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The importance of accessibility in landscape architecture

Landscape architecture is an art and science that involves designing outdoor spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and sustainable. One crucial aspect of landscape architecture is accessibility, which refers to designing spaces that can be used by everyone and are accessible to the population at large, including those with disabilities. At McNeil Engineering, we ensure our projects contain accessibility features so everyone can enjoy and experience them.

Accessibility is essential in landscape architecture, as it enables people to use and enjoy outdoor spaces to the fullest extent possible. Outdoor spaces that are inaccessible or difficult to navigate can be frustrating and discouraging for people with disabilities, limiting their ability to participate in social activities, exercise or simply enjoy the outdoors. Therefore, incorporating accessibility features into landscape architecture is crucial for ensuring that outdoor spaces are inclusive and equitable for all.

Here are some reasons why accessibility is so important in landscape architecture:

Inclusivity

Accessibility features in landscape architecture enable people with disabilities to use and enjoy outdoor spaces on an equal footing with everyone else. This inclusivity promotes social integration and reduces stigmatization and discrimination against people with disabilities. It also creates a sense of community and belonging for people with disabilities, who may otherwise feel isolated and excluded from outdoor activities.

Health Benefits

Accessible outdoor spaces have significant health benefits for people with disabilities. Spending time outdoors can help reduce stress, improve mood and enhance overall physical and mental health. Accessible outdoor spaces enable people with disabilities to enjoy these benefits and enhance their quality of life.

Legal Requirements

In many countries, accessibility is a legal requirement for outdoor spaces. Laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States mandate that public outdoor areas must be accessible to people with disabilities. Failure to comply with these laws can result in legal consequences, such as fines and lawsuits. Therefore, incorporating accessibility features into landscape architecture is a moral obligation and a legal requirement.

Economic Benefits

Accessible outdoor spaces have economic benefits for the community as a whole. They attract a more diverse group of visitors, including people with disabilities, their families and friends. This increased foot traffic can increase local businesses and tourism revenue. Additionally, accessible outdoor spaces can increase property values in surrounding areas, making them more attractive to potential buyers.

Sustainable Design

Incorporating accessibility features into landscape architecture promotes sustainable design. Features such as permeable paving, rain gardens, and green roofs can enhance accessibility while conserving water, reducing stormwater runoff and improving air quality. Additionally, sustainable design can reduce maintenance costs and increase the longevity of outdoor spaces, making them more accessible and functional over time.

So, what are some examples of accessibility features in landscape architecture? Here are a few:

Accessible Pathways

Accessible pathways are essential for people with disabilities to navigate outdoor spaces safely and independently. These pathways should be wide enough for wheelchairs and mobility aids, with a smooth and slip-resistant surface. Additionally, pathways should be well-lit and free of obstacles that may obstruct people’s movement.

Seating Areas

Seating areas are an essential feature of accessible outdoor spaces, allowing people to rest and relax. Seating areas should be designed to accommodate people with disabilities, with benches and chairs that are easy to access and use. Additionally, seating areas should be placed in shaded areas and protected from the elements.

Ramps and Lifts

Ramps and lifts are critical accessibility features that enable people with disabilities to navigate elevation changes. These features should be designed to be easily accessible and safe to use, with non-slip surfaces and appropriate handrails. Additionally, ramps and lifts should be located in well-lit and visible areas to ensure all users’ safety.

Braille and Tactile Signage

Braille and tactile signage are essential accessibility features for people with visual impairments. These signs provide information about the outdoor space, such as directions, warnings, and amenities. Braille and tactile signage should be located at strategic points along accessible pathways and designed to be easily readable and understandable.

Accessible Planters and Gardens

In urban gardens or design features, accessible planters and gardens should be available. They provide people with disabilities the opportunity to engage in gardening activities. These features should be designed to be easily accessible, with raised garden beds that are wheelchair-friendly and easy to use. Additionally, plants and gardening tools should be selected to ensure they are easy to reach and use for people with disabilities.

Accessibility is a crucial aspect of landscape architecture that promotes inclusivity, enhances health, meets legal requirements, provides economic benefits, and promotes sustainable design. Incorporating accessibility features into outdoor spaces ensures that people with disabilities can enjoy the benefits of the outdoors to the fullest extent possible. Therefore, landscape architects should prioritize accessibility in their designs and work to create outdoor spaces that are inclusive and equitable for all.

We hope you’ll contact us if you ever need a landscape architect to help you with a new project, or if you’d like to update an existing structure for more accessibility. You can also check out some of our previous landscape architecture projects here.

What is the future of landscape architecture?

Landscape architecture has been around for centuries; over time, it has evolved to address various challenges and opportunities. From designing public parks and gardens to planning entire cities and regions, landscape architects have played a critical role in shaping our world. But what does the future hold for this field? In this blog post, we will explore some of the emerging trends and innovations that are likely to shape the future of landscape architecture, and the future of projects of our landscape architects here at McNeil Engineering.

