Upcoming Events

Northeast Green Building & Design Show
Dates: October 8 & 9, 2009
Location: New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center in Edison, NJ

This green building event will feature a two-day expo showcasing the latest in eco-friendly building products and services along with free educational seminars from industry experts. This event is targeted for commercial & home builders, real estate developers, contractors, architects, building managers, interior designers, homeowners, and other professionals looking for green building solutions. Learn about the future of green building, energy & design and network with like-minded industry leaders at the event. Limited exhibition space is still available. Discounted tickets are available at www.GoGreenExpo.com  

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Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) 36th Annual Environmental Congress, the Economics of Green
Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: 8:30 am to 3:45 pm
Location: Cook College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick

The Environmental Congress is an annual statewide gathering of environmental commissions, local officials, agencies, citizen groups and environmental organizations. Join us this year to explore the many positive ways sustainability and resource protection impact the bottom line for people, municipalities and the planet at large. Network with environmental leaders from around the State. Enjoy a day jam-packed with information and resources you can use including workshops, exhibitors and presentation of the 2009 ANJEC Environmental Achievement Awards. For more info visit: http://www.anjec.org/ConfWorkshops.htm#congress

The NJ Clean Energy 2009 Conference
October 21 & 22, 2009, Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, NJ
The theme is Clean Energy Now! Governor Corzine has set an aggressive goal for New Jersey to reduce energy consumption 20% by 2020. Learn how you can be part of the solution. Attend the 2009 NJ Clean Energy Program Conference and Leadership Awards and "plug in" to the network of people that can help connect you to viable solutions for saving energy...now! The first day of this two-day conference will conclude with a networking reception followed by the Leadership Awards Dinner at the Sheraton Hotel located next to the Convention Center. A block of rooms will be available at the Sheraton for those who plan to spend the night.

Register for the conference here: http://ceos.rutgers.edu/ocpe/home.jsp

94th Annual New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference and Sustainable Jersey Luncheon > Annual Conference > 94th Annual Conference.

Symposium for Landscape Architects: Reclaiming the Outdoor Space for the Digital Generation

Monday, October 26, 2009
Newark Public Library
10:30am -4:30pm

The KOMPAN Play Institute invites you to a symposium devoted to innovation in
outdoor environments. The symposium is free and accredited with the ASLA for four (4)
hours of continuing education credits through the landscape architecture’s continuing
education system, LA CES. This symposium is hosted by Tiki Recreation.
MORE DETAILS

AEC-NJ Professionals' Circle Networking Night
Thursday, October 22

65 Passaic Avenue, Fairfield, NJ 07004
973-227-1777 
5pm - 9pm

Now more than ever we are dependent on our relationships with fellow professionals. The AEC-NJ Professionals' Circle is a group founded on this exact principle that provides a meeting place for architects, engineers, construction (AEC), landscape architects, developers, planners and interior designers.  No pre-set agenda or presentations; simply an opportunity to establish new relationships. Investing a little time face to face, is a great way to offer valuable connections.

Please join us for an evening of networking, conversation and socializing. You never know ahead of time who your best contact is going to be.

Please RSVP by clicking HERE or send an email to Shallon Gammon at sgammon@guidinggraphics.com

he 94th Annual League of Municipalities Conference
Date: November 17 – 20, 2009, Atlantic City Convention Center
Click on the links below for details and registration information:
Important Conference Sessions Transportation Issues
Important Conference Sessions Green Issues and Sustainability
Important Conference Sessions Economic Development and Revitalization
Sustainable Jersey/ Sustainable Jersey Awards Luncheon-09/17/09
Registration Info: www.njslom.org 

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Landscape Architects Create New Sustainability Resource Guides

