Landscape Record-Accessible Design

Vol. 6/2015.12

Land sc ap e R e c o r d

Lands cape R e c o r d

ACCESSIBLE DESIGN IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Vol. 6/2015.12

ACCESSIBLE DESIGN IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

ACCESSIBLE DESIGN IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

FEATURES

The Ohio State University James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute Landscape Architects: MKSK Location: Columbus, Ohio, USA

Accessible Design Clear visual markings, both at grade and vertical elements (bollards) to demark the safe path of travel. The custom children’s playground was designed to accommodate universal play, respite gardens provide for wheelchair seating adjacent to precast benches, and picnic tables seamlessly accommodate the handicapped patron.

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he “New” Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute marks a milestone in the long-range transformation of the Wexner Medical Center campus, a multidisciplinary academic medical institution located in Columbus, Ohio, on the main campus of The Ohio State University (OSU).

Designed to offer the highest quality and most advanced cancer care while creating a tranquil environment that encourages expert medical innovation and collaboration, The “New” James is the largest cancer hospital in the Midwest and the third largest in the nation.

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1. The Ohio State University James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute overlooks the Phyllis A. Jones Legacy Park and the Gerbig, Snell/Weisheimer Children’s Park.

2. The goal of the Gerbig, Snell/ Weisheimer Children’s Park is to encourage children of patients, visitors, faculty, staff, residents, and students to come and visit family members and friends who are either hospitalized or working long hours at the Medical Center.

3. A “sensory garden area,” climbing mounds, and a “mini” nature trail complete with climbing areas and overlooks make the OSU Wexner Medical Center Gerbig, Snell/Weisheimer Children’s Park a unique outdoor environment for play and learning.

Project Name: The Ohio State University James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute Completion Date: 2014 Site Area: 3ha, including 0. 5ha Forecourt Plaza, 1ha Jones Legacy Park Photographer: Randall Schieber, Nick Fancher & MKSK

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WEST GREEN PLAN

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The open spaces featured as part of the new 420-bed Cancer and Critical Care Tower include the Jones Legacy Park and the Forecourt Plaza.

Together these prominent spaces combine to provide the new front door to the Wexner Medical Center Campus. The 0.5-hectare Forecourt Plaza, set beneath a dramatic canopy, serves as the main entry to the “New” James and accommodates the active movements of patient circulation, shuttle buses, and visitor access to the adjoining parking garage. Intricate paving patterns, seating areas and planting, a respite garden, and a performance stage, set within this area, have been designed to provide places of calm for visitors, patients, and staff.

oval lawn, seat walls, and brick paving honor Mrs. Jones’ wish to create a restful, peaceful garden where patients, visitors and staff can seek comfort and solace. Within the new Jones Legacy Park, the Gerbig, Snell/ Weisheimer Children’s Park provides opportunities for outdoor play specially designed for the Wexner Medical Center’s younger visitors.

Custom-designed play surfaces and climbing wall, a “sensory garden area,” and a “mini” nature trail complete with overlooks, make it a unique outdoor environment for play and learning. Ample seating areas and close proximity to a future café will help make this a popular destination for kids and adults alike.

Adjacent to the Forecourt, the 1-hectare Jones Legacy Park with its great

MKSK also collaborated with the “New” James Design Architect/ Architect of Record to develop an accessible green roof for the Cancer and Critical Care Tower’s 14th floor. The southwest roof terrace is designed as an edible garden, showcasing fruits, herbs and vegetables currently being researched with cancer and fighting properties. This produce will be used by the chef in preparation of meal at the adjacent executive kitchen. The Wexner Medical Center CCCT is registered for LEED Silver certification and the Legacy Park supports that through sustainable development practices.

Accessible Design The “New” James Cancer Hospital at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is a modern state-of-the-art hospital setting regarding ADA accessibility.

MKSK worked closely with the full-time University ADA Coordinator to ensure the entire campus was compliant with current ADA standards. With multiple modes of transportation serving the medical campus from pedestrian, personal vehicles, buses, and transit shuttles, close attention was paid to the pick-up, delivery and path of travel from the various locations.

Compliance in hospital settings is not an option but a necessity for day-to-day operation.