Sustainable Design

As concerns about climate change continue to grow, landscape architects will be increasingly called upon to design sustainable landscapes that can help mitigate its impacts. This will involve using various techniques, such as green roofs, rain gardens or permeable pavements, to reduce runoff and improve water quality. Additionally, landscape architects must consider using different types of renewable materials and energy sources. Landscape Architects might also incorporate carbon sequestration strategies, where carbon is removed from the atmosphere and held in a solid or liquid state, into their designs.

Resilience Planning

The increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, wildfires and floods, has highlighted the need for landscape architects to design resilient landscapes. This will involve developing strategies to help communities bounce back from disasters quickly and efficiently and creating landscapes that absorb and adapt to changing conditions.

Technological Integration

Technology integration into landscape architecture will continue to accelerate in the coming years. This will involve 3D modeling software, drones and other advanced tools to help designers create more accurate and detailed designs. Additionally, landscape architects will increasingly rely on data-driven approaches to inform their designs, using data analytics to understand the needs and behaviors of users, as well as to predict the impacts of climate change.

Health and Well-being

Landscape architects have long recognized the importance of designing spaces that promote human health and well-being. In the future, this will become an even greater focus, as cities and communities look to address the growing problem of physical inactivity and the associated health problems it creates. Landscape architects will be called upon to design parks, public spaces, and streetscapes that promote physical activity and social interaction and create green spaces that can help reduce stress and improve mental health.

Biodiversity Conservation

As the world’s population grows and urban areas expand, the need to conserve biodiversity will become increasingly pressing. Landscape architects will play a critical role in this effort, designing landscapes supporting a wide range of plant and animal species and creating habitat corridors that can help connect fragmented ecosystems.

Equity

The landscape architecture profession has historically been criticized for its role in creating exclusive and segregated spaces. In the future, landscape architects will need to become more attuned to the issue of equity, working to create inclusive public spaces that serve the needs of all members of society. This will involve engaging with local communities to understand their needs and aspirations and designing landscapes that promote access and participation for all.

Water Management

The management of water resources will continue to be a critical issue in the future, as climate change and population growth put increasing pressure on freshwater supplies. Landscape architects will be called upon to design landscapes that can help manage water resources more effectively, using techniques such as rainwater harvesting, graywater reuse, and stormwater management systems to reduce demand and improve water quality.

Urban Agriculture

As concerns about food security and access to healthy food continue to grow, landscape architects will increasingly be called upon to design landscapes that can support urban agriculture. This will involve creating rooftop gardens, community gardens, and other urban agriculture projects that can help provide fresh produce to urban communities.

Regenerative Design

Regenerative design is an approach to design that seeks to create spaces that sustain themselves and contribute to the health and vitality of their surrounding ecosystems. In the future, landscape architects will increasingly embrace regenerative design principles, designing landscapes that can help restore degraded ecosystems and reverse the impacts of climate change.

Multidisciplinary Collaboration

Landscape architecture is an inherently multidisciplinary field, and in the future, landscape architects will increasingly work with a range of other professionals, including ecologists, engineers, urban planners, and community organizers. This will involve collaborating on large-scale projects requiring a broad range of expertise and engaging with local communities to ensure that designs reflect their needs and aspirations.

In conclusion, the future of landscape architecture is likely to be shaped by a range of trends and innovations, from sustainable design and resilience planning to integrating technology and promoting health and well-being. Landscape architects will increasingly be called upon to address the complex challenges facing our communities and planet, designing landscapes that can help mitigate the impacts of climate change, promote social justice and equity, and restore degraded ecosystems. By embracing these emerging trends and working collaboratively with other professionals and communities, our landscape architects can help create a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future for us all.

We hope you’ll contact us here if you ever need a landscape architect to help you with a new and exciting project. You can also check out some of our previous landscape architecture projects here.

What are landscape architects and what do they do?

One of the services we offer at McNeil Engineering is Landscape architecture, not to be confused with landscaping. Landscape architecture is a multi-disciplinary field that involves the design and planning of outdoor spaces, such as parks, gardens, plazas, and other green spaces. Our landscape architects here at McNeil Engineering work hard to create functional, attractive, and sustainable environments that work with the surrounding landscape and provide benefits to the people who use them.

Our landscape architects integrate various design elements, such as plants, trees, hardscaping, water features, and structures, into all our projects. They must consider factors such as site analysis, climate, topography, hydrology, and other environmental factors, as well as the needs and desires of our clients, to create the best possible design solution for each individual project.

The Process of Landscape Architecture

The process of landscape architecture typically involves several steps, including site analysis, conceptual design, schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration.

Site Analysis: The first step in the landscape architecture process is to conduct a thorough site analysis to understand the existing conditions of the site, including its physical characteristics, environmental conditions, and existing structures and landscapes. This information is used to inform the design process and to determine the best solutions for the site.