Washington, D.C., September 19, 2009 — The American Society of Landscape Architects has announced a new series of comprehensive online resource guides on sustainable design and planning. Created for national and local policymakers, government agencies, design professionals, planners and students, the guides include hundreds of project case studies, research papers, organizations and other government resources on sustainable design aggregated for the first time. The announcement took place at the ASLA 2009 Annual Meeting and EXPO in Chicago.
With expanding urbanization and increased competition for scarce resources, cities and local communities face immense challenges ranging from overburdened infrastructure to decreasing amounts of green space. Sustainable design practices can mitigate the effects of rising greenhouse gas emissions, aid in adaptation to climate change, clean air and water, reduce the urban heat island effect and increase the health and wellbeing of residents all while providing significant long-term savings through lower heating and cooling energy costs, higher property values and viable, livable communities. The guides provide the “best of the best” resources and award-winning projects that offer real economic, social and environmental benefits. 
The five online resources include:

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Woody Plants Adapted To Past Climate Change More Slowly Than Herbs

ScienceDaily (Sep. 27, 2009) — Can we predict which species will be most vulnerable to climate change by studying how they responded in the past? A new study of flowering plants provides a clue. An analysis of more than 5000 plant species reveals that woody plants — such as trees and shrubs — adapted to past climate change much more slowly than herbaceous plants did. If the past is any indicator of the future, woody plants may have a harder time than other plants keeping pace with global warming, researchers say.

In a new study, biologists at the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center and Yale University teamed up to find out how flowering plants adapted to new climates over the course of their evolution. By integrating previously published genealogies for several plant groups with temperature and rainfall data for each species, they were able to measure how fast each lineage filled new climate niches over time.

When they compared woody and herbaceous groups, they found that woody plants adapted to new climates 2 to 10 times slower than herbs. "Woody plants eventually evolved to occupy about the same range of climates that herbaceous plants did, but woody plants took a lot longer to get there," said lead author Stephen Smith, a postdoctoral researcher at the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center in Durham, NC.

The researchers trace the disparity to differences in generation time between the two groups. Longer-lived plants like trees and shrubs typically take longer to reach reproductive age than fast-growing herbaceous plants, they explained. "Some woody plants take many years to produce their first flower, whereas for herbs it could take just a couple months," said co-author Jeremy Beaulieu, a graduate student at Yale University.

Because woody plants have longer reproductive cycles, they also tend to accumulate genetic changes at slower rates, prior research shows. "If genetic mutations build up every generation, then in 1000 years you would expect plants with longer generation times to accumulate fewer mutations per unit time," said Smith. This could explain why woody plants were slower to adapt to new environments. If genetic mutations provide the raw material for evolution, then woody plants simply didn't accumulate mutations fast enough to keep up. "If woody and herbaceous plants were running a race, the herbs would be the hares and the woody plants would be the tortoises," said Beaulieu.

By understanding how plants responded to climate change in the past, scientists may be better able to predict which groups will be hardest hit by global warming in the future. Unlike the tortoise and the hare, however, in this case slow and steady may not win the race. "Woody groups are obviously at a disadvantage as the climate changes," Beaulieu explained.
Does this mean that ecosystems dominated by trees — such as rainforests — will be more likely to disappear? Possibly. "If we look to the past for our clues, chances are trees will continue to respond much slower than herbs — as much as 10 times slower," Smith said. "But if the rate of climate change is 100 times faster, then they could all be in trouble. The kind of change we're experiencing now is so unprecedented," he added. While this study focused on long-term change over the last 100 million years, most climate models predict significant warming in the next century, the researchers explained. "That time frame may be too quick for any plant," Beaulieu said.
The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) is an NSF-funded collaborative research center operated by Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University.

The team's findings will be published online in the Sept. 23 issue of Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Journal reference:

Adapted from materials provided by National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent), via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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The Barberry War
To plant or destroy? That is the question.
By Mary Jasch
editor/publisher of DIG IT! Magazine
www.dig-itmag.com

September 30, 2009
Barberry: from perfect all-occasion shrub to killer in the woods, the topic is fraught with controversy.

Barberry’s advance into east coast woodland from designed landscapes began in Colonial times when European barberry, Berberis vulgaris, spread wantonly in the Boston area (Gypsy Moth was also introduced there) until its presence as alternate host for black stem rust on wheat became known. Colonists delivered its death knell garden to garden and, later, the USDA practically eradicated it. Since then, Japanese barberry, B. thunbergii, and its purple garden variety, B. thunbergii var. atropupurea, continue the forest invasion.
Photo by J. Ehrenfeld

Today, B. thunbergii is everywhere in New Jersey, except for the droughty habitats of Pine Barrens and ridge-tops. Hopefully, research, law and good sense will determine its fate.

