It was a privilege for the TLG team to work with such a talented group of designers and dedicated group at JKAF on the Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse. Through collaboration, we were able to create an inclusive experience for an admirable group of users. Along with the community, our team cannot wait for this state-of-the-art facility to open and serve an inspiring and deserving group of veterans, athletes, and their families.

Below are renderings of the landscape, site, and facility produced by The Land Group in collaboration with BRS and Pivot North.

See below for news coverage of the groundbreaking from local news outlets.

It is that time of year again! April is World Landscape Architecture Month (WLAM). Established by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), #WLAM2021 is a month-long international celebration of landscape architecture and designed public and private spaces.

This year’s theme was all about “Growing Together.” The following projects showcase all the ways in which communities grow together in the spaces landscape architects create.

Adventure Island

Owyhee High School

Hope House Track

Discovery Park

The Clara Apartments

The Clara Apartments

Washington Elementary School

BSU Transit Center

BSU Transit Center

Mountain View Elementary

Fort Missoula Regional Park

Idaho Youth Ranch

1) Adventure Island at Settler’s Park – One of the first All-Inclusive Playground designs in Idaho - and a community favorite park in Meridian, Idaho

2) Owyhee High School - Growth is inevitable and is happening faster than ever in the Treasure Valley. We take great pride in getting to be a part of that development, especially when it helps a community grow together! Owyhee High School is the newest high school in the West Ada School District and will open in the fall of 2021. The Land Group is proud to be providing landscape architecture and civil engineering for this new campus. The main building includes classrooms, labs, a gymnasium, cafeteria, office area, and is surrounded by plazas, parking lots, and athletic fields. Owyhee High School will have an 1,800-student capacity which will help with the growing community.

3) Hope House Track & Field - Hope House began as a promise to create a safe and loving place for children in need. Today, that promise has grown to include housing for roughly 50 children, a school, chapel, and access to vocational training, health care, and mental health services. Bacon for Hope, a nonprofit organization founded by BACON restaurant, recently joined the effort to aid the Hope House kids’ physical and mental wellbeing through recreation – in the form of a new track and field. TLG provided land surveying, site design, civil engineering, and irrigation design for the project, designing the track to be both functional and efficient. Through every step, supporting Hope House’s unique needs for accessibility and inclusion was a top priority. The spaces and places we design are meant to create community and foster connection. The new track and field at Hope House will do exactly that.

4) Discovery Park - Located in one of Idaho’s fastest growing cities, Discovery Park is already having a great impact on the community of Meridian, Idaho. With views of the Boise foothills to the northeast, and the Owyhee range to the southwest, this park takes “discovering” nature and play to a new level. A climbing wall is detailed as a map of Idaho and a sand park mimics the natural reservoirs of the area. The play structures include informational graphics about the Idaho state bird, tree, and more. A stacked rock wall creates multiple areas for kids to climb, provides scenic views, and creates a natural grade for slides. Scope of work also included a zipline, splash pad, dog park, event lawn where food trucks could park along the perimeter, a natural amphitheater and stage area, and a nature area with demonstration gardens. Programming of the park was not so simple. With visitors that could vary throughout the day, programming had to essentially create 4 parks into 1, a community and regional park with various passive and active functions. Discovery Park achieves this by giving Idaho families a place to discover, play, and grow together.

5 & 6) The Clara Apartments - The Clara Apartments are helping our growing community grow together in so many ways – including these great built in garden boxes 😉 In this fast-pace housing market that has emerged in the Treasure Valley, housing developments like The Clara are more important than ever, offering outdoor amenities and a site layout that encourages community - and getting to know your neighbors!

7) Washington Elementary School - Here is a look as some growing together in progress for schools & education in Boise. Washington Elementary School first opened its doors in 1900 and consisted of a four-room brick building on half of Block 10 in the Historic North End of Boise. By 1908, Washington Elementary purchased the rest of the block and began making additions to the school, which is in full force again today. Currently, the school and site are undergoing a complete remodel. This gives you a unique look at some of the work and coordination with civil engineers that our profession does – before the landscape and site improvements are complete!