Conceptual Design: During the conceptual design stage, landscape architects brainstorm and create rough sketches and diagrams to explore different design ideas and concepts. This is where the landscape architect begins to consider the various design elements that will be incorporated into the final design, such as plants, trees, hardscaping, water features, and structures.

Schematic Design: In the schematic design stage, they begin to refine the design concept, creating more detailed drawings and plans that include the placement of different elements and how they will interact with each other.

Design Development: In the design development stage, the landscape architect further refines the design, adding more detail and making any necessary adjustments based on feedback from clients and other stakeholders. This stage is also when the landscape architect begins to consider the construction techniques and materials that will be used to implement the design.

Construction Documents: Once the design is finalized, the landscape architect creates detailed construction documents, including drawings, specifications, and cost estimates, that outline the construction process and materials required to build the design.

Construction Administration: The final stage of the process is construction administration, where the landscape architect works with contractors and other construction professionals to ensure that the design is being built according to the construction documents and that the end result meets the client’s needs and expectations.

Skills and Qualifications of a Landscape Architect

Landscape architects must have a range of skills and qualifications, including:

A strong understanding of design principles and techniques, including the use of color, texture, form, and scale.
Knowledge of horticulture, plant science, and environmental systems, including the ability to select appropriate plants for different climates and conditions.
Strong communication skills, both verbal and visual, to present ideas and designs to clients and stakeholders and to work effectively with contractors and other construction professionals.
Technical skills, including proficiency in computer-aided design (CAD) software and other design tools.
Project management skills to ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the client’s satisfaction.
A strong sense of creativity and problem-solving skills to develop innovative design solutions that meet the needs and desires of clients while also considering environmental and practical constraints.

Project Types in Landscape Architecture

Landscape architecture is a diverse field with many different project types, including:

Urban Planning: Landscape architects may also work in urban planning, helping to create livable and sustainable communities. This can involve working on large-scale projects, such as urban renewal initiatives or the development of new communities, as well as smaller projects, such as the design of park spaces and public squares.
Landscape Restoration: Another area of specialization within landscape architecture is landscape restoration, which involves the rehabilitation and rejuvenation of degraded or damaged landscapes. This can involve the restoration of natural habitats, such as wetlands or prairies, or revitalizing urban parks and green spaces.
Research and Education: Landscape architects may also work in research and education, helping to advance the field through the development of new techniques and technologies. This can involve working for universities, research institutions, or government agencies.
Historic Preservation: Landscape architects may also specialize in historic preservation, working to restore and preserve landscapes, gardens, and parks that are of historical significance. This may involve working on projects to restore historic gardens, parks, and other green spaces, as well as the design of new landscapes that are in keeping with the historical character of the site.

Landscape architecture is a multi-disciplinary field that combines creativity, technical skills, and environmental knowledge to create beautiful, functional, and sustainable outdoor spaces. Whether working on urban planning initiatives, restoring degraded landscapes, or designing new parks and gardens, landscape architects play a vital role in creating the outdoor spaces that define our communities and enrich our lives.

We hope that this has helped your understanding of landscape architects and if you need one for a project, you’ll contact us here. You can also check out some of our prior landscape architecture projects here.

What does the global 2023 construction outlook reveal?

It’s no secret that 2022 has been a complicated year. The construction sector has seen some serious highs and lows as the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic linger. Add in soaring inflation, big infrastructure spending, and a hot job market and it truly is a confusing environment for civil engineering firms in Utah. The question now is, what will 2023 bring? Let’s take a moment in today’s blog post to find the answer.

The United States 2023 Construction Outlook

The United States benefits from big infrastructure projects and an economy that’s still humming. Analysts are seeing an easing in inflation and lead times for certain building materials. Still, pricing remains stubbornly high. Optimistic projections point to a mild and short recession, mainly because of high employment and a dropping consumer price index (CPI) reading.

Here is how construction spending in six sectors is going to look. Expect manufacturing, highways, transportation, multifamily housing, lodging, and communications to expand by at least 5% next year. Another four other sectors, which include healthcare, public safety, education, and commercial, are expected to grow by zero to 4%. And there will be a slight decline in construction spending for single-family housing, power, improvements, and office buildings.

Finally, let’s take a local look. Utah added some 50,600 new jobs over the past 12 months, a 3.1% increase, with the numbers in fast-growing Washington County and the rest of southwestern Utah closer to 4%, according to a new report from the state Department of Workforce Services. And what was the fastest-growing sector in Utah over the past year? Construction, which added 15,100 new jobs. Utah continues to be one of the best-performing economies in the United States.

The European Union’s 2023 Construction Outlook

Meanwhile, across the pond, analysts are a lot more pessimistic about the European construction outlook. According to one reading from a European construction research group Construction output growth across Europe will drop to 0.2% in 2023 and drop even further to flat in 2024, with the reason being the ongoing war in Ukraine. But Europe is also grappling with rising interest rates, inflation, and material shortages.