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MKSK provided master planning services for The Ohio State University Medical Center. Working in collaboration with Sasaki Associates, the OSU Medical Center, and the University Board of Trustees, MKSK assisted in the development of a comprehensive growth model for the Medical Center that includes a phased approach to accommodate short-term goals and establish long-term strategies. As part of the $1.1 Billion Expansion initiative, MKSK was engaged as the Landscape Architect for the phased implementation of all exterior green space, including the re-imagined Chlois G. Ingram Spirit of Women Park, the new Cancer and Critical Care Tower (CCCT) Forecourt Plaza, and the Phyllis G. Jones Legacy Park and Gerbig, Snell/Weisheimer Children’s Park. The CCCT was officially unveiled as part of the new Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute in Fall 2014.

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1. A fire lane has been re-imagined as a respite garden with intricate paving patterns, seating areas, planting and within the Forecourt Plaza, designed to provide places of calm.

2. The Forecourt Plaza sits beneath a dramatic canopy.

3. A large area of lawn

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Tongva Park and Ken Genser Square Landscape Architects: James Corner Field Operations Location: Santa Monica, CA, USA

Accessible Design Shaped by extensive community participation, the design of Tongva Park and Ken Genser Square creates a contemporary, sustainable, and transformative urban landscape for all people regardless of age or physical ability. The park incorporates a number of design considerations that make it incredibly accessible, well above the demands of ADA code.

ŠJOAKIM LLOYD RABOFF

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Creating a new heart for Santa Monica – a new destination and gathering place of great social, ecological, and symbolic value.

– James Corner

OBSERVATION HILL 1. Ocean Ave. shaded seating Green screen 2. Ocean Ave. water feature 3. Grand bluff 4. Pier overlook 5. Ocean overlook 6. Public restroom GATHERING HILL 7. Amphitheater + lawn 8. Fig picnic grove DISCOVERY HILL 9. Tree grove + seating 10. Discovery play area 11. Hilltop play forts 12. The village gateway GARDEN HILL 13. Water bay 14. Gardens KEN GENSER SQUARE 15. Water feature 16. Lawn areas

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1. Bird’s-eye view 2. The ramp and stairs regardless of age or physical ability 3. Water feature

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Project Name: Tongva Park and Ken Genser Square Completion Date: 2013 Client: The City of Santa Monica Site Area: ???

Photographer: James Corner Field Operations, Tim Street-Porter, Joakim Lloyd Raboff, Steve Proehl

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ELEVATION + PLAN 1. Green screen 2. Entry 3. Bike bay 4. Pier overlook 5. Ocean overlook 6. Service entry 7. Olympic drive 8. Glu-lam footbridge

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Designed by James Corner Field Operations, best known for its design of New York’s High Line, the park and square are a centerpiece for Santa Monica’s Civic Center. James Corner has sculpted a dramatic topography of hills and hollows and incorporated a very large number of native plant species to create a spectacular horticultural garden, replete with generous furnishing, water fountains, play elements, and activity areas.

Inspired by the Southern California arroyo landscape of washes and ravines that once defined the site, a series of braided pathways appear to organically emerge from the footsteps of City Hall, extend west to Ocean Avenue, and weave the park into the fabric of the City. The pathways are smooth, firm, 32

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and generous (1.8m minimum), composed entirely of exposed aggregate concrete.

- Acting as a large speed table, a raised pedestrian crossing provides a generous and flush connection between Tongva Park and Ken Genser Square, despite the road that divides them.

- A single switchback ramp at City Hall was replaced by two gently sloping paths to increase the accessibility of this main entrance.

Four thematic hilltops areas organize the site.

- Observation Hill reaches a height of 5.5 meters with three unique gently

sloping paths to its top. It offers the best views of the ocean and neighboring vicinity, and includes accessible overlooks, a bridge, and public restroom tucked under the hill. The restroom is flush with adjacent paths and offers generously sized ADA and family restrooms.

- Discovery Hill is a play space for children that offers a universally accessible play environment. Forts, water jets, slides, musical elements, and other features engage and challenge children’s sense of discovery and are specifically designed to suite a wide range of ages and abilities.

- Gathering Hill is marked by large seating terraces and is designed with accessible wheelchair companion spaces at top and first row audience spaces. Lawns for gathering and congregation are flush with adjacent paths.

