Reimagining Our Downtown Parklet for International Park(ing) Day

McCullough Headquarters, Downtown San Diego

What is Park(ing) Day?

Park(ing) Day is an international annual event that encourages community organizations, design firms, artists, business owners, planners and students around the globe to transform metered parking spaces into temporary parklets for a single day every third Friday in September. The parklet is small-scale, encompassing one or more adjacent parking spaces, and can take a wide variety of beautiful, artful, educational, or playful forms.*

*American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) San Diego

Friday, September 17th, our firm participated in International Park(ing) Day. We are thrilled to have collaborated with our neighbors on the 700 Block, 16th Street, AVRP Studios and Moniker Group, to activate our shared parklet and hold a mock late night tv show featuring AVRP Studios’ Senior Urban Designer, Howard Blackson.

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES?

To kick things off and narrow down some ideas about what we wanted to do, we invited Brooksie Hughes of BAH Productions to facilitate the conversation in our high concept design charette. Brooksie has over two decades experience as an event producer and placemaking consultant creating experiences of all kinds, shapes, and sizes nationwide - often pushing the limits of what is possible. Alongside her work in events, she also works with developers, architects, and city planners to help shape the public realm in communities through the “end-user’s” point of view. Recently, she has been focused on parklets beyond the normal uses, home and abroad.

Bright and early on September 7th, Brooksie joined us at our San Diego office to guide us through a Park(ing) Day Design Charette complete with fun, interactive exercises that inspired our Park(ing) Day project. Our team was energized by the experience (as well as the coffee and donuts!), and after narrowing down precisely how we wanted to participate in the event, we were only left with how to execute our plan.

“IF I COULD MAKE SAN DIEGO A BETTER PLACE, I WOULD…”

After spending the following ten days planning and preparing, on Friday, September 17th, we transformed our parklet into a mock late night tv studio, featuring fun activities and the chance for guests to sit in the “hot seat” and be interviewed on LIVE! with Howard Blackson.

Early Friday morning, our team spruced up the parklet with fresh succulents and began setting up for the day. We installed four 2”x4” posts along the outer frame of the parklet and strung flags made from architectural plans from the building to the posts, creating a cloud-like canopy overhead. On the parklet tables, guests were invited to write their ideas about “big sky possibilities” for our city on colorful flags, answering the prompt, “If I could make San Diego a better place, I would…” Guests then pinned their flags to our Idea Board to be used as discussion points in the mock late night tv show.

We were excited to have the company of many guests right when LIVE! with Howard Blackson commenced at 11:00 AM. Howard took the (sidewalk) stage and began hosting the show with introductions and a few jokes in his characteristic witty style. A few of our guests volunteered to take one of the three “hot seats” in which they wore different hats and tried to answer Howard’s questions from the perspective of whose “hat” they were wearing: one hat was labeled “City Planner,” another was labeled “Architect,” and the third was labeled “Community Member.” Howard pulled flags from the Idea Board to use as topics for the interviewees to answer questions about. We loved hearing the interesting and insightful responses to our guests’ ideas about how to make San Diego a better place.

We’d like to offer a special thanks to Howard Blackson for being our entertaining host, as well as AVRP Studios and Moniker Group for all of their support before and during the event! We are honored to have been the only downtown parklet participating in International Park(ing) Day this year – there were also 14+ participants in Chula Vista, coordinated by the San Diego Chapter of ASLA!

THE STORY OF OUR 700 BLOCK 16TH STREET PARKLET

The 16th Street Parklet project, in front of the historic Snowflake Bakery building, was a joint effort between Kate Goodson of Pop-Arch, Moniker Group, East Village Association, McCullough Landscape Architecture, and Rob Nelson Architecture. Permitted in 2016, the design was intended as a pilot project to create an easily replicable template for parklets throughout downtown to increase walkability and community engagement. It was one of the first permitted parklets under the new regulatory process.

The original design focused on using natural materials and textures to invoke a park-like feel while still giving a nod to the industrial roots of the East Village neighborhood. Along the street length side of the parklet were printed steel mesh panels with photos of the Snowflake Bakery throughout history – from the turn of the century when it was constructed to modern day. It was even honored in a grand-opening ceremony, with former Mayor Kevin Faulconer and former Council Member Todd Gloria, as “Rob Nelson Memorial Parklet” in memory of Rob Nelson following his passing during completion of the project. Although the original parklet with the photo panels was damaged in an accident, Moniker Group completed a replacement parklet in early 2021.

TIMELY APPROVAL OF MAYOR GLORIA’S SPACES AS PLACES PROGRAM

On Thursday, September 16th, the day before the global Park(ing) Day event, the City of San Diego’s Land Use & Housing Committee approved Mayor Todd Gloria’s Spaces as Places program, an important step forward toward City Council’s approval.

The Spaces as Places program was designed in response to the pandemic, during which outdoor dining within public spaces became critical to the survival of many restaurant businesses, given that it allowed them to continue operating under public health orders restricting indoor operations. Spaces as Places allows businesses to transition existing, temporary outdoor spaces from an emergency response to a permanent program, which includes specific design and safety standards.

“San Diegans have made clear how much they love the outdoor dining and spaces that arose from the COVID-19 pandemic, and I have been committed to finding a way for them to stay. This program will create an avenue for temporary outdoor structures constructed in response to the pandemic to become permanent installations, ensuring long-term options that are safe, equitable and accessible for everyone.”

– Mayor Todd Gloria

This is an exciting stride ahead for the City of San Diego and our community’s relationship with the public realm. Given the timing, we can’t help but think that the combined efforts of all those involved in Park(ing) Day played an important role in the Land Use & Housing Committee’s approval of the Spaces as Places program. We couldn’t be more pleased.

Learn more about Spaces as Places by visiting: sandiego.gov/spaces-as-places

Nikki Holloway
Marketing + Creative Manager

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Client of the Month:
Safdie Rabines Architects

Diversionary Theatre - San Diego, CA

McCullough is eager to announce Safdie Rabines Architects (SRA) as our September Client of the Month!

Founded by husband-and-wife partners Ricardo Rabines and Taal Safdie, SRA has accomplished many successful projects in San Diego and around the world. Today, Ricardo and Taal continue to lead the full-service architecture, interiors, and urban design firm of more than 40 talented professionals at their office in San Diego’s Mission Hills. The firm explores all project typologies through their work and holds a diverse portfolio of successful projects that deliver “distinctive, sustainable and site-specific design solutions in a variety of contexts and scales.”

Taal and Ricardo moved from New York to San Diego in 1990 to work with the Chair of the Department of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, who was hired to be the Dean of a new architectural school at UC San Diego. While they initially considered the move temporary, they soon fell in love with the beauty of the city and potential of the region and chose to settle with their growing family. In 1993 they founded Safdie Rabines Architects and began with a strong emphasis in single-family residential projects. Having long held an interest in public work, they strove to expand the diversity of their portfolio.

Through nearly 30 years, SRA has expanded far beyond their early beginnings in public work to a variety of project typologies including education, civic, master planning, mixed-use, commercial, residential, and urban design. Across every type of project, SRA brings their unique vision to create vibrant structures and social spaces that enhance the beauty of the surrounding site and community. This emphasis on creating a sense of place has been realized in projects that range from intimate cultural venues to full-scale neighborhoods that integrate living, learning, and the community experience.

SRA strives to follow these guiding principles in all they do:

• Their work progresses from the client’s vision and goals for the project in concert with the unique conditions of each site.

• They endeavor to create significant and meaningful places through the development of an integrated relationship between building and landscape.