Many analysts expect this to be a rough period of adjustment for the construction sector. Why? Because nearly all factors that affect construction demand are trending negatively in the Eurozone. These include the economy, consumer prices, interest rates, and consumer confidence. Specifically in Europe, demand for civil engineering has been lifted by big public and private investments in low-carbon energy and transport schemes. Still, the prospects for residential output drag down the overall outlook for the sector. And unlike the United States, Europe is not rolling out huge infrastructure investments across the board to its member countries.

It was only as recently as early summer that many were expecting a 2.2% growth in GDP in the Eurozone, even taking the war in Ukraine into account. Those estimates have been revised down to as little as 0.5%. Fortunately, the civil engineering outlook in Europe looks positive as many countries invest in low-carbon energy and renovate existing infrastructure, albeit with projects small in scope than those in the United States.

The U.K.’s 2023 Construction Outlook

The United Kingdom relies on seasonal construction forecasts released by the Construction Products Association (CPA). So, what does this upcoming forecast say about the state of construction in the U.K.? Well, according to the Autumn Construction Forecast, construction output is forecast to fall by 3.9% in 2023. Contrast that with 2022, when construction activity rose by 2%, and you’ve got a pretty wild swing. Currently, construction activity is at above-normal levels as activity continues at a high level.

It is also important to consider that the huge decline in activity for fall 2023 is a sharp downward revision from -0.4% in even the worst scenario included in the U.K.’s CPA Summer Construction Forecast. Why? Mainly due to the impact of a wider economic recession, exacerbated by the effect of the ‘Mini Budget,’ and the consequent fallout from recent political uncertainty. With the U.K. having set a record for the shortest term for a prime minister in recorded history, lots of important projects have been either shelved or delayed.

The fact is there is still much uncertainty around the United Kingdom’s economy. There are still many factors that will adversely affect the construction forecast within the country. These factors include falls in real wages and potential further rises in interest rates, which will likely lead to further falls in consumer spending decisions.

On top of these issues, the wider uncertainty around the UK economy means that demand for private housing new build and private housing repair, maintenance, and improvement, is expected to fall. But what about commercial builds? Other key construction sectors such as commercial and infrastructure are also expected to be adversely impacted by valid worries about construction cost inflation. Rising prices are sure to negatively impact and possibly directly hinder project viability.

So, with that update on the U.S. and European construction outlook, 2023 appears to be a year of contraction, although more in some places than others. Here at McNeil Engineering, we are ready to serve our clients with top-level civil engineering services on construction projects in Utah and beyond. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

What has McNeil Engineering been up to so far this year? Part I

Welcome to a look at some of our big jobs from the former part of 2022. We wanted to take a moment to highlight our recent work so you can get a better idea of our capabilities.

1. Larkin Cemetery

For more than 20 years our team has had a great relationship with the Larkin family and their incredible team at Larkin Mortuary. The scope of our work includes civil engineering projects, helping lay the foundation for their current headquarters as well as surveying their properties to prepare for future growth.

Led by Surveying Department Manager Mike Hoffman, our team has been involved in surveying and mapping both Larkin Cemetery locations using state-of-the-art technology to help them transition to a new cemetery management software system.

Through the use of drones and ultra-high-resolution cameras, our team was able to provide them with sophisticated imagery including a complete point cloud image of both locations. We sent both to Dan Cable and the team at EDA Land Planning, a firm acting as their go-to landscape architect overseeing our cemetery development.

This information allows their team to ensure accuracy and precision when taking inventory of their current land assets. Plus, it helps them plan for the future with confidence. We look forward to continuing to work with the team at Larkin Mortuary, it’s always a pleasure. Big thanks to Michael D. Hoffman for acting as survey manager on this important project!

2. Draper Innovation

No matter how many roofing or paving projects we manage, it’s never lost on our team how different each project is, and how important it is to keep a keen eye for small details to ensure that each project is successful and that their roofs and parking lots are built to last!

The Draper Innovation Center is no exception to that rule. Across a large lot, this multi-structure complex is an exciting new addition to the area that is nearing completion with one building finished and the other expected to be complete this summer.

As part of our responsibilities as the consultant and project manager our team reviewed plans and specifications for the owner and commented on what details needed to be revised and issues that could be avoided before construction started. We also reviewed material submittals and shop drawings to make sure they lined up with the plans and specifications and took our findings to preconstruction meetings for both buildings to review with the contractor while verifying his material submittals, shop drawings, and construction schedule. Throughout this process, our team worked closely with the general contractor to ensure that there were no conflicts with other trades.

For the duration of the project, our team observes the roofing production twice a week to make sure that the roof is being installed as per the plans and specifications and sends a report with photos to the owner. We also work with the roofing contractor on any field changes that need to be made. Once the project is finished our team will perform the final inspection with the manufacturer and send out a punch list to the roofing contractor with any final adjustments. As part of this process, we verify that owner receives the final warranty documentation. Big thanks to Carl Greene, consulting manager on the project.