- Garden Hill offers shaded seating alcoves with backrests and armrests, and wheelchair companion spaces set within an intimate display garden setting.

Architectural features, a texturally rich material palette of boulders and pebbles, and lushly planted meadows and gardens reinforce the site’s “arroyo wash” history, while at the same time, creating an exciting new identity that is unique to Santa Monica.

Water elements are poetically linked by a single runnel that flows downhill to the ocean. Their volume and presence increases the closer they are to the ocean.

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Center Park

Landscape Architects: Design Concepts Location: Centennial, Colorado, USA

Accessible Design Access was designed specifically so that ADA compliance was not visually apparent; each park destination had one way in and another way out, each with a very different look and feel. While only one needed to be categorized as ADA accessible, each compliant path had a clear reason or event that caused its natural passage. The non-compliant path would then be obvious and visible as a strenuous passage.

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entennial is Colorado’s newest city. Stretching from the Platte River to the edge of the Great Plains it was blessed with natural beauty yet lacked a city center, a place for the community to engage, a unique space to provide a civic identity. City leaders chose to create an iconic park that would draw citizens from every corner with opportunity for play and leisure, a local spot for festivals, events, and interaction.

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Centennial Center Park is a gathering space, the first place specifically developed in this new community for the citizens to come together as a city, and do the things that bind them as a community. The design of the space was crafted to maximize the ability to feel a part of the park and the surrounding landscape, regardless of the number of people using it. The park includes a number of outdoor and semi-outdoor rooms. These radiate from a central core that blends indoor and outdoor spaces. This creates comfort for every use, from a family picnic to a city festival.

The plaza includes a large picnic pavilion with a classic fireplace at one end as well as an intimate outdoor coffeehouse setting with stone couches and booths. All spaces are surrounded by play areas for every age. Play was the drive and focus for this park and as such took many forms, from toddler activity to adult education.

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Requirements MASTER PLAN 1. Long Tree Creek meandering section 2. Existing trail 3. Seating area 4. Trail connection to future regional trail 5. Long Tree Creek pool drop reach 6. Existing pedestrian underpass 7. Shelter 8. Monumentation to announce park from Arapahoe Road 9. Linear arboretum around loop walk 10. 2-story plaza overlook shelter 11. Shelter at lower level play area 12. Climbing wall 13. Restroom/concessions/shelter building 14. Maintenance & accessible parking 15. Water play 16. Boardwalk 17. Pull-in street parking along peak view 18. Secondary vehicular entry 19. Secondary amphitheater park entry 20. Bioswale 21. Primary park entry 22. Plant select demonstration garden 23. Primary vehicular entry boulevard

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This project was intended to bring definition, vitality and a sense of community to a far flung city with less than a decade of collective memory. This challenge was met on a number of levels. Landforms were thoughtfully crafted to attract interest and mitigate ambient noise on site. Visibility from the major roadway was maximized to provide passers-by a glimpse of the park as an invitation to recreate, play, relax.

Project Name: Center Park Completion Date: 2012 Site Area: 4.5ha Construction Budget: $5.4 Million Photographer: Courtesy of Design Concepts

1. Entrance 2-3. The road into the park was designed to give the visitor a sense of passage and leads to an overlook for a near magical vista, Disney-like in the variety of play.

The road into the park was designed to give the visitor a sense of passage and leads to an overlook for a near magical vista, Disney-like in the variety of play. The many forms of inter-generational play on site allow anyone to find their place and spend some time. Large parking lots doubled their capacity in just one year to accommodate growing visitor demand.

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Scope The parcel of land that would become Centennial Center Park was a nondescript leftover piece of dirt surrounded by the city hall building, a major highway and two thirty-story office towers. There was a channelized creek on one edge. This site had little to recommend itself other than a central location and visibility. The landscape architect was to design a festival plaza, restrooms, play, water play, a grassy amphitheater, picnic pavilions, shared parking and grassy play areas as well as complex drainage. Water Landscape Record Vol. 6/2015.12

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was scarce so all irrigation had to be minimized. Open fields were encouraged.

Philosophy The park was to embody the Colorado spirit: love of the outdoors, respect for the rich history of people and place, and a sense of community all in sight of the beautiful Rocky Mountain backdrop. This was to come together using the tools of landscape architecture. Landform, grassy meadows, trees, paved plazas and overhead shade created the center.