• They strive to be sensitive to context and to responsibly consider and implement environmental opportunities with the design of each building and site.

The fact that these guiding principles align so closely with McCullough’s values is likely a huge part of why our teams collaborate seamlessly together. As Taal recently shared, “For most of our projects, the nature – the landscape – is the main component. It is intuitively important to Ricardo and me, both personally and in our work to maintain a connection with the natural realm. We love to be in nature; when we can be outside, we are. We strive to translate those sensibilities in our designs because we believe people are like us – they like to be outside.”

McCullough and SRA have teamed for a range of different types of projects, such as the Diversionary Theatre in University Heights, one of the oldest LGBTQ theaters in the country; SeaGlass, an 8-unit residential condominium development in Carlsbad; and the Olivetas Residence, a private residence project in La Jolla, to name a few.

DIVERSIONARY THEATRE

Diversionary Theatre is a high-quality theatrical venue for the LGBTQ community that empowers the expression of important cultural discussions. The theater is one of the oldest LGBTQ theaters in the country and has been in its current location since 1994. Through our collaborative work on this project, the two-story, 11,000 SF venue will benefit from refreshed design elements, larger seating capacity of 160 seats, improved sightlines, accessibility for guests, and upgraded, state-of-the-art theatrical technology and equipment. A new courtyard will form part of the entry, welcoming the local community and encouraging gathering and social interactions.

This project had a very limited budget to bring landscape design to the courtyard space. This challenge caused the client to want to cut landscape from the project. However, we were able to quickly develop a solution to the setback. Principal David McCullough went above and beyond to meet with the client, helping them to select all the plants for the project. This solution allowed them to stay true to the project vision while also remaining on budget.

SEAGLASS

SeaGlass is a 22,400 SF eight-unit multifamily condominium development within Carlsbad Village – the suburban “heart” of Carlsbad. This multi-level residential building will hold seven three-bedroom units and one single-bedroom unit. The architectural design maximizes vertical space with a private garage and three levels of living space, providing residents a feeling of spaciousness. Extensive terraces open the units to outdoor natural beauty and captivating ocean views to the west.

OLIVETAS RESIDENCE

The private residence at Olivetas Avenue is an exciting single-family home renovation with a coastal cottage design theme, incorporating drought tolerant Mediterranean and native plant selections that display color and scent throughout the year. By merging the hard and soft elements of the landscape design, the plant palette will be arranged in a “coordinated wildness” that resembles a natural, loose composition. Sustainability is a top priority for this project, and as such, part of our plan is to save two large trees on-site and to relocate and repurpose some smaller palms as well as a fig tree. The owners will enjoy views out of large windows that reveal a verdant garden with plenty of space to gather, entertain, reflect, or exercise. McCullough’s Studio Team Leader and Project Manager, Zeek Magallanes is excited for this project because “…our landscape design supports the playfulness between the indoor and outdoor spaces, prompted by the architectural design of the home. This gives us the opportunity to include some unique, whimsical elements that create a symbiotic harmony between the homeowners and the natural environment.”

These are just a few of the projects that SRA and McCullough have had the privilege to work on together. Our additional project experience with SRA includes:

• Presidio Residence (featured in the San Diego Union Tribune!)

• The Palatine in Bankers Hill

• Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College Instructional Building F1

• Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College Instructional Building F2

• Bishops Lane

• 1627 Kearsarge

• 3rd Avenue Mixed-Use

When it comes to working together on projects, the trust that has developed due to personal relationships between Taal, Ricardo, and David McCullough make collaborating a pleasant experience no matter what the project entails. Taal described how…

“…the personal relationship with David McCullough is part of what makes working with McCullough different from other landscape architecture firms. When we are met with a design challenge, David will come up with creative ideas right away so that the client has different options to move forward with.”

Likewise, McCullough enjoys working with Safdie Rabines because of their committed, holistic approach and dedication to meeting clients’ vision and needs.

For more information about Safdie Rabines Architects, visit www.safdierabines.com.

Nikki Holloway
Marketing + Creative Manager

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Zeek Magallanes Promoted to Studio Team Leader

We are very pleased to announce that Zeek Magallanes, formerly an Associate Landscape Designer, has been promoted to Studio Team Leader. Please join us in congratulating Zeek on this well-deserved promotion!

As our Studio Team Leader, Zeek will serve as the key liaison between firm management and technical staff. His collaborative leadership style and open, clear communication will empower our design team to deliver high quality work. His responsibilities will include coordinating project management, design development and coordination, and team support in addition to his former duties.

“Even under the challenge of working remotely through the pandemic, Zeek has excelled in leading our studio designers as well as cultivating positive relationships with clients,” said President/CEO Catherine McCullough. “Given his diligent, focused approach, we are confident that Zeek will continue to flourish in this new role and serve as a guiding force for the success of the firm.”

Landscape Architecture was not always the path for Zeek. After earning a degree in Cultural Anthropology from San Diego State University and spending several years in the Biotech industry, he took a complete change of direction. He underwent a five-year career transition, which culminated in earning his master’s degree in Landscape Architecture and Urbanism from the University of Southern California.

Zeek first joined McCullough as an Associate during January 2020, after several years working as a landscape designer with other local firms. Since 2013, he has completed over a dozen small to medium scale residential landscape designs through his side project, Integrifolia Landscape Design. He brings a reliable history of leadership and accountability to the projects he works on and is passionate about the intersection of urbanism, social and environmental resiliency, and the business of design.

Reclaiming Green Space Over San Diego’s Interstate 5

Imagine… Downtown San Diego bursting with an abundance of park space, walkable bridges over Interstate 5 healing divisions between fractured communities, and lush new green spaces that embody climate-positive benefits for a more sustainable future.

Could this be a possibility for San Diego?

Not only is it possible, but it is an important component of the Downtown Community Plan established in 1989. San Diego Commons (SD Commons) is a nonprofit organization focused on efforts to heal the divide created by Interstate 5 (I-5), aiming to gain park space that was part of the Downtown Community Plan. By covering the freeway trench with parkland “caps,” the new spaces will provide “common ground” that reconnects underserved communities.

Johanna Mall, McCullough Associate Landscape Designer and member of the San Diego Commons Board of Directors, has been spreading the word about San Diego Commons’ initiative to reconnect communities. This month, firm Marketing + Creative Manager Nikki Holloway met with Johanna after her presentation to the San Diego Green Building Council in June to learn more and find out how we can support the cause.

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An Interview with San Diego Commons Board Member Johanna Mall

Let’s jump right in! Most San Diegans are all too familiar with the roaring Interstate 5 that cuts through downtown. Although it’s an important means for getting around, the reality of its presence is disruptive. How has it affected the original vision for the City?

Before construction of the I-5 freeway began in the 1950s, San Diego had an intimate connection with Balboa Park and its surrounding neighborhoods. Unfortunately, the building of I-5 severed the connection between downtown and communities such as Barrio Logan, Sherman Heights, and Golden Hill. This is significant because constructing the freeway meant cutting these neighborhoods off from economic and social opportunities. 

It comes as no surprise that this transition has stirred many people, leading to a push to do something about it, which is part of how I got involved with SD Commons. 

SD Commons is a nonprofit started in 2019 by San Diego civic leaders and professionals in the effort to install an important component of the Downtown Community Plan that would give 40 acres of park space back to our communities. The organization builds upon several years of work by like-minded community activists. The goal is to repair significant damage done to San Diego communities by developing cultural and natural resources accessible to all members of our society. This forms a “Commons” in the form of developed parks as covers over portions of the I-5 freeway downtown. Reconnecting Communities is a current working title of the mission of San Diego Commons.

