BSLA Fieldbook BSLA 2015 Spring Fieldbook | Page 15

MEMBER /

BSLA

LORAYNE BLACK, ASLA
INSPIRED BY A CONVERSATION

I

n 1975, I was told by my high school counselor
that the career that I wanted to pursue, Landscape
Architecture, was “really a career for MEN,” and I
should “reconsider my career choice.” That secured
my passion to pursue my choice as a lifelong career.
Luckily, I met Sylvia Chisolm, a successful Landscape
Architect in Farmington, Connecticut while I was in
high school and was inspired by her description of the
profession. I’ve never looked back!

my professional life. I’ve joined AECOM, a global
engineering and environmental firm, as their Senior
Landscape Architect for the Northeast Region.
Providing design support to the engineering and
environmental groups throughout New England and
south to Pennsylvania, I’m designing landscapes for
entities such as the MBTA and MassDOT, as well as
a variety of site design and remediation projects for
private clients.

Since 1980, I’ve kept working throughout the
economic up-turns and down-turns in a variety
of landscape architecture and engineering firms,
eventually moving out of New England to obtain my
Master’s degree at North Carolina State University.
After returning to New England and working at
several firms, I decided to start my own design firm
while raising my family.

After working as a sole practitioner, I’m enjoying the
collaboration with other disciplines as an integral team
member. I still occasionally continue to take some
smaller commercial and residential projects with my
consulting firm, but the combination of the two work
venues has allowed me to expand my design expertise
as a Landscape Architect with fresh challenges and
exciting new goals.

After twenty years working as a sole practitioner,
I have recently created an exciting new chapter in

I am continually delighted that I didn’t “reconsider my
career choice!”

Started Out Manchester, CT
Education BS, UMass Amherst (Environmental Design); MLA, North Carolina State University
Now AECOM (Senior Landscape Architect for Northeast Region)
Boston Society of Landscape Architects Fieldbook

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