RedVector
RV-10483
The Sustainable Site Design Process
Course Objectives
By the end of this
course, you will be able to:
- Provide the
definition of an integrated design and reproduce the steps of the integrated
design process.
- Summarize how to
define a project.
- Explain the
purpose of a site inventory and site design.
- Identify the
components required in establishing the project direction.
- List the design phases for developing a sustainable site.
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT: Heather Venhaus
As the daughter of a West Texas dryland farmer and a community health nurse, the concepts of sustainability shaped my childhood. Regular conversations around the dinner table included the longevity of the Ogallala aquifer, public health issues, the carrying capacity of the land and most importantly, how we could improve all of those things for the betterment of our community. Through these casual discussions I began to understand that I could be a catalyst for positive change - an ideal that has carried through in my professional and personal life.
I am a bit of a dreamer and seem to have developed a pattern of envisioning work environments or projects that excite me, then accepting the challenge of making those things happen. So far, it's worked out well and has led me to gain wonderful project experience with teams of scientists, designers, and educators on projects emphasizing sustainable design, landscape restoration, and environmental education. After completing the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks in 2009, I resigned from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to stay home with my newborn son and see what the world had to offer. When not attending playdates or checking out parks, I continue to work on projects that excite me and have found that “professional escapes” from motherhood give me a better life prospective and greatly improve my sense of humor, particularly when dealing with toddler tantrums.
Since being out on my own I have had the pleasure of being a contributing author to the Sustainable Sites Handbook, writing my own book Designing the Sustainable Site, working with Ten Eyck Landscape Architects on the Campus Transformation Project at the University of Texas at El Paso and joining forces with Geosyntec to improve the City of Austin’s Environmental Criteria Manual and explore green infrastructure options for neighborhoods. I am constantly dreaming, planning, and scheming about the future and always look forward to the next adventure. A more detailed description of my background and professional experience can be found at http://www.linkedin.com/in/heathervenhaus
I am a bit of a dreamer and seem to have developed a pattern of envisioning work environments or projects that excite me, then accepting the challenge of making those things happen. So far, it's worked out well and has led me to gain wonderful project experience with teams of scientists, designers, and educators on projects emphasizing sustainable design, landscape restoration, and environmental education. After completing the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks in 2009, I resigned from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to stay home with my newborn son and see what the world had to offer. When not attending playdates or checking out parks, I continue to work on projects that excite me and have found that “professional escapes” from motherhood give me a better life prospective and greatly improve my sense of humor, particularly when dealing with toddler tantrums.
Since being out on my own I have had the pleasure of being a contributing author to the Sustainable Sites Handbook, writing my own book Designing the Sustainable Site, working with Ten Eyck Landscape Architects on the Campus Transformation Project at the University of Texas at El Paso and joining forces with Geosyntec to improve the City of Austin’s Environmental Criteria Manual and explore green infrastructure options for neighborhoods. I am constantly dreaming, planning, and scheming about the future and always look forward to the next adventure. A more detailed description of my background and professional experience can be found at http://www.linkedin.com/in/heathervenhaus
State Licenses
AK - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
AK - Engineer (Health, Safety & Welfare - ,)
AK - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
AL - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
AL - Engineer (General - ,)
AL - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
AR - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
AR - Engineer (General - ,)
AR - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
CO - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
CT - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
CT - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
DC - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
DC - Engineer (General - CE21800018)
DE - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
DE - Engineer (General - ,)
DE - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
FL - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
FL - Engineer (General - 0000271)
Accreditation: FBPE Approved Provider 33
FL - Landscape Architect (Optional - 0009712)
Accreditation: FL DBPR Approved Provider 0001771
GA - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
GA - Engineer (General - ,)
GA - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2025)
HI - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
IA - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
IA - Engineer (General - ,)
IA - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
ID - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
ID - Engineer (General - ,)
IL - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
IL - Engineer, Professional (General - ,)
IL - Engineer, Structural (General - ,)
IL - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
IN - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
IN - Engineer (General - Board Approved - CE21800018)
IN - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
KS - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
KS - Engineer (Health, Safety & Welfare - ,)
KS - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
KY - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
KY - Engineer (General - ,)
KY - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
LA - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
LA - Engineer (General - ,)
LA - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2025)
MA - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MD - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MD - Engineer (General - ,)
MD - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
ME - Engineer (General - ,)