You mentioned that, like many San Diegans, you were stirred to do something and ended up getting involved with SD Commons. What’s the background of this group, and how have you personally gotten involved?

A few years ago, the topic of the freeway covers originally came up at a Lambda Alpha International meeting. Freeways caps had been talked about for years and they were starting to show success in other cities around the country, such as Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, Texas. After the presentation, a group got together and formed “Heal the Gash” to ensure that this component was implemented. This vision is stated and proposed in the Downtown Community Plan.

I got involved with SD Commons over a year ago when our Principal, David McCullough told our staff about a collective meeting to discuss the implementation of freeway covers in San Diego. My ears perked up and before I knew it, I was participating at the in-person meeting. A group got together and formed a plan to ensure that this component was implemented. Other SD Commons board members are a collective of community activists, local architects and landscape architects, urban designers, residents, engineers, environmentalists, lawyers, and community program coordinators.

SD Commons is a way for me to get directly involved in my community and instill the values I believe in – for the welfare of the environment and the affected communities. I have very strong opinions and perspectives when it comes to our approach to the built environment and how it directly affects local culture and quality of life. I have always been intrigued by policies and how they shape our cities, so SD Commons was an opportunity for me to learn the grassroots process and have a say in the process itself.

Wow! SD Commons is a means for you to participate in real change that will shape the future of our City. What are your responsibilities as a member of the Board?

I serve as a general board member as well as a part of the Public Relations and Marketing Committee. As board members, we collaborate, providing feedback on documents and issues. I help wherever I can and have worked heavily on our presentation to community leaders, including iterations of the PowerPoint presentation. Each member individually reaches out to public officials, district representatives, and community leaders to spread the word of the Community Plan vision. The goal is to gain moral support from the communities that will be directly affected and benefit from this mission so that we can gain traction and ultimately implement the covers.

To be as involved as you are, you must be intimately familiar with the details of the SD Commons mission. Would you share a little about the plans being developed and what areas would be affected? How much park space would result from these plans?

There are two freeway covers over I-5 identified in San Diego’s general plan that are meant to provide new open spaces to downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods.

The first is Sherman Heights to East Village, from Island Avenue to K Street. A freeway cover here would bring open parkland to the neighborhood. It would also relieve some of the blight by covering the noise and pollution and bringing economic opportunity by reconnecting that community with downtown San Diego. Although the Balboa Park expansion is stated as the priority in the Downtown Community Plan, we believe it is more important that the underserved and underrepresented community of Sherman Heights be given the first opportunity of reconnection.

The second cover would be from Balboa Park to Cortez Hill in downtown, blocks from 2nd Avenue to 6th Avenue. This would expand Balboa Park so that it is more accessible from downtown, connecting Cortez Hill with Balboa Park and Bankers Hill. Development land could also be available in the Balboa Park Lid.

Those two covers would give San Diego about 20 new acres of public open space – 4.5 acres from the Sherman Heights/East Village lid and 14 acres from the Balboa Park/Cortez Hill/Bankers Hill lid.

Opening so much additional space downtown seems like it would present many exciting opportunities! What are the benefits of covering the freeway with green, usable land?

While the immediate environmental benefits of having open parkland over the freeway are obvious, the most important factor of this initiative is to reconnect the communities that have been severed from downtown and the economic stress they have experienced because of the direct physical location of I-5.

This should also be seen as an opportunity for climate mitigation through carbon sequestration, the elimination of refractive heat (a.k.a. the urban heat island effect), noise reduction, and habitat restoration. The green spaces would help filter vehicle emissions and replace toxic, unusable airspace.

Although there are so many important benefits to this, have you had any opposition to these plans? What are the arguments against it?

While it’s hard to imagine why someone would be against covering the freeway with parkland, there are a few arguments against freeway caps. First, there is the question of funding and feasibility – how is it going to be funded? Teralta Park over the I-15 was supposed to be one out of seven caps. However, after several years working to make progress with Caltrans, this was the only park cover that made it into construction.

The next concern is the matter of gentrification. This is a hot topic with some pointing at the overly successful Highline in New York City, but I see it as a catch-22. We can’t ignore our under-served communities out of fear of serving them better.

Is the solution to gentrification to continue ignoring underserved communities out of the fear of rising real estate value displacing residents?

I personally do not think it is. While people point to Highline, I think it’s safe to say Teralta Park has not displaced residents in City Heights. The main difference is now there is a neighborhood park where children play basketball, shaded tables for sitting, paths and grass to walk and play – simple, but necessary amenities making a positive impact on the health and welfare of neighborhoods. There’s a difference between design attracting outside visitors versus design meeting the needs of a community. The proposed freeway parks are a blank canvas. They have yet to be designed. The intent is to involve the surrounding communities so they can take part in the process and have a say in their environment.

Have parkland freeway covers been successful in other cities? Perhaps there are inspiring ideas and lessons-learned to be found in those successes.

The Highline in New York City is a good example of how too much success can dramatically bring more change than the community can handle, leading to issues of gentrification. A burst of real estate development followed the implementation of the Highline, which skyrocketed real estate values and caused a loss of affordable housing.

While the Highline is a beautiful landmark and the “poster child” of the environmental and architectural ideals that we strive for, a main criticism of the Highline is that it has failed to serve the surrounding neighborhood it was originally meant for. To avoid that pitfall, SD Commons would hold community workshops and design charrettes in close coordination with community leaders to ensure that we truly meet the needs of the community while dancing the fine line of attracting visitors.

Hollywood’s Central Park has completed their feasibility studies and are in the CEQA documentation phase. They are years ahead of us in the process and have been very valuable, helping us with advice regarding the bureaucratic process.

What other obstacles need to be overcome to make this a reality? 

The first thing that needs to be done is an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), and it’s not going to be cheap. We also need a feasibility study to determine the opportunities, constraints, and costs of the project. A big challenge we’ve faced is obtaining the funding for these expensive reports. This is why it is crucial for us to get support from the communities. We’re doing so by working to make them aware of the vision behind the Downtown Community Plan, in order to help them share our desire to make it happen. 

One promising opportunity for our mission is the U.S. Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure deal, which includes $550 billion in federal investment in America’s infrastructure. One section of the deal focuses on “Reconnecting Communities” that past transportation investments have divided. In July, SD Commons President Roger Lewis went on a mission to Washington D.C. to speak to and gain support from senators and representatives of San Diego. We have high hopes to gain funding from this deal. 

It sounds like SD Commons needs two things to get this moving: funding and volunteers. What can people do to get involved?

That is exactly it! This project cannot be done without community support. These park covers are meant for the communities. In partnership with SD Commons, the Sherman Heights Community Center is hosting the very first community design charrette in the beginning of Fall (late September/early October) to discuss the Phase One freeway cap in the Sherman Heights neighborhood. The knowledge base from the citizens themselves is crucial in this process. Please come out, bring your thoughts and opinions, and be part of the discussion! Keep an eye out at SDCommons.org for the announcement of the date and help spread the word.

We are always looking for new people to join our board to help with community outreach.

Besides that? Donate. Donate. Donate. We need all the financial help we can to fund the EIR and feasibility studies. SD Commons has an optimistic goal to enter the CEQA phase by 2025 and begin construction in 2028-2029. We have a lot to do to reach that goal.

Get involved with SD Commons by contacting us at info@sdcommons.org! We’d love to have the help!

If this became reality, how would it personally affect you?

