2-day Workshop:  “Incorporating Grading and Drainage into Your Designs” 
by: Stephen W. Marzahl, ASLA
“Be Empowered to be Your Best”

Instructor:

Stephen W. Marzahl, Registered Landscape Architect is conducting a workshop for landscape designers and green industry professionals

Who Should Attend:
Professionals and students are welcome.  “I conduct workshops for designers including; Architects, Interior Designers, Landscape Architects, Landscape Designers, Land Planners, and others interested in improving existing skills and/or learning new ones”.

What:

2-day workshop: “Incorporating Grading and Drainage into Your Designs”

This workshop is promised to be a fundamental and practical approach to Grading and Drainage applicable to residential landscape design and construction.  Attendees will find this 2-day workshop to be hands on as you apply new information in design exercises          

When:

Thursday, January 22 and Friday January 23, 2009.  Class will start at 8:30 am and conclude at 4:00 pm each day

Where:

The Arlington Heights Wellness Center / 900 West Central Road Arlington Heights, Illinois / phone: 847-618-3500

Why Attend:
We will start from the beginning:

What are grades?  Why are they called grades?  How does one come up with grades?  How does one set grades in the field?

Learn how to read and interpret a Topographical Survey

Observe as the instructor demonstrates how to set up and use landscape survey equipment such as the practical Dumpy Level and more sophisticated Laser Surveying Equipment.  You will have an opportunity to test this equipment….hands-on

Learn how to document grade measurements during your site survey

Learn how to use grade information obtained during your site survey in your landscape designs and depict existing and proposed grades on your plans

Learn what to be aware of as you embark on design projects with uneven terrain…..things to consider and things to avoid

Learn how to use grades to your advantage and create interest in your designs

Learn definitions which apply to grades commonly used by builders, contractors, architects, and designers, such as top of foundation, finished floor, rough grade, etc. and depict this information on your designs

On new construction sites learn what to look for when the topsoil has been removed relative to the existing height of the foundation and finished floor of the residence

Learn how to design steps and determine the number of steps needed and where

Learn when to and when not to recommend grading on your projects

Learn how to draft language in your contracts and on your plans to protect yourself from potential liability as it applies to grading and drainage

Learn how to determine the height of a wall and when to step a wall up or down

Learn how to address drainage issues for sites with negative pitch

Learn the three easy to use formulas needed to unlock the answer to any grading situation

Learn the maximum and minimum slopes as they pertain to drainage, pedestrian circulation, and maintenance for surfaced areas such as patios, walks, driveways, ramps, steps, lawns, special use areas, and more.  Learn how to calculate appropriate slopes for these areas

Feel your confidence grow as you develop a deeper understanding of grading and drainage

Note:
If you have specific interests relating to the subject matter, send your questions to me via e-mail as soon as you can and I will do my best to address your concerns.

Included in This Workshop:

Lunch both days delivered to the design studio and soft drinks

Bagels and coffee each morning

Bottled water and coffee available throughout each day

Materials you will need to bring to the workshop:

Calculator (basic functions; add, subtract, multiply, and divide)

Notebook and pen for taking notes

Scale: architects and engineers

Parallel glider 12”

One 45 / 90 degree triangle – medium size.

Prismacolor Pencils: red, green, blue, orange, yellow, lilac, brown, and black.

1-roll of 18” white tracing paper

Sharpies (black): fine point and extra fine

Circle templates: small and large

Black Le Pen by Marvy

Design Ebony #14420 sketch pencils

Materials which I will provide for your use during the workshop:

Workbook and/or handouts

Bond paper and drafting dots

Any special drawing paper such as vellum and/or graph paper.

About the Instructor:

Stephen W. Marzahl, Landscape Architect . . .
A native of McHenry County, Stephen has been involved in the landscape design and construction field for 30 years. He spent seven years with a national landscape design/build firm. For 10 years he owned and operated a landscape construction firm that designed and built residential and commercial projects.   In 1994, he founded Creative Environments Group, Ltd. to focus on landscape design and development of single-family homes.
In addition to being a practicing landscape architect, Stephen has a passion for drawing, design, and teaching. “I am happy to share information with my students which has taken me years to obtain.”

Academic & Teaching Background:

Registered, licensed landscape architect in the State of Illinois

Graduate of Mississippi State University where he studied landscape architecture, landscape construction, and business

Stephen also holds degrees in ornamental horticulture and landscape construction.

Business and design consultant to other private landscape design and construction firms

Stephen has taught and lectured on design, drawing, and graphics at the Chicago Botanic Garden

Stephen teaches landscape design and DynaSCAPE (CAD based) Design and Quote, and Color software at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, IL where he is a member of the adjunct faculty. He also sits on the college's horticultural advisory board of directors

Stephen works as a consultant for the Canadian based firm, Coyote Software as a member of their teaching team as an instructor of the DynaSCAPE Design and Quote (CAD based) design software several times per year in the Chicago area

Stephen has served as a teaching assistant to Mike Lin at Mike’s design and graphic workshops in Manhattan Kansas, and elsewhere on numerous occasions

"It has come to my attention as a teacher and designer that outside of the educational framework of a formal university setting, it can be difficult to obtain sufficient and practical information regarding grading and drainage."
"It is my intent to bridge this information gap in this practical 2-day workshop."

Professional Affiliations:

Member of ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects)

Member of LDA (Landscape Design Association of Chicago)

Past president (2007) of the Chicago based Landscape Design Association

Fee & Registration:

Total investment for both days $399.00 per attendee. 
(Register by January 12  and save $50.00)  Secure your reservation by
January 12 and pay $349.00 for both days.  This discount cannot be combined with other offers

Multiple Attendees from One Company:
Special discounts apply to those attending more than one workshop.  More than one person from any one company attending any workshop is available for additional discounts.  Please contact Stephen for details regarding additional discounts. 

To Reserve Your Seat
Make check payable and mail to:
Stephen W. Marzahl
6412 Silver Lake Trail
Cary, IL 60013

Along with remittance please provide the following information:

Your name

Company and title

Phone: home / work / cell

E-mail address

Mailing address

          
If you have questions, feel free to contact me:
Stephen W. Marzahl, ASLA
6412 Silver Lake Trail Cary, IL 60013
Work: 847.639.9497
Cell: 847.878.2011
Fax: 847.639.9273
E-mail: Steve@CreativeEnvironmentsGroup.com
www.CreativeEnvironmentsGroup.com  
I kindly invite you to spend a couple days with me as we team up to demystify grading and drainage   
“I conduct my workshops in a friendly, relaxed, non-intimidating atmosphere where students of all experience levels are welcome.  It is my intention to Empower my students.  I invite you to spend some time with me and – Be Empowered.”
Thank you,
Stephen W. Marzahl, ASLA
Landscape Architect