Finding Landscape Architecture: Switching Paths, Building Community, and Shaping Studio Culture at UGA and OSU

Sam Clemente Cool. I guess we can introduce ourselves.

Zach Curry I’m Zach. I’m a UG4.

Sam Clemente I’m Sam. I’m a UG3, but I’m in civil engineering.

Ashley Mendez I’m Ashley, and I’m also a UG4.

Dailey Jackson Nice. When you say UG, what does that mean?

Zach Curry Undergrad—sorry.

Dailey Jackson Just wanted to make sure. I’m Dailey, like every day. I’m a fourth-year in the landscape architecture program, but a sixth year at UGA overall. I did two years of civil engineering before switching to landscape architecture, so props to you for sticking with it—I couldn’t. I’m also president of Georgia Students of Landscape Architecture, the student org under the Georgia ASLA chapter.

Zach Curry Nice.

Sam Clemente Did you switch because you didn’t like civil, or because it was too hard?

Dailey Jackson I came in as a biochemical engineering major because I thought I’d be designing things. First semester, I hit organic chemistry and said nope. Switched to civil, took statics, and my professor told me my brain didn’t work that way—but said I should illustrate textbooks instead. That felt like a sign. I failed the class and switched to landscape architecture, and I’ve been happy ever since.

Zach Curry Did you have any idea what landscape architecture was before switching?

Dailey Jackson None at all. I was an RA and met a fourth-year in the program who showed me the building. I saw the drawings and plants and thought, yeah, this is it.

Zach Curry That seems to be the draw for most people.

Dailey Jackson Yeah. It’s hard to explain what landscape architecture is, even when you’re in it—seeing it helps.

Sam Clemente I don’t think I asked why you all chose landscape architecture.

Zach Curry At OSU, your first year is undeclared. My grad TA helped steer me away from architecture—it felt too formal. Landscape had more flexibility, which I liked.

Ashley Mendez I realized I leaned more toward landscape after Baumer Lectures at OSU. Michelle’s lecture early on really influenced me.

Dailey Jackson Want to hear about UGA’s program?

Zach Curry Yeah, sure.

Dailey Jackson We have our own college—the College of Environment and Design—with landscape architecture as the only undergrad major. No architecture major. We have master’s programs in landscape architecture, urban planning and design, and historic preservation, plus minors and certificates. It’s a four-year program, or five if you do the combined bachelor’s/master’s. We have about 60 students per undergrad cohort, one of the largest programs in the country.

Zach Curry For comparison, our cohorts are around 40–50. Sixty is the biggest we’ve heard.

Dailey Jackson GSLA has about 250 active members, serving a community of roughly 300–350 students.

Sam Clemente Does that match demand in Georgia?

Dailey Jackson Yes. We’re the only accredited program in the state. Georgia Tech has architecture and urban planning, so we lose some students there.

Zach Curry So Georgia has no architecture degree?

Dailey Jackson None at all, which surprises people. Many switch into landscape because it’s the closest option.

Zach Curry Do those students usually stick with it?

Dailey Jackson Some settle in and love it; others want more rigor and go elsewhere for architecture master’s programs.

Zach Curry That happens here too.

Dailey Jackson With LaBash and ASLA, we offer travel scholarships. When it was in Guelph, fewer people went, so we got more funding per person. I’m hoping more third-years go this year—we really push conference attendance.

Sam Clemente What’s the main draw—networking, fun, or sessions?

Dailey Jackson It starts with the fun and social aspects, but once students go, they come back for the networking and sessions.

Zach Curry What are your studios like—immersive or technical?

Dailey Jackson Culturally, very open studio—big desks, shared spaces. Faculty is small, so students choose studios based on professors. Early studios are standardized, but later years split into subject-based studios like architecture, residential, GIS, etc. I don’t love how UGA structures studios—many students feel the sequence isn’t fair or logical.

Zach Curry Sounds like a diverse course load.

Dailey Jackson It is, but time and professor usually dictate studio choice more than content.

Zach Curry Our studios are ecology-focused. Right now, we’re working almost entirely in section, printing on transparencies. The site is a slag heap in Pittsburgh with an abandoned mall—focused on remediation.

Dailey Jackson Do your studios feel well organized?

Zach Curry There are gaps. We’ve only had one studio focused on designing for people. We do have a co-op program, though.

Ashley Mendez Second semester of second year and fall of third year felt very similar.

Zach Curry Two habitat studios back-to-back burned us out.

Dailey Jackson Do you work on one project all semester?

Zach Curry Usually yes—broken into phases, but one cohesive project.

Dailey Jackson That’s way better than ours. We often do multiple unrelated projects per semester, which is frustrating for portfolios.

Zach Curry What’s your faculty-to-student ratio?

Dailey Jackson About 20 core faculty, plus another 15 who teach occasionally.

Zach Curry We’re in the Knowlton School with architecture and planning. Each has a director under one school director, and we’re also under the College of Engineering.

Dailey Jackson Our dean didn’t know students or program issues and offered little support. She was put on probation and has since resigned. Donnie Longnecker, though, is our student-focused anchor. Maybe don’t include this haha

Zach Curry Our undergrad chair, Jack Gruber, is like that—very involved and knows everyone.

Dailey Jackson Students really are the heart of our program. We trauma-bond through studios, and GSLA has strong engagement.

Sam Clemente Do you have unique student orgs?

Dailey Jackson GSLA, SEED (formerly NAMLA), Georgia Landscape Magazine, planning and historic preservation orgs, and student ambassadors.

Zach Curry We have Knowlton Conservation Corps, Servitecture (a fashion show), student publications, and lots of collaboration between orgs.

Dailey Jackson That’s impressive.

Zach Curry How’s professional engagement at UGA?

Dailey Jackson Internships are required after third year. The CED has a career fair with about 60 firms, lunch and launches, portfolio reviews, and Shadow Week, where students spend a day at firms. Most students graduate with one to three internships.

Sam Clemente That’s amazing, especially with 60 students.

Zach Curry Ohio’s tougher—fewer firms, more reuse and reclamation work.

Dailey Jackson Location really matters.

Zach Curry We do a lot of adaptive reuse and environmental remediation projects here.

Dailey Jackson LaBash—are you excited or nervous?

Ashley Mendez Both. It’ll get stressful after break.

Sam Clemente We’ve been planning through weekly meetings and lots of research.

Dailey Jackson That’s impressive.

Sam Clemente Any fun facts?

Dailey Jackson I have a pet gecko named Aspen.

Sam Clemente Perfect ending.

Dailey Jackson Email me if you need anything—I can connect you with faculty or students.

Zach Curry Nice to meet you.

Sam Clemente Thanks—this was a great break from the day.

Zach Curry Same. I’ve been in PowerPoint all day.