Since San Diego is severed by several freeways, air quality and blight caused by the harsh vehicular environment is a real and major concern for me. The City is also severely lacking in open green space in downtown itself. When I first began working in San Diego, I would walk around outside to find a nice spot to eat my lunch – that’s when I quickly realized there is no common open space to go to in downtown San Diego. I am fortunate enough to live a few blocks away from Balboa Park, whereas residents in the neighborhoods of East Village and Sherman Heights must hop into a car or travel to find green open space and escape the built environment.

It’s clear to me that public space and public realm play a huge role in social justice. Investment in these green spaces means providing social and economic stimulation in underinvested, low-income communities. Urban building development without serious and sensitive consideration of neighborhood contexts leads to the lack of sense of place. My goal is to make meaningful places in San Diego while working to bring its communities the amenities they deserve. It is crucial to restore the feeling of identity in those communities that have been segregated by transportation infrastructure by returning open space back to them.

Thank you for sharing this important mission! Do you have anything else you’d like to add?

Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 (C3) did a great interview of SD Commons activists Mike Stepner and Vicki Estrada in this podcast episode – they share so much great information.

Want to get involved with San Diego Commons? Here’s how:

• Contact info@sdcommons.org to learn about volunteer opportunities.

•  Make a donation to SD Commons in support of reconnecting San Diego’s communities.

• Don’t forget to check SDCommons.org for details about design charrettes for each of the affected communities, including the Sherman Heights Design Charette coming this Fall!

Johanna Mall, ASLA
Associate

Nikki Holloway
Marketing + Creative Manager

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Client of the Month:
Gafcon 

Seaport San Diego

Our August Client of the Month has contributed to more than $50 billion in bond projects, has won over 150 awards for projects delivered in the past 10 years, and has worked with us on iconic local and international projects including Seaport San Diego…

We are thrilled to feature Gafcon as our Client of the Month!

For over 33 years, Gafcon has been a leader in providing owner representative services to private and public clients. Gafcon’s expertise is made evident by their talented team of people, cutting-edge technology, and unique processes. They are easily set apart from their competition and currently ranked #44 among Engineering News Record’s (ENR) Top 50 Program Management Firms for 2021!

Based in San Diego, with offices in Los Angeles and Orange County, Gafcon’s portfolio showcases a diverse mix of local and international projects in education, entertainment, mixed-use, municipal, waterfront, and healthcare. Their services include program/project management, construction management, digital technology, labor relations, claims solutions, multifamily renovations, and development.

Genuine. Adaptive. Dedicated. Articulate. Decisive.

Much like McCullough, Gafcon considers its people and their collective values and goals to be the foundation of their success. They define success by projects that create impact and benefit the needs of the communities they serve. The “Gafcon Tribal Code” of company values includes:

• Delivering complex projects that power vibrant communities

• Continually seeking new knowledge and delivering with the highest quality

• Looking beyond the obvious to find solutions to complex problems

• Becoming their clients’ partner and anticipating their needs

• Work hard, play hard

• Creating value for their clients, communities, and for each other

McCullough is honored to have had the opportunity to partner with Gafcon for some of our most valued, prestigious projects over the past several years. We continue to team with Gafcon for current and upcoming pursuits. Two of our favorite, most notable projects are Seaport San Diego and Zizhu Purple Bay.

ZIZHU PURPLE BAY, SHANGHAI, CHINA

In 2016, Gafcon gave McCullough the unique opportunity to join the team of visionaries leading the master planning and development for a 3,200-acre, waterfront urban center in Shanghai, China. As the landscape architect, our collaborative project partners include AVRP Studios, Gensler, City Design Studio, Moffat & Nichol, OdySea, Perkins Eastman, Fentress, and many others. Yehudi “Gaf” Gaffen, Gafcon’s CEO, said it best when he shared, “This is a legacy project at a tremendous scale. We are essentially building a new city from the ground up.”

Phase one of the Zizhu Purple Bay Development is an 800-acre mixed-use community surrounding a lake, known as Purple Lake, with yacht homes, condos, a nature and education center, an aquarium, and a botanical garden. The meticulous design embraces the natural waterfront along the Huangpu River at the edge of the property and features a man-made canal that passes through the site, a retail center, a waterfront park, and a nature walk leading to the water's edge.

The second phase involved enhancing amenities and features and will provide a business, tech, and education district; housing for the business workforce; hotels; a health center; senior housing; an equestrian center; a library tower; a winter sports facility; a mobility system; a nature-interpretive park; an aquarium; an arboretum; and artist community with sculpture gardens, exhibition spaces, workshops, and more.

For the third phase, Gafcon retained McCullough to study gardens that will surround a new luxury hotel for Zizhu. The hotel is the Orchid Lake Luxury Resort Hotel, which will reside on the east end of Purple Lake. Named Purple Garden, the gardens, spanning nearly 100 acres, will consist of a series of spaces that will encapsulate the hotel at Purple Lake’s edge. Read more about Purple Garden.

The images of Seaport San Diego above reflect early project work and may differ from the current design.

SEAPORT SAN DIEGO

Spanning 70 acres of land and water that make up San Diego’s Central Embarcadero, Seaport San Diego is a highly anticipated mixed-use redevelopment that will “offer visitors world-class recreational, commercial, cultural and educational attractions, while incorporating the rich aquatic heritage and industry of the region.” Yehudi “Gaf” Gaffen is the active managing partner guiding the project to successfully bring the new vision to reality.

McCullough has been involved in the first phases of the conceptual design for the development leading up to the project entitlements for the port. We look forward to helping bring the vision to life in later portions of this pivotal, multi-phased project for the City.

Our additional collaborative project experience with Gafcon includes:

• Mission Ridge Apartments Renovation

• Master Planning for a Confidential Tribal Client

• Harborside Park on Oxford

• Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College Instructional Building F1

• Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College Instructional Building F2

• Other eco, community, tribal, and transit-oriented development projects

We are excited to share more about these monumental projects as our work progresses. To learn more about Gafcon, visit their website at www.gafcon.com.

Nikki Holloway
Marketing + Creative Manager

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From San Diego to the Bay Area: Industry Trends in California

This past month, Principal David McCullough participated as a BISNOW panel member for three important discussions for the State of California.

BAY AREA ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

Kicking things off in San Francisco July 29th, David was part of the panel for “The Future of Architecture & Design in the Bay Area.” With great insights from all panel members, David shared why he’s excited for the current shift in focus toward the public realm:

“We like to encourage this idea of the City as an amenity. It’s not just about your building, it’s not just about your project. It’s the things around it and how they interact with each other… The thing that’s really exciting is the agencies are realizing that the cost of purchasing property for parks and things like that is very expensive. So, the new model, which I’m just so happy–could not be more excited about, is to take the public realm that they already have, the streets, the sidewalks, and utilize them in a more productive way.”

– David McCullough, ASLA

Principal

SAN DIEGO STATE OF THE MARKET

During the San Diego State of the Market event August 3rd, much of the panel discussion was centered around current growth in the industrial, life science, and multi-family markets. Along with fellow “State of SD Supply & Demand” panel members, David looked ahead to several years of development and predicted that one of the biggest trends we’re going to see in San Diego is a shift in focus toward transit-oriented development and amazing growth along our transit lines.

LOS ANGELES ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

Most recently, David joined a panel to discuss “The Future of Architecture and Design in SoCal” at the Los Angeles Architecture & Design event August 10th. He shared a different approach to initiating projects which involves first asking “What are the possibilities? How great can this be?”, rather than the common practice of addressing the codes and policies first. Once the vision is established, the best way to fit within the codes and policies would then be determined.

“It should start with inspiration, passion, and love for what you do, and people around you feel and recognize that.”

