MLA Contributes to Win Top ULI Award

McCullough Landscape Architecure’s design for the Mesa Commons Cafe & Bookstore landscape design took a coveted ULI Award for “Eat Better Think Better – Building Healthy Habits.” The Urban Land Institute recognizes real estate projects that support public health and encourage communities to acquire healthier lifestyles. The Commons is the first building of all the San Diego County community colleges to implement an innovative HVAC condensate reclamation system design that will provide 100% of the site’s irrigation needs.

MLA congratulates the entire project team

• Developer: San Diego Community College District
• Mesa College: Gayla Pierce
• General Contractor: Balfour Beatty Construction
• Architects: SGPA Architecture & Planning, Miller Hull Partnership
• Structural Engineer: Hope-Amundson
• Engineering Planning: Latitude 33
• Mechanical Engineer: MA Engineers
• Landscape Architect: McCullough Landscape Architecture
• Interior Design: ID Studios
• Wayfinding: Graphic Solutions

Read our Mesa College Commons case study >

More about The Urban Land Institute San Diego-Tijuana >

ULI Award Photo Gallery

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Faces of Innovation:
Hatch Magazine Profiles David McCullough

We are pleased to say that Hatch, a San Diego Magazine sister publication, recently profiled MLA’s founder/Principal Architect David McCullough and other influential designers in San Diego.

Read David’s profile >

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Thanks for the “Groovy” Time!

Catherine and David mix it up at the annual SMPS golf tournament. Dig those earrings!

SMPS San Diego’s annual golf tournament was the real deal! Thanks for stopping by and doing the Shimmy down our red carpet. Sponsoring this event is a highlight for us each year. Thank you SMPS San Diego and congratulations to the winner of our GoPlayGolf gift card, Chad Koelling of CH2M Hill.

Art on the Land

A Clear Vision for San Diego’s Landscape

McCullough Landscape Architecture is featured in the current issue of the San Diego Downtown News. The article by Delle Willett, a veteran journalist known for her reporting on conservation and the environment, begins with the short version of the firm’s history. More importantly, she writes about the firm’s vision — designing sustainable, living environments where people live, work, study and play. David, the firm’s principal landscape architect and Catherine, president of the firm, form a powerhouse of energy and commitment to the built environment.

“I believe our staff, led by my husband, can make an impact on our built environment and am happy to support in making our community a better place.”
Catherine McCullough

Read the Full Article →

SMPS Golf Tournament

We’re sponsors! SMPS San Diego annual golf tournament is just around the corner on June 2. Last day to sign up is May 26th.

It's not too late! Register now →

SDAF CONTEXT Vol. 4

On June 6, the San Diego Architectural Foundation Context Volume 4: Neighborhoods 2027 “aims to shift the public dialogue about new development” in our city. We are also sponsoring this event!

Register today →
 

An Outdoor Vibe That Stimulates Creativity

McCullough recently completed landscape design for The Oberlin, a progressive office campus that connects the indoors to the outdoors. The work done for this space supports our vision of designing user-oriented landscapes. The 62,400 SF office complex is comprised of three buildings and features roll-up doors that open to outdoor patios. There we created unique spaces where people can hold meetings, have lunch or just take a break from work.

“The site was primarily a parking lot, yet the client wanted the individual suites of the building to have their own outdoor amenity, and include a common space for the property. We addressed this by creating outdoor rooms with plant material that divided the space with greenery and hedge walls, creating individual personalities for each space.”
David McCullough

World Landscape Architecture Month

April is World Landscape Architecture Month (WLAM). Its purpose is to introduce our profession to the public by highlighting landscape architect-designed spaces from around the world.

We're proud to say MLA designer, Priyanka Malik, has been shortlisted for a WLA Award. Check out Priyanka’s design for a riverfront location in Andhra Pradesh, India. See her complete master's thesis here: Resilient Future: The Cultural Riverfront Edge in the New Capital, Amaravathi, in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Super Bloom

The rain this winter gave us nature’s perfect landscape. If you didn’t get a chance to visit the desert and see the blanket of wild flowers, check out these links and photos.

Super bloom: See the gorgeous explosion of wildflowers sweeping Southern California

Why California Deserts Are Experiencing a 'Super Bloom'

Super Bloom on Twitter

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Carrizo Plain National Monument

McCullough Landscape Architecture Welcomes Brian Frederick to the Team

Digital Platforms Advance the Art of Landscape Architecture

February 8, 2017 | SAN DIEGO, Calif.  — We are happy to announce that Brian Frederick has joined San Diego-based McCullough Landscape Architecture, Inc. as an associate landscape designer. Brian, who came on board in December 2016, will help the firm with design development, quality control, client relations, document development and staff software support.

