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WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

In the third-quarter 2012 American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Business Quarterly survey, year-to-year inquiries from new potential clients showed a notable increase while year-to-year billable hours held steady compared to third quarter 2011.

For the third quarter 2012, 71.5 percent of respondents reported stable to improved billable hours, while 74.0 percent reported stable or improved inquiries for new work. While improving year to year for the same period, when compared to the previous quarter, billable hours fell slightly while inquiries improved.

Year to year, 77.8 percent of firms indicated stable to improved third quarter levels in new business inquiries. Additionally, more than three-quarters of respondents (73.9 percent) claimed steady or increased billable hours compared to Q3 2011.

Employment data in Q3 show progress over previous quarters and years. Of all firms with 10 or more employees, 42.4 percent indicated that they would be hiring in the Q4 2012. More than one quarter (26.2 percent) of firms with 10 to 49 employees will be hiring a landscape architect next quarter, either entry-level or experienced.

Though it is still very difficult out there, we are pleased to have an improving employment picture going into the next quarter, says Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA, executive vice president and CEO of ASLA. Many firms are deeply concerned about the economy, but these data really show how resilient our profession can be.

Even with the apparent progress in employment, the economy continues to negatively affect landscape architecture firms. An additional question, How concerned is your firm about the economy? revealed that a staggering 95.6 percent of firms are concerned or very concerned about the economy. Even with this apprehension, 64.9 percent of respondents predict an improved business outlook for the next year.

Key Survey Highlights:

Compared to the second quarter 2012, your third quarter 2012 billable hours were: Significantly higher (more than 10%) 11.4% Slightly higher (5 to 10% higher) 29.4% About the same (plus or minus 5%) 30.1% Slightly lower (5 to 10% lower) 13.1% Significantly lower (more than 10%) 15.9 %

Compared to the second quarter 2012, your third quarter 2012 inquiries for new work were: Significantly higher (more than 10%) 11.0% Slightly higher (5 to 10% higher) 29.6% About the same (plus or minus 5%) 33.0% Slightly lower (5 to 10% lower) 14.1% Significantly lower (more than 10%) 12.4%

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Employment Plans Bump Up, and Two-thirds of Landscape Architecture Firm Respondents Predict an Improved Economy in 2013

By Cindy Iutzi

Staff Writer

Rand Park Pavilion in Keokuk garnered an outstanding professional achievement award for landscape architect Kevin Conn, a Keokuk native.

Conn received the Award of Merit in the Design-Build Category from the Iowa Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects on Oct. 17 during an award banquet in Des Moines.

I think that the recognition is great for the city, said Keokuk Mayor Tom Marion. The pavilion is one of (former mayor) Dave Gudgels premier projects. As far as its notoriety, it does well for Keokuk.

The pavilion was finished in 2009 and has been the venue for a number of well-attended concerts and at least one wedding.

The award is a first for Conn and a first for OPN Architects of Cedar Rapids, where hes worked for more than five years.

Its an honor, Conn said.

The pavilion project, which Conn estimates could be valued at $1 million, is middle-sized in terms of the range of project cost. Others hes worked on have been of greater and lesser expense.

Volunteer work and donations reduced the actual cost of the pavilion to $600,000, he said.

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Keokuk native Conn receives architectural achievement award

Landscape architect and planner Chris Hart, who made an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 2010 and formerly headed two Maui County departments, died early Monday. He was 71.

Hart, a Wailuku resident, had gone to Oahu to undergo preventative surgery to his aorta at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center and Clinic, but he subsequently suffered several strokes that led to his death, according to Jordan Hart, the youngest of his four sons.

Jordan Hart said his father's passing was "definitely not expected" by family members.

Funeral arrangements were pending Monday.

"He was a very kind and generous and thoughtful person," Jordan Hart said.

Hart is survived by his wife, Maria. His other three sons are Matthew, Jon and Andrew. He also leaves four grandchildren.

Maria Hart said she married her husband about a year and a half ago.

"I always call him 'my heart,'" she said. "He's very sweet. He's a very caring man."

Hart's younger sister, Connie Hart of Florida, said that the family was not prepared for his death.

"Chris was a truly great man," she said. "He was a friend to everyone. He was an inspiration, but more importantly he was a father that loved his children.

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Community planner Chris Hart dies

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Finding products online can be a challenge for interior designers. As the amount of material available online increases, finding quality information quickly is more and more difficult, especially when you are responsible for purchasing materials for an interior design or landscaping product. A dedicated website can make identifying the right products so much quicker than a convential search engine. The designer can drill down to ensure they find the right type of material, with the right performance characteristics and the necessary certifications. In this video Su Butcher talks to interior designer, garden and landscape designer Francoise Murat, about finding FSC certified timber flooring. Francoise uses the ESI.info website in all her projects, to identify the right companies before she gets in touch. Francoise #39;s use of ESI.info reflects the range of disciplines she works in, and illustrates the flexibility of the database ESI.info has built. She concludes with some advice for product manufacturers and suppliers who want to help designers like her choose and use their products. Table of Contents: 00:11 - How Francoise uses ESI.info 02:04 - Why Google doesn #39;t work for product search 02:39 - Timber Flooring Search 03:18 - Brand based search and filter 03:54 - Manufacturers and Suppliers filter 04:17 - Refine products by species, format 04:39 - Importance of Accreditations 05:06 - Inspect Uploaded Product Profiles 05:34 - Engineered vs Solid Timber Flooring 06:16 - Using ...From:ESIinfoTVViews:3 0ratingsTime:14:48More inHowto Style

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Do Corner Kitchen Nooks Have to Be Up Against a Wall? : Kitchen Design - Video