Play for everyone surrounded this gathering space. The result was a place to share the warmth of friends and neighbors under the great blue sky. Classic forms – fireplaces, creeksides, gentle slopes, and festival grands – come together in a unified, seamless space.

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could be accessed by any ability. This dichotomy of entries provided the overall appearance of a park with varied slopes and interesting walks. The original goal was also met: an entirely accessible park.

Challenges in Design and Construction The site had some challenges, and the landscape architects created others with the playground design, which was strongly threedimensional. Layering everything from water play to vertical rock faces to a tree house in such close proximity required real skill on the part of the contractor to assemble the intricate layout and installation sequence. The park site was sloped, with access to Lone Tree Creek on the western border. To create a playground that felt safe, protected from the wind and multigenerational, the designers had to develop their own topography.

They moved earth to create larger and more interesting geography, befitting the importance of this place. Immediate construction challenges occurred when the contractor hit bedrock, and when massive site flooding inundated the excavations. However, the project was still delivered on time and within the city council’s approved budget, thanks to the excellent work of Turner Construction Company of Denver.

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1-2. A park where every corner and every use could be accessed by any ability 3-5. A world of play

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William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor Landscape Architects: SmithGroupJJR Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

F Accessible Design Five ADA accessible interpretive shelters with signage illustrate the native, industrial and social history of the riverfront. A memorial to Peter Stroh, former chairman of Detroit’s Stroh Brewing Company, commemorates this noted conservationist who advocated for public access to the riverfront.

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or the past 10 years, SmithGroupJJR has worked closely with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to plan, design and construct Michigan’s first urban state park in downtown Detroit. The 13-hectare William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor replaces abandoned riverfront industrial sites with a public promenade and overlooks, a transient marina, and a range of recreational uses and amenities. The park’s phase 1 harbor and upland section opened in 2004; the phase 2 Lowland Park was completed in 2009. SmithGroupJJR developed a phase 3 master plan for the park’s remaining areas in 2013.

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SmithGroupJJR’s design for Lowland Park recreates the riparian wetlands that once bordered the Detroit River. The only wetland community within Detroit’s urban core, Lowland Park has made ecological restoration and education a key part of the urban fabric while naturally cleansing stormwater runoff. The park’s wetland system is designed to capture and filter 17 million liters of runoff from 5 hectares of adjacent, developable land. This eliminates the need to install expensive stormwater detention systems on the adjacent land, making it more attractive for private development.

INTERPRETIVE LAYERS Geologic History Natural Resources Human Use Career Opportunities

Project Name: William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor Completion Date: 2013 Client: Michigan Department of Natural Resources Size: 13ha Photographer: ???

In addition, the wetland also restores native habitat for 62 confirmed species of migratory and resident birds, along with reptiles and amphibians such as bullfrogs, green frogs and painted turtles. The wetland is home to 10 aquatic plant species, 32 native forb and grass species, and 20 native tree and shrub species.

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The highly successful blend of urban and natural features, active and passive uses, and place and connectivity make Milliken State Park a unique part of Detroit’s and Michigan’s urban landscape.

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The park connects 5.6 kilometers of the Detroit East RiverWalk to the southern trailhead of the 2.3-kilometer-long Dequindre Cut trail – also designed by SmithGroupJJR. These connections play a key role in enhancing the city’s non-motorized circulation and providing linkages to other existing and proposed trail networks.

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Trail Types RiverWalk extension + gateways Atwater streetscape edge

MASTER PLAN

SITE PLAN 1. Interpretive shelter: River fisheries 2. Stormwater outfall + overlook shelter 3. Entrance wall and sign 4. Detroit East RiverWalk Rivard Plaza 5. Interpretive shelter: great lakes shipping 6. Stroh memorial 7. Upland prairie plantings 8. Non-motorized asphalt path 9. Wetland 10. Water’s edge finishing path 11. Stormwater in-flow 12. Park promenade

The park provides recreational access to the Detroit River for the estimated 1 million visitors per year, including residents and the downtown’s 39,000 employees. Hardscapes and stainless steel cable railing provide over 150 meters of riverfront accessibility for fishing, walking, biking, wildlife viewing, and observing the ocean-going vessels on this international river.

