Unveiling the Best of 2023
Each year McCullough designers reflect on the projects of the previous year and dive deeper into their unique aspects. In 2023, our team engaged in collaborative efforts spanning higher education, hospitality, master planning, mixed-use, multifamily projects, and more! We not only strengthened existing relationships but also forged new connections, overcame challenges, expanded our team, and made a positive impact on communities.
We invite you to hear from each designer about what sets the projects of the past year apart as the "Best of 2023."
Oceanside Transit Center Redevelopment | Oceanside, CA
David McCullough, PLA, ASLA
Principal Landscape Architect
The Oceanside Transit Center is part of a new trend happening across the country. A trend started around the world as early as humans have been known to exist and interact with each other. An example would be the way that the early North American indigenous people often settled on riverbanks and would use canoes to travel along the rivers to prominent trading hubs (usually at the promontory where two rivers would meet). The tribes would trade various goods and necessities and these rivers would act as early transit corridors. Living and trading at key locations along these rivers made for efficiencies necessary to thrive. It wasn’t until the 20th century, the advent of the automobile, that people forgot the importance of living together, close to others, and close to transit corridors. As a result, freeways were built and became increasingly congested, pollution was created in excessive amounts, and vehicle casualties soared. Today many are starting to appreciate again the value of aggregating along transit corridors.
Several years ago, we spent some time in Tokyo and took an excursion to Kyoto on the high-speed train. It dawned on me during that trip the importance of “Transit Oriented Development” (TOD). We boarded the train in the heart of the most populated city in the world, Tokyo. The train took off and within minutes we were surrounded by the countryside and nature. We enjoyed the open countryside for some time before we started to see human activity again, and very quickly another urban core. The train stopped, people got on and off, the train sped away and this scenario repeated itself two to three times more before we arrived in Kyoto. It became clear that by approaching development in this way, on a very populated small island, that the Japanese were able to preserve what was precious to them, their natural environment. I understand however how as early as the 20th century, the United States likely felt overwhelmingly vast with new land to be explored. But today, our borders are getting much closer. It’s personally very encouraging to see our society starting to recognize the value of one of the richest natural environments in the world, here in the western hemisphere and North America. As a result, across California, while we recognize the need for housing, housing can be built in smart new ways that protect our natural environment. TOD’s are a great starting point and the Oceanside Transit Center will be one of the first completed in San Diego County. The project will fill in what is today, a very large parking lot in the heart of downtown Oceanside. It will become, housing, office, retail, a hotel, and a parking structure (a true mixed-use development). At McCullough, we have spent countless hours in Oceanside exploring the community and meeting with residents and stakeholders to ensure that this development truly represents and ultimately enhances a currently very vibrant downtown. I feel very honored to be on the Toll Brothers, Arcadis, Stantec team to do just this.
Read more about our collaboration with Toll Brothers and this project →
Rarely do office park developments take full advantage of the increased productivity, reduced stress, and active engagement that thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces bring to a company’s bottom line. However, when they do it’s a rare opportunity for a landscape architect to engage in a highly collaborative and meaningful design process.
One of our corporate campus projects in Rancho Bernardo exemplifies such an endeavor this year. Located near the intersection of West Bernardo Drive and Via Del Campo, the project provided an opportunity to establish a unified landscape linkage with the surrounding development through an integrated pedestrian passageway and employee park, which sought to elicit movement and personal engagement. The new architectural additions presented a dynamic and influential statement on the campus, while the landscape sought to ground that striking architecture, its tenants, and the surrounding ecological community in an environment that both excites the senses and evokes qualities reminiscent of the history of California’s cultural ecologies. Movement across the site sees a transitional planting typology that reflects major ecological families found in both California and similar regions across the globe.
Such a creative process was not without its challenges. One particularly difficult problem to solve was the need to incorporate a Zen Garden that met the highly discerning standards of the client; was able to support California-adapted plant material while still evoking the emotions of a Japanese-inspired space; was constructible within the confines of the building’s substantial structural footings; and accommodated proper stormwater management. Through a concerted, collective, sometimes contentious process we were able to find a solution where every design team member and the client were more than satisfied.
