BSLA Fieldbook BSLA 2014 Fall Fieldbook | Page 121
TOOLBOX / BSLA
T
he Fieldbook team is
incredibly grateful for the
opportunity to bring topics at
the forefront of our profession
to practitioners of landscape
architecture and partners in
the endeavor. Each issue we strive to find themes relevant
to the core values of landscape architecture. This issue our
theme of landscape and technology has allowed us to look into
the past and see how the evolution of our professional toolbox
has changed the way we approach projects.
Additionally, our Fall issue of Fieldbook is our issue to
showcase the ASLA Award and BSLA Award winners,
scholarship winners, as well as the new Fellows.
One of the most creatively satisfying aspects of working on
Fieldbook is reaching out to contributors to bring each issue
to life. This issue’s theme materialized after discussing the
National Park Service “Good Neighbors Program” which uses
Olmsted’s historic toolbox to educate young students on the
profession of landscape architecture. Those of us new to the
team also learned that the BSLA helped fund the building of
toolbox replicas over 10 years ago. It was a natural progression
that led us to compare the tools of yesterday and today. Using
Liza Stearn’s description of this program as a starting point,
we reached far and wide in our exploration of the latest
iterations of the tools.
From within our BSLA community, Kate Kennen, ASLA
and Scott Bishop, ASLA explore new methods of using
plant material in the landscape, and Daniel Tal, ASLA and
Jim Leggitt, FAIA describe the integration of computer and
hand drawing as a new form of visual communication for
our clients and community, and Stephanie Weyer, ASLA,
provides her viewpoint into the growing use of the tablet in
our profession. For a full understanding of how these tools
have advanced, we also reached out to partners in the field.
James Sottilo describes modern (and future) soil science,
Dan MacIssac, PLS helps us understand advanced survey
techniques, and Tegin Teich Bennett and Ritesh Warade
describe the new methods of wayfinding. On behalf of BSLA,
the Fieldbook team sincerely thanks the authors for all the
work and for the generosity in sharing their expertise in
the articles.
BSLA Fieldbook is possible because of a large team of devoted
landscape designers and architects throughout Massachusetts
and Maine. It is with the utmost gratitude that the Fieldbook
OLMSTED
TOOLBOX
Fro m t h e 2014
B SLA Fi e l d b o o k
Ed i t o r i a l Te a m
Editorial Team thanks all of our
volunteers, with a special thanks to
proofreaders Mary Alice VanSickle,
Kimberly Drake, ASLA, and Elizabeth
Knox, Associate ASLA
In upcoming issues of Fieldbook, we
look forward to working with BSLA
members to bring you information that
will continue to make this a reference
manual for our membership and our
larger community.
2014 Fieldbook Editorial Team
Todd Robinson, Associate ASLA, Chair
Tim Nickerson , ASLA
Natalie Adams, ASLA
Michele Folts, ASLA
Vicki Carr, Affiliate ASLA
Proofing Team
Kimberly Drake, ASLA
Elizabeth Knox, Associate ASLA
Mary Alice VanSickle
Thank you to Christian Phillips
Photography for the tool box
photographs provided to both BSLA
Fieldbookand to the Good Neighbors
Program of the National Park Service.
Graphic available at ASLA website
Boston Society of Landscape Architects Fieldbook
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