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D|F Benchmark Series: Ryan Hertzfeld, PLA
As a senior landscape architect, Ryan Hertzfeld, PLA has exceptional graphic skills, including hand rendering, digital rendering, and 3D modeling, allowing him to produce stunning presentation graphics. We caught up with him to get his insight as a landscape architect with 14 years of experience.
Professional Questions:
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What is your favorite part of working at our company?
The people. Many talk about how family is part of a company culture—that reigns true at Davis & Floyd.
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What is one thing that surprised you about your current role?
How much goes into keeping everything on track. There are many things behind the scenes I didn’t think about while on the production side like business development, financials, etc. I’ve gained an appreciation for what it takes to fully develop projects and keep them going.
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What is one thing that you wish people knew about your job?
From the landscape architecture standpoint, I wish people understood how multifaceted it is. Many think it’s mostly planting plans, but it’s much more. There are initial conceptual designs, understanding of spatial relationships, how people use spaces, and how it impacts and invokes emotional responses.
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What are you most proud of in your career so far?
How far landscape architecture has come. Landscape architecture was more of a support role when it joined Davis & Floyd. While it still helps and supports other sectors, we’ve grown to lead projects and develop sustainable spaces.
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What’s unique about your team/sector?
We get to work on a wide variety of projects. From planting plans to due diligence and site design, we take part in the full process and on a wide variety of projects.
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What is the most interesting project you have worked on with D|F?
Fort Johnson Master Plan. It was unique because of all the aspects that went into it. There were conservation, historic parks, and recreation pieces. We had to juggle everything while the facility was in use during project development.
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What are your goals for the next few months/years?
One goal is to continue the growth and development of Planscape and our landscape architecture department. I want to help our team members grow into positions they enjoy with projects they are proud of.
Another goal is the use of technology as a part of landscape architecture and designs. I’m preparing our team to use an iPad for the design process from start to finish.
Personal Questions:
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What is one thing people do not know about you that they would be surprised to find out?
I’m a triplet. I’m one of 5 kids as a set of twins and triplets.
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What is one thing on your bucket list?
To build a Shelby Cobra.
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What would you eat if you had to eat only one meal every day for the rest of your life?
Pizza all meat.