And so it begins...

Another year, another semester. After 7 semesters in the landscape architecture department at Mississippi State, it all comes down to this... One project for the entire semester. Midterm submittal: 47.5% of final grade. Final Submittal 47.5% of final grade. Pass and I can graduate. Fail and, well, lets not talk about that... Scary huh?

With capstone, individuals get to pick their own project site for the first time. This alone is a huge decision. We will spend more time, lose more sleep, and pull out more hair over this one project than any other project in our college career. There are multiple factors that play into the choosing of a project. Will I enjoy working on this for the next 4 months? Is there enough to sink my teeth into? Is this what I want in my portfolio?

The last question is probably one of the biggest. Since we spend more time on this project than any other, it should be some our best work. And since we put our best work into our portfolio (which is a representation of who we are, what we are about, and how we design), capstone makes up a large part of it. This could, potentially, play a big role in the kind of firm that hires us or the kind of projects we work on in our professional careers.

For example, someone who wants to focus on community design after they graduate will probably choose a project that is centered around designing a larger site into a mixed-use development. Someone interested in working in the residential realm will choose a home to design around. Get where I'm going with this?

I have decided that I want to steer myself in the direction of a career in urban design (probably thanks to my recent trip the NYC). Thus, after much internal debate, I have chosen my site and what I want to do with my life (kind of).

The site for my capstone project will be [drum roll, please] Overton Square in Midtown Memphis, TN...