But what is the real story behind this thorny topic? What, exactly, is the problem with this popular deer-resistant plant with dozens of colorful cultivars used in so many landscapes and micro-habitats?

For starters, studies show that Japanese barberry causes virtually irreversible changes in soil chemistry which promote the fast growth of weedy plants, including itself, while inhibiting the growth of native forest plants. This results in a loss of bio-diversity and habitat and, not so incidentally, supports Lyme Disease. Several ongoing studies and historical evidence show that barberry infestations found in forests come from plants used in designed landscapes.

To view the full article, click here

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PA-DE and NJ Chapters join forces for ASLA Morris
Arboretum Event
September 12, 2009
Ann M. Marchino, RLA, ASLA

The behind the scenes tour of the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania was well attended by members of the PA-DE and NJ Chapters, despite threatening weather.  The day began with Paul Meyer, Director of the Arboretum, giving a presentation of past, current and future restoration and expansion projects that have been accomplished during his 30-year tenure with the Arboretum.  This work ranged from restoring a fountain to working order to placing pieces of sculpture in the gardens to planning for a new research facility.  All work was referenced back to a Master Plan prepared by Andropogon Associates in 1977.  It was really nice to see how an institution uses their Master Plan for guidance and vision.  Paul also spoke of his plant exploration expeditions and collections.

Then the fun began, and we walked around and saw many of the restoration projects, improved plant varieties and public art.  At each stop, Paul mentioned the planning, fund-raising and installation efforts, along with other aspects, such as donor acknowledgement, deer “proofing”, research projects and handicap accessibility.  The group of 22 was encouraged to enter and explore all areas, including two recent installations – “The Summer Palace”, the ephemeral willow-twig sculpture, reminiscent of a bee hive, by Patrick Dogherty and “Tree Adventure”, a 3-D educational exhibit among the tree canopies, complete with giant hammocks and a bird’s nest.

After lunch, a hand-full of us retreated to the Pennock Garden with Jack and Nancy Carman to talk about what makes therapeutic gardens great and things to be avoided.  The garden had several pavement and plant types and a fountain for hands-on learning.  The Carman’s are leaders in this growing specialty.  We even tried out the porous pavement.  We enjoyed complementary admission to rest of the Arboretum.

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Claims, Claims Go Away!

By Joshua Lluch

Unfortunately just saying it does not make it so.  In today’s litigious society design professionals are often sued for things that they have no control over.  The economy being what it is doesn’t help either.  Claim frequency trends north when the economy goes south.  When people need money where do they go?  Why, to the deepest pockets of course! (much to the chagrin of the insurance companies).  While there is little or nothing that you can do to prevent frivolous lawsuits, there is something you can do to prevent real lawsuits.  Educate yourselves.  Here are some of the most common problem areas that you and your firm can avoid.

Client selection.  Those of you that only work with government agencies can sit this one out.  For the rest of you, do you know who it is that you are dealing with?  Doing quasi-background checks is key to eliminating some of the risks involved in your projects.  It is amazing what you can find on the internet.  All you have to do is enter your prospective client’s name in a search engine and hit the enter button and see what comes up.  Have they recently gone to court to sue another design professional?  Did they just lay-off 50% of their work force?  Has there been a restructuring of the organization recently? These are things that you can probably find within 10 minutes on the internet.  Ask some of your peers if they have ever worked with your prospective client.  You may find out that they are prone to filing lawsuits, or to not paying on time (or at all).  Run a Dun & Bradstreet report.  Make sure they are as financially sound as they say they are.