In the end, the project demonstrated an important set of lessons. As a reflection of the diverse workforce to be present, desert-adapted, California-friendly, low to moderate water use plant material could be used for the various microclimates and site conditions encountered. Shade trees over streets, sidewalks, parking areas, and other paving could be used to conserve energy and reduce the heat-island effect. Office-park developments have the ability to become demonstrations of the proper use of our most precious resource - water - through the use of low-flow irrigation equipment and integrated weather-based controllers. Risk of fire for such developments near native open habitat can successfully be reduced through thoughtful site design and selection of fire-resistive vegetation that looks good year-round.
This project was chosen as my Best of 2023 because it allowed us to express our values as a firm and find common ground with the rest of the design team through the integration of grit, soul, and style. The discovery and innovation that occurs through collaborative problem-solving resulted in a design that can be used as a point of reference for other endeavors in the future.
La Quinta Cultural Campus | La Quinta, CA
Benjamin Arcia, M.U.D., ASLA
Senior Associate
La Quinta is a small town in the Coachella Valley surrounded on three sides by the rugged slopes of the Santa Rosa Mountains. Its small shops, intimate streets, and close relationship with the surrounding desert make it a special place, contrasting it against the strip malls and golf courses that characterize this part of Southern California. Thanks to its springs and oases, humans have been coming to La Quinta since time immemorial. For countless generations, the Cahuilla people set up their winter camps in the sheltered cove, enjoying the desert’s bounty before migrating back up into the mountains each summer.
The La Quinta Cultural Campus is the subject of an in-depth design collaboration with HGA Architects, based in Santa Monica. HGA initially described the project’s landscape scope as an arts promenade and a small oasis garden in a courtyard, a relatively straightforward brief. However, as we dug into the design process together, we discovered that the courtyard space could host a mighty array of programs, from weddings to art openings, to movie nights and cultural performances. The City of La Quinta has been an eager partner in pushing this space to be the town’s focal point for gatherings, a true meeting point for the community. On top of this programmatic variety, we folded in a series of design moves that nod towards the Cahuilla heritage of the site. The most dominant move is a rattlesnake that wraps through the site, illustrated in the paving surface. Consulting Cahuilla elder, Kim Marcus taught us that unlike the sinister depiction of snakes in European cultures, the Cahuilla rattlesnake is a sympathetic figure, a character who grew fangs to protect itself from injustice. The rattlesnake figures prominently in Cahuilla basket weaving, depicted spiraling around itself in a shape that represents the notion of eternity. This story of protection and eternity resonated with both the design team and the City staff, as it relates to the efforts to protect the town’s quaint character, as well as the tranquil desert that surrounds it.
As an urban designer by training, I feel fortunate to be shaping a true community space, a place for life’s milestones to be shared among neighbors and friends. As a landscape designer, I am excited to use a palette of desert plants that I do not typically get to work with. Ultimately, as a lover of the desert and its history, I am grateful to tell the story of the Cahuilla people through an art-filled immersive experience that is designed into the space itself. This is why La Quinta Cultural Campus was my pick for Best of 2023.
Mt. San Antonio College Library (Mt. Sac) | Walnut, CA
Mahalakshmi “Maha” Balachandran, Int’l ASLA
Senior Associate, Northern California Office
It's always exciting to anticipate the success of a project, especially when it's in the conceptual phase. The siting of Mt. SAC Library replacement building was the most challenging one of last year.
As this site needed a different design strategy, it was determined necessary to provide a landscape framework while prioritizing connectivity through the site and to the campus with dramatic topography. The contours on site guided to transform the university's outdoor space into an iconic and integral feature.
The connection between the lower parking area and the building on higher ground was reconsidered and that opened the possibility to imagine a distinctive landscape. The vision of the site aligned perfectly with McCullough’s focus on creating a grand sense of arrival for students and providing a safe and inviting space for pick-ups and drop-offs. The idea of conjoining the divergent paths of the EVA (fire lane) and the building entry into one was necessitated for the space to be unified and read as one continuous experience.