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Michigan discovery trails Multi-use/bike facilities

River edge access Interpretive Features A. Wetland flora B. Wetland fauna C. Migratory flyway D. Fishing exhibit E. Glacier plaza F. Michigan lodge

G. Dam exhibit H. Dune exhibit I. Waterfall gateway J. Small gathering plaza K. Michigan plaza L. Michigan orchards M. Adaptive playscape

Discovery Trail Interpretive Hubs 1. Furs & forts 2. Settling Michigan 3. Trees & timber 4. Rivers & water 5. Mines & minerals 6. Ships & sails

7. Industry & production 8. Green & growing 9. Trade & navigation

1. The lush green plants in the wetland

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Meadow Crest Playground Landscape Architects: Design Concepts Location: Renton, Washington, USA

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Accessible Design Easily accessible ramps with handrails lead to the site’s high point, where parents and children can enjoy a wide-ranging view of the play area. Plantings include Japanese silver and purple moor grasses and Shasta daisies. Games imprinted on the safety surfacing, such as caterpillar hopscotch, can be used by children in or out of wheelchairs.

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eadow Crest Playground is a first in Renton, a Washington city of over 96,000 located southeast of Seattle. The playground provides inclusive play opportunities for children of all abilities. This joint-use playground development is a result of collaboration between the City of Renton and Renton School District. It is a 0.4-hectare playground that replaces two adjacent but separated outdated playgrounds, and is jointly shared by both the city and the district. The design is a playfully portrayed nature theme bringing life inside the playground. The theme is anchored by the playground’s mascot: a 7.6-meter-long multicolored caterpillar climber. Three play pod areas provide ageappropriate activities to meet state licensing requirements, while providing endless opportunities for all ages to learn, play, explore, socialize Landscape Record Vol. 6/2015.12

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and test their skills through varying activities. Meadow Crest Playground brings together all abilities, to play side by side in a family friendly environment, and in a combined boundary-free playground.

Purpose of the Project

underperforming playgrounds for the city and school district.

The playgrounds sat back-to-back, separated by a 2.4-meterhigh chain-link fence. Neither met accessibility standards from anywhere on either site. Neither provided any weather protection, and neither provided play opportunities for the large special needs population.

Scope – The playground is nestled into the heart of the neighborhood. The project replaced two small aging and

Philosophy – Children use play as an instrument to learn.

While some play environments exclude children with disabilities because they have barriers to mobility or limit opportunities for children with autism, inclusive playgrounds provide activities for all abilities. Play is an important vehicle for developing social relationships and modeling behavior. Play is important in strengthening self-esteem and developing a foundation for academic learning (literacy through storytelling, science through physical exploration or environment, and math/physics through

1-2. This inclusive playground provides multiple play pod areas for varying ages and abilities to enjoy.

Project Name: Meadow Crest Playground Completion Date: ???

Site Area: 0.4ha Construction Budget: $2 Million Photographer: Courtesy of Design Concepts

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spinner bowl, where minimal movement sends wide smiles across faces and hair flying, is a favorite by autistic children. This whimsical play structure connects to adjacent independent play pieces via the ladybug steppers or log balance beam.

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1. Plantings 2. Meadow Crest Playground signage 3. Entrance to the Renton parks

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PLAN 1. School entrance 2. Rock and roll pod 3. Caterpillar pod 4. Wise old tree pod 5. Picnic plaza/painted games 6. Rolling hills 7. Mountain climber pod 8. Public entrance

manipulation of objects). Play promotes the development of motor skills, sensory processing, muscle development and cause-effect learning. Play stimulates the brain to produce chemicals to reduce brain damage. Play helps build receptive and verbal communication skills. Play is necessary, should be required, and is fun!

Intent – The inclusive design means that no activity or area feels separate or isolated – there are just abundant fun things to do. The playground is divided into three primary play areas or pods: early childhood, ages 5-12, and a combined group play for climbing, swinging, spinning and sliding. Children of any age can play anywhere on the playground, but the design allows younger children to play independently from older children whose play area is delineated by a low seat wall.