8 & 9) Boise State University Transit Center - During this #WLAM2021 we have highlighted some elementary and high school education projects, but let’s take a look at some of our collegiate work and how it is helping the community with growing together. Just like Boise, Boise State University has seen a lot of growth and has continued to improve the campus for students, faculty, and the community. Although TLG has worked with BSU on multiple projects, we wanted to highlight our work on the BSU Transit Center. The Transit Center was designed to accommodate not only buses and cars, but major pedestrian and bicycle traffic. With our civil engineers and landscape architects working together, we were able to create a functional and cohesive multi-transportation circulation design. Including a three-bus bay, “kiss-n-go” bay for vehicles, community gathering plaza, pedestrian circulation corridor, bus shelter area, site furnishings, and landscaping. Our collaborative work with Boise State and other local agencies led to a high quality and thoughtful design that will hopefully be enjoyed by all for years to come!

10) Mountain View Elementary School - Even though the school year looked a lot different last year, work has not slowed down on the improvements to our schools in the valley. Mountain View Elementary School has recently been rebuilt with the help of TLG’s multidisciplinary team. With this new school, students of Mountain View Elementary will be growing together on a new playground that offers a diverse range of activities to choose from.

11) Fort Missoula Regional Park - Happy 199th Birthday to the Father of Landscape Architecture: Frederick Law Olmsted! Celebrating #WLAM2021 would not be complete without celebrating Olmsted and what he has done for our profession and growing communities. As you may know, he designed Central Park in New York City. Talk about growing together, Central Park is the most visited urban park in the United States with an estimated 42 million visitors annually. The inspiration for growing cities to have great parks and recreational facilities has continued greatly over the years. One of TLG’s favorite examples was led by our own passionate landscape architect, David Koga. Fort Missoula Regional Park in Missoula Montana, pictured here, is 156-acre park that took 5 years to design and implement. Tourism in Missoula has increased 9% since the park opened which coincided with several sports tournaments being hosted at the park. It also increased overall park space in Missoula by 25%. This impactful project has many noteworthy impacts to the profession, including advancing the profession by featuring a Landscape Architect as the lead consultant, promoting responsible urban redevelopment in the Rocky Mountain states, and addressing legacy contamination and environmental degradation through gravel pit reclamation. It is a fantastic example of growing together and creating community through #landscapearchitecture

12) Idaho Youth Ranch - In today’s world, growing together is more important than ever. #WLAM2021 and @nationalasla have brought this to the forefront, as we come together and showcase how landscape architects have a hand in shaping our communities. Here is an example: Since 1953, Idaho Youth Ranch has been a beacon of hope for struggling kids and families in Idaho. Their mission is to “provide accessible programs and services that nurture hope, healing, and resilience for Idaho’s Youth.” That is 68 years of changing lives during one of the most vulnerable stages of life, thus providing a significant amount of growing our community together. Today, Idaho Youth Ranch is expanding its facilities to help even more of Idaho’s youth with the new Residential Center for Healing and Resilience in Canyon County. The Land Group has led a collaborative effort to design a site master plan for the new and diverse 258-acre campus. TLG’s efforts continue today as site development and facility construction are getting underway, helping Idaho Youth Ranch to #achievevision #createcommunity and #enrichoutcomes

Women have been playing a role in the evolution of the built and natural environment for countless centuries. This month, we highlight some incredible stories and celebrate all women and the role they played in shaping our profession and built environment. Here are the first women pioneers in the disciplines of landscape architecture, civil engineering, land surveying, and planning, who paved the way for the profession and future women professionals.

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FAMOUS FIRST WOMEN

1st Recognized Woman Landscape Architect – Beatrix Farrand

“Gardens are good for the soul.”

One of the pioneering women of the early 20th century was not a politician, or a writer, or a social reformer, but a landscape designer. Beatrix Farrand was an acclaimed landscape gardener whose designs can still be enjoyed in many cultivated spaces today. She was sought after by America’s wealthiest families, such as the Rockefellers and the Morgans, by Ivy League universities, botanical gardens, municipalities, and even the White House. Her work spanned more than private and high-end spaces, and she emerged as a pioneer of public space and an advocate of the power of landscapes to improve the lives of all Americans. Among other existing examples of her work are the terraced garden rooms of Dumbarton Oaks, and the carriage roads of Acadia National Park.

