I have taught this course at the University of Idaho since 1991. The students in this class learn layout, structures, construction detailing, stormwater management, and electrical and lighting design. The layout portion is based on my book Layout Techniques for Landscape Architecture, Stipes Publishing,1995. The construction detailing part of the course is based on a series of field trips to construction material suppliers, construction sites, completed projects and fabrication shops. Every year the students also attend a week-long field trip to an urban center. This provides an added opportunity for students to study materials and detailing. In 1996, I conducted the field trip to Los Angeles so that the students could also attend the presentations at the ASLA annual meeting and at a regenerative design conference hosted by Cal Poly, Pomona. The course emphasizes both CAD and manual drafting skills. In addition, a research paper is required. It focuses on new products and their application to landscape architecture. Special attention is given to products or construction methods which present an environmental advantage over traditional practices.

In 1996, it was possible to link the construction course to the Junior design studio. Master plans of housing subdivisions were used as the sites for calculating stormwater runoff using both the rational method and Soil Conservation Service method. Students sized detention and infiltration ponds.

The next two images show layout exams with solutions. The third is a layout created by Jennifer Gibson in 1995.

The next set of images illustrate construction details produced by students in 1996.