I was particularly drawn to the initiative of activating the pedestrian realm by integrating various active corners. The incorporation of the "artist corner” along the connection between the miracle mile and the transit center offers a mid-block passage for everyone to enjoy. It was a thoughtful addition to fostering social engagement.
In essence, this project resonates with me on a personal level because it encapsulates the ideals of sustainability, student engagement, and thoughtful campus planning that the team of HPI Architecture and McCullough deeply value. The journey from concept to reality can be filled with challenges and breakthroughs - that I’m looking forward to.
6010 El Cajon Blvd | San Diego, CA
Johanna Mall, PLA, ASLA
Associate Landscape Architect
6010 El Cajon Blvd is a large mixed-use nine-story development with over 200 apartment units located in the College Area near San Diego State University (SDSU) that involves four different large outdoor amenity spaces catering to the likelihood of student residents. It may sound like a standard project, but it is far from that. A visionary client and the unique design themes are what make this project my favorite of 2023.
The Michaels Organization (TMO) brings a fantastic team of developers with a wide range of perspectives. Their thoughtfulness is what inspired us to think outside the box. It all started with the idea of a ‘surf shack.’ Recognizing the strong outdoor lifestyle of fellow San Diegans, the client desired to have an outdoor communal space where residents can rinse off their surf boards, stand up paddle boards, or maybe even kayaks, and even have lockers in the parking garage for storage. In this ground level space, we designed a multi-purpose outdoor shower, where boards and wetsuits can be rinsed and left to dry. We added a wood frame shack with clear corrugated fiberglass wall panels that serves as a workstation for residents to repair their boards, repot their plants, or work on a messy art project. With fun festive lighting and lanterns, this place can become a casual hangout zone in the evenings.
Becoming weary of the Boho vibe we commonly see in San Diego, we ran with the surf theme, turning it into a worldly place, where Morrocco meets Mexico, with a sprinkle of Art Deco. The materials, patterns, and plants are what makes the outdoor spaces in this building feel like you just returned from a trip to Taghazout or Sayulita.
Podium projects always present fun unique challenges. For this project, we had to figure out how to build a raised spa in a narrow podium courtyard, all while keeping accessible design in mind. It was a full team effort of collaborating with consultants to figure out the structural and grading puzzle this building condition presented.
This was our first project working with TMO and the design outcome and positive experience has led us to work on many more projects. It is a relationship we are thrilled about because we enjoy working with clients that trust us fully with our design vision.
Corporate Training Center | San Diego, CA
Andrew Schlesinger, PLA, ASLA
Associate Landscape Architect
Architect: AVRP Studios
Project Highlights: LEED Certified Gold Project, drought-tolerant plant selections, net-zero water use, water cistern capture and reuse
Located in San Diego, this commercial project differentiated itself because of a simple challenge – how can we capture enough rainwater to achieve using zero potable water for plant irrigation? Early in the design process, our team collaborated with architecture and civil engineering to locate two, 7,000-gallon water cisterns within the landscape. Working with LEED consultants, we then calculated the projected annual water storage capacity for cisterns collecting rainwater from the proposed center’s roof. Using these metrics, McCullough curated a plant palette requiring less water annually than our capture capacity.
To do so, McCullough embraced drought-tolerant, desert-adapted, and native plants offering low maintenance benefits and seasonal interest. By prioritizing these plants, our team was able to eliminate the need for irrigating planting areas with supplemental potable water. Further, we designed to minimize hardscape and maximize softscape. This approach will help to cool the site during hot summer months while also reducing embodied carbon in our proposed design.
I chose this project as my Best of 2023 because it serves as a scalable solution. Projected to earn LEED Gold certification for its energy and resource efficiency, this corporate training center demonstrates the potential to design planting palettes that embrace our region’s low water realities. Imagine if every project in San Diego County followed this same approach. That is a beautiful future – one which we at McCullough are excited to help create.
