Behind the Design: A Site Visit to Bioterra

Lava rock pathways and lighting details taking shape

Earlier this month, a few of us from the McCullough team visited the Canopy, Bioterra's amenity terrace site, an exciting moment to see the landscape take physical form after more than a year of collaboration and design refinement. While renderings and models shaped our vision from the start, there’s nothing quite like walking the site and experiencing how it all begins to come to life.

Located on Longfellow’s life sciences campus in Sorrento Valley, the 10,000-square-foot terrace is a celebration of Southern California’s natural beauty. Designed in collaboration with PGAL, the space is lush, layered, and purposeful, rich with native planting, softly curving raised planters, and moments of surprise tucked into lava rock pathways and dappled light.

From the beginning, the design was envisioned as a multifunctional retreat: a terrace where tenants might take a private phone call, host a casual meeting, or simply enjoy the sun and ocean breeze above the ground-floor bustle. Shade, screening, and strategic light exposure allow for a variety of experiences, creating a layered environment that feels peaceful, functional, and discoverable.

At the heart of it all stands a stunning mature Chilean Mesquite tree, its sculptural branches illuminated by hanging pendant lights and surrounded by vibrant climbing vines and strawberry trees. It’s a moment of stillness and beauty in an otherwise high-energy campus—and one that we were thrilled to see rising into place.

A Full-Circle Moment for Sophia Rumpf, ASLA

Associate and project manager Sophia Rumpf has been involved in the Bioterra project since McCullough joined the team in 2023. Initially stepping into a supporting role, drafting and 3D modeling the original design, Sophia has grown into the lead role, now overseeing the project through construction. This site visit marked an especially meaningful milestone for her as she reflects on how far both the project and her experience has evolved over the past two years.

Mature Chilean Mesquite tree

“Though I can’t lay claim to the Bioterra design itself, I’m proud to have worked so hard on it and to now be carrying it across the finish line,” Sophia shares. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to grow with this project, from executing the vision to managing the details of construction and coordination.”

- Sophia Rumpf, Associate, Project Manager

On-Site Highlights

During our visit, we observed:

• Hardscape and planter installation nearly complete

• Lava rock pathways and lighting details taking shape

• Early planting beginning in key areas

• The centerpiece Chilean Mesquite tree has been carefully integrated

What’s Next?

With planting ramping up and final finish work underway, the terrace is poised to open later this year. We’ll continue to document the journey as the project nears completion and share more behind-the-scenes content from the field.

Scroll below to explore renderings and highlights from our site walk. There’s more to come, and we can’t wait to see the full vision in bloom.

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