3. North Union

In coordination with our very own Structural Engineering, Landscape Architecture, and Surveying departments, our Civil Engineering team had the pleasure of working on the exciting new North Union Apartments project! It really was a blast working in-house across so many departments and disciplines to bring this awesome complex to life which is now entering the final stages of construction.

The key responsibilities of our Civil Engineering team were fairly standard for this type of project as we coordinated with the architects to locate the building on-site and designed all new utility services.

The project was designed to meet city ordinances which are always changing, as well as the new state stormwater codes to recharge our aquifers during an increasingly difficult period of drought for our state! As part of the parking structure, surface improvements were designed to access two separate levels of parking to alleviate congestion at the parking garage entries which is an awesome and welcome change for future residents and helps avoid the traditional hang-up of trying to find somewhere to park at your apartment!

As we see the Draper area and really the entire Salt Lake Valley continues to grow, we’re excited to have a part in preparing the structures and laying the groundwork for future communities! Thank you to Robert Poirier, civil engineering manager on this project!

We hope you have enjoyed this look back at some of our big projects of the year (so far). Join us in our next blog post as we finish out our look at a couple more projects and feature an employee spotlight!

A wide range of engineering services

Here at McNeil Engineering, we provide comprehensive design services that include civil engineering, structural engineering, land surveying, high-definition scanning (HDS), landscape architecture and consulting services to the private and public sectors. We also offer consulting services for cities, urban designers, urban planners, and others in the Utah construction market. With so much on offer, we figured now would be a good time to go into greater detail regarding our services and what they entail.

Civil Engineering in Utah and other states

Let’s start with the core of what we do. We are civil engineers first and foremost. But what exactly is it that civil engineers do? Well, in short, civil engineers work closely with others in the construction industry, from architects to contractors, to ensure construction projects progress as they should. Many of their tasks include site surveying ground condition tests, inventory, and materials and equipment maintenance and support. Civil engineers are also responsible for coming up with solutions that take the weather and other geologic factors into account.

Structural Engineering for Long-Lasting Projects

Structural engineering of the type we do fits specifically into the wheelhouse of civil engineering. Structural engineering in this context focuses mainly on the framework of a structure. Engineers design the structures to ensure they can withstand whatever stresses or pressures they may encounter in their environment. The key for structural engineers on projects like ours is to ensure that the buildings and structures we work on remain safe, reliable, and secure at all times.

Land Surveying Where You Need It

Another big part of what we do is land surveying. It’s a critical part of any construction project. There are different types of land surveying, but civil engineers utilize this technique in specific ways. Surveying in civil engineering represents the collection and analysis of specific data regarding the land under survey. Specific measurements of the horizontal and vertical lengths between points will also be recorded. Details will be documented regarding specific aspects of the land, such as size, shape, formation, and soil. Quality and accurate land surveys can set the foundation for a successful project.

Landscape Architecture for Beautiful Grounds

Another important aspect of what we do includes landscape architecture. Put simply, landscape architecture is described as designing specific outdoor spaces that integrate well within an overall project. In our case, we design large landscape architecture projects, such as those for green spaces, a town square, municipal playground, and so much more. Keep in mind there are significant differences between landscape architecture and landscape design. Landscape architects have a degree and they generally work on larger public works projects, whereas a landscape designer often works on residential and smaller-scale projects. Landscape architects are experts in their field.

Consultation Services for Companies Who Need an Expert

We also provide a wide range of consulting services to companies that require a committed and knowledgeable professional to help them with their engineering needs. These are often companies that do not have the in-house expertise they need to get the job done successfully. Our consulting civil engineers advise our clients on the design, development, and construction of projects of all shapes and sizes. We pride ourselves on offering consulting services that ensure safe, efficient, and fully resourced project completion. When you need a consultant you can count on McNeil Engineering.

Other Services We Offer

Now that you’ve learned more about the human aspect of our resources, take a few minutes to learn about some of the other services we offer. We provide a wide range of engineering, surveying, and consulting services. But these services would not be nearly as effective were not for our technologies. We use the latest technologies suitable for engineering projects.

One such example is laser scanning. 3D laser scanning has become an industry norm. Advancements in hardware, software, and workflows have made laser scanning a viable option for projects of all sizes. Laser scanning allows our surveyors to collect tremendous amounts of precise data at high speeds. We use the most advanced, high-definition laser scanners, total stations, and modeling and point cloud software to provide comprehensive, record surveys, 3D CAD models and detailed 2D isometric drawings.

We also have extensive expertise in BIM 3D modeling. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is essentially a technological solution that allows engineers to view a digital representation of a building as well as specific characteristics of its functionality. BIM is a model-based process that provides insight to help you plan, design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure.

And guess what? That’s not all. If you need consulting services for roofing, paving, and even construction administration, we have the people and experience you need to ensure the job gets done right the first time, every time. We invite you to take a moment to peruse the various projects we have completed in Utah and around the country. Let’s work together!

