ask questions, talk with your colleagues and select plants (with a great discount coupon). Right before watching the start of the Marathon, Weston will be hosting a cookout for all! www.westonnurseries.com

April 20 (Wednesday) - 10 am to noon
New England Bamboo, Rockport
Workshop - "Bamboo: Inside and Out"
Expert Christopher DeRosa will ensure that by the end of this morning workshop, you will not only welcome this diverse material into your palette, but use it often! Drive or take the train to Rockport and participate in this outstanding educational opportunity with a renown expert. www.newengbamboo.com

April 22 (Friday) - 10:00 am
Fletcher Granite Tour - Chelmsford
Everything you need to know about granite - it is the best time to learn about the material and how best to work with it. www.fletchergranite.com

April 26 (Tuesday) - 9:00 am and lunch included.
Spaulding Brick - Plant Tour of Stiles and Hart, a Bridgewater manufacturer of molded brick.
You'll see the full process from coming out of the ground to being packaged on the pallet - enhancing your knowledge of this important hardscape material and how to use it most wisely. www.spauldingbrick.com

April 28 (Thursday)
Landscape Forms - Showcase
Prior to the Gala at the Sonesta, Landscape Forms will be hosting a showcase. More information will be available online at www.bslaWeb.org.

April 29 (Friday) - 10:00 am
Caviccio Greenhouse Open House
Please join us for a tour and see all the exciting things we do! Paul Cavicchio will take you on a tour of our state-of-the-art planting operation, greenhouses, stone yard, perennial yard and 40-acre nursery. We will begin at 10:00am at the Main Farm on Codjer Lane in Sudbury and conclude with a picnic lunch at our nursery on Lincoln Road (Sudbury). www.cavicchio.com

April 30 (Saturday) - 11:00 am and lunch.
DeAngelis Iron Works - Shop tour and lunch.
Make this very worthwhile excursion to Easton to gain a greater understanding of ornamental iron. Owner Chris Connelly has an introductory program and then you'll spend time in the shop looking at works in progress. www.deangelisiron.com

Committee On Digital Tools
To Have First Meeting
Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at 6:00 PM. Symmes, Maini, and McKee Assoc. (Main Conference Room), 1000 Massachusetts Ave., 4th floor, Cambridge.

The purpose of this initial meeting is to discuss the Committee's goals and have an open discussion as to what members would like from the Committee. The Committee is open to all members of the BSLA regardless of skill and knowledge in digital technologies. Let Jeff Alexander know if you will be attending ( j_alexander@smma.com )

The draft mission of the Committee is to advance the knowledge and abilities of members of the profession of landscape architecture in the digital realm, to expose members to the most powerful tools at their disposal to perform the duties of design, analysis, and communication, and to foster an environment of learning and communication among practitioners of the profession.

Directory At the Printer

The BSLA Directory is at the printer and before the next Ebulletin you should see your copy in your mailbox! It contains the membership list and information from suppliers of products and services - along with some useful reference material. Note that some of our newest members won't be listed.

Welcome New Members

Charles Scott Doty, ASLA, Bedford Design Consultants
Ginna Johnson, Esker Company
Michael A. Leary, Carter & Burgess
Robert E. Marini, Native Landscapes
Tara McIntire

Did you know: Out of the full member dues of $280, ASLA gives the BSLA $65 to provide Chapter Services.

Junior Staff Position

Richard Burck Associates is a 6-person landscape architecture firm seeking a junior staff member, position available immediately. We are a small, award-winning office that spends a significant amount of time on design development, detail design as well as construction documentation. Our project list includes institutions (museums, university campuses, public work, etc.), and select private residences.

Candidates should hold a graduate degree in Landscape Architecture, have 1+ years of experience (including internships). Applicants should be skilled in written and visual communications, have strong graphic and design skills as well as technical proficiency in AutoCAD & Photoshop; strong plant and/or construction knowledge a plus. Office activities will be varied per the requirements of a small office. Professionalism, commitment, and creative enthusiasm are essential.

Please send resume, letter of interest, and work samples to:

Brooke Whiting Cash
Richard Burck Associates, Inc.
7 Davis Square
Somerville, MA 02144

Email: bwcash@richardburck.com

RFP: Camp Beach Cliff Master Plan

Camp Beech Cliff (CBC), an institution dedicated to building healthy lives for children, is seeking a multidisciplinary design team to update its facilities master plan. Located on Mount Desert Island, CBC is a growing non-profit institution, expanding from its core summer day camp to offering year-round activities and outdoor education services.

In 1998, CBC drafted a master plan that guided the first phase of improvements including athletic fields, administrative offices, bathhouse and multi-purpose building. The expansion of CBC programming has necessitated the need to update the master plan to address needed facility improvements. The scope of services is to include, but not be limited to the following:

A. Program Verification - CBC's board of directors has drafted a preliminary needs assessment. The design team will be expected to review these preliminary assumptions with the board and develop a working program for short and long range facility improvements

B. Functional Assessment - The design team will develop an assessment of the CBC facility based on observations of camp operations during the heavy summer use period.

C. Develop preliminary recommendations including alternative solutions that address programmatic needs and functional assessments.

D. Develop final recommendations for building and site improvements including infrastructure plans, proposed phasing and implementation strategy. Cost estimates, calibrated to Mount Desert Island, will be prepared for all proposed improvements. Final documentation should be suitable for fund raising activities.

Work will be completed by October 15, 2005.

It is expected that this will be a multi-disciplinary, collaborative design effort. The CBC board of directors and its facilities committee will take an active and iterative role in the design process. CBC is committed to sensible, sustainable design and places great importance technologies appropriate to current and projected needs. Interested firms should have demonstrated experience in working with summer camps and be familiar with state and local regulations governing property development.

CBC will provide a site boundary and topographic survey (2 foot contour interval) with wetlands delineated. Some soil testing has been conducted.

Interested firms should submit the following by May 1, 2005:

• Letter of Interest
• Qualifications and Relevant Experience
• Project Approach / Outline Scope of Work
• Fee Estimate
• Proposed Project Schedule

Short listed firms will be interviewed between May 1 and May 21. Firm selection by June 1, 2005.

All information and inquiries should be submitted in writing to:

Camp Beech Cliff
Attn: Susan Dombroski
PO Box 381
Mount Desert, ME 04660
Email: info@campbeechcliff.org
Website: www.campbeechcliff.org

Circle of Support
Other Landscape Architecture firms who would like to join the Circle of Support should contact the Chapter Office (508-620-5018). Benefits include a yearlong web link - a great value.

Sponsor an Issue of the BSLA EBulletin
Sign up to sponsor an issue of the BSLA EBulletin and have your ad prominently displayed here - with a link to your website. $175 per issue.

Only 3 sponsor placements per issue. Contact info@BSLAweb.org for more details.

Click here for larger version of ad.

Local BSLA
Tours & Visits

Wednesday
April 13, 8:30 am
Ideal Concrete Block

Thursday
April 14, 11:00 am
Olmsted Center

Marathon Monday
April 18, 8:00 am
Weston Nurseries

Wednesday
April 20, 10:00 am
New England Bamboo

Friday
April 22, 10:00 am
Fletcher Granite Tour

Tuesday
April 26, 9:00 am
Spaulding Brick

Thursday
April 28
Prior to Gala
Landscape Forms -

Friday
April 29
Caviccio Greenhouse

Saturday
April 30, 11:00 am
DeAngelis Iron Works