MI - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MI - Engineer (General - ,)
MI - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
MN - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MN - Engineer (General - ,)
MN - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
MO - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MO - Engineer (General - ,)
MO - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
MS - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MS - Engineer (General - ,)
MS - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
MT - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MT - Engineer (General - ,)
NC - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NC - Engineer (General - ,)
NC - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - 10238)
ND - Engineer (Health, Safety & Welfare - ,)
NE - Architect (General, Health, Safety & Welfare)
Accreditation: Vector Solutions is authorized by IACET to offer 0.10 CEUs for this program
NE - Engineer (General)
Accreditation: Vector Solutions is authorized by IACET to offer 0.10 CEUs for this program
NE - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2025)
NH - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NH - Engineer (General - ,)
NH - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
NJ - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NJ - Engineer (General - 24GP000006300)
NJ - Landscape Architect (General)
NM - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NM - Engineer (General - ,)
NM - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2025)
NV - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NV - Engineer (General - ,)
NV - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
NY - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NY - Engineer (General)
Accreditation: Vector Solutions is authorized by IACET to offer 0.1 CEU for this program.
NY - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
OH - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
OH - Engineer (General - ,)
OH - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
OK - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
OK - Engineer (General - ,)
OK - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
OR - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
OR - Engineer (General - ,)
OR - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
PA - Engineer (General - ,)
PA - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2025)
PR - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
PR - Engineer (General - ,)
PR - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
RI - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
SC - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
SC - Engineer (General - ,)
SC - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
SD - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
SD - Engineer (Technical - ,)
SD - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
TN - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
TN - Engineer (Health, Safety & Welfare - ,)
TN - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
TX - Architect (Sustainable Design / Energy-Efficient Design - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
TX - Engineer (General - ,)
TX - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare, Sustainable Design / Energy-Efficient Design - Approved LA CES-2025)
UT - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
UT - Engineer (General - ,)
UT - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
VA - Architect (General - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
VA - Engineer (General - ,)
VA - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2025)
VT - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
VT - Engineer (General - ,)
WA - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
WA - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
WI - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
WI - Engineer (General - ,)
WI - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
WV - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
WV - Engineer (General - ,)
WV - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare (max 6 hrs online) - Approved LA CES-2025)
WY - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
WY - Engineer (General - ,)
WY - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
Professional Organizations
American Academy of Environmental Engineers - AAEES - Member (General - ,)
American Institute of Architects - AIA - Architects (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
American Institute of Certified Planners/American Planning Association - AICP - Certified Planners (General - 9277574)
American Society of Civil Engineers - ASCE - American Academy of Water Resources Engineer (AAWRE) (General, Sustainable Design / Energy-Efficient Design)
American Society of Landscape Architects (LA CES) - ASLA - Member (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2025)
Canada - Alberta Architect (General - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Alberta Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - British Columbia Architect (AIBC) (Core - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - British Columbia Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - Manitoba Architect (General - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Manitoba Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - New Brunswick Architect (General - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - New Brunswick Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - Northwest Territory Architect / Restricted Practitioner (General - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Nova Scotia Architect (General - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Nova Scotia Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - Ontario Architect (General - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Ontario Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - Prince Edward Island Architect (General - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Prince Edward Island Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - Quebec Architect (General - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Quebec Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - Saskatchewan Architect (General - RV1420-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Saskatchewan Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - Yukon Engineer (General - ,)
Certified Inspector of Sediment and Erosion Control, Inc - CAN-CISEC, CISEC (USA) (General)
EnviroCert International - Certified Professional (CPESC, CPSWQ, CESSWI, CPMSM) (General)
National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies - NICET (General - ,)
Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists - OACETT - Certified Member (Contribution to Technical Knowledge)