Reimagining the Waterfront Lifestyle in the Heart of San Diego
McCullough is thrilled to share our two current marina projects that will elevate the waterfront experience on San Diego’s Harbor Island: Safe Harbor Cabrillo Isle and Safe Harbor Sunroad. Given their prime location, these project sites feature breathtaking views of the downtown skyline as well as Coronado and Point Loma.
Our collaboration on these projects began when Safe Harbor Marinas contacted us with the opportunity during the summer of 2021. Their goal is to refresh these largely prominent properties in a concerted effort to develop new means to engage their widespread member base and provide the variety of amenities that members seek out. It is also important to them to achieve this in a way that is environmentally friendly.
Safe Harbor Sunroad
Located in Harbor Island, Safe Harbor Sunroad is a uniquely shaped, mid-century modern building that houses marina and yacht services. The building is situated in the middle of the site, facing south with a panoramic view overlooking the harbor at the naval base in Coronado and Downtown San Diego. There is a large turf area in front of the building that is used to display boats and host occasional events. Around the back of the building, toward the docks, is a large amenity pool deck that extends out into the marina.
We are working on landscape improvements to better meet the marina’s needs while also modernizing the existing amenities on site. Renovations to the front area include a new decomposed granite plaza for dining and events with some turf spillover, additional ornamental planting areas, new boat display staging areas, and a new monument sign. The goal for this area was to break up and minimize the under-utilized grass lawn while maintaining the view of the water.
Around the building to the north, a concrete paseo, which separates the building from the enclosed amenity pool area, will receive a new decomposed granite lounge space with a double-sided see-through fireplace. We are designing a hot tub on the flip side of the fireplace and wall enclosure. New trees and a plant palette that suits the mid-century architecture will also freshen up the paseo frequented by marina members and guests.
The amenity pool area consists of a large concrete deck that does not currently provide the privacy that Safe Harbor Marinas desires for their members. We will break up the space with the addition of raised planters to give the immediate pool area a more cozy, relaxing vibe for lounging in the sun.
Since resurfacing the deck is not an option, our solution is to add a six-foot raised wooden deck for the new dining and lounging area with firepits that directly overlook the marina. We are excited to use sustainable decking alternatives such as Kebony wood, made from Monterey pine, for the new lounge deck. New barbecues and a bar top table at the edge of the deck complete the renovations at the amenity pool deck.
Safe Harbor Cabrillo Isle
Appropriately named after Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, a Portuguese maritime explorer who was the first European to navigate and sail up the California coast, Safe Harbor Cabrillo Isle was McCullough Associate Johanna Mall’s choice for the Best Projects of 2021. One of the most important features of this project is the unity in brand signage and wayfinding that we have collaborated to develop. We have created an experience of seamless guidance through the site as members and guests make their way from the parking area through the marina resort amenities, from the monument sign in the entrance to the A-frame signage along the sidewalks.
Another enhancement is to create a member deck, which includes a unique sandpit with chaise lounges that provides a more tactile, fun experience than their concrete alternative. This gives the space a fun, beachlike vibe. This is one of three distinct areas of the member deck. The second of these will provide an accessible space with firepits that provide the opportunity to take in a different perspective of the bay with impressive sunset views. The third includes outdoor café seating for the existing deli that allows users to gather and dine alfresco.
In other site spaces, we will take out large chunks of concrete and fill them with planted areas to upgrade the luxurious environment. Along the waterfront, we will remove large areas of turf to replace them with shrubs and grasses that evoke a beach dune atmosphere. This area will also include decomposed granite pocket seating along the waterfront for sitting and relaxing.
Bringing the Projects to Life
Given the waterfront site locations for these projects, we are currently working diligently to meet the regulations of the Port Authority and other coastal jurisdictions. Following the anticipated completion this year, we are eager to visit Harbor Island and experience these alluring, lively marina spaces ourselves!
Johanna Mall, ASLA
Associate
Client of the Month:
Safe Harbor Marinas
In boating culture, there is a term known as “safe harbor.” It signifies a place where one can escape life’s troubles, a haven from life’s storms (cue The Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter)…
Safe Harbor Marinas is the evolution of that idea — their properties offer a one-of-a-kind boating lifestyle that is the definition of luxury and social connection. We are proud to feature Safe Harbor Marinas as our March Client of the Month!