What is the difference between urban planning and urban design?

Here at McNeil Engineering, we are proud of all of our projects that focus on urban planning and design. We often work with state municipalities on projects and developers working on designs that must be approved by cities or counties. We create concepts involving pedestrian, car, and public transportation needs. These mockups and designs are created to help get things approved quickly by a city. That’s what we’re good at.

A Closer Look at the Differences Between Urban Planning and Design

Still, there are big differences between urban planning and urban design. It is important for companies like us to understand these differences. This is how we deliver excellent service to our engineering clients. Let’s first examine the basic definitions.

Urban Design: The design and creation of certain city features, from green spaces to infrastructure, public transportation, landscape architecture, and community-use facilities.
Urban Planning: The planning of a city or municipality and the use of its structures, as well as policies, procedures, zoning, neighborhood planning, infrastructure, and overall standards and building codes.

Urban design is used to focus solely on designing individual city features. This could be a transportation system, city park, or wastewater treatment facility. Urban design is for those who want to do creative work. People who want to work on quality of life, population resilience, and sustainability will find a rewarding career as urban designers. Today’s urban planners often work within neighborhoods to create designs that benefit and inspire the community

Urban planners are more strategists. They need to evaluate factors that may not necessarily be in their control. From the technical endpoint to political considerations, urban planners need to have a real “big picture” view of what a neighborhood needs. One area where both urban designers and urban planners overlap is in the area of sustainability, long term resilience, and individual quality of life for residential and commercial land tenants

Core Skills Required for Urban Designers and Planners in Salt Lake City

Core skills necessary to work as an urban planner or designer are similar but also have distinct differences. Both designers and planners work on projects with similar outcomes, but their roles are quite different. Urban planners require great communication and negotiation skills. Urban designers need to have strong technical skills, but they also must be good communicators so that they can fully understand the end user’s experience.

Urban planners are generally passionate about the cities they live in. In general, planners will have a high degree of passion for what works and what doesn’t in their city. Urban planners have a good idea of what needs to be improved and what doesn’t. This could pertain to everything from green spaces to bike paths or affordable housing. But the passion displayed by urban planers goes beyond the urban landscape they reside in. Just like other residents of their town or city, they want to share in the growth and well-being of their neighborhood and enjoy utilizing their skills to meet that end.

Urban planners also generally have a strong sense of connectedness. They share a strong sense of collective values with those they live and work around. But even more, they take a look at the broader community as a whole. Urban planners generally want to live in a society that offers sustainable development, plenty of public transport options, and a stable housing market for buyers and sellers.

Urban designers, by contrast, are more technical in nature. You will find designers to be an interesting mix of individuals who are both people-centric and technologically-inclined. Excellent urban designers are very good at meeting the technical outcomes and requirements in a plans, while also also responding to the shifting needs of the contractors and neighborhood-dwellers.

Which Career is Right for You?

If you love improving society and making a positive impact on individual lives, then urban planning is for you. Urban planners also require skills obtained in many other professions, from teachers to project managers and environmental scientists. Urban planners are great communicators, effectively use evidence to support their arguments, are self-reflective and have great analytical skills.

Conversely, if you are passionate about upgrading the user experience and building on your technical skills, urban design is or you. Urban designers are very good at thinking organically and utilizing architectural and environmental design skills. They are driven by a strong set of core values, can imagine and visualize a plan, and are adept at translating abstract data into a vision.

Here at McNeil Engineering, we work with urban planners and designers day-in and day-out to ensure their jobs are completed quickly and by the numbers. Want to learn more about job opportunities here at McNeil? Simply follow this link, and thanks for reading!

A Primer on Landscaping vs Landscape Architecture

Landscape Architecture At McNeil Engineering, we offer a wide array of helpful services for many unique products. Because of this fact, sometimes it can be a little bit difficult to explain what we do and what services we can offer! We employ engineers of all kinds including civil engineers, structural engineers, and landscape engineers. We work on surveying projects whether that be land surveying or surveying buildings. Additionally, we can serve as an excellent resource to construction projects at any point, and we also can be a resource to any project on a building or area of land that already exists but might need a little bit of sprucing up!

Today, we’d like to talk about landscape architecture, which is one of the many amazing services we offer. “Landscape Architecture” is not a term that is as commonly used as just “landscaping,” so, sometimes people can get confused and think that they are the same thing! Landscaping and landscape architecture are vastly different services. In this post, we’ll walk you through 3 of the key differences between the two, and why we provide landscape architecture.

One of the first key differences between traditional landscaping or landscape design and landscape architecture is, most obviously, the size of the area or project and the different considerations that go into the project. For example, a project that involves a large group of buildings that are connected by streets would require a landscape architect, while just a yard or driveway would be a project for a landscape designer.

