Huang Ying

2021/4/29 - Course overall review

Mr Barry asked us about opinions about peer evaluation, articulating that the meaning of peer assessment is not being judgemental but getting clear feedback for each other and can help us to make improvements. Also he asked about the role and difficulties in our cooperation. When it comes to our suggestion for this course, Dorin suggested The quiz should go before the lecture, to raise students' awareness and make the key points clearer. Barry was really open-minded and gave recognition to these suggestions. As a role model, he did help me get a deeper understanding of HOW TO RESPONSE TO EVALUATION.

To conclude, I think this course not only provides useful info for applying jobs and knowledge related to professional landscape architect’s work, but also be helpful in training us to gain a professional attitude(Being punctual, being polite, open-minded to suggestions, self-reflected, eager to learn….). The things I learned here will help me adapt better in work.

2021/4/22 - interview me!

• Feedback of application letter

• format correction

• relates your personal story with the company you applied for!

Although I read the official account of Barry initiatives, I didn’t connect it with my own cover letter. This comment can help me write a more pertinent letter, and improve HR’s interest to me.

2021/4/15 -Hire me!

How to write a cover letter

Key point

• different landscape firm/ who you are writing to/ what to offer

• introduction of format / calling/content

• mockup writing of cover letter

After that, the mockup interview helped me prepare my own question at the end of the interview process. Especially, I like “what can I prepare for if I get the job”/”what’s your favorite reason to work for this company”. I think the first question shows our willingness to keep learning, While the second helps applicants and firms get mutual understanding, and creates an equal/relaxing atmosphere in the interview.

2021/4/08 -delivering a project

With role-playing, Barry shows different role’s responsibilities and how they cooperate in a project.

Key points-

The Client/ Employer

The Landscape Architect / Supervision in Chief

The Main Contractor

The Quantity Surveyor

Other Design Team Consultants

Resident Site Staff ( RSS’s

Subcontractors / Specialists

--URBIS Landfill Project virtual site visit

• Species testing and inspection form/ ensure the success of planting scheme

• Microclimates tube provides a suitable environment and improves survival rates

• native/ exotic shrubs+native trees

2021/4/01 -awarding a project

The pink team shared the topic-tendering

James and his teammates talked about the documents needed, comparing various methods of tendering, and so on.

Key point:

I think some specific examples should be used here to identify adapting scenarios for different tendering methods. Like, most private developers would choose open-bidding, while government projects prone to choose selective tendering.

URBIS office tour

– SENT introduction – Design and Built Contract

• planting choices and test before doing large scale design

• tech to prevent interruption from invasive species, pests, and wild boar.,

• This could be specified in the management specification/ workflow

2021/3/25 -organizing a project

With delicate animation and sophisticated presentation, the green team gave us a clear share with how to organize a project.

Organizing a project means Getting your designs BUILT the way you want them to be.

Key points -

Assessing Risk

Choosing the right kind of Contract

Types of contract – lump sum, re-measurement, cost plus, design & build etc.

Measurements, Quality Control

Roles and Responsibilities of the Design Team

Comparison-

Traditional procurement

remains the most commonly-used method of procuring building works. It comprises a tripartite arrangement involving a client, consultants and a contractor. The traditional procurement route involves separating design from construction.

-Long-time, No participation from suppliers,

-easy to change, price certainty, competitive selection, most common way for procurement

Design-Build Procurement

-design liability, shorten time, simple but detailed design, the scope of design is likely to change

-higher cost for paying “risk premium for contractor”,

Management Procurement

-The employer starts by appointing consultants and a contract administrator to prepare drawings, a project specification and cost plan. The process is particularly beneficial for fast-track complex projects where minimal design information is available at the start of the project.

-better time control, flexibility, good for a client who can’t commit all the info at initial stage

-poor cost control, more risk for client

-MINI QUIZ REFLECTION

traditional procurement

Selecting the Project Team → Client,

Proposing the list of Tenderers → Lead Consultant

Issuing the Tender documents → Lead Consultant

Hiring sub-consultants → Lead Consultant,

Estimating the cost of the landscape works → Project Landscape Architect,

Assessing the list of Tenderers → Lead Consultant

Working out the cost of the Project → Quantity Surveyor,

Advising where to make cost reductions → Lead Consultant,

Providing the budget for the Project. → Client,

Requiring cost reductions → Client,

Agreeing the cost of the landscape works → Client

2021/3/18 -Winning a project

Zijing Zhu and his teammates gave an entertaining performance and help us understand different forms of bidding.

The comparison sheet shows the pros and cons of different bidding forms very clearly. I save this as reference for future work.

