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SECTION FOUR: The field reviews drive design decisions by locating utilities, drainage patterns, access, constructability and existing vegetation. K &S has the ability provide any additional survey work to ensure that before design work begins; all critical site information has been gathered and recorded. Our field assessments assist the City with professional recommendations, accurate designs, cost estimates, notes, calculations and reports. The analysis work is thoroughly integrated into the design process and is the foundation to begin the conceptual design process. K &S landscape architects have many years of experience in tracking and studying the results of landscape installations over time; documenting this with tens of thousands of photographs. This is a huge advantage when producing conceptual and final designs. Our plans focus on solving problems before they arise. Our details and specifications are project - specific and updated to reflect current construction techniques and Florida horticultural science. K &S understands that the success of a landscape installation depends upon minimizing maintenance. When applicable, involving maintenance teams early in the design process is an invaluable way to foster proper maintenance and significantly increase the chances of long -term success.We solicit their input on the desired project improvements, and their maintenance capabilities. In keeping with sustainable principles, we design for minimal, low maintenance conditions. K &S realizes the importance of maintenance for the success of a project and we are able to prepare design - specific plans. Sustainable Design is an integral element in the K &S approach to landscape architecture. When addressing the programs of each potential project within the City, we will review sustainable design options related, but not limited to, the following: • Appropriate material selection to manage UV light and heat; • Safe access and design for multi -modal forms of transportation; • Native plant and tree selection for improved user comfort and purification of air and stormwater; and • Stormwater design for improved water quality and quantity control. Three of our Landscape Architectural staff members are also LEED professionals; in addition, one is a Green Advantage Certified Practitioner and a Native Areas Training Academy and Florida Earth Natural Systems participant.We implement sustainable practices in all of our designs. We have incorporated over $15 million of sustainable design in our projects in the past 8 years, minimizing environmental impacts, using native plants, creating "Green Space ", reducing maintenance intervals, and utilizing local resources. Another critical phase in the life of a landscape project is the construction. A design can reflect all the appropriate provisions and address all of the site conditions; however, if it is not constructed correctly, the maintenance of that project may never meet the intent of the design -- setting that landscape up for failure.We are experts in supervision, inspection, and monitoring during construction and warranty.All inspections performed by K &S are documented and photographed for the City's records. QUALITY ASSURANCE /QUALITY CONTROL (QA /QC) Regardless of which Division does the work, high quality service is attained through the active implementation of the K &S internal QA/QC Program.The purpose of the program is to verify that the methodologies and work processes meet or exceed the project scope of services and are free of errors or omissions based on sound, multidisciplinary consulting practices. K &S uses the Contract Manager /QC Officer approach to QA.The firm assigns a QC professional to coordinate the project; this individual schedules and closely monitors the project through formal regular meetings with the Team to discuss schedules, resources and project details.To satisfy the requirements of this program, the Contract Manager will review each deliverable to ensure that it meets appropriate technical and quality standards prior to its submittal to the City. When required, the Contract Manager may solicit a review by our senior QA/QC Officers selected for this contract. K &S believes our clients, our profession and our projects deserve the highest quality product that can be produced; therefore, we have an established QC Plan that is implemented on all projects. Our QC Plan is based on the philosophy that: • Quality is achieved by proper planning, coordination, supervision, and the appropriate use of skilled personnel; • Quality is controlled through checking, reviewing and monitoring of work activities by individuals outside of the Team; • Quality is verified by having a senior manager performing QA/QC functions; and • Quality is assured through independent reviews by qualified staff through each stage of project development. A successful project also requires a properly defined scope, fully qualified staff, a schedule and budget with adequate ,; ;cif KEITH and SCHnAaS, A. Page 56 ��' FLORIDASgl LOON. I iiw