ASLA's Products Profiles & Directory Introduced as a New Online
Resource for Landscape Professionals

NEW YORK (April 18, 2002) -- Landscape architects and other building professionals have a new tool for researching and specifying products for their landscape projects. Product Profiles and Directory of landscape suppliers and manufacturers was re-launched earlier this month as the online Landscape Community of the digital Sweet's Product Marketplace.

With the new feature, professionals can search a community for a specific product or manufacturer, or they can generate a comprehensive list of suppliers and manufacturers for a specific product. The Landscape Community can be accessed from www.asla.org or www.sweets.construction.com.

"The advantage of introducing the landscape products directory to Sweet's is that their catalogs truly cover all the design and construction industries," said Susan Cahill-Aylward, ASLA managing director of professional practice. "Prior to co-branding the Directory with Sweet's, many professionals outside of ASLA didn't know that a landscape product directory was even available."

"As we envisioned when we engaged ASLA in this strategic alliance last year, we are providing more information for landscape architects as well as construction managers, architects, engineers, facilities managers, and property owners. This relationship will only grow stronger as we continue to work together," said Howard Mager, senior vice president and general manager of Sweet's.

In the digital Landscape Community, a company listing includes contact information and detailed product profiles, product images, and a hotlink to the company's website. Some companies elect to post complete product catalogs. The digital landscape community is designed to suit the collaborative nature of landscape architects, building architects, engineers, and all the professionals that are a part of design and construction projects.

The hard-copy version of the Directory was published in January by the American Society of Landscape Architects and McGraw-Hill Construction Information Group (CIG), the parent company of Sweet's. Later this year an expanded print version of the Landscape Directory will be published by Sweet's reaching the members of American Society of Landscape Architects and other targeted professionals in the construction and facility management marketplace.

ASLA published a version of the directory of suppliers, manufacturers, and services supporting landscape architecture for nearly 20 years. Last year ASLA and McGraw Hill formed a strategic alliance that used the directory to create the Landscape Community with more technical information for Sweet's online resources.

About ASLA
Founded in 1899, the American Society of Landscape Architects is the national professional association representing the more 30,000 landscape architects nationwide. Beginning with 11 original members, ASLA has grown to more than 13,500 members and 48 chapters, in all 50 states, the U.S. territories and 42 countries around the world. ASLA promotes the landscape architecture profession and advances the practice through advocacy, education, communication and networking. For more information, visit ASLA OnLine, www.asla.org.

About McGraw-Hill Construction Information Group
The Construction Information Group is the world's premier information provider to the commercial construction industry. With its leading brands F.W. Dodge, Sweet's, Engineering News-Record, Architectural Record, and Design-Build, and the industry's most popular Internet portal, construction.com, CIG provides the latest industry intelligence and interactive solutions that enable construction professionals to do their job faster, better and cheaper. CIG employs more than 1,700 professionals around the world.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, BusinessWeek and McGraw-Hill Education. The Corporation has more than 350 offices in 33 countries. Sales in 2001 were $4.6 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.

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