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Caterpillar Pod - This early childhood area is designed for children ages 2-5. In this pod the nature theme is interpreted larger than life starting with a 7.6-meter-long climbing caterpillar. This friendly guy entices all to climb. Ladybug hoppers with their curious expressions lead users to wonder if stepping on them affects these oversized iconic bugs. And the

Rock and Roll Pod- A wavy walk consists of an undulating concrete path and encircles this play area that can be used by tricycles, bicycles, wheelchairs or scooters.

It provides a sense of movement that stimulates the brain and exercises the quadriceps, beneficial for those who need a little extra muscle development.

The wavy walk provides opportunities of imaginative play where users stop at a stop sign, slow down at the school zone, or buy goodies from friends at the drive-thru or gas up at the eco-station.

Within the wavy walk area all generations delight in making music with oversized musical instruments that serenade playground users with acoustically tuned musical features. Nobody can pass up these fun instruments that allow everyone an opportunity to sound off their skills.

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Mountain Climber Pod - This area designed for children ages 5-12 provides a higher level of challenge, while accommodating visual and sensory experiences. The area features rocks and ropes

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climbing, group spinner, play structure, and side-by-side bucket swings with durable options to strap in users with low motor control.

CATERPILLAR

Wise Old Tree Pod - Visitors of all sizes and abilities can explore the tree climb scramble in this play pod. Children can climb the dimensional tree motif on the climbing wall, descend the wall face from a ramp above, or slide down from the treetop. A double side-by-side allows therapists to go up and down with students. A large glider swing with ramp access accommodates all users and enough space for a large group to enjoy this movement together.

Rolling Hills - In Renton, Washington, an area where rain is the norm on any given day, soggy wet grass leaves little opportunity for children to run wild and free. The solution to this weather obstacle is use of synthetic turf with a sophisticated drainage system. This solution provides opportunities for all abilities (even wheelchairs) to climb to the top of the hill and run, roll, or just plop down and sit at the top. The hills provide therapists an opportunity to assist visitors out of wheelchairs and roll them down the hill to provide them the same experience.

NATURAL PLAY

Picnic Plaza – This area shelters visitors from weather, provides a resting place, and offers more play opportunities. Traditional pavement games reinterpreted can be used by all abilities and again, emphasize the nature theme. Hopscotch is designed as a caterpillar and scaled to accommodate traditional hoppers and wheelchairs alike. A buzzing beeline can be used for balanced walking or followed by wheelchairs.

Special Factors

CLIMBING AREA

Meadow Crest Playground represented the first project where the City of Renton and the Renton School District collaborated on a joint-use development; a first in the state with co-located facilities and no exchange of real property. Most importantly it was the first time that Renton children with a whole range of abilities could play side by side at an entirely accessible playground.

The playground includes features designed to encourage healthy physical development such as slides, swings, spinners, and climbing features, along with non-traditional playground activities designed for sensory development. The layout and play equipment are focused on creating barrier-free access for all children regardless of their physical, intellectual, or

emotional challenges. It is designed to allow children to play together with their teachers, aides, friends, and family members. All play areas have adjacent paths for continuous easy movement.

Challenges Throughout design the project achieved a balance of differing goals, standards, and expectations between the city and school district (from equipment types, to surfacing, to maintenance practices). Play pieces were specifically selected for a variety of developmental and therapeutic play opportunities. To maximize those opportunities was challenging because of the small size of the 0.4-hectare infill development site. There’s always a very long wish list, so it was important to weigh the most play value for the most users.

Significance Meadow Crest Playground provides a special opportunity to connect children of all abilities with each other and their communities. This project illustrates the role that landscape architects have in planning and designing environments for specific purposes. The playground highlights how landscape architects positively influence the community by understanding

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the importance of social, interactive, and playful experiences that foster development and interaction between varying abilities and ages of users. Meadow Crest Playground provides a balance of meeting goals for public use as well as specific educational needs for a school district, while balancing a safe environment with an environment that challenges and fosters growth.

1. The most popular feature is the 7.6-meter-long multi-colored caterpillar.

2. Caterpillar play pod includes ladybug hoppers with curious expressions leading children to wonder if their stepping on them effects these oversized iconic bugs.