“The Intersection of Luxury and Adventure”
From their corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas, Safe Harbor Marinas serves their members with 132 marina properties in the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico, up from 100 properties in June 2020. They are growing rapidly, and it’s easy to see why.
Not only is Safe Harbor Marinas the world’s largest boating network, providing members with a home port — members have access to all 132 properties as well as unique, exclusive member experiences on the water. Safe Harbor Marinas gives their members the freedom to explore all that the boating lifestyle has to offer, from special members-only events, race weekends, and floating boutique suites to exclusive offers through partnerships with brands such as BMW and special benefits on fuel and merchandise purchases.
The vision doesn’t stop there. Safe Harbor Marinas is looking to the future, striving to take the enhancement of the boating lifestyle a step further by expanding, improving, and always offering new and exciting experiences for their members. In doing so, their hope is that those experiences become part of individuals’ life stories, memories that they will always carry with them.
The company also proposes to give back in ways that build a “cleaner tomorrow for future generations” by partnering with environmental organizations like 4ocean and Seabin. These organizations remove thousands of pounds of trash from our oceans, rivers, and coastlines, and coordinate other efforts to create a healthier, more beautiful world for all of us.
One of the things that strikes us most about Safe Harbor Marinas’ approach to service is their commitment to creating new ways for members to have experiences that feel personal and unique, that truly cater to individuality. That is part of what drove the company to initiate projects at their properties in San Diego and engage McCullough for landscape architectural services.
McCullough’s relationship with Safe Harbor Marinas began when Vice President of Construction & Development Les Key contacted our team regarding revitalization projects at Safe Harbor Cabrillo Isle and Safe Harbor Sunroad properties on Harbor Island in San Diego, which are two of their three properties in San Diego. The third is known as Safe Harbor Shelter Island. They also hold marina properties throughout California in Chula Vista, Oxnard, Ventura, Alameda, Emeryville, and San Rafael.
Les is a licensed architect who joined Safe Harbor Marinas after transitioning away from a traditional architectural practice. Desiring a more engaging, multifaceted career outside of the realm of what traditional architecture could provide, he transitioned first to the automotive sector, designing user experiences at dealerships, auto shows, and retail centers. This gave him the opportunity to contribute to brand image and user experiences as a whole rather than the “nuts and bolts” of architectural design.
“There is always a story in good design, but you’re not necessarily crafting the story to the same depth as you are when you’re creating user experiences.”
– Les Key, Vice President of Construction & Development
From the automotive industry, Les later transitioned to his position at Safe Harbor Marinas, where he has been for four years. He personally oversees 36 properties, traveling to visit each of them a few times a year. He shares, “Where I’m at now is very much ‘tip-to-toe’ — it’s the user experience, it’s the brand image, all the way up to the nuts and bolts of how something goes together and what is the most efficient deliverable possible from a cost, longevity, and member engagement standpoint.”
Les finds his work fascinating and engaging. He enjoys seeing all the facets of the waterfront lifestyle. During his time at Safe Harbor Marinas, he has witnessed a lot of change and growth; however, the COVID-19 pandemic affected business in a different way than what he expected. Although there was uncertainty in the beginning of lockdown, the company soon saw a drastic increase in boating because it allowed people to be active and socialize outdoors — it offers ”safe harbor” from the constraints and stresses that people feel around the world.
The opportunity to collaborate on these projects is one that aligns with McCullough’s philosophies and the trends that we’ve witnessed across multiple industries and project typologies: People desire a variety of outdoor experiences that enhance their connection both to nature and to each other. This has only become more evident since the onset of the pandemic. Furthermore, if people are able to express their individuality through their selection and discovery of those experiences, the lasting impression will bring them back to revisit them time and time again.
Learn more about Safe Harbor Marinas by visiting shmarinas.com.
Nikki Holloway
Marketing + Creative Manager
Save the Date: April 21, 2022
McCullough is delighted to co-sponsor, along with the San Diego/Tijuana chapter of Urban Land Institute (ULI), the next PechaKucha Night the evening of April 21st! The event, which follows sessions on the Thursday of the ULI Spring Meeting, will bring together a diverse group of brilliant, creative minds to share their unique stories and perspectives in a series of presentations on the theme of the San Diego/Tijuana World Design Capital 2024 designation.
Learn more about PechaKucha Night by visiting the San Diego Architectural Foundation, the official PKN host chapter for San Diego: sdarchitecture.org/program/pechakucha.
We hope to see you there!