Epoca Rio | San Diego, CA
Adam Crowell, ASLA
Associate
The beginning of 2023 welcomed the start of a magnificent project in the works in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego. Epoca Rio will be just one of a few multi-family housing projects going in just below the 905 freeway. The collaborative effort with ColRich, Dahlin Group as architect, and Project Design Consultants (PDC) has been a detailed and a well thought out process full of careful site design, amenity space coordination, and material selection. The site will contain about 25 structures ranging from townhomes, apartment flats, a club house and rec center, as well as maintenance quarters. Woven through all will be a series of outdoor amenity spaces ranging in size that will offer both passive and active experiences. Passive spaces will offer residents places to lounge in peace or read outside under the shade of oak trees. If a more active or social experience is desired, the pool deck and spa proposed off the clubhouse and rec center will provide lounge seating, overhead cabanas, and artificial turf space. Residents can also find plenty of BBQ grills and seating if they choose to cook or dine outside. With every outdoor kitchen area comes overhead shade and more turf space for games and activities. Additional proposed site amenities include a site for corn hole games; an open area for kids and pets to run around; residents to work remotely outdoors; and plenty of connection points to adjacent site amenities.
Although Epoca Rio is still in the planning and design phase, a lot of the site has been coordinated to reflect more of a modern farmhouse style of architecture. Dahlin Group has done a great job of making this multi-family project feel very much like a home for residents to be excited about. McCullough has taken Dahlin Group’s architectural direction and translated it into the landscape through overhead pergola design, space design and layout, hardscape material selection; and of course, plant material selection.
I chose this project as my pick for Best of 2023 because I am very excited to watch this project unfold over the next year and hope to see this break ground in 2025. There is a lot left to coordinate, but the whole team remains positive and excited to keep this moving forward.
Westfield UTC - Pirch & Haidilao Area | San Diego, CA
Matthew Belanger, ASLA
Associate
As a prominent super-regional center in Unibail Rodamco Westfield’s (URW) portfolio, Westfield UTC has long been a go-to for residents of San Diego to find new fashion trends and to enjoy the company of others, while also being inspired and comfortable in a place that does not cut corners on form and functionality. Even though tenants and shops may change the look and feel of UTC, the center needs to be updated to keep San Diegans frequenting for generations to come.
To uphold this look and feel became a welcomed challenge as tenants Pirch, Purple, Pottery Barn, and Lemonade had concerns about the trees and plant material surrounding their different locations at both sides of the mall. As most centers built in the 70s-era experience, trees mature and eventually grow to a point where retail signage can become blocked. Hence, the challenge was to find tree replacements that would allow for clear viewpoints of store fronts and signage. This was done by planting dwarf tree species, as well as proposing species that placed in large pots would remain dwarf in size. Species such as the Winter Flame Japanese Maple, and Maverick Honey Mesquite, would prove to be ideal trees.
In addition, for a subsequent project phase we developed a concept for a new rebar art trellis allowing for vine growth to climb up and through the structure. This will provide shade and a welcomed art piece to this large traffic area. Designed with the intent of the surrounding area, these rebar structures are similar to those found at the Getty Museum. We drew inspiration from different types of pottery to find a design that would resemble a vase-like structure with vines spilling from the top. With the area between Pottery Barn and Purple already sparse, we felt minimizing plant material and shade would hurt the overall feel of the space. It was essential to bring in plant life and ideas to make it special for decades to come.
My relationship with Mitchell McKee and the folks with URW has been great and a big reason for why I chose this project for the Best of 2023. It’s inspiring to work with someone who lets you drive the designs, and yet offers straight forward answers and feedback when needed. I look forward to working on more projects at Westfield UTC.
Redcar Properties - Washington Blvd. | Los Angeles, CA
Kira Becker, ASLA
Associate, Los Angeles Office
In the early months of 2023, McCullough began working with HGA Architects and Redcar Properties on a groundbreaking project in Culver City. This three-story mixed-use office building, uniquely shaped as a parallelogram, seamlessly merges the built environment with nature, creating a green oasis contained within the structure.
