Brother Hydrick, Best wishes, Kent L. Brough Senior Landscape Architect. Answers from Landscape Architect Kevin Shields-

Transcription

1 Brother Hydrick, I hope what Kevin has shared with you is what you were asking for. He has done a great job of verbalizing what we do and what our philosophy of design is for church projects. I appreciate your groups interest in finding out how the Church operates and how you can become more involved in our processes. Both Kevin and I are grateful for the experiences that we are having and would like to see more landscape architects involved in the work that is needed in the field. We truly believe that you can bring to our projects a knowledge and sensitivity of design that is not available from other disciplines in the design process/industry. In addition to what Kevin has shared about his background, let me also share what my experience has been in Church employment. I am also a graduate of USU and was in their LAEP Department during the early to mid 70's. I started working for the Church in 1976 and since that early beginning, I have had opportunity to work in various positions both at headquarters and in the field offices. My assignments have included draftsman, landscape architect, architectural coordinator, project manager and facilities manager. In 2008, I completed a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Utah with emphasis in Historic Preservation. The knowledge and experience obtained from this degree is being used in our Church Historic Site projects. I can echo the feeling that Kevin has shared that you and the group in California need to get involved in helping our field staff. There may even be opportunities for employment in the field offices not only in California, but throughout the world. For your information, there is an AEC website available where you can get information on meetinghouses. Here is the link: Please let us know if we can share anything else with you. For your information, we appreciate your interest in our becoming involved in your group through the internet. Unfortunately, our time will not allow us to participate through this method of communication. However, we will address questions or thoughts via or phone calls as needed. Thanks again for your interest. Best wishes, Kent L. Brough Senior Landscape Architect Answers from Landscape Architect Kevin Shields- Q: How, specifically, are the design principles and elements implemented in designing the grounds for the temple? How is the visitor prepared for and the experience enhanced spiritually for worship through design? For example, in East Indian architecture they rely on elevation change, light exposure, scale and hierarchy etc. A: We also rely on elevation change, scale, hierarchy, and other design elements such as balance, symmetry, and repetition. We try very hard to place the temple at the highest point of

2 the site and to have the front door facing east. Sometimes a very difficult task to do both. As you look at some of the more recently designed temple landscapes and others, those that are deemed most successful in our eyes will allow the visitor to feel the sacredness of the temple as soon as they cross the threshold of the temple gate. Our guidelines ask that the site and landscape focus on the front doors of the temple and of the building itself. Thus you will see that as best we can we try to design sidewalks from the outskirts of the parking areas and streets to bring people to the front of the temple. Oquirrh Mountain and Gila Valley are recent temples that have a definite hierarchy from property line to temple entry. We tend not to cover the building foundation with tall trees and shrubs, although there may be parts of the temple that are framed. Also, as one comes closer to the temple, details and materials are more refined, such as the use of different paving materials, raised planters, fountains, flower/plant color and plant selection. We try to use as many of the senses as possible to provide for an experience of serenity and peace that people expect when coming to the temple. Q: Can you give us some personal background as well as academic and professional? A: I have a BLA degree from Utah State University, am a licensed landscape architect, and have extensive training and experience in site planning. I work very closely with the temple architects and their consultants to understand everything from general site issues to the finest details of construction, so understanding the construction methods and details, and what can be maintained well for many years to come is also an area that is important. As such, continual education in construction processes and new materials is always being reviewed. Q: How does your professional relationship to the church work? Hired full time, independent consultant, other? A: I was hired full time as a landscape architect to work in the Physical Facilities department here at Church headquarters to provide landscape architecture services worldwide. Q: What is the most rewarding and less rewarding element of your work within the church? A: The most rewarding aspect is obviously being able to work on the Houses of the Lord and knowing that the landscapes will be kept up to the best possible quality. Q: How much do you travel? A: I have travelled quite extensively and continue to travel periodically in my employment.

3 Q: Do you really get to design the sites, or do they tell you the site is already designed, please do a planting plan etc.? A: I begin my work with a raw piece of property. It is my responsibility to site buildings, parking areas, landscapes and other elements as required. Eventually, the entire team gets involved and we come up with a plan that works for everyone. Q: It is common for architects to attempt designing exterior spaces and not giving much room for the landscape architect. Is that true with the Church projects? A: Generally, we work as a very close team to give the site its greatest potential. Q: Does he have first dibs on the renderings that come out for the official picture when the temple's announced, or is that always farmed out? A: We have the best renderer in the world here at Church headquarters (my opinion). He works full time only on renderings. Part of his formal education was studying landscape architecture. He works with architectural and landscape architectural firms to provide all the renderings for presentations. Q: What is the process for becoming employed or involved with the Church in our profession? A: Don t be too busy to start with a small project. Work with the local people in your area. As they become comfortable with you the opportunity to do more and bigger projects will come. We need good local landscape architects everywhere in the world. Q: How many landscape architects are on board with the church? How closely do they work with architect, civils, urban planners etc.? A: There are currently two full time landscape architects. We work with local landscape architects throughout the world to get the work done. My average week consists of meetings with all design trades and designers throughout the world. Q: What kind of salary range can I expect if I seek church employment in our field? A: It s all based on your qualifications. (But if you re successful, you will most likely make more as an outside consultant.) Q: Is the Church a good boss? We all know the church is true, but none of us have the church sign our paychecks. Who does he report to? What is the structure for the facilities management and design teams?

4 A: There are many, many benefits to working for the Church. Q: I (this is another guy in the forum) have an emphasis in computer renderings, as well as site design. Would someone like me be better off elsewhere, or would my renderings have a place in this job? A: Our current presentations require that all renderings appear as realistic as possible. Understanding light, shadow, materials, etc., is critical and if you are very good and quick at rendering you will be highly successful anywhere. Our renderer is probably the one guy on the floor that is the most valuable and has the most job security Q: Do you have to sign an exclusivity clause or can you moonlight when you work for the church? A: Any outside work has to be generally disclosed. Obviously there cannot be a conflict of interest. I have found that I just don t have time to do outside work. Q: Can you give us a brief glimpse of cradle to grave on a project and the landscape architects functions and relationships? A: As stated above, I start with a raw piece of property and work on a project for the rest of its existence on temple sites. This includes changes made well after the site construction is considered finished as there are always tweaks and issues that occur. If I am fortunate I will be able to see the site at an initial site investigation visit and then see it upon completion. Q: Any thing else you would like to share with us? A: Design work is only part of my job. The current protocol for Church projects is to hire consultants to perform the work to be done. Our role at Church headquarters is to provide the program, training, guidelines, and communicate the will of the client (First Presidency) to our hired consultants. We also work with temple engineers and FM groups to improve and maintain sites appropriately. As most of the design professionals here at HQ have extensive knowledge of the temples we can also help the consultant know what works for temples and what has not worked well. Hopefully, this helps us from making the same mistake multiple times. Q: Finally, any words of advice for LDS Landscape Architects in general and specific to the tough economic times? A: Obviously there is no magic answer. It s a great profession but can be very volatile, as you know. (Prior to working at the Church I was in an office that went from 22 employees when I started, to 3 when I left to work for the Church.) Find a niche and become the best you can be at that item and show your worth to your clients and other professionals. Don t be afraid to work in

5 other fields and gain further education and experience elsewhere until you can return to the profession you love.