Brian received his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Texas A&M University in 2012 and has been a practicing landscape designer for five years, in both large engineering offices as well as smaller traditional landscape architecture firms. He has been responsible for design and construction documentation of many public parks, mixed-use buildings, university campuses, and corporate campus projects in the Southern California area, as well as across the nation.

Prior to joining McCullough Landscape Architecture, Inc., Brian was the director of content and training at Land F/X, headquartered in San Luis Obispo, California. Land F/X develops professional-grade landscape and irrigation design software. In addition, he has worked as a software designer and independent workflow consultant, bringing a wealth of knowledge to the McCullough staff, allowing for a smoother design process.

“We’re excited to have someone with Brian’s background and expertise in our industry’s digital platforms," said David McCullough, principal landscape architect and co-founder of the firm. "Brian will enhance our staff’s abilities to provide for our clients as our firm continues to focus on improving efficiencies and increasing our design capabilities.”

“The ability to visually communicate our solutions that combine our unique design aesthetic and technical expertise is right up my alley,” Brian added. “Between my software expertise and my own design experience, I’m well-suited to help McCullough expand its services.”

Outside the office, Brian is the founder of San DiFUEGO–a community hot sauce and spicy food club for San Diego home cooks and backyard gardeners.

About McCullough Landscape Architecture

Founded in 1999, McCullough Landscape Architecture, Inc., located in San Diego’s downtown Makers Quarter, is an award-winning landscape design firm. The firm is certified by the State of California Department of General Services as a Small Business Enterprise and is woman-owned. For nearly twenty years the firm has worked on many private, civic and military projects. Clients include CityMark Development, Alexandria Real Estate, Pacifica Companies, the cities of Carlsbad and San Diego, the U.S. Navy and numerous schools and universities. Their work has been recognized with many regional and national awards. For more information about McCullough, visit their website at www.mlasd.com.

McCullough Helps Mesa College Reach Sustainability Goals with New Campus Designs

The Mesa College mission has clearly carried through the landscape design by providing an experience with a large focus on maximized site functionality and sustainability.

Exercise Science Facility & The Commons Café & Bookstore

With a comprehensive commitment to access, success, equity, and to foster an effect of positive change within our community, the Mesa College mission was clearly carried through the landscape design by providing an experience with a large focus on maximized site functionality and sustainability.

San Diego-based McCullough Landscape Architecture, alongside project team members MA Engineers, addressed the College’s focal sustainability initiatives with unique design elements and complimentary features for the The Commons and the adjacent Exercise Science building while hitting the following goals:

Conserve Water and Minimize Storm Water Runoff

192,000 gallons – that’s the estimated annual storm water runoff collected by the six below ground 1,700 gallon cisterns that will reclaim water to be used for site landscaping irrigation of the The Commons café and bookstore.

Permeable paving is utilized throughout hardscape areas to reduce site storm water runoff, and landscape areas are designed to capture and filter runoff from other areas of the site.

Mitigate the Heat Island Effect

Shading areas were maximized in order to minimize increases in ambient temperature.

Water-Efficient Landscaping

275,500 gallons – that’s the amount of condensate water estimated to be collected annually for campus re-use. The Commons is the first building of all the San Diego County community college properties to house a group of six 1,700 gallon cisterns that provide 100% of the site’s irrigation needs (up to 98,000 gallons) through reclaimed HVAC condensate water and collected rain water. An organic rooftop garden is also a first for the campus. Used by the Culinary Arts Management department and fed by the day tank, the garden will provide some of the produce used in the building’s student-run café. In addition, the plant palette for both buildings includes California native and drought-tolerant species, providing 75% reduction in total irrigation water needs through the selection of native and drought tolerant plants – saving another 300,696 gallons annually.

The Commons is the first building of all the San Diego County community colleges to implement an innovative HVAC condensate reclamation system design that will provide 100% of the site’s irrigation needs.

Reduce Landscape Maintenance

Maintenance-intensive plant material selections were reduced for both buildings to realize economic savings over time.

Contribute to Regional Ecosystem Function

Plant species were chosen to attract pollinators and provide habitat for local fauna.

Strengthen Mesa College’s Identity as a Sustainable Campus

McCullough has successfully begun a campus-wide renovation within these two projects (as well as the adjacent Center for Business & Technology, currently under construction) while reinforcing Mesa College’s commitment to sustainability.

As Seen in San Diego Business Journal