The essence of the design revolves around weaving outdoor garden spaces into the very fabric of the building. Balconies, internal courtyards, and a rooftop garden punctuate the structure, providing occupants with a natural view at every turn. Drawing inspiration from the architectural wonders of Mexico City, the exterior of the building embraces the use of Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) block, introducing an interplay of textures that evolve as one moves across the structure. The strategic placement of solid CMU walls with subtle gaps allows natural light to filter through, casting an ever-changing play of shadows within the interior spaces. The incorporation of planters into the facade not only softens the harshness of concrete but also provides pockets of relief.
Working closely with HGA and Redcar, the selection of plant material like climbing vines and trees that gracefully grow through the inner courtyard, has been meticulously curated to give the impression that the landscape has organically integrated with the building over time. This project transcends traditional boundaries and redefines the essence of the workplace through offering a dynamic and immersive experience where the built environment and natural elements coalesce.
I chose this as my Best of 2023 project because I feel fortunate to work with such visionary collaborators that challenge us to bring our most creative design ideas to the table. We look forward to working on many more groundbreaking projects with this team in 2024 and beyond!
San Diego Community College District Educational Cultural Complex | San Diego, CA
Sophia Rumpf, ASLA
Junior Associate
The Educational Cultural Complex (ECC) is a proud home to San Diego Community College District’s (SDCCD) Continuing Education program as well as a historic performing arts theater. It is located in Mountain View, a neighborhood approximately five miles southeast of downtown San Diego. The ECC provides educational and entertainment services and opportunity to historically disadvantaged communities and is celebrated for its ties to the American Civil Rights movement.
It is the place where Coretta Scott King brought to fruition the National Recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 1985 and has since become the launch site for the City’s Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade. The ECC is known today as a hub for art, learning, and activism.
Given its cultural and historical significance to our San Diego community, I chose this architectural and landscape renovation as my Best of 2023 project because it has proven to be an exciting opportunity to design with the utmost intention and care. Our collaborative efforts with architects HGA and civil engineers KPFF have pushed us to find creative ways to pay homage to the past while providing for the needs of the present day and future. Careful material selection and spatial programming drew inspiration from precedent studies on historic and commemorative design and symbolism. Though it’s only in early phases and much is yet to come, we eagerly anticipate seeing how our vision will evolve and eventually come to life!
Coretta Scott King 1985
Educational Cultural Complex 1980
Opportunity road | San Diego, CA
Jiayao Tang, ASLA
Junior Associate
In the vibrant Convoy area of San Diego, our new collaboration with Pacifica Companies and Coastal Form Architects celebrates the locale's rich cultural diversity and Asian culinary heritage. This mixed-use project seamlessly integrates retail, living spaces, and community areas, creating a 'happy valley' where culture, convenience, and community unite.
Street Level:
The ground level of our project is envisioned as a dynamic space, balancing the practical needs of an urban setting with aesthetic appeal. Our challenge was to integrate an outdoor dining area, a gym, and a fire lane in a cohesive and appealing manner. The outdoor dining area, situated amidst lush greenery, offers a serene environment for enjoying meals. The gym area is designed to be open and inviting, encouraging healthy living among residents and visitors. The fire lane, crucial for safety, is subtly integrated into the design, ensuring compliance without compromising on style. To achieve this, we utilized hexagonal planted pavers to soften the hardscape, creating a seamless transition between the various functional spaces.
Middle Courtyard: Creating a River in the Forest
At the core of our design is the middle courtyard, envisioned as a 'flowing river'. This river not only serves as a physical feature through its winding pathways and water elements, but also symbolically represents the natural and cultural connections among residents. The courtyard is transformed into a vibrant, forest-like area, where elevated earthwork and strategic planting enhance privacy for patios and offer picturesque views. The river-inspired design meanders through these green spaces, inviting residents on a journey of exploration and discovery. It nurtures a sense of community, evoking the feeling of being part of a continuous, life-giving stream. Alongside this river, we've included various activity pockets, thoughtfully designed for relaxation, social interaction, and a deeper engagement with nature.
