Selecting a Landscape Architect
You will benefit most by involving a landscape architect from PAI in your project as early in the process as possible.  However, if you elect to consider other landscape professionals, become familiar with reputation and abilities by visiting completed projects, checking references, researching design awards programs and professional publications.  A brief call or meeting can help determine if his or her expertise is appropriate to your project.  Be sure to check the landscape architects education, training, experience and references.  Most important, is the ‘chemistry’ between you and the landscape architect.  You will need to feel comfortable with each other, and will get to know each other quite well over the course of your project.  Our landscape architects are good listeners. will be responsive to your inquiries, interested in your needs and able to communicate with you in clear, every-day language.  This is one of the most important decisions of the process that you will make.


Consider the following when selecting a landscape architect:

-LICENSE - The landscape architect should be licensed in New Hampshire or in another jurisdiction with similar licensure requirements.  Our landscape architects are licensed in several states throughout the United States, are nationally certified by CLARB, have a great deal of experience, and were instrumental in gaining licensure of landscape architects in NH.  When selecting a landscape architect, ask to see their license, or go online to the state in which they are registered to confirm.  Many people in the landscape industry purport themselves or their business as providing landscape architectural services, however if they are not licensed then it is illegal to promote those services.

-EXPERIENCE - The landscape architect should have an established track record of work similar to yours in size, complexity, type and/ or cost.  PAI has a proven track record of work on complex executive level residential projects, wetlands/ shorelands permitting, institutional design/ master planning and commercial/ municipal projects.

-FIRM STRUCTURE - Be sure that your project will be a priority for the firm and that your project will not get lost in the shuffle of a busy office.  The person with whom you have built the rapport is the person at PAI who will see your project through to completion.

-FIRM SIZE - Most landscape firms in the area employ a total of fewer than 5 people.  PAI has 2 licensed landscape architects, and 4 landscape designers with Bachelors degrees in landscape architecture from nationally accredited colleges, along with several support staff in the office.  Additionally, we have a construction supervisor with a Bachelors degree in landscape architecture, 3 full time foremen and approximately 15 other technical staff for field work.

-DESIGN PHILOSOPHY - We believe you and our landscape architects should be philosophically, aesthetically and ethically compatible.  In addition, your design is developed during a brainstorming session attended by several of our landscape architects.  Consequently, the designs you receive have not been conceived by only one person, but rather by a team of professionals with varied talents and levels of experience.  Our ability to brainstorm in this manner provides our clients with creative and functional projects that most firms simply cannot deliver.

-LEVEL OF SERVICE - The services of landscape architecture firms vary.  Some will only carry your project through the design process and have a separate contractor construct the design.  PAI is capable of operating in this capacity, however, most of our clients elect to have us carry their projects through to completion, utilizing the full economies of our design/ build capabilities.

-CHEMISTRY - You can be assured that our landscape architects will listen to you and you should be comfortable sharing details of your lifestyle, needs and budget as well as your hopes and concerns about the project.

-REFERENCES - Other people for whom we have worked are satisfied customers that can attest to our ability to respect agreements about fees, services and schedule.  A majority of our clients come to us from existing clients and therefore we are rarely asked for references, but are happy to provide them if requested.

-DESIGN FEES - Variations in cost generally reflect variances in service, credentials and type of firm.  You and the landscape architect should define your scope of services carefully, including the costs of allied professionals that may be necessary to complete the project. Fees should not be the determining factor in selecting your landscape architect.

How to be a Good Client

As the owner/ client you must also take responsibility for a good working relationship with PAI and the for success of your project.

-Good communication is a key to success in any endeavor.  Be clear about your needs so our landscape architects understand your preferences, lifestyle and intended use of the space to be designed.  Ask a lot of questions and be sure to get answers in a language you understand.

-Make decisions in a timely manner.  When possible, try not to revisit or reverse decisions you have already made, because it is likely that we have already begun to act on them.  If you elect to change your mind, and you certainly are entitled to, please let your landscape architect know immediately.

-Take time to carefully review the drawings and materials being suggested, and follow up with questions comments and changes.

-Be flexible and patient about achieving the design solution- arriving at the best solution often requires a process that includes sketching, discussions and revisions, which take time.