New projects/questionable projects.  Now is not the time to start taking on work in fields that you have no experience in.  Again, because of the economy, any little thing that goes wrong can potentially snowball into a lawsuit looking for that deep pocket.  There are a large number of claims that involve schools, universities, churches, medical facilities, and condos/co-ops/apartment buildings.  If you do not specialize in those areas now, do not take on jobs in these areas.  If you already have a specialty in these areas be aware of what it is you are getting into.  What is the reward relative to the risk you will be taking on?  Proper contracts can go a long way to helping you stay out of trouble.  Your employees also go a long way to helping you stay out of trouble.  Unfortunately some of you have had to let some employees go.  While it is never easy to let go of employees, it is even less easy knowing that there is a shortage of talent in the design professional industry.  Know the capabilities of your current team (pared down or not).  It is ok to pass on work that you know you cannot complete without breaking the figurative and physical bank.  It is much more expensive, both in the short and long term, to get involved in a big claim than it would have been to just take a pass.

Contracts.  Any advice given here does not pertain to public sector contracts.  Public sector contracts are take them or leave them, and most firms take them.  And while that is not ideal, it is the nature of that particular beast.  There are many pitfalls involving poorly worded contracts.  Is the scope of services clearly stated?  Are there unrealistic expectations regarding schedules and fees?  Are the indemnification clauses mutual?  Do warranties and guarantees exist which would not be covered under a professional liability policy?  Is the standard of care attainable?  Is there a mediation provision?  Is there a limitation of liability provision? A contract should be in place prior to initial work. Client-authored forms, especially, should be reviewed by your counsel and insurance agent in order to detect any onerous language like assumption of liability as well as any insurability issues.  Contracts with subcontractors should also be maintained and reviewed in the same fashion. 

Communication/Documentation.  The title just about speaks for itself.  Clear, concise and frequent communication between all parties involved is imperative to the success of any project.  Client expectations have to be managed and that simply cannot be done without proper communication.  Poorly defined staff responsibilities and scope of services are some of the biggest causes for the elevation of issues.  Avoid the types of claims alleging misrepresentation, negligence, or misconduct by simply communicating more clearly and more frequently.  Most importantly, document any and all forms of communication so as to avoid mysterious “lapses in memory”.  There is an old joke about lawsuits: the person with the most paper usually wins.  Live by those words.  Also, don’t write anything in internal memos or e-mails about anyone else that you wouldn’t say to their face.  You would be very surprised what comes up during discovery.  There is a whole industry that is devoted to the field of electronic discovery.  It is their job to find all electronic files that pertain to a specific case during the period of discovery.  Think about that the next time you want to send an e-mail to a coworker telling him/her what a pain in the neck your client is.  Just because you delete an e-mail doesn’t mean that it disappears into an electronic blackhole.

Trust Your Instincts.  The first time you even suspect a problem might become a claim get the insurance company involved.  Insurance company studies have shown that the earlier the insurance company gets involved the less likely the problem is to become a claim.  Don’t worry about loss preventions (pre-claims assistance) increasing the price of your liability insurance.  In general, pre-claims assistance does not affect the price you pay for your liability insurance and the assistance is generally free.  Most, if not all, insurance companies want to get involved from the beginning.  Just remember, however much you pay for your professional liability insurance, the insurance company has more skin in the game than you do.  They will fight hard to keep their money in their pocket.

While there is no magic bullet that will make all claims disappear, following the simple steps that have been outlined here will get you well on your way to a more claims free life.  After all, the cost of insurance is much more than what you pay for your actual policy.  Frequent and/or severe claims will cost you in ways that you may never have thought about.  Such as: money in the form of lost opportunity costs and deductibles as well as future increases in both the price of your liability policy and future deductibles as well as an overall loss of  morale, and of course time away from doing what you love most.  If you arm yourself with proper education and safeguards you will ultimately reduce the total cost of your insurance.  And who couldn’t use a little extra money these days? 
Joshua Lluch is a Business Development Manager for Singer Nelson Charlmers and specializes in Insurance for Engineers.
 