“She was outstanding as a designer; she had a great sense of proportion and strength in her designs. But because she was a woman, she didn't have the opportunities that men had. They were designing public parks; her work was in the private realm." Landscape architect Diane K. Maguire, quoted in the New York Times, 2003.

https://insights.jonite.com/the-females-who-pioneered-landscape-architecture

https://tclf.org/making-visible-contributions-pioneering-women-landscape-architecture

1st Recognized Woman Civil Engineers – Elizabeth Bragg & Nora Stanton Barney

In 1876, Elizabeth Bragg became the first woman to receive a bachelor’s degree in engineering. She earned her degree in civil engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. Elizabeth worked as a stay-at-home wife and mother rather than entering the engineering profession.  Nora Stanton Blatch Barney was an English-born American suffragist, architect, and civil engineer. As the granddaughter of American suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, she upheld her mother’s and grandmother’s tradition of achievement and advocacy. After graduating from Cornell in 1905 with a degree in civil engineering – and founding a suffrage club at the university – Barney was immediately accepted as a junior member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. When she was denied advancement to associate member status because she was a woman, she filed suit against the ASCE. While the lawsuit did not win her reinstatement, history eventually did, and she was posthumously awarded ASCE Fellow status in 2015.

http://istonline.org.in/5-famous-women-civil-engineers/

https://letsgetsciencey.com/famous-female-engineers/

Nora Stanton Blatch Barney | American civil engineer and architect | Britannica

1st Recognized Woman Land Surveyor - Alice Fletcher

The journey for women surveyors began in the mid-1800s when Alice Fletcher, a pioneer anthropologist, ethnologist, and social scientist became the known as the first woman American Land Surveyor. Also referred to as the “Measuring Woman”, Alice dedicated a significant portion of her career to studying and learning from Native Americans. She was hired by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1882 to survey all Native American lands and assess their suitability for allotment. Upon learning of the Omaha Tribe’s fear of being banished to designated Indian Territory, she fought for their right to legal titles of their own farms. By 1884, she had allotted 75,931 acres in 954 allotments to 1,194 Omaha people, establishing herself in the history books as the first American woman surveyor and opening the doors for women to pursue a career in the land surveying profession.

https://www.pobonline.com/articles/102338-the-first-lady-of-land-surveying-alice-fletcher

https://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahtalbot/2018/05/08/why-women-matter-in-urbanism-and-city-planning/?sh=56a16ec610cf

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WOMEN INSPIRED PROJECTS

Did you know these well-known places were designed or influenced by women?

East Garden of the Whitehouse (Now known as “The Rose Garden”)

Beatrix Farrand worked with both Edith and Ellen Wilson to design a First Lady's Garden for the East Wing of the White House. The area was re-envisioned by Jacqueline Kennedy in 1962 and is now the Rose Garden. Beatrix Farrand was responsible for some of the most celebrated gardens in the United States and shaped a distinctive American voice in landscape architecture.

The East Garden, designed during the Wilson administration by Beatrix Farrand, in a 1921 photograph by Frances Benjamin Johnston.

The Brooklyn Bridge

Emily Warren Roebling (1843-1903) is known as the “Silent-Builder” of the Brooklyn Bridge. Although she did not hold an engineering degree, but instead a law degree from New York University, she is famous for stepping in as an engineering manager and ensuring that the design work begun by her husband and his father, the project’s civil engineer and chief engineer, reached completion. When Roebling's father-in-law died and her husband became too ill to continue his work, Roebling herself managed the project by taking extensive notes and communicating goals to the workmen and financiers, while becoming self-taught in all aspects of civil and construction engineering. Roebling displayed such proficiency in the issues of the site, construction, materials, and cable fabrication that some observers concluded she had assumed the duties of chief engineer.