– David McCullough, ASLA

Principal

Thank you to Bisnow for hosting such exceptional events and providing us the opportunity to participate! We are grateful to be part of the dialogue surrounding the future of the built environment in California.

Client of Month: [oo-d-a] studio inc.

Images by [oo-d-a] Studio Inc.

For the month of July, we are thrilled to feature another exceptional client as our Client of the Month: [oo-d-a] studio inc. and Owner Dominique Houriet. The firm is a collaborative studio of designers, architects, developers, and general contractors with a shared purpose to design, develop, and build beautiful “land sculptures” – functional works of art that improve the everyday lives of the people who live, work, and play within them.

Curious about the firm’s unusual name? Pronounced ooh-dee-ay, the firm’s name comes from a phonetic spelling of Houriet, Dominique’s last name.

[oo-d-a] has a strong focus on responsive, contemporary design focusing on both commercial and multifamily/residential projects located in the U.S. and Mexico. They are licensed for architecture as well as general contracting.

After graduating from Texas Tech University with a Master of Architecture degree, Dominique wasted no time moving to San Diego. However, it was short-lived since he quickly landed a job with the revered Sebastian Mariscal Studio. During his four years there, Dominique gained a wealth of experience taking projects through design and development and managing construction crews. His projects at the Studio were focused mainly on residential work, such as a single-family lot split in San Diego’s Little Italy and a condo project in La Jolla.

In 2008, Dominique took a four-month sabbatical to South America and returned to a different world – a world amid The Great Recession. “The world came crumbling down. I came back from South America facing despair at the state of the economy. For the first time, I had to ask myself, 'How am I going to eat?’” shared Dominique. Not one to be discouraged by the setback, he persisted in looking for architectural work while also welding and building elegant, artistically-crafted furniture, which is still featured on the firm’s website. It wasn’t long before the volume of Dominique’s architectural work ramped up, and so [oo-d-a] was born.

Now, 13 years later, the firm carries a portfolio of successful projects including many residential, single and multifamily projects as well as shopping centers; office spaces; a winery collaboration with Sebastian Mariscal Studio; several restaurant projects such as The Patio on Lamont and Kettner Exchange in collaboration with Tecture Design and Fabrication; and a Tijuana office space collaboration with Lindsay Brown of The Brown Studio, Inc. Dominique is now also joined by Christian Dimeling of VonDimeling Studio, who partners with [oo-d-a] for many projects.

[oo-d-a] and McCullough have collaboratively completed several urban infill projects and currently have multiple projects in progress. The following are just a few of our favorites:

1929 COLUMBIA STREET

Images by [oo-d-a] Studio Inc.

One of our first projects together was a seven-story multifamily infill development in San Diego’s Little Italy called 1929 Columbia Street. A unique, vertical infill project central to the Little Italy neighborhood, the development was designed with textural and diverse elements that have become part of the character of this prominent, downtown area.

C STREET

Images by [oo-d-a] Studio Inc.

C Street is a project recently kicked off and is currently in progress with [oo-d-a]. This 27-unit multifamily development in San Diego’s North Park area is a partnership with Uruguayan firm Estudio UCS, Ian Mahon of Level 3 Construction, and builder Danny Fitzgerald of Endeavor. We are excited to join this avant-garde team that is pressing the boundaries of affordable design, utilizing creative approaches and materials to create a development that is – all at once – beautiful, functional, completed within budget, and beneficial to the community.

THE COMMONS

Images by [oo-d-a] Studio Inc.

[oo-d-a] and McCullough partnered with Boardwalk Development for this small, retail shopping center on San Diego’s Mission Gorge Road called The Commons. Although the project footprint is small, Dominique’s design has given The Commons a personality of its own – more than just a retail space, it is a place that creates a pleasurable experience for its end-users. Street frontage that provides valuable visibility for retail tenants, shaded outdoor seating that encourages social interaction, and a stylish green roof on the street-facing corner – these are just a few features that exemplify how [oo-d-a]’s passion intersects with their pragmatic design sense to create a positive impact for local residents.

Images by [oo-d-a] Studio Inc.

LE PARC

We are excited to be working with [oo-d-a] on another multifamily infill project in North Park known as Le Parc, which is French for “The Park.” [oo-d-a] and Christian Dimeling are developing this 32-unit development together, and having recently finished drawings, the project is commencing the permitting process. This project is particularly interesting due to the vertical nature of the design. North Park recently passed an ordinance known as the Complete Communities Code that lifted former height restrictions for buildings in its neighborhood. This allows developers and designers to accomplish more with vertical space, and as early adopters, our design team intends to take advantage of the ordinance with this project. Principal David McCullough commented,

“Dominique has his own vernacular, his own style. He’s not doing what everyone else is doing, in the best way. He is truly passionate about his design work and is pushing the envelope vertically with Le Parc.”

Given the project’s location adjacent to North Park Community Park, Dominique and his associate, Christian Dimeling, originally had the idea to call the project The Parklane, which was the name of the high rise building that Christian’s father managed while Christian was growing up in Pittsburgh, PA. Christian tells us, “When I met Dominique, he was wearing a very stylish beret and told me he was of French and Peruvian descent. It seemed natural we give the name some flavor!”

Not only that – we have it on good authority that they listened to Polo & Pan’s Le Parc on repeat for three months straight while they designed Le Parc! You can listen to a short snippet on the website for the development.

Christian continued, “We hope it's not just a name but the spirit of the place.”

Evident through their work, [oo-d-a] aims to integrate the vision of each project into its context, which is the same, aligned approach that we value at McCullough. We believe that creating a space that is connected to its location – the culture, geography, and community – is a recipe for a structure that will stand the test of time. 

Our mutual value for this depth of purpose is what Dominique considers crucial to our many successful projects together. Of working together, he stated, “I have a great appreciation for the way that McCullough works to weave the vision and story behind the project into its design and development. We, at [oo-d-a] strongly believe that a proper design solution goes hand-in-hand with a higher-quality everyday life.”

“When you work with Dominique, it doesn’t matter whether the project is big or small, he puts his soul into it. It’s not about ego, it’s about excellent design and the value it brings to people’s lives.” – David McCullough

To learn more about [oo-d-a] studio inc., please visit www.oo-d-a.com.

Nikki Holloway
Marketing + Creative Manager

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Help Us Welcome Our New Hire: Adam crowell

Adam fell in love with San Diego when he took part in the ASLA conference the city hosted in 2019. He made it his goal, upon graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's Landscape Architecture program, to start his career in sunny San Diego and could not imagine doing what he is passionate about anywhere else. Adam was drawn to landscape architecture and the world of design through his love for our planet. As he begins his career as McCullough's newest Junior Associate, he feels the need to help create public spaces that leave an impact on people – whether that be through preserving historical sites, working diligently on combining an ecological approach, or pulling in aspects unique to the surrounding community. He is excited to be part of changing San Diego's landscape for the better.

Outside the walls of McCullough, Adam loves to spend time with his boyfriend, hiking, going to the beach, and exploring new food spots. As a new resident to San Diego, Adam says, “All recommendations are welcome!”

Some little-known facts about Adam are that he has played the piano since the first grade, has seen pretty much anything and everything on TV, and could talk about aliens any day of the week.

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New Website Address!

The McCullough website is now searchable at McCulloughLA.com!

We are proud to announce our new website address, which better reflects our firm’s name: McCullough Landscape Architecture, or simply “McCullough LA.”

What this means for you, our clients, colleagues, and friends –

• You can now visit our website at www.McCulloughLA.com

• Please update our email addresses to [Name] @ McCulloughLA.com

• Our old website address and email addresses will still work for now

Our LinkedIn and Twitter names have changed, too! You will still find us in the same places on Instagram and Facebook.