3. Play area for walking

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San Bernardino Courthouse Landscape Architects: Tom Leader Studio

1. Grate-covered runnels 2. Seatwalls line upper ends of runnels.

Location: San Bernardino, CA, USA

Working with SOM San Francisco, the San Bernardino Courthouse scheme involves water harvesting and bio-retention. A central reservoir for cleaning roof and plaza drainage leads to a series of bio-runnels that flow through a ramping park with palm groves to connect with bio-swales in the parking lot.

Accessible Design The entire plan is conceived as an ADA compliant system of landscape that allows visitors to gently ascend the 4.6m grade change in the shade and next to the runnel system.

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This proposed feature is intended as a pioneering demonstration project for innovative sustainable design and careful water harvesting and management. It occurs on a hot, arid site where water features typically are used in gratuitous displays that demonstrate a lack of concern about responsible water management. This feature is the opposite of that – it is run entirely on harvested roof drainage that

would otherwise be lost into the storm drain, which would in turn increase flooding problems downstream. This feature does not run on any potable water whatsoever.

Here, the feature is an integral part of the site system for both cleaning dirty roof water on site and helping to lower the temperature at the building entry through evaporative cooling. After an initial screening for particulates, the feature harvests and retains a large percentage of all the roof drainage in a low-tech underground storage “bladder.” The water feature draws on this cistern over the season. The water is run at a low volume through the planting surrounding it, allowing bio-filtration as it runs into the small area of actual open water at the bottom.

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INSIGHTS

This allows to irrigate a lusher than normal wetland garden using only runoff. A portion of the runoff is also pumped through small jets which also help in aerating the water. The combination of moist soil and the jets should result in a 10 degree reduction in air temperatures on a hot afternoon in the areas surrounding. When the pond fills beyond a certain level during a storm, the excess diverts into three overflow runnels that slope gently through the ramping park and allow infiltration along the way, in addition to holding more moisture in the park area to grow the trees and reduce irrigation needs.

ILLUSTRATED BASE PLAN

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Project Name: San Bernardino Courthouse Completion Date: 2013 Architects: SOM Client: California State Courts Site Area: 1.6ha Budget: $8 million Photographer: Courtesy of Tom Leader Studio

1. Green roof with sedums 2. Palm court aerial view

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INSIGHTS

41cm/yr

Roof w/sedum 2,400sqm

Main roof surface collection 2,000sqm 834,000 liters potential

Vortex inline debris separator

Main roof #3: 1,100sqm Produce 461,000 liters/yr

Roof 2,130sqm

Main roof #2: 2,600sqm Produce 1,104,000 liters/yr

Sedum roof 1,400sqm @60% runoff Produce 365,000 liters/yr

Rainwater harvest delivery to pond/storage 1,253,000 liters/yr Filtration channel carries pond overflow to bio-swales

10% water & debris sent to disposal (83,000 liters/yr)

Evapo transpiration (ET) 91,000-189,000 liters/yr

1,738,000 Vortex debris liters/yr strainers (3) in remote service vault Open water 110sqm 51,000 liters

Drop inlet service access for debris removal

Pond overflow to storage

Makeup water supply to storage

13. Entry pond system 158,000 liters Vegetation w/media bed 230sqm 106,000 liters

Underground Storage Capacity Precast concrete tank modules (11) provide 492,000 liters capacity Fiberglass storage tanks (3) provide 522,000 liters capacity

683,000 liters surplus/yr

UNDERGROUND WATER STORAGE DIAGRAM

High water level – overflow to disposal Ornamental water display 20-30 jets w/biological filter/ centrifugal pump

Operating water level – recirculation to pond

Entry fountain rendering

Low water level – add makeup water @ 25%

Aerial view rendering

Remote storage vessel Recirculating water – tank to vegetation pond

Water storage capacity 340sqm 569,000 liters @ 174cm 710,000 liters @ 216cm

San Bernardino Court Entry Water Feature / Schematic System Elements

WATER RECYCLING SYSTEM DIAGRAM

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INSIGHTS

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ACCESSIBLE RAMP CONNECTION STAIR CONNECTION Redbud

ACCESSIBLE DESIGN CONCEPT

Planted slope Bio-swale

Seat wall

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1. Infiltration fields 2. Ramp 3. Hardscape 4. Plaza