• BLEND office tour

As a small landscape firm facing more uncertainty, BLEND shows their capability to manage project risk, including Engaging/Contractual/Design and Deliver. Also, they talked about different managing methods in terms of different scales of project. Like, the larger projects they are, the more concern about schedule.

I think that helps us to understand “winning /organizing/awarding a project” from a practical aspect. Also, it’s a good supplement for “being a boss”.

2021/3/4

This week our group gave a presentation of “develop or control”. I was responsible for the part of TPRP. It’s very interesting that Hong Kong has such a detailed management measure to protect every tree. In the process of researching, I learned a lot about how to use different clauses to control disordered development. The information about responsibilities of different department is also practical, and I visualize it to make it easier to understand,

In the quiz after the lecture, I was sorry for not including some knowledge(different procedure of TPRP), which may leave inconvenience to my classmates.

Also, I find some regulations have been updated thus some answers are incorrect. I asked Barry and got a corrected email in the afternoon. Thanks, Barry!

Quiz reflection：

this quiz summarized the

first 4 topic

• Develop or Control?

• You are a Landscape Architect!

• Where do you Work?

• You are the Boss!

-The answer I corrected

-New knowledge! I didn’t see info about how to deal with TPRA with the changed scheme.

-The tree survey will still be helpful.

-I still had a different opinion with answer-D. According to my flow chart, TPRA SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY RLA.

• important document but I didn’t mentioned

Development Bureau Technical Circular (Works) No. 6/2015

Joint Practice Note JPN03 - Landscape and Site Coverage of Greenery

https://www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/tech_doc/joint_pn/index.html

Plan D Practice Note 1-2019

https://www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/tech_doc/pra_note/pn_1_19.html

2021/3/3 - Last group meeting

We rehearsal the whole process and delete some unimportant parts to articulate critical points. Also we unify the template/font to make the PPT looks better.

2021/3/2 - Third group meeting

The first mock up. We exchange doubts and questions about each other’s part, trying to make a more logical frame and more focus on key points.

2021/2/27 - Second group meeting

We were assigned different parts according to Barry’s document.

Before 2.29, we need to finish our research by checking different regulation and practice notes.

2021/2/25 - being the boss

Today the purple team shared with us the secret to own a landscape firm by interviewing Ivan and Jason. What really impressed me is all of them talked about the importance of keeping cash flow, abundant employee, and schedule management.

As for the form of presentation, however, I think the purple team should show the overall frame rather than simply playing the video.

REFLECTION OF FIRST QUIZ

this quiz summarized first 3 topic

• You are a Landscape Architect!

• Where do you Work?

• You are the Boss!

Government Bureau and Departments with Landscape Teams:

Development Bureau 發展局

Architectural Services Department 建築署

Civil Engineering and Development Department 土木工程拓展署

Drainage Services Department 渠務署

Highways Department 路政署

Housing Department 房屋署

Lands Department 地政總署

Planning Department 規劃署

Water Supplies Department 水務署

• If a landscape architect makes a design error for a park or college campus, it could lead to a lawsuit. Landscape architect insurance can cover legal bills, along with other unexpected costs.

2021/2/11- Chinese new year eve

With vivid animation and solid interview, the blue team showed us various career paths of being landscape architects. In addition, they show the pros and cons of different job choices.

In the Q&A session, Barry shared with us his impressive career in different countries.

VIRTUE SITE VISITING- earth Asia

2021/2/09 -group meeting

The topic of our group is quite abstract, therefore we decided to find a specific site.

and use questions to improve participation.

With consideration of different planning systems of mainland and Hong Kong, we decided to compare procedures in different places to give a more practical and synthesis demonstration.

2021/2/04

1.The sharing from the orange team shows us the meaning / responsibilities behind being a landscape architect.

(The liability of LA)

1. Professional judgement, ethics and values

2. Professional skills, practice & advice

3. Legal Knowledge & Compliance:

“to manage risk and keep your company not being injured or sued”

1. Organisation and Office Management:

2. Project Management and Coordination

2.They shared lots of knowledge about getting professional qualifications, like membership of HKILA and LARB.

3.The importance of CPD?

To encourage landscape architects to deepen their knowledge and skills. Members are required to complete a minimum of 12 CPD points during each calendar year.

It’s very new to me that landscape architects need to continue their study and broaden their horizon in order to maintain their membership. I think that could be a way applied in the mainland to improve the professionalism of the LA industry, while improving the acknowledgment of Landscape architecture.

VIRTUE SITE VISITING- earth Asia

Ringo gave a brief introduction of his office and different project types he has worked on. Being different from the mainland, one major source of projects is Tree survey, which provides us a new possibility to broaden project range in the future.