Connect with us for project news, firm announcements, and insights from our design team!

LINKEDIN

@McCulloughLandArc

INSTAGRAM

@McCulloughLandArch

TWITTER

@McCulloughLArch

FACEBOOK

@McCulloughLandArch

Micromobility: What the Future May Hold

Crack Shack Little Italy - San Diego, CA

It’s Friday afternoon on G Street. The weekend is finally here. At the light, cars and trucks line up to head home from the city. In the afternoon chill, exhaust fumes softly billow by. Through the windshields, I note that most of the vehicles have only one person in them. Nobody seems particularly jazzed about the drive home.

As day turns to night and the Gaslamp Quarter comes to life, scores of Lyfts and Ubers laden with partiers crawl in bumper-to-bumper traffic towards Fifth Avenue.  A group of young men on electric scooters whizzes by, oblivious to the gridlock. While the people in cars look bored and frustrated, young men on scooters are skidding the rear tires, laughing, and yelling.

The night grows old, the parties ebb and people start to head home. Down the street, flashing blue and red lights announce the capture of a drunk driver. As police deal with the offender and his parked car, a flock of more highly intoxicated people on scooters holler as they swerve past. One of these scooters bears a couple. He’s steering and beaming ear to ear. She’s wearing heels and hanging on for life.

Each weekend these scenes play over and over again on my street. It looks like the scooters are here to stay. Why is micromobility catching on so fiercely?

The Rise of Micromobility Devices

Micromobility devices are self-propelled electric vehicles that are smaller than an automobile. They take a variety of different shapes including scooters, mopeds, skateboards, and even single-wheels that a user can straddle. Worldwide, these devices are providing a convenient alternative to automobiles for the task of relocating people short distances within urban environments.

The case for micromobility is quite strong, partially because the case for automobiles is so weak. Car buyers typically take on tens of thousands of dollars of debt to assume responsibility for a complex machine that depreciates precipitously and is ravaged by entropy. On top of that, we don’t actually use our cars all that much.

According to mobility guru Donald Shoup in his famous piece “The High Cost of Free Parking,” the average private automobile sits unused for 95% of its life.

There have been attempts to spread liability and maximize utilization among many people, as seen with Zipcar and Car2Go. However, these have ultimately floundered when compared to the meteoric rise of micromobility.

Ownership is not the problem, it’s the automobile itself that is troublesome. The kind of dense urban setting that would seem apt for a car-sharing service is the same kind of landscape that simply does not have many options to park the automobile once rented. The task of tracking down, navigating, and parking a shared automobile in a city is a terribly inconvenient way to get some errands done. Micromobility vehicles address this by being small, easy to park, and easy to maintain. They are perfectly suited for short trips across town. According to the US Department of Transportation, three quarters of private vehicle trips are under ten miles. In fact, a 2017 study showed that 60% of trips were less than six miles. Most of the time, we drive alone as well. This makes car ownership seem like a waste. We address our need to travel short distances alone with large, expensive machines that can carry a family hundreds of miles at breathtaking speed. Considering this wasted capability at tremendous expense, it’s not hard to see why micromobility makes practical sense.

Without the burden of ownership, having to know what a timing belt is, or having to find the next Supercharger, micromobility vehicles are helping people get from point A to point B, in an enjoyable way. Industry analyst Horace Dediu asserts that micromobility’s strength stems chiefly from the combination of affordability, convenience, and the fun it provides. Contrast this with the expense, inconvenience, and gridlock experienced in an automobile, and the picture becomes even clearer. As evidenced by the proliferation of micromobility vehicles throughout the world, a major change in how we move is underfoot.

Visualizing the Future of Transportation With Micromobility

Currently, there are still strides to be made to address the accessibility of these vehicles for all people. The majority of vehicle options available require kinetic skill: managing balance, acceleration, and braking with the body. There are a few companies, such as Nimbus, attempting to address this with vehicles that are used in a seated, enclosed cabin. These have roughly the dimensions of a motorcycle but operate much in the way a car does. It remains to be seen if this type of vehicle will catch on. Until they do, there is no safe option out there for those of us who have limited reflexes or physical abilities. As populations age, the demand for such options is destined to increase.

One trend to keep an eye out for is private ownership versus shared fleets. Most people are being exposed to micromobility for the first time through electric bike and scooter sharing services such as Bird and Lime. While it is convenient to use these services intermittently, the fees add up quickly through habitual use. A growing number of people are choosing to save money over the long term by owning a device outright instead. Not only do owners save money, they can count on availability, safety, and cleanliness. Additionally, many of the micromobility vehicles available for private ownership are equipped to go faster and farther than their shared-fleet counterparts. Companies such as Raido are positioning themselves to offer universally swappable batteries to micromobility owners. That means a user can use up the full charge on their device, stop at a station, and pay to have a fresh battery swapped in. This is a hint of the upcoming ecosystem of players that will rise to meet the demands of a new transportation paradigm.

Just as automobiles spurred the creation of everything from drive-thrus to Jiffy Lubes, privately owned micromobility will bring with it a world of ancillary businesses.

Remodeling the 21st-Century Built Environment

The automobile’s extensive reshaping of our business landscape in the 20th century went hand in hand with a reshaping of our built environment. If we expect micromobility to trigger a similar transformation, what will its effects be on the cities around us?

A few years ago, when electric scooter fleets first hit the streets en masse, there was simultaneous exultation and outcry. There was a certain NIMBY-ish backlash about the scooters’ intrusion into the flow of traffic, riders’ threatening presence on sidewalks, and the careless way that users left them parked in front of homes and businesses. Negotiations and regulations paved the way towards the tenuous peace that we have now. Many cities began fining reckless riders and sidewalk surfers, and automobile parking spots were repurposed as parking corrals for the scooters. As a result of these moves, shared micromobility has entered a stage of stable growth and mainstream acceptance. Covid-19 has bolstered that by engendering a fear of human exposure through public transit, and micromobility has the benefit of being intrinsically socially-distanced.

We should expect micromobility to garner public spending on the same kind of infrastructure that bicycle advocates have spent decades lobbying for. This will be a tide that lifts both boats. Along prominent circulation corridors, we will see a proliferation of dedicated lanes for all vehicles smaller than automobiles. Additionally, a more interesting development is the current coalescence between the increasing pedestrianization of urban areas due to Covid-19 along with the boom in micromobility. This trend, extended over the long term, should yield fascinating results. We might see automobiles pushed to the edges of downtown districts, relegated to circulating at the periphery of green zones where pedestrians, cyclists, and scooter pilots get full rein of the right-of-way.

During the rediscovery of cities in the last 20 years, inner ring neighborhoods have received a fair share of attention and gentrification. However, due to restrictive parking minimums, many of these neighborhoods have failed to densify to keep pace with demand. In San Diego, parking requirements kept a stranglehold on redevelopment in neighborhoods such as Bankers Hill, Golden Hill, and North Park. Micromobility is already an influential force in guiding policies that have lifted parking requirements in some neighborhoods, enabling the construction of much needed housing stock. We should expect to see this trend continue.

How will micromobility affect architecture?

Hopefully not at all. It does not make sense to re-envision buildings to accommodate micromobility. Shared fleets can occupy street parking. Privately owned vehicles can be stowed and charged within the owner’s home. Many of the mistakes in planning and architecture in the 20th century arose from the great lengths we went to accommodate cars.

Luckily, micromobility vehicles are small enough that we should not need to make sacrifices in our buildings and cities to give them a home. They exist to serve us.