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PIONEERING WOMEN OF IDAHO

The Minidoka Project

The Minidoka Project is a series of public works by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to control the flow of the Snake River in Wyoming and Idaho, supplying irrigation water to farmlands in Idaho. One of the oldest Bureau of Reclamation projects in the United States, the project involved a series of dams and canals to store, regulate, and distribute the waters of the Snake, with electric power generation as a byproduct. The water irrigates more than one million acres of otherwise arid land, nourishing much of Idaho's potato crop as well as its alfalfa, fruit, and sugar beets. Five main reservoirs collect water, distributing it through 1,600 miles of canals and 4,000 miles of lateral distribution ditches.

Part of the Minidoka Project – This all-female survey crew!

Photo credit: All Female Survey Crew, Minidoka Project, Idaho, 1918, U.S. Department of the Interior.

https://www.usbr.gov/pn/project/brochures/minidoka.pdf

https://guidainc.com/team-news/womens-history-month-celebrating-the-past-and-future-of-women-in-surveying/

Women on the Oregon Trail

In the early 1840s Americans began heading west in large numbers, many traveling in family groups. Women in the nation’s more settled areas were supposed to excel at domestic work, like cooking, cleaning, and raising children; however, as part of a wagon train, women got to showcase a wider range of skills. One classic study of gender and work on the overland trails argues that, with each night on the trail, women stepped further outside their traditional domestic duties; while they remained responsible for food and laundry, they also gathered buffalo chips for fuel, drove teams of oxen, made bullets, and cared for the sick and injured.

Not all women went west as part of a family unit. The Homestead Act, passed in 1862, allowed “any person who is the head of a family, or who has arrived at the age of twenty-one years” to claim land for themselves. While most textbooks focus on the Act’s popularity with nuclear families, women—whether single, divorced, or widowed—could also be “head of a family”; one scholar estimated that, in the first 50 years of the Homestead Act, women accounted for one third of all homestead claims.

In 1998, The Land Group was part of a design team that created the master plan for this Oregon Trail History and Education Center at Three Island Crossing State Park in Glenn's Ferry, Idaho - The riskiest river crossing on the Oregon Trail.

https://historicoregoncity.org/2019/04/03/women-on-the-trail/

http://projects.leadr.msu.edu/youngamerica/exhibits/show/theoregontrail/womenoregontrail

https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/women-traveling-west.htm

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THE GEMS OF THE TREASURE VALLEY

The Boise River Greenbelt serves as the uniting ribbon that links these precious jewels – the properties gifted to the city in honor of some of Boise’s finest civic leaders. The parks are legacies of several remarkable women and their commitment to their community.

Marianne Williams has dedicated her time and energies to her family and various civic activities benefiting the Treasure Valley. She has volunteered her services to St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, worked to enrich the lives of senior citizens as the manager of a senior citizen complex and—along with her husband—actively supports numerous other civic organizations, often electing to do so anonymously. Marianne has played a vital role in the support of collegiate athletics at Boise State University and has served on the Bronco Athletic Association Board of Directors.

Marianne Williams Park, a 72-acre park located on the Boise River in East Boise’s Barber Valley, was donated in 2005 by Larry Williams in honor of Marianne. Primarily acting as a flood control and wetland development, amenities include open space, two large ponds, paved walking paths, a gazebo, picnic shelter, restroom and benches.

For more on Ms. Williams, the namesakes of Boise’s other parks, and these women’s contributions to the City of Trees, see the link below:

https://www.cityofboise.org/departments/parks-and-recreation/ribbon-of-jewels/

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There is a simple pride in providing livelihoods, a culture of respect, and a “home away from home” for our employees that The Land Group understands well. The spaces and places we design are meant to create community and foster connection. But TLG’s values extend well beyond the walls of our office. We understand that some in our community struggle to find stable homes and we are therefore proud to donate our services to Hope House, a home for vulnerable children that emphasizes compassion and healing.

Almost 50 Years of Family

Founded in 1973, Hope House began as a promise to create a safe and loving place for children in need. Today, that promise has grown to include housing for roughly 50 children, a school, chapel, and access to vocational training, health care, and mental health services. Through the years, Hope House has never stopped trying to do more, give more, and support more, just as any family would.

Community Support

Bacon for Hope, a nonprofit organization founded by BACON restaurant, recently joined the effort to continue growing Hope House into the best home it can be. The nonprofit’s focus on hands-on events and healthy lifestyles has brought fresh energy to the organization’s goals, and by 2019 Bacon for Hope had completed its first project: a new basketball court.

