Landscape Architect Recommendations-Baton Rouge Area

Art Vandalay at Vandalay Industries.

This is who we used for our back yard pool design and landscaping. Very easy to work with and I found his prices very reasonable.

Richard J. Hymel, PLA, ASLA
Ferris Land Design, LLC
Ferris Engineering & Surveying, LLC
225-292-6838

I know some of his family. Good people

Forgive the ignorance, but what does a landscape architect consult usually cost? If I wanted someone to come in and put together a plan for my backyard, but I decide to not necessarily complete the plan after the consult; how much would I be looking at? I really have no idea how the process works. TIA

He didn't bill us for an initial consult. He came out to the house; we showed him what we had and talked about what we wanted. I had pictures of things I liked and his first feedback to us was just a "concept" which was his idea and was basically a hand sketch of the pool design. When we decided to use him, he sent us a proposal for all phases with a total cost for the entire project. The next steps were as follows and we were billed after the completion of each step.
1. Surve and Base Map (we already had this; so we didn't have to include this in the overall price)
2. Preliminary Designs and Site Master Plan
3. Detailed hardscape construction plan
4. Landscape Planting Plans

I don't remember how much each phase was; total cost was around $3000. Hope this helps.

Folks at PlantTech off Old Jefferson have a landscape architect on staff. Last I checked he was booked through June.

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the idea of having detailed plans for getting multiple bids on the build.

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Yea that would be ideal, but from my recent experiences the architect isn't going to part with those drawings for you to shop around his design, unless you pay big $$ for those drawings. Whereas, if you just go with the same group that's a design-build, you're not charged for the drawings (or it's charged somewhere in the project likely).

Have a project ongoing right now with a group, so far so good and we're getting close to completion. Will withhold rec until it all shakes out and done.

You are going to pay for the plan/details/specs one way or another. If you go with a Design/Build outfit, you will pay more for the build since its a non-competitive bid situation. If you go with an independent LA, you will pay more upfront for the plans but then you can bid to several contractors and get the best price. The independent LA will usually have a list of contractors he recommends so you can have confidence in the competence of these contractors. Also, a good LA will include for a nominal price Contract Administration of your project. So he/she will come out and observe the contractors work and adherence to the plans/ specs. The LA will also review contractor progress invoices and make sure the work you are being billed for has been completed.