This is a liberating change from the subservience to automobiles that has led design criteria in the past. Architects can get back to making buildings for humans without worrying so much about how to hide a parking garage. The challenge for architects will hopefully shift to finding solutions for the vast amounts of leftover parking.

This is not to say that the automobile is going to disappear; its promise is fading, and its prominence will diminish. Less demand for daily auto use could have drastically positive effects for urban municipalities. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley estimated that there are 3.4 parking spaces for every car in the United States. That is, a spot at home, a spot at work, a spot at the grocery store, etcetera. The elimination of this kind of waste will open vast swaths of the country for higher and better use. The downtown surface lots that plague American cities can turn into places for people to live, increasing the urban tax base and combating the extraction of resources and capital from city to suburb.

Again, the automobile is certainly here to stay in the US. It is our parlor on wheels. Our vacation mothership. Our home on the freeway. However, the convenience, affordability, and fun of micromobility options means our automobiles are going to be used less and less. Before we know it, they’ll be relegated to a weekend distraction, a pleasure vehicle, while our scooters and e-bikes act as the workhorses of the day-to-day. As Horace Dediu concluded in an MIT Sloan School of Management lecture, the peak year for horse ownership in the United States was not 1820, but 1920, when the Ford Model T was already ubiquitous. In other words, the future is already here, we just need the present to get out of the way.

Benjamin Arcia, M.U.D.
Senior Associate

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Client of the Month:
The Society of Master Craftsmen

Orchid - San Diego, CA

We are thrilled to feature Benjamin Longwell and The Society of Master Craftsmen as our June Client of the Month. Benjamin Longwell, a passionate developer and builder, began The Society of Master Craftsmen in 2018 to focus on human-centered design and development of urban infill projects. The company is highlighted by a highly intentional approach to the craft, weaving a depth of meaning into everything they do. Benjamin’s vision for the company is truly unique: to approach work in the spirit of the pre-industrial revolutionary craftsmen, with originality, refined skill, hand-crafted quality, and purpose.

San Diego’s built environment has an undercurrent of something special happening that is likely unrecognized within the community at-large. About 15 years ago, San Diego’s own Woodbury University started graduating young architects from a program called “MRED” (AKA Master of Science in Architecture in Real Estate Development). At that time, many of these young architects were taking what they studied in this program and building socially responsible and creative mixed-use projects in underserved neighborhoods. Previously, the more traditional developers were focused on sprawling rural developments in San Diego’s undeveloped lands.  As a result of this shift, some of San Diego’s older neighborhoods received significant, tasteful, and very creative new makeovers. A few early adopters to this local trend were people such as Andrew Malick of Malick Infill Development; Craig Abenilla and Mike Burnett of Foundation for Form; Dominique Houriet of [oo-d-a] studio; and Jeff Svitak of Jeff Svitak, Inc. It’s no surprise that Benjamin Longwell of The Society of Master Craftsmen is among those on this list.

Benjamin got his start working for a retail development company, and did so for 10 years, gaining a wide range of project experience as well as great relationships with industry partners. For The Society of Master Craftsmen, he wanted to take things a step further – to approach each project with a renewed dedication to the art and craft – thus building soulful, meaningful places for people to experience.

He looked to history, recalling time before the industrial revolution, when artists and craftsmen created everything by hand and techniques were passed from generation to generation. Families brought up children to learn the craft, and people worked hard for many years to master their techniques, progressing from Apprentice, to Journeyman, and finally to Master Craftsman. Everything produced, from the simple to the complex, took time, thought, and care. As technology progressed and the world entered the industrial revolution, products began being mass-produced by machines in factories and lost that human element. With The Society of Master Craftsmen, Benjamin intends to bring a focus on quality and purpose back to the built environment.

Only taking on projects local to San Diego, as the sole developer and builder, Benjamin spends most of his time on-site and focuses on one project at a time. He is personally invested, pouring all of himself into every project he takes on – blood, sweat, and tears – to ensure the highest standard of quality. Starting as a solo venture, the company now includes Benjamin’s mother, Tara Longwell, who handles accounting; sister, Chelsea Longwell, who does property management; and colleague, Nick Scales for construction. Just as the craftsmen of pre-industrial time, it is genuinely a family business.

Benjamin strives to pull together project teams that are masters of their craft to produce the best possible outcome for each project. “The Society,” which can be found on his website, is made up of individuals that Benjamin has experience working with – his chosen partners who he considers trusted masters of each of their crafts. Among them is McCullough’s Principal, David McCullough.

McCullough first partnered with Benjamin while he was working as a partner at his previous development company in 2014. The project was Benjamin’s first experience with urban infill, a luxury apartment complex on El Cajon Boulevard in North Park, known as Exotic Gardens. Benjamin selected McCullough for the project after interviewing David McCullough among several other landscape architects. David and Senior Associate Ben Arcia worked closely with Benjamin to successfully complete the 21-unit Exotic Gardens development.

With one successful, collaborative project under their belts, Benjamin was eager to work with McCullough for another urban infill project. Orchid is a recently completed 15-unit micro-housing development in San Diego’s Normal Heights that includes a small retail space within a preserved historic building. It was the first project for The Society of Master Craftsmen and one of the first micro-housing developments for San Diego. For Orchid, Benjamin paired with a notable local architect, James (Jim) Brown of Public Architecture. Jim is known for attention to detail in his work, which is just the type of craftsman that Benjamin needed for the job. Combined with McCullough’s contextual consideration for the site and landscape, Orchid is exemplary of masterful, human-centered design.

Benjamin’s interest in art is evident throughout Orchid. He saw the landscape as a form of art expression, which led him to hire local artist Tatiana Ortiz Rubio to paint three-story-high murals on the building façades. In the rear courtyard, he repurposed old windows from the original structure into abstract stained-glass art pieces, reconstructed to show the stages of development of an orchid flower. The project is filled with discoverable moments, found antiquities, play on light and shadow, and textural combinations of materials – all of which create a wholly incredible site experience.

Orchid - Pictures By: Evgeny Yorobe

Units at Orchid are now almost fully leased. Benjamin is deeply gratified by the response when he gives tours to potential tenants, “People say, ‘Wow! We can feel the incredible thought and passion that went into this, heart and soul.’”

Daffodil

The Society of Master Craftsmen is currently working alongside McCullough and Architect Jim Brown once again on another micro-housing urban infill project, Daffodil (see left). This mixed-use project in San Diego’s Logan Heights will include 16 apartments, a five-room boutique hotel, and a restaurant. With 22 total units, Daffodil is the company’s largest project to-date. Planning is currently underway, and construction is scheduled to begin later this year.

McCullough and The Society of Master Craftsmen continue to partner successfully on projects out of our shared grit, soul, and style - approaching every project with creative passion and a focus on creating the best possible outcome for the community. We are honored to partner with The Society of Master Craftsmen to carve the way for the future of housing in San Diego. McCullough is dedicated to pushing the envelope, helping residents of these new micro-housing spaces have access to and balance with Mother Nature. We look forward to the completion of Daffodil as well as many future projects together. To learn more about The Society of Master Craftsmen and Benjamin Longwell, visit www.thesocietyofmastercraftsmen.com.

Nikki Holloway
Marketing + Creative Manager

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Maha Balachandran Advances to Senior Associate

It is our great pleasure to announce the promotion of Maha Balachandran to Senior Associate Landscape Designer. Her promotion coincides with her ninth anniversary at McCullough as well as the firm’s 22nd anniversary in business! 

