Joseph Conrad Jennings
Phone: (319) 594-4159
Email: jconradjennings@gmail.com
Table of Contents
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- - - - - St. Columbkille Elementary Schoolyard; Decorah, IA
- East Los Angeles College Multi-Purpose Complex; Los Angeles, CA
Indianola High School Entry Plaza; Indianola, IA
Junction Park Trailhead; Slater, IA
- - - - Reforestation Masterplan; Marion, IA
- 22 Lynden Drive NE; Iowa City, IA
St Columbkille Elementary Schoolyard
Decorah, Iowa
Consultants: St Coulmbkille Parish
The objective of this schoolyard design was to provide a cost effective solution for a parish campus experiencing the expansion of its student body numbers. With an updated wing to their faciliuties, the parish requested that space west of the southernmost entrance and above the new firelane would consist of nature play amenities and an expanded fencing plan across the entire site periphery. Page 2 shows the site study and programming layout concepts while page 3 shows angles of the final playground, complete with log climbers, swings, a rain garden, a slide, basketball hoops, a trike track, and plantings and berms for prospect and refuge play,
Existing Playground
Los Angeles, California
Consultants: HED, Spurlock, McCarthy
ELAC required a soccer field and sprinting lanes with markings to dimensions outlined in NCAA codes as part of the facilities’ expanded sports campus. Sub-drainage, irrigation, and new fencing were also proposed, with 3d modeling done to convey the relationship of the field to the bleachers and the entrance points.
Indianola, IA
Consultants: Envision Architecture, Larson Engineering
This site required updated turf and perennial planting with an addendum requesting JBC redesigned the front entrance plaza to the site. Our solution includes undulating waves of Karl Foerster and Mondo grass,complete with Cast-in-Place Benches with integrated lighting.
Wayfinding & their locations
Slater, located between Ames and Des Moines, is a small town with a population of around 1,500 residents. Known for its strong sense of community and active lifestyle, Slater is situated at the confluence of two major bike trails, the Heart of Iowa and the High Trestle Trail. This unique positioning warranted JBC to re-design an adjacent dump site into a new recreational facility intended to serve as a gateway and gathering space for all those who crossed these paths, with the dual purpose of incentivizing transformation of nearby warehouses into potential commercial opportunities. Wayfinding elements were proposed across town at important intersections.
Consultants: City of Slater, Iowa Living Roadways, DOT Site
2.) View looking north of the amphitheater, restroom, open lawn, and bike
3.)
warrants the modification of Slater’s dump site to better accommodate on Main Street where a gathering space once stood, the town is in need while supporting outdoor recreation. The site is organized into rooms that the space feel intimate and comfortable. building with restroom and a band shelter with amphitheater. The outdoor beautiful three-season space for outdoor events. The open lawn garden has paths and an information kiosk to direct visitors to town
Marion, IA
Consultants: City of Marion, Trees Forever
In the aftermath of the 2020 derecho that devastated the City of Marion’s urban forest—resulting in a 36% loss of overall tree canopy—JBC Landscape Architects led the creation of a comprehensive reforestation strategy. Rather than simply replacing lost trees, the plan leveraged this rare moment to thoughtfully restore public rights-of-way and parklands in a way that harmonized with the surviving natural landscape.
JBC developed a multifaceted approach encompassing implementation strategies, phased rollouts, cost modeling, staffing and resource planning, updates to municipal policy, and frameworks for funding, partnerships, and volunteer engagement. To ensure the plan reflected the community’s vision, JBC also designed and facilitated an inclusive public engagement process. Tactics included stakeholder workshops, live polling at open house events, on-site public input kiosks, an online community-wide survey, and regular updates through dedicated web and newsletter channels.
The following maps were created in GIS using NDVI and histogram pixel analysis of infrared aerial imagery, conveying a quantitative breakdown of canopy loss experienced across the town and in the southwestern district.
Park studies provide a closer look at the integration of USGS’ soil data to understand extent of reclamation efforts needed to combat said canopy loss.
Typologies were developed showcasing various planting scenarios and subsequent considerations and recommendations for them at the street scale [right]
Iowa City, IA
Clients: Ryan and Julie Tegtmeier
This proposal updates the planting plan with the expansive addition prairie natives to the backyard, while proposing an expanded pathway and patio for the user’s benefit. The design is meant to encourage more pollinators while providing even more color and variety to the property.