This emphasis on health and activity became even more important when COVID-19 swept across Idaho, cancelling many events and opportunities that kept Hope House connected to its community. To aid the Hope House kids’ physical and mental wellbeing through recreation, Bacon for Hope turned its focus to a new track and field and reached out to The Land Group for help in turning this dream into a reality.

The Land Group’s Role

Our team provided land surveying, site design, civil engineering, and irrigation design for the project, designing the track to be both functional and efficient. The project program encompassed the complete package for a high school level competition track, including all jumping and throwing events. Through every step, supporting Hope House’s unique needs for accessibility and inclusion was a top priority.

As the design wrapped up, team members asked themselves what else they could do to guarantee the success of this incredible project. Our designers reached out to Hunter Irrigation and the Track Doctor, who were just as excited as we were to contribute to our community and agreed to donate services and equipment. TLG then assembled an in-house marketing team to illustrate the new track and assist Bacon for Hope in fundraising efforts with posters and brochures designed at no cost.

How You Can Help Hope House

Are you interested in helping Hope House to break ground on this project? Consider donating at www.baconforhope.org, or visit www.ahome2come2.org to learn more about Hope House’s mission, successes, and needs.

Every year The Land Group has an internship program to find qualified candidates in the Landscape Architecture and Civil Engineering fields that would like to work alongside or employees for the summer. It is a great opportunity for us to meet and engage with the future architects and engineers, while giving them a peek into the industry.

Even though this year’s program ended up looking a little different, we were still able to continue with our civil engineering program in the fall. Luckily for us, Samantha Taylor was up for the challenge of going to school and interning for us at the same time. Not only did she excel at school, but she also worked side-by-side with our engineers and produced a top-notch research project – an impressive accomplishment all around!

Her research project, The Stormwater Management Technology Manual, provides a variety of sustainable and innovative stormwater treatment technologies and information for the protection of our water and ecosystems.

“This experience took ideas from a textbook and brought them to life. It wasn’t until I started interning that I felt like I actually got a feel for the civil engineering field and all the vast opportunities and disciplines it overarches. Working with a group of people that you trust and can rely on is so important to feeling confident and working fluently and cohesively.” – Samantha Taylor | Civil Engineering Intern

Congratulations Sam on such a successful semester! We are excited to see where your future takes you!

Project description: The Stormwater Management Technology Manual provides a variety of sustainable and innovative stormwater treatment technologies and information for the protection of our water and ecosystems.

The Land Group has two immediate openings:

• Engineering Intern (EI) / Civil Designer

• Professional Civil Engineer

See below for more information on each opening:

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Engineering Intern (EI)/Civil Designer

The Land Group is seeking to hire an experienced Engineer Intern (EI) or Civil Designer to reinforce a strong team and collaborate daily within a multi-disciplinary design firm. This position requires daily focus on project design and development for a wide variety of public and private clients.

QUALIFICATIONS                                                                                                        

·         Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering

·         Minimum 3 years of professional experience practicing civil engineering under the direct supervision of a PE.

·         Ability to prepare engineering design documents and calculations

·         Excellent proficiency in AutoCAD, Bluebeam Professional Suite, and Civil 3D

·         Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to multi-task

·         Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and pdf management software

·         Strong collaborative spirit

·         Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

·         Knowledge in site planning, utility infrastructure, road design, grading, hydrology/hydraulics, and stormwater management

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES                                                                                                   

·         Work beside experienced engineers to develop design solutions and provide support for thoughtful engineering analysis

·         Produce CAD drafted plans and details from schematic design through the construction document phase

·         Coordinate with the land surveyors, landscape architects and office personnel on various multidisciplinary project tasks

·         Assist in preparing engineering reports

·         Assist with construction administration during project construction phases including, but not limited to, field inspections, submittal reviews, and contractor coordination

Please submit a cover letter describing your skills and interest and resume to careers@thelandgroupinc.com to apply.