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Path Decomposed granite

1. Shady palm court offers relief from sun and heat.

BIO-SWALE DETAIL SECTION

POROUS/NON-POROUS DIAGRAM

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1. Infiltration fields 2. Biofiltration channels 3. Wetland plants 4. Rooftop water collection 5. From tower roof 6. Underground water storage 7. Overflow to bio-swales 8. Bio-swales 9. Filtered water to creek

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STORMWATER DIAGRAM

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INTERVIEW

Universal Design: A Space Equally Friendly to All - An Interview with Akeshi Sakurada, Landscape Design Inc., Tokyo

Takeshi Sakurada Date of birth: August 5, 1968 Nationality: Japan Education: 1994, graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Department of Design, Faculty of Fine Arts Company: Landscape Design Inc., Tokyo http://www.ldc.co.jp/ Position: Project Leader Planned assignment position: Main Landscape Designer Working years in the company: 21years

Landscape Record (LR): What was it that brought you to landscape architecture?

Akeshi Sakurada (AS): When I was in college, I studied designing in many scales; from furniture design to park design. I wanted to be involved in all of these, but had difficulty deciding which course or profession I should take after graduation. Then my professor introduced me to the field of landscape design and landscape architecture. This was my first encounter with an area or profession that deals with designing in many different scales.

Works: HOTEL MONTEREY LA SOEUR OSAKA Hotel Montery Co., Ltd.

MARUITO OBP BUILDING Maruito Co., Ltd.

Japan to other countries, so it was crucial for me, when designing outside of Japan, to understand and grasp those differences.

TS: In climate, geographical history, and surrounding environment, no two countries are alike. Therefore, landscape architects must be able to understand the context and design a space that blends in with the existing surrounding.

Although we use the common term “Universal Design,” spatial, color and touch perception, and sense of scale are all slightly different from

LR: What are your successful solutions that enhance landscape architecture while meeting needs for accessible design?

TS: One successful element that was compatible and meeting the needs of both accessible design and aesthetics was the studded paving blocks to

LR: Could you please talk about a few projects that you worked on with accessible design? How did you start to work on it?

TS: I will introduce a few projects that I have done and my firm, Landscape Design Inc., has done in the past.

1. T-City Housing, China – Straightforward & Enjoyable Design – “Guiding the scenic view through sequential change and memorable design” The design concept was to create the path from the main entrance to each of the entrances of the houses enjoyable and naturally guiding the residents.

This was achieved by placing elements, such as symbolic trees, artworks and signs, at key points in order to be retained in the residents’ memories.

2. Y-Prefecture Museum Project, Japan – Safe & Beautiful Design – “Scheme for the edge material” The color and texture of the edge of the lake has a sculpture-like presence and the width and height also contributes in creating a safe environment.

Osaka, Japan SHENYANG VANKE JINYUGUOJI Shenyang Vanke Real Estate Development Co., Ltd Shenyang, China

“Use of different materials for the pavement” The main path is finished with granite and from the path to the lake, cobble stones are used to evoke awareness.

TIANJIN VANKE BAICUIYUAN Tianjin Vanke Real Estate Co., Ltd Tianjin, China

3. K-Prefecture University, Japan – Easy to Use & Friendly Design – “Flat Design” In order for the University to have a lively open space with flexible usage, a seamless design was planned. Especially for the grass and rest area, pathways were designed flat.

WUXI VANKE XINCHENGDAO GONGYUAN Jiangsu Sunan (Wuxi) Vanke Co., Ltd Wuxi, China Y-Prefecture Museum Project

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TS: When I think of barrier-free design or accessible design, I always keep in mind the broader idea of universal design. I aim to design a space equally friendly to all people, regardless of physical ability, situation, age, gender, nationality and culture.

TS: I believe that the role of landscape architecture is to unite the functional aspect, a space that is safe and easy to use, and the design aspect, a space with aesthetic quality. And it is the responsibility for landscape architects to design a space that is safe, easy to use, beautifully designed, and enjoyable to all people.

LR: What are the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

“The changing of colors and contrast of the pavement” A bright colored material was used in the center of the path, and the edges were finished with dark material to make the shape visibly clear.

Osaka, Japan

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LR: When you think of barrier-free design or accessible design, what is the image that comes into your mind?

LR: What are the relationships between accessible design and landscape architecture? What is the role that a landscape architect should play?

Vanke.binhai Park Residence Photo By Zhuang Zhe

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