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The North American Rock Garden Society Watnong Chapter
 Pine Barrens Bus Trip
Advance sign up required.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Departs Frelinghuysen Arboretum
(Somerset County pickup at River Road Park)

Fall is a great time to travel to the New Jersey Pine Barrens and that’s exactly where the chapter will be heading this autumn. With the rusty fall colors of blueberry against the evergreen backdrop of cedar and pine, sightings might include bottle gentians, rare pinelands fall migrant butterflies and even a chance to rack a timber rattlesnake. The wetlands and bogs are home to many ericaceous species that pop in the fall. Bald eagles and ospreys might round out a great fall day.

On Saturday, October 18th, join the Watnong Chapter on an autumn bus tour to the Pines with ecologists Hazel England and Emile DeVito. As all of the members who toured Bamboo Brook with Hazel and Emile last August remember, they’re both charming and enthusiastic guides to the outdoors. With their help, we’ll see the beauty of a unique part of our state through the eyes of two uniquely qualified experts. Between them, this couple has spent close to 45 years visiting, studying, sharing and protecting the Pine Barrens. Hazel’s first job after she moved here from her native Scotland was Executive Director of the Whitebog Preservation Trust. Currently she’s Director of Outreach and Education for the Great Swamp Watershed Association. Emile’s PhD dissertation focused on the ecology of the Pines. Today he serves on the board of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and is an expert on Pinelands issues. Emile is also on our state’s Endangered and Non-Game Species Committee.

Sign up for this trip soon because the bus will fill quickly. To reserve your place, send a completed signup form and a check for $50.00 per person

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Please mark your calendar and plan to join CTASLA on Monday, October 26 for
“Pool Safety and Professional Liability”
A continuing education program for landscape architects, architects, contractors and anyone involved in the design, construction and maintenance of swimming pools.

Monday, October 26
8:30 a.m.–12:00 noon
Pequot Library, Southport, CT

Learn about issues affecting swimming pools and liability from a state regulator, an attorney, a
swimming pool contractor and a landscape architect, as they discuss best design and construction
practices, safety and legal topics surrounding the installation of swimming pools in Connecticut.
3 credit hours (LACES and AIA-CES registered) will be earned by participants who complete
this seminar.

Presenters include:
Keith Simpson – Landscape Architect, Keith Simpson Associates
Pam Scully – Sanitary Engineer, Environmental Health Section, Connecticut Department of Public Health
Derek Mogck – Attorney, Shipman & Goodwin LLP
Bruno Iacono – Owner/President, Signature Pools

Registration:
$60 – ASLA/AIA members
$90 – Non-members
$35 – Students (ID required)
 
Includes continental breakfast, seminar materials and certificate of completion.

TO REGISTER BY MAIL (by check) OR ONLINE (via credit card), please see details at:

http://ctasla.org/event_reg14588a.htm
 
Deadline for registration: Wednesday, October 21.

Questions? Contact Jeff Mills at (860) 454-8922 or executivedirector@ctasla.org.

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NJASLA Member named to National Professional Practice Committee

Jeffrey A. Tandul, LLA, ASLA, M.Arch has been named by ASLA National to serve on the National Committee on Professional Practice of Landscape Architecture. Tandul has served two terms on the National Committee on Licensing. He is a Past President of the NJASLA, chairman of the NJASLA Legislative Committee and liaison to the Board of Architects. He has also served for several years on the Annual Meeting Planning Committee, through 2010 and as chairman of the NJASLA Golf Outing for several years. Mr. Tandul was selected for this position given his commitment to excellence and promotion of the profession and the maintenance of professional standards as licensing status has improved throughout the United States. Tandul was instrumental in writing of the Practice Act for Landscape Architects in NJ and in obtaining passage of the bill in the legislature and signing b y the governor. He has been actively acting as liaison between NJASLA leadership and the Board of Architects as new regulations are being developed to reflect the new Practice Act. Mr. Tandul has been active with CLARB (Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards) since 1996 as a grader, writer, and cut-score grader of the LARE. In September 2007 Mr. Tandul was awarded the CLARB Presidential Recognition Award for significant contributions toward advancing the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the public through landscape architectural licensing. Mr. Tandul looks forward to working with ASLA National President Elect, Gary Scott, on this committee.

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