After working as a Junior Architect for Mancini Enterprises Ltd in Chennai, India, Maha made her way to the United States and began working as an Associate with McCullough in 2012 — the first new hire for McCullough following the recession. She continued to work with McCullough after moving to a new home in Northern California in 2015 and is currently our Northern California Project Manager and firm representative for the Bay Area. Maha enjoys project work throughout the State of California and will always consider San Diego her second home.

Throughout her career at McCullough, Maha has consistently proven herself to be a leader for the firm. Her wealth of technical knowledge has brought many innovations to our programs and processes, by keeping staff up-to-date on software trends and new features.

Adaptability is one of Maha’s greatest strengths, and not just with technology. She is always ready to take on challenges that each new project brings, applying her unique perspectives to deliver beautiful, innovative work for our clients and communities.

Principal David McCullough commented, “Maha is even-keeled and passionate about her projects. She is extremely thorough, quick to come up with creative solutions, and has developed great relationships by being dedicated and responsive with clients. That, along with her positive attitude, has made her a valuable leader to our team for many years.”

Maha’s project involvement includes design development, quality control, client meetings, and document development. We are excited to see Maha take on additional opportunities to manage larger projects independently in her position as Senior Associate. Please join us in congratulating her on her well-deserved new role!

A Remodel Inspired By A Remembrance

Invivogen, San Diego

A couple of years ago, Florence Tiraby, from Invivogen, connected with McCullough after the completion of the remodel to their San Diego headquarters facility in Sorrento Valley. The building they purchased and remodeled was originally designed as an equilateral triangular building positioned on a circular water fountain. On the west side of the building, the fountain spills down the hillside which forms an iconic site-arrival experience as viewed from Vista Sorrento Parkway and the 805 freeway beyond. Florence and her two sisters, (currently residing in France and running the corporate headquarters for the company) had inherited Invivogen from their late father Gerard Tiraby who started the company in 1997. Today, Invivogen supplies many local and international biotech companies with the materials they need to do their research. Materials like cell lines, cell culture, antibodies, genes, and many of the tools used in the study to fight COVID-19 — just to name a few.

The building they remodeled is iconic and truly one of a kind; however, over the years, it had become dated and worn, Florence and Invivogen modernized the building with a ground-up remodel and in doing so, modified the south edge of the water feature to disconnect it from the larger fountain system and prepare the area to become a much needed garden patio, directly accessible from the building interior. The purpose of this new garden space was two-fold: Invivogen needed functional outdoor space for staff and visitors but it also was an opportunity to dedicate a garden addition to the late founder, Girard Tiraby, who had passed in 2017.

Studio Design Leader Naby Miller and the McCullough team were honored to work with Florence and others at Invivogen to see this goal come to life. The garden experience extended around the side to include an updated entrance along the front of the building and now includes a shade canopy seating area, two specimen Olive trees, an outdoor kitchen, a hardwood deck, a lower turf gaming area, a firepit seating area and smaller, more intimate gathering spaces.

David McCullough, PLA, ASLA
Principal

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Client of the Month:
pgal 

Crack Shack Encinitas

The Bridge District Sacramento

McCullough is pleased to announce PGAL as our May Client of the Month. Headquartered in Houston, Texas since 1946, PGAL is a multi-disciplinary firm with 13 offices representing different regions of the United States. They provide services including architecture, interiors, engineering, and planning for a diverse portfolio of public and private sector clients. 

For more than 75 years, PGAL built their success on three pillars: Legacy, Design, and Service. They are well known for their outstanding client service and attention to detail; innovative, responsive design solutions with a pragmatic, cost-conscious approach; and lasting relationships earning many years of repeat business from clients.

In 2018, the San Diego office of PGAL was born with the acquisition of the established architecture firm, Bluemotif. Husband and wife partners, Matthew Ellis and Teresa Nieves Ellis started Bluemotif in 2002, growing the firm from a client base of small, residential and tenant improvement projects, to an excellent service provider well-known for innovative problem solving, coupled with strong technical skills in a diverse amount of project types.

McCullough’s relationship began with PGAL San Diego Principal, Matthew Ellis, many years before the acquisition — during a time when both McCullough and Bluemotif were building upon their client service-oriented success. David McCullough and Matthew Ellis, both principals of their respective firms, consider themselves place makers in the urban environment. Matthew also shares with David the same interest of sustainability, as well as the approach to PGAL’s projects as an opportunity to explore each project’s unique characteristics. Matthew strives to maintain personal involvement with every aspect of each opportunity, from technical to project management, as well as business development. He prides his leadership of the PGAL San Diego team as having innovative design solutions without compromising service. Working as Principal of the San Diego office, he is now able to collaborate with the 300 architects, engineers, designers, and planners across the company’s 13 regional offices, allowing the firm to create landmark, award-winning projects — all while satisfying the client’s goals.

McCullough and Bluemotif/PGAL have worked on a variety of project types together, such as The Alexandria for Alexandria Real Estate Equities (their San Diego headquarters), the Crack Shack Southern California restaurant portfolio, a pursuit for a ComicCon museum, The Bridge District, a mixed use/multi-family development in Sacramento, and a commercial seacoast restaurant in Imperial Beach. The collaboration of McCullough and PGAL has continued to evolve into mixed-use and other retail projects around San Diego County.

Mission City San Diego

Mission City San Diego

One notable project currently in-design is in Mission Valley, a mixed, workplace, and retail environment located near the San Diego State University stadium site. This property was originally developed as a Class A office campus but today it spans the gap between Fenton MarketPlace and the coming San Diego State West campus site. The property owner is now looking to better utilize the property, create better neighborhood connections, and activate a garden plaza that is currently under-utilized. McCullough and PGAL are looking at the site for the owners with a goal of understanding the possibilities. Recently, the City of San Diego has enacted code updates that could offer the property newfound potential.  Two of which include a new mixed-use ordinance and a “Complete Communities ''-hold potential. At the end of the process, the goal is to help the owners understand the possibilities which, in the long run, may only add more value to the already-valuable property. 

If you’d like to learn more about PGAL, please visit their website at https://www.pgal.com.

Catherine McCullough, CPSM
President/CEO/CMO

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Meet McCullough’s New Marketing + Creative Manager: Nikki Holloway

A creative at heart, design has always been at the root of everything Nikki does. She is an alumna of CSU San Marcos, where she earned her B.A. in Art and Technology. However, it was in a Palomar College Photoshop class that she first discovered her love for graphic design. Having strayed from her original, childhood dream of becoming an architect, her career somehow landed her smack dab in the middle of the Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC) industry, when she began working at a branding and marketing agency in 2017. It was there that she first began working with AEC firms, one of which especially struck her passion: McCullough.

During her three years at the agency, Nikki worked closely and collaboratively with the McCullough team to develop strategic, creative marketing campaigns while also spending ample time learning about the industry through business development and networking. In early 2020, she was ready to dig deeper and took on a marketing role in Balfour Beatty’s California Division. After a year and a half there, she is excited to bring her hard-earned experience back to McCullough, this time as Marketing and Creative Manager, part of our in-house team. She looks forward to giving life to her many creative ideas for the firm.

Nikki is a member and volunteer of both the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) San Diego Chapter and San Diego Architectural Foundation (SDAF).

As a coastal California native, Nikki loves hiking and backpacking in our beautiful, local outdoors as well as promoting conservation and the safe enjoyment of outdoor activities through her volunteer work with the Sierra Club. She also enjoys practicing yoga, going to concerts, traveling, gardening, and photography. Little known facts about Nikki are that she has played xylophone and percussion and that she originally planned to become a psychologist when she first attended college.

Catherine McCullough, CPSM
President/CEO/CMO