Landscape architects are trained to think of many different factors about a project at once, one of those of course being how to make areas look their best and be inviting, but also the weather of the area, how much traffic the area gets, whether that be car traffic, bike traffic or foot traffic. Landscape architects must think of the factors of each structure involved and how to use their resources to bring them together aesthetically. Landscape architects must also think about how the area that they are working on connects to the surrounding area. A landscape designer is given a small area of land and given the task to design the flora in that area to be attractive and inviting, or useful if their client wants!

That brings us to our second key difference, which is the type of clients each normally services. There aren’t many residential projects one might need a landscape architect for, because usually most of those aforementioned factors are not points of concern for privately owned land. The types of clients that usually benefit most from landscape architects are businesses, organizations, governmental systems or cities themselves, property owners of multi-residence buildings (like apartments or dorms) and schools.

There are others, but this list will help to explain one of the most important differences between landscape design and landscape architecture. We are a landscape architecture company, so those are the types of clients who would benefit the most from our help! For example, one of our long-term clients is Weber State University. We were hired by Weber state to rework their landscape architecture and irrigation system to help pull all the buildings on campus together and make a comfortable and welcoming environment to potential students, and we re-worked the irrigation system so that the school could focus more on the students and worry less about the landscape!

The final and arguably the main difference between landscape design and landscape architecture, aside from size and magnitude of projects, is about the purpose of the end goal. Often landscape design is focused on aesthetics only. How can we take an area and make it as beautiful as possible, which is a wonderful thing! However, landscape architects must focus on how to make their area as beautiful as possible, while also making it as useful as possible! Landscape architects, since they usually work on commercial projects have to think about the type of people who will benefit from their project, what types of people they might be, and design according to the majority’s needs, which can be very difficult but VERY rewarding. Every corner of a landscape architecture project must be optimized for success and usefulness.

Landscape design is a wonderful thing, and it can be incredibly important to making residential homes look and feel their best, however we thought that it was important to clear up that landscaping and landscape architecture are NOT the same thing! At McNeil, we hire incredible landscape architects who are ready to take on these large-scale projects with a smile. If you or someone you know is involved in a project that you think might benefit from these services, consider McNeil Engineering. If you’d like to learn more about landscape architecture, or you’d like to read about more of our landscape architecture projects, visit our website!

Landscape Architecture Projects | McNeil Engineering Salt Lake City, UT

Iconic green spaces to inspire your next project

Green spaces have tons of positive effects. They’re known to improve mental health and stress to bring communities together and even increase consumer buying. Whether it’s a community center to college to an apartment complex, green spaces are critical for successful businesses. Our landscape architecture can help you create, design and install the best green space for your business.

But first, let’s take a look at all the benefits of green spaces and what defines them.

What are green spaces?

When we’re talking about green spaces, we mean more than just an unused plot of land or grassy knoll. Green spaces are deliberately designed and manicured spots that are open and free to the public. Think of things like local parks, gardens, playgrounds and fields.

These spots are meant to integrate the natural world with our urban environment. Since the first civilization, urban planners have inspired nature and incorporated natural elements into their designs. And since we developed modern cities, green spaces have become even more essential.

Why are green spaces so important?

Studies have shown that green spaces have numerous positive effects on mental well-being, physical health and even commerce.

Green spaces provide an opportunity for outdoor recreation and exercise. Some studies show that people who live near green spaces even live longer. A recent study from the World Health Organization found that 3.3{ffa1fb9a833dbe70b91c2563ca2a54067368c324c18ffac54b9412388222efff} of global deaths resulted from lack of physical activity due to poor walkability and limited access to recreation areas.

These spaces spur better mental well-being and a sense of peace and even increase employee productivity or help hospital patients recover faster.

These spaces are essential to businesses, too. Studies have found that greenery and flowers attract shoppers and residents. Further, customers associate well-landscaped businesses with quality goods. Studies show they are willing to pay a 12 percent premium for goods purchased in retail establishments that are accompanied by quality landscaping.

So, now that you know their importance, it’s time to start thinking about cultivating your own green space. But if you need a bit of inspiration to get you started, check out these iconic green spaces that changed the way we do things. Even if you have a small space to work with, we think these projects will inspire you.

Atlanta BeltLine

Built on an old railroad track, the Atlanta Beltline is a 33-mile, multi-use trail that winds through Atlanta. It connects nearly 45 neighborhoods across the city.

The Beltline is an excellent spot for people looking to get back to nature, take a walk or go for a bike ride. But it also provides several other perks, like free exercise classes, parades, affordable housing and an arboretum. You can also view murals and other local art along the way.

Railroad Park, Birmingham, Al

Similarly, Birmingham has transformed its downtown into a 19-acre park. Previously, the land was used for a cross of old railroad tracks that went out of use. The land was transported into a downtown oasis (which can be especially essential in the humid Southern summers) that showcases the city’s history.

The park features more than 600 trees, multiple skate parks, and a history wall and sculptures, highlighting civil rights struggles and victories. It also features several sustainable elements, like a bio-filtration wetlands area.

