David Featured FRONT PAGE OF the San Diego Business Journal

A recent article in the San Diego Business Journal sheds light on San Diego’s transformation, with insights from industry experts including David McCullough, principal landscape architect.

David McCullough highlights downtown's transition into a mature, 24-hour city, setting a national standard for urban development. With innovative zoning changes and a focus on diverse uses, downtown San Diego promises opportunities for growth and innovation.

From mixed-income housing to thriving retail spaces, downtown's revitalization offers something for everyone. Explore the full article in the San Diego Business Journal to learn more about the city's exciting journey toward urban renewal and why it's capturing the attention of investors and residents alike.

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Welcome to the McCullough team, Polina Karake!

McCullough is thrilled to welcome Polina Karake, Int’l ASLA, Associate, to our team of designers. With a rich tapestry of experience and a passion for crafting spaces that resonate with the human spirit, Polina embodies the ethos of our collaborative and creative practice.

Polina's journey began in Israel, where her love for design was ignited. With a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture and a master's degree in industrial design from the esteemed Technion Institute of Technology, Polina emerged as a luminary in her field, graduating Cum Laude.

With over 15 years of experience as a licensed landscape architect in Israel, Polina has honed her craft across projects of varying scales, from intimate patios to expansive neighborhoods. Her expertise in design and construction supervision is matched only by her unwavering commitment to shaping urban environments that enhance the everyday lives of individuals.

As a visiting faculty member at the Technion Institute of Technology's studio of Urban Design, she has shared her knowledge and insights, nurturing the next generation of design innovators. Additionally, her contributions as a freelance landscape advisor to architectural projects have enriched the integration of outdoor spaces within built environments, further cementing her reputation as a thought leader in her field.

Driven by her observations of Israel's unique challenges—a small, densely populated country with limited land resources—Polina's work is characterized by a commitment to creating vibrant public spaces that prioritize sustainability and functionality. Her specialization in designing open areas tailored to hot and arid climates underscores her dedication to addressing the evolving needs of communities.

Polina's multicultural background, coupled with her passion for travel, enriches her perspectives and fuels her creative vision. Fluent in three languages and with a penchant for exploration, she brings a global outlook to her work—a testament to her belief in the power of diversity to inspire and innovate.

As we celebrate Polina's arrival, we look forward to the invaluable contributions she will make to our collaborative practice. Her vision for fostering positive change through better-designed environments aligns seamlessly with our commitment to merging the human spirit and nature with grit, soul, and style.

We invite you to join us in welcoming Polina Karake to McCullough!

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A Sculptural Evolution and the Urban Revival of Bay to Park Paseo

San Diego has a rich history of site-specific sculpture and minimalist installation art. Following in the footsteps of Robert Irwin, Roman de Salvo, and Michael James Armstrong, the Journeyworm is a hanging sculpture that plays subtly with light and opacity. It hangs at the temporary entrance to San Diego High School, between old Eucalyptus trees. Each day, hundreds of students walk under the sculpture’s swaying panels.

Benjamin Arcia of McCullough Landscape Architecture led a team of fellow designers in the creation of this piece. The sculpture is made of fishing line, cable rigging, fishing weights, mosquito screening, and clothespins, all materials that relate to Benjamin’s childhood in Miami.

The Journeyworm was originally conceived as a cocoon-like structure that referred to the metamorphosis of being in high school. However, as the Journeyworm team began experimenting with materials, they found that the story and the form of the sculpture was changing of its own volition, a sort of Ouija board in three dimensions. The cocoon narrative fell away, and the art piece that emerged came from spending hours playing with cables and fabric in the back patio at Futuro.

Special credit is due to Mario-Ezequiel Magallanes and David McCullough, without whom this project could not have been possible. Additional input and help came from Haneen Khater (DBRDS), Diane Borys (Noctiluca), and David Michael (TECTURE).

Come visit the Journeyworm at different times of the day to commune with its swaying grayscale gradient and lose yourself within its shifting topographic patterns. Rumor has it that if you stare at it long enough, you can see the primordial moment just before the Big Bang and the creation of time and space.

The Journeyworm design process

The Bay to Park Paseo Initiative: Cultivating Urban Connections

In a nod to visionary urban planner John Nolen's 1908 vision, the Bay to Park Paseo Initiative breathes new life into San Diego's urban landscape. Championed by a coalition of community leaders, this initiative aims to rejuvenate Park Boulevard, bridging the gap between San Diego Bay and Balboa Park.

Thirteen teams, each with their own distinctive vision, are transforming Park Boulevard into an outdoor gallery, igniting the streets with temporary art installations alongside the Journeyworm. This vibrant endeavor is part of the San Diego-Tijuana region's World Design Capital program, celebrating creativity and culture.

"Creating enjoyable walkable streets produces many benefits for health, happiness, safety, and property values," remarks the Bay to Park Paseo team.

Led by the dedicated efforts of volunteers from Urban Interventions and the Downtown San Diego Public Spaces Foundation, a division of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, the Bay to Park Paseo promises an immersive pedestrian experience. Co-creators Pete Garcia and Beth Callender envision a revitalized Park Boulevard as a gateway to San Diego's crown jewels, fostering a sense of community and connection.

With three projects already unveiled and the grand opening slated for April, anticipation mounts for the transformation of Park Boulevard into a vibrant cultural corridor, echoing the Journeyworm's luminous path. Stay tuned for further updates as San Diego embraces its artistic evolution, guided by the intertwined spirits of art, innovation, and collaboration.

Read more about the Bay-to-Park walking experience here.

View the vision for each block of the paseo here.

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McCullough is celebrating 25 years!

This year, McCullough celebrates our silver anniversary, bringing 25 years of “perfectly imperfect” landscape design to San Diego and beyond. Over the next year, we will be reflecting on our journey as a firm, the progress of natural design, and a look at what’s to come.

We hope you will join us as we celebrate this incredible milestone. Stay tuned for an announcement coming soon about a celebratory event to mark your calendars.

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Navigating Wildfire Resilience at the ULI Resilience Summit

Excitement is building as the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Resilience Summit approaches, set to take place in New York City on April 12th, 2024. David McCullough, Principal Landscape Architect, and Andrew Schlesinger, Associate Landscape Architect, will be attending and facilitating a roundtable discussion on Wildfire Resilience and Fire-Adapted Communities, offering a unique opportunity for collaborative exploration and knowledge sharing.

The roundtable, strategically scheduled during lunchtime to encourage informal networking, promises to delve into pressing issues surrounding wildfire resilience. Attendees can anticipate a rich dialogue informed by recent work and writings, including insights from Maha Balachandran’s article on the subject. Central to the discussion will be the concept that fire-smart buildings must be complemented by fire-smart landscaping, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning and mitigation efforts.

Participants can look forward to exploring best practices in defensible space, innovative approaches to fire safety, and the latest updates in fire policy. The roundtable aims to align sustainable development and design strategies with the realities of increased fire risk in our modern age. By fostering collaboration and sharing expertise, this session holds the potential to catalyze actionable solutions and drive progress in wildfire resilience efforts.

McCullough is proud to support the ULI 2024 Resilience Summit. For more insights into climate resilience, check out Andrew Schlesinger's takeaways from last year's ULI Climate Resilience Summit and Spring Meeting.

Register for the ULI 2024 Resilience Summit here.

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