Highlights from the Staff’s Top Projects
Highlights from the Staff’s Top Projects
We love to show off our firm's work and rave about our talented staff! Here are their favorite projects of 2016, which we know you will enjoy. —David and Catherine
The Gardens Casino | Hawaiian Gardens, CA
David McCullough, ASLA, RLA
"This project is a large casino in an urban, central LA Basin neighborhood. I chose this as a favorite because of the drastic change in the aesthetic for the property. It was exciting to create a special place for a casino in an unsuspecting area where a giant circus tent-like facility once housed their card house."
San Diego State University Centennial Mall | San Diego, CA
Alli Wilson, MA, MLA, ASLA
"The Centennial Mall was originally a patch of unused lawn in the middle of a highly trafficked walkway and has now become a restful seating area designed to feel like it was always supposed to be there."
Oberlin Tech | Cypress Office Properties
Ben Arcia, MUD
"We turned a thirsty turf field in a sea of tall waving grasses with luminescent mesquite trees exploding up through. I found that old brutalist architecture can be charming when you surround it with wild swirls of plants."
Mesa College Commons & Exercise Science Facility |
San Diego, CA
Maha Balachandran, MA, Int'l ASLA
I chose this project because our concept maximizes the District's goals of sustainability by utilizing design elements such as storm water run-off collection and reclamation at the Exercise Science Facility, and at The Commons building an innovative HVAC condensate reclamation system was implemented (a first for San Diego community colleges!), as well as a roof-top garden providing a learning environment for culinary arts students and farm-to-table ingredients for the campus cafeteria.”
PedWest | San Ysidro Port of Entry Pedestrian Crossing
Cristina Soutowood, MA, ASLA
"This project provides some respite for those traveling from both near and far. I found it to be a rewarding project because It provides seating and shade for those who are tired and travel weary, as well as provide a native plant garden for learning and enjoyment."
3060 Broadway | San Diego, CA
Priyanka Malik, MLA, ASLA
"3060 Broadway is housing for young and single professionals. The scope for landscape design is for the front side and the courtyard. We decided to play with levels to create aesthetic and functional spaces for this project. The front yard gracefully adapts to the steep slope by draping landscape held with retaining walls. The courtyard creates pads for BBQ while providing a private place for residents to relax and mingle. All of these activities blend in within planters and vertical planters walls, designed to create these spaces. Overall, the courtyard becomes an engaging outdoor space which could become a great respite after a long day of work!"
Torrey Plaza | San Diego, CA
Brian Frederick, ASLA
"Torrey Plaza is an existing office building. As part of our scope for this project, our team has proposed concepts that bring the outdoors to the inside space. Currently the space is void of life or interest, featuring a single water feature and minimal seating. I like this project because our proposal encourages the passive use of the space with spots to be discovered and used for relaxed, contemplative, and reflective experiences."
Olive Mixed-Use Development | San Diego, CA
Difan Chen, MLA, ASLA
"My best choice for 2016 is the Olive Park Mixed-Use project. The ample and neat architecture is done by Safdie Rabines Architects. This was a great chance to create a California native front yard for the residents. The combination of different heights of plantings provide a lush and nice private space for the first-floor residents."
*images provided by Safdie Rabines Architects