Rooftop: An Urban Oasis
The rooftop is designed as a versatile, open space that caters to a variety of activities. It includes a kitchen, a bar, a rest area for chatting, and a dedicated yoga space. The yoga area is adaptable and can be transformed into a venue for movie nights, offering residents a unique outdoor cinematic experience. The rest area is positioned to capture stunning views of the sunset.
Every element of the rooftop is thoughtfully designed to maximize usability while creating an atmosphere of community and leisure. The choice of furnishings and landscaping reflects the cultural richness of Convoy, making it a true urban oasis.
Our design for this mixed-use project in the Convoy area of San Diego is more than just a combination of retail and living spaces; it's a celebration of community and culture. By thoughtfully integrating functional spaces with communal areas, and by infusing the rich Asian heritage of the neighborhood into every aspect of the design, we aim to create not just a building, but a living, breathing part of the Convoy community. I chose this project for the Best of 2023 because this project promises to be a beacon of cultural fusion and communal harmony, embodying the spirit of Convoy and enriching the lives of its residents and visitors.
Hologic Innovation Center | San Diego, CA
Adis Tutusic, Int’l ASLA
Junior Associate
The Hologic innovation center creates a new hub for the healthcare company to showcase its latest technologies to new and existing clients. Working with AVRP Studios, this project challenged our team to transform a small underutilized outdoor space as an extension of the new indoor innovation center. Our client envisioned an outdoor amenity space equipped to host important meetings, breakout sessions and cocktail receptions, all while celebrating the women’s health industry.
To maximize this space for Hologic, we created a central patio with an outdoor workspace that could support moving meetings and ideas outside and into fresh air. A custom, built-in wood clad bench with smaller breakout tables created opportunities for hosting smaller meetings or for enjoying lunch breaks outside. Adjacent to the central patio, we created two smaller patio spaces – one for more private meetings and another adorned with lounge furniture for exploring creative ideas in a more relaxed environment.
Surrounding these spaces, we nestled the Hologic Innovation Center’s patio amidst a lush planting palette of native grasses, perennials, and accent plants. These patio spaces are further buffered from nearby parking by a dense hedge of Podocarpus and Ficus Nitida shrubs. This verdant backdrop of dense planting provides space for employees to recharge in nature.
This project is my consideration for Best of 2023 because it is a small space with big impact. Implemented from design to completion in approximately one year, the Hologic Innovation Center’s patio offers a space for Hologic to focus on its impressive mission – “improving the health and well-being of our patients and communities as a leading innovator in women’s health.”
The Roosevelt | San Diego, CA
Olivia Wax, ASLA
Junior Associate
A recent development by Fabric Investments, the Roosevelt offers a dynamic commercial space, effortlessly blending the spirit of communal gathering and retail while upholding its integral design form. The space unfolds into two distinct areas—the elevated upper terrace and the ground plane frontage, uniquely adaptable as a fire truck parking zone when needed.
After undergoing numerous iterations, the upper terrace now extends a warm invitation, adorned with the richness of Spanish-style terra cotta paving and Mediterranean planting. Complementary shades of yellow and purple, complemented by gracefully swaying grasses, offer movement in the breeze.
Transitioning to the lower level, a purposeful space invites individuals to pause, sit, and savor moments amidst shopping or enjoying a morning coffee from the nearby café. Within the scope of this project lies a distinctive challenge —ensuring the durability of pavers and turf to bear the weight of a fire truck. This challenge was met with discernment, utilizing Turfstone Pavers to ensure both resilience and aesthetic unity.
The Roosevelt is my choice for my Best of 2023 project is not rooted in grandiosity but in the sentimental value it holds for me. It signifies my substantial involvement where I played a pointed role in the design process, witnessing the realization of my vision through 3D modeling. The dynamic evolution of the project, shaped through collaborative discourse and iterative refinement with team members, has proven to be a deeply rewarding process.
While The Roosevelt is still in its schematic design phase, I look forward to seeing how it develops and progresses to its final form.