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Professional Civil Engineer

The Land Group is seeking to hire a full time Professional Civil Engineer to reinforce a strong team and collaborate daily within a multi-disciplinary design firm. This position requires daily focus on project design and development for a wide variety of public and private clients.

QUALIFICATIONS                                                                                                             

·         Bachelor’s or Master’s in Civil Engineering

·         Hold (or have the ability to acquire through reciprocity) a Professional Civil Engineer’s License (PE) in the state of Idaho. Other states are a plus.

·         Minimum of 3 years practicing civil engineering as a licensed professional.

·         Ability to prepare engineering design documents and calculations

·         Proficiency in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and Bluebeam Professional Suite

·         Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to multi-task

·         Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and pdf management software

·         Strong collaborative spirit

·         Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

·         Knowledge in site planning, utilities, road design, grading, hydrology/hydraulics, and stormwater management

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES                                                                                                     

·         Perform civil engineering design tasks within a multi-disciplinary design collaborative on projects of various sizes; including residential, commercial, office, and mixed-use developments.

·         Coordinate with land surveyors, landscape architects and office personnel on various multidisciplinary project tasks

·         Perform site feasibility studies

·         Produce CAD drafted plans and details from schematic design through the construction document phase

·         Perform and/ or coordinate construction administration tasks including, but not limited to, field inspections, submittal reviews, and contractor coordination

Please submit a cover letter describing your skills and interest along with a resume to careers@thelandgroupinc.com to apply.

December 4, 2020

As we wrap up 2020, a year that will go down in the history books, TLG would like to take a moment to reflect on the many things we are grateful for. We want to keep a focus on the positives in our community, no matter how negative or desperate things may seem in the moment. We are confident that gratitude can be a catalyst for positive outcomes in the days and months ahead:

Gratitude facilitates contentment. Practicing gratitude is one of the most reliable methods for increasing contentment and life satisfaction. It also improves mood by enhancing feelings of optimism, joy, pleasure, enthusiasm, and other positive emotions. Conversely, gratitude also reduces anxiety and depression.

Gratitude encourages “paying it forward.” Grateful people are generally more helpful, generous of spirit, and compassionate. These qualities often spill over onto others.

Gratitude changes perspective.

Gratitude is about feeling and expressing appreciation.

Gratitude is the opposite of being discontented.

And right now, we could all use connection!

Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve is a 44-acre haven for birds, animals, and people located on the edge of Boise's West Bench featuring trailheads, pathways, and overlook areas - Connecting humans and nature.

December 11, 2020

Gratitude promotes physical health. Studies suggest gratitude helps to lower blood pressure, strengthen the immune system, reduce symptoms of illness, and make us less bothered by aches and pains.

Today we are focusing on our gratitude for the community we live, work, and play in. The importance of physical and mental well being can be directly linked to physical activity and being outdoors. We are proud to design environments to help facilitate this and grateful we get to do it in this community.

TLG Landscape Architects Jyl Glancey, Sean Conner, Matt Adams, and James Leo share with elementary school students what we do! We strive to add value by giving back to the communities that support our business. We are incredibly grateful to live, work, and be a part of this community!

December 18, 2020

Gratitude strengthens relationships. It makes us feel closer and more connected to friends and family, and colleagues. When we feel and express gratitude for each other, we each become more satisfied with their relationship and develop stronger bonds.

Today we focus our gratitude to the people at The Land Group. This exceptional team of individuals works hard, but works together. The bond this group has formed is a direct reflection of their respect for one another and respect for the work they do. We are so grateful for our TLG team!

Last week, The Land Group’s Matthew T. Adams, presented the Idaho Food Bank’s Whitney Stoolman with our 2020 Brat Bash donation. Thanks to the generosity of our employees, colleagues, and clients, the grand total came to a whopping $3,835!

Thank you to all those who donated to help make our 2020 Brat Bash memorable. And thank you for your generosity to help feed those in need.

If you still want to donate, the Idaho Food Bank’s kicks off Empty Bowls today. Buy a unique handcrafted bowl and help feed Idaho Families! Check out the link here for more information: https://idahofoodbank.org/event/empty-bowls/

Help those in need have food for the holidays! And from The Land Group family to yours - Happy Thanksgiving!