The Art of City Design Exhibition: World Design Capital 2024

McCullough is excited to participate in the upcoming  World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 exhibition at the popular Bread + Salt Art Gallery, titled The Art of City Design: The Work of Frank Wolden & Friends. This event aims to showcase our region as a global hub for design, innovation, arts, and culture; fostering lasting economic, social, cultural, civic, and environmental impacts. San Diego Tijuana is the first cross-border region to be designated a World Design Capital by the World Design Organization.

The exhibition, along with a series of dialogues, profiles the work of Frank Wolden and his collaborators. The idea for the exhibition began when Frank was encouraged to share his portfolio of sketches and drawings of early proposals for downtown San Diego's redevelopment. The exhibition starts with these drawings and continues through his present-day work, reflecting the growth of urbanism in the San Diego region. The exhibition and the discussions that follow will explore the ideas behind these projects, lessons learned, and their application to current and future designs for the region.

The exhibition will showcase Four prominent San Diego designers:

1. Frank Wolden - A designer and urbanist/architectural artist who has focused his career on integrating urban ideas into the design of buildings and spaces, creating innovative urban experiences.

   Opening - The Art of City Design: Thursday, June 13th at 5:30pm

2. David McCullough - A designer who integrates landscape and nature into the built environment, emphasizing urban exploration.

   The Public Realm - Dialogue 1: Thursday, June 27th at 5:30pm

3. Sean Slater - An architect specializing in retail and entertainment as catalysts for mixed-use urban projects.

   Activating the City - Dialogue 2: Thursday, July 11th at 5:30 pm

4. Howard Blackson - An urban designer, site designer, and regulatory “wrangler” from the contextual school of thought.

   Future of Design - Dialogue 3: Thursday, July 25th at 5:30pm

In addition to these four designers, the lectures and discussion panels will feature examples of work by other designers and invite them to participate in the dialogues.

The exhibition will be open to the public for six weeks from June 13 to July 25, 2024, subject to Bread & Salt's hours of operation.

We hope you can join us in illuminating the importance of the public realm and learning how design can contribute to the future of our city. The intention of the exhibition and dialogue is to form a think tank for creative urbanism, providing a platform for ongoing dialogue. More details to come!

---

Public Art Goes Beyond Beautification at Shopping Centers

Benjamin Arcia, Senior Associate at McCullough, delves into the strategic integration of public art in retail spaces in a recent article featured in Western Real Estate Business. Moving beyond mere beautification, this exploration highlights how art drives foot traffic and fosters community engagement post-COVID. From pop-up displays to permanent installations, developers can leverage art to differentiate properties.

Read the full article here.

---

McCullough is thrilled to welcome Kat Valley to the team!

Kat Valley is an experienced Project Accountant with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. A San Diego native, Kat was born and raised in Oceanside, California.  She earned her undergraduate degree at California State University, San Marcos, where she developed a strong foundation in business. Kat then pursued her MBA, further refining her skills in financial management, project oversight, and strategic decision-making. With several years of experience across various industries, she has a proven ability to manage complex projects and drive efficiency.

With a blend of professional expertise and a down-to-earth, compassionate outlook, Kat approaches both her career and personal life with dedication and enthusiasm.

Outside of her professional career, Kat is an avid animal lover. She considers her two-year-old Cane Corso her child and has recently fostered a litter of kittens, successfully placing all four of them in their forever homes. She also enjoys traveling to new destinations, snowboarding, and spending time near any body of water.

A fun fact about Kat is she is deeply involved in the world of off-road racing. She regularly travels with and supports her family’s off-road racing team, where she contributes her time and energy to the logistics and behind-the-scenes efforts that make each race a success. Her involvement reflects her strong team-oriented mindset and passion for adventure.

---

Celebrating World Landscape Architecture Month

April is an exciting time for landscape architects worldwide as we celebrate World Landscape Architecture Month (WLAM)! Spearheaded by the American Society of Landscape Architecture (ASLA), WLAM is a month-long celebration dedicated to recognizing the profound impact of landscape architecture on our communities and the environment.

At McCullough, we're honored to participate in this celebration. On April 23rd, we'll be taking over the ASLA San Diego Instagram account for the day. Follow along @asla_SD as we showcase our work and share insights into the world of landscape architecture.

WLAM provides an excellent opportunity to advocate for the profession and educate others about its importance. We encourage everyone to take some time this month to learn more about landscape architecture and its role in creating sustainable, resilient, and beautiful spaces for our community.

Earth Day Community Volunteering Event

April also marks another environmentally focused date – Earth Day. As part of our commitment to giving back to the community and celebrating both WLAM and Earth Day, we're thrilled to announce an upcoming volunteering event organized by our associate, Andrew Schlesinger, PLA, ASLA, in collaboration with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the San Diego Green Building Council (SDGBC).

Event Details:

Date: Friday, April 26, 2024
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: Presidio Park, 4299 Cosoy Way, San Diego, CA 92103

This Earth Day Clean-Up and Brush Management event is open to all. Join us as we come together to enhance the beauty and sustainability of our local environment. The event will kick off with an introduction to brush management updates, addressing fire permit requirements in San Diego County.

Registration is free and open to all.
Please register for the event using the following link: Event Registration Form.

Let's Celebrate Together

We invite you to join us in celebrating World Landscape Architecture Month. Let's take this opportunity to appreciate the beauty, innovation, and impact of landscape architecture as we continue to shape a brighter future for our world.

---

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.

---