Reimagining a Downtown Corner: 550 West C Street
The 550 West C Street project was a three-phase exterior and interior renovation located in the heart of downtown San Diego. The project aimed to upgrade the interior amenity offerings for tenants, enhance the streetscape for pedestrian safety, as well as enhance the entry plaza to provide smart technology space for outdoor meetings and a small café to activate the location for tenants.
At the start of the project our client, Cushman & Wakefield, assessed its surrounding sidewalk condition and determined that the uplift had been caused by existing mature trees that had not been planted properly. The improper design had created a safety hazard to those passing by not paying attention—causing multiple trip incidents. These issues highlighted the importance of bringing new design thinking to the much-needed public right-of-way renovation. In addition to the right-of-way trip hazards, the large entry plaza at the front of the property aged considerably and had become a space that was rarely used by its tenants, not reflecting the original vision for the space.
Our creative endeavor in the project was in collaboration with Gensler, specifically under the direction of Chris Bord and Matthew Bourne. Under Gensler’s direction, our design team explored several design iterations, engaged the client on a regular basis, and found a solution that aligned with the client’s vision and budget. At McCullough, our mission is to infuse grit, soul, and style into every project, principles that guided the transformation of this plaza.
Through careful selection of materials, we sought to express the site’s “grit” by reflecting its downtown urban context through durability, simplicity, and longevity. The ‘soul’ of the project stemmed from the client’s desire to ensure the pedestrian zone around the building would be inviting and safe for everyone—those coming and going, as well as community members simply passing by. It also involved reactivating the empty plaza, which serves as the first impression for anyone entering the building. Finally, the ‘style’ of the project was essential to align with the client’s overall aesthetic: refined, classic, clean, and professional.
Early in the construction phase, representation of the property changed over to JLL, and was led by Aljon Medina, Project Manager, San Diego Market. JLL’s ability to acquire strategically placed and high value assets was on full display during the project build-out. Every phase of the implementation was curated and informed by their management team. This enthusiasm trickled down to the design team and reinvigorated our desire to create something truly special and valuable to the City of San Diego.
As the general contractor, BYCOR ensured effective communication was maintained among all stakeholders and relayed updates from JLL to the design team as needed. Their ongoing attention to detail and ability to address unforeseen on-site discoveries contributed to a smooth and efficient installation.
Today, visitors to the site experience a fully renovated streetscape featuring healthy, vibrant street trees supported by proper infrastructure installed at the time of planting. At the main entrance, a large plaza welcomes guests with various seating options and a visually appealing paving pattern that enhances the ground plane. Pavilions flank the main entrance on both the west and east sides. To the west, visitors will find a custom multimedia outdoor meeting space designed by the team at Gensler; while to the east, an outdoor café offers tenants warm drinks and healthy snacks. Surrounding both pavilions, McCullough’s thoughtful planting design is showcased in raised planters that cradle each structure. These planters feature a curated mix of shade-tolerant shrubs with seasonal interest, artfully arranged beneath the expansive canopy of mature trees. Fronting the planters are concrete benches topped with sustainable hardwood slats. To further enhance the experience, the entire plaza is buffered from the nearby trolley line by a row of densely planted, movable raised planters—bringing a strong sense of cohesiveness and unity to the site.