The High Line, New York City
You may see a reoccurring theme of turning old industrial things into modern green spaces. The high line is no exception here. This above-street park is also formed along the lines of an old railway.

Previously, the space was home to elevated train tracks. But after a transportation freeze in 1980, the spot became abandoned. Decades later, neighborhood locals banded together to transform the track into a public space.

It features an array of native plants that function as a green roof with both plants and porous pathways absorbing water and limiting stormwater runoff. It also uses drip irrigation, composting and integrated pest management. It too features art, sculpture and vendors. This 395-acre space reopened as a park in 2009.

Chicago’s Lake Front

Chicago’s lakefront is unique to most cities for one straightforward reason. Written in the plans for the city is the idea that the lake will be forever “free and open” to the public. This means that no skyscraper, condo, or private business can build to the beach. Instead, the space from the major road to the water will forever be a public beach.

This is a relatively simple but revolutionary idea: keep public spaces public.

Another bonus is Chicago’s Millennium Park, situated between the beach and downtown. The land used to develop the park was initially deemed an “urban wasteland” and housed a winding spiral of train tracks. Now, it’s home to native plants, sculptures, walkways and water features. What’s even more remarkable is that some of it cover an underground parking garage.

So, are you ready to get started on a landscaping project?

Our landscape architects have decades of experience in both public and private realms. We can provide design and technical direction all the way from concept to construction phase services. We also work on a broad range of projects including everything from small roof gardens to university campuses, residential and commercial/retail developments and everything in between.

Visit our Landscape Architecture section for more details.

21 and View and Hightower Apartments

21 and View and Hightower Apartments In the West region of the United States, we’re known for our sterling architectural engineering consultation services. We have performed such services for a plethora of different institutions and businesses, and on a variety of different property projects — whether that be for development, redevelopment, or assessment needs. Whatever your institution and/or business needs when it comes to architectural engineering, we’re here to provide it.

Indeed, among all those various development and redevelopment projects, we’ve tackled a host of apartments, apartment properties, and other residential properties. The design and implementation of the 21 & View mixed-use apartment and commercial development project in the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah was indeed one of these projects. Hightower Apartments was another.

21 & View

21 & View is a sustainable mixed-use apartment and commercial development in the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah. McNeil Engineering was able to utilize our landscape architectural consulting expertise in order to enact a vision for this contemporary site and the landscape design found within this prime piece of real estate, which overlooks the locally famous Sugar House Park.

The 21 & View site, which currently consists of two buildings containing 29 luxury apartments – and roughly 3,500 sq. ft. of commercial space connected by an open-air walkway is complimented by the sustainability of its structures.

Additionally, this site consists of a permeable parking lot, water-wise plant material, and a highly efficient drip irrigation system we here at McNeil Engineering developed.

Hightower Apartments

The Hightower Apartments property, which was originally constructed in 1963, is in fact one of the earliest and tallest residential towers in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Hightower Apartments abuts the “prominent” Avenues district, which makes it ideally located near the University of Utah, Salt Lake Medical Center, and the Downtown Business District in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Hightower Apartments and landscape remodel project began, at least for us here at McNeil Engineering, when we were commissioned all the way back in 2013 to re-design the site’s overgrown, outdated landscaping. This property also included the monument sign and porte-cochere.

The details behind developing these properties

We here at McNeil Engineering, in our capacity as the landscape architectural advisors on the 21 & View development project, ensured a multitude of amenities were added throughout the site, including bike racks, garbage disposals, ash urns, benches, raised planters, trellises and site lighting in order to accentuate 21 & View’s landscaping. Additionally, this site lighting also gave the added benefit of providing security to 21 & View’s residents.

21 & View, which is situated on the most convenient and scenic corner in the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah, provides an exciting new lifestyle development. It is indeed an exciting addition to the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah. Even within this secluded Sugar House neighborhood, the Salt Lake City skyline is prominent, which offers picturesque views of both the Wasatch and Oquirrh Mountain ranges.

As for the Hightower Apartments project, given tight budgets, our team of McNeil Engineering landscape architects envisioned a completed state of the Hightower Apartments and landscape remodel project which would rejuvenate the existing, outdated landscape. In turn, this redevelopment process would bring back the glory of this property’s mid-century modern style.

We provided computer-aided graphics, which helped the client visualize the proposed improvements to the Hightower Apartments and its surrounding landscape environs. This process also involved the seamless transition into the creation of construction documents.

Architectural engineering consultation services

If you’re in search of architectural engineering consultation services, you don’t need to look any further. McNeil Engineering is more than capable of providing your properties with the needed expertise you desire and deserve. Allow the western United States regional experts to help you develop your properties in the cheapest, most sustainable way possible – while also creating, curating, and sustaining an architectural engineering aura people wish to live, work, and exist within. Allow yourself to finally relax in the comfort of knowing your architectural engineering needs are more than taken care of. Give us a call at (801) 225-7700.

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