Thursday, October 4, 2012
Great Public Places in America: Cesar Chavez Plaza Recognized
Quadriga was the prime consultant involved in the initial programming and public outreach for this downtown street/plaza project, and spearheaded the subsequent development of preliminary design alternatives and construction documents for the renovation of this historic plaza, located at the steps of City Hall. Funded by revenues provided in association with the development of the new California Environmental Protection Agency Building, Quadriga prepared design development and construction documents, and provided construction administration services for this civic project. Construction was completed in June of 2000.
Over a decade after the renovation, Cesar Chavez plaza is recognized as a part of the 'heart' of downtown Sacramento, home to a vibrant Farmer's Market and very popular summertime 'Concert in the Park' series. We are pleased to have been a part of creating this Community gem.
The news was also featured in the Sacramento Bee 'Cesar Chavez is officially a great public space'
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Quadriga - part of team sponsoring Amgen start in Santa Rosa
Friends and colleagues are invited to join us at the VIP Spectator Tent (located at 5th Street and Mendocino Avenue) on May 13th between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Gingerbread House Competition Recap
A couple days before the submittal deadline, Lea and I got together at her house to build the tree house (i.e., drink wine). Once we realized gingerbread wouldn’t meet our structural requirements, we whipped up a batch of rice crispy treats- just like cake boss! Lea, Sam (Lea’s husband) and I worked on the tree for two nights, creating candy critters, meringue mushrooms and mixing up brown frosting and creating frosting leaves. The Treehouse lived in the fridge and we hoped it would all stay together through the delivery and judging.
The night of the judging we got to see our competition: An amazing Victorian house and a very creative dome house done by a local structural engineer from Point 2 structural engineers. The entrants in the other categories all did some fun and creative work. It was great to see the edible creativity. We didn’t win first place but we had a great time putting the tree together and it was wonderful to meet some great people who do so much for our community. Next Year we will hold nothing back!
-By Christine Talbot
Monday, October 10, 2011
For he's a jolly good...
So what’s a ‘Fellow’?
Each year, The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) sifts through hundreds of nominations and selects several dozen outstanding Landscape Architects from across the Country to be inducted to the Council of Fellows. Fellowship is among the highest of honors the ASLA bestows on members and is conferred upon individuals in recognition of exceptional accomplishments over a sustained period of time. Members of the Council of Fellows may use the suffix “FASLA” to denote this high honor. Marq is among an esteemed group of 40 new Fellows that will be recognized at the 2011 ASLA Annual Meeting & EXPO, later this month in San Diego.
Marq was nominated by the ASLA Sierra Chapter for service to the profession. Marq has contributed tirelessly and effectively not only to his profession but to the larger Sacramento community. He is a volunteer leader with the Sacramento Theater Company, Urban Land Institute, UC Davis and the California Center for Urban Horticulture, and has donated design services to the cities of Sacramento and Roseville. He has spearheaded numerous community design initiatives and, in those capacities, educated key decision makers on the value of landscape architecture and its impacts on successful community building. He has contributed expert insight to students, emerging professionals, and colleagues. With his presidency of the local and State chapters - three terms in each position since 1995 - his ASLA leadership record of service is unparalleled.
Congratulations to Marq!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Peninsula Station - More than just Green
The entire project was built ‘on-podium’ which presented significant challenges to successful landscape implementation. All plantings were installed in specially designed above-grade planters that also serve as the site’s storm-water treatment system. Design of these planters required close collaboration among members of the design team to balance the functional, aesthetic, mechanical, and plumbing requirements of the devices. Planters were then carefully laid out to shape and define the various outdoor ‘rooms.’ Due to the site’s relatively high housing density, providing a good mix of inviting and practical common spaces was critical to the overall success of the project. These spaces include a large central gathering area, a community garden with raised planting beds, a potted lemon grove, and a children’s play area. The play area makes the most of its limited space by minimizing traditional play equipment that would have had large fall zone requirements. Instead, faux stone climbing boulders are connected to a wooden “fort” by means of a “river” of rubberized play surfacing and concrete “plank bridge.” Elsewhere a loading ramp doubles as a basketball court, and is flanked by a mural illustrating local history. Private patios are located away from the communal areas, and are separated by planted vine walls. The overall plan was developed with sensitivity to urban living and the flow of daily life. Peninsula Station is now a vibrant, mixed-use community which supports the City’s initiatives to transform the area into a safe and welcoming place to live, work and play.
Check out the You Tube video of the project!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
ACE Mentor Progam
Our project this year was to respond to a proposal to design and build a new museum and exhibit space, including site improvements for the Effie Yeaw Nature Center. The students met with the Center’s director to discuss the Center’s programming needs and also explored the site for inspiration. Back in the classroom, the students prepared a community survey that they distributed, collected and analyzed for programming input. We met bi-weekly with the students to work on designs for the site as well as the building. The students broke into teams related to their interest level- architecture, engineering or construction.
This being my second year mentoring students through the ACE program, I had certain expectations. Mainly I was hoping to retain more female students and to actually finish the base plan in a timely manner. As professionals we are used to working to the wire to complete projects, the students were no different and pulled some late nights to finish their presentation. The day of their presentation to the ACE judges, the team consisted of 7 members. The Team looked polished and spoke confidently about their project process and recommendations.
A week or so later the students were recognized at a banquet at Effie Yeaw. Team RAWR won Best Construction Approach. Thanks for a great year everyone! See you in the fall!
-Christine Talbot
Friday, June 3, 2011
ASLA California Sierra Chapter - Design Awards
At this very grand event, Quadriga was pleased to receive awards in the following categories:
Parks/Open Space - Merit Award: Whitney Ranch Community Park
Commercial/Civic - Merit Award: Folsom Light Rail Plaza
This was the first time in over a decade the Chapter had hosted an awards program. The number and quality of responses exceeded their expectations: There is some excellent design work going on in Northern California! The concealed identity submittals were judged by the ASLA Louisiana Chapter as an impartial jury.
Quadriga’s Marq Truscott and Lea Allen both currently serve on the ASLA California Sierra Chapter Executive Committee.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
California Mexican American Veterans Memorial - Honoring the Past
Situated in Historic State Capitol Park, directly across the street from the West steps of the State Capitol, this existing monument is slated for embellishment to elevate its presence to a level that is commensurate with its meaning and importance to the citizens of California. The original monument, a lone soldier known as “El Soldado”, was dedicated to honor the devotion, dedication, and sacrifice of California’s Latino Veterans to State and Country.
Working in collaboration with the Department of General Services, Department of Veterans Affairs and the California Mexican American Veterans Memorial Beautification and Enhancement Committee, Quadriga designed a new 15,000 square foot Memorial and Memorial Garden with El Soldado as its center piece. The Memorial is designed as a progression of experience, beginning with recognition of the Society of War Mothers who originally commissioned El Soldado in the 1950’s. As visitors are lead further into the Memorial they are presented with the Memorial Wall at the base of the El Soldado monument engraved with the names of the Latino Congressional Medal Of Honor recipients. The journey into the memorial continues with the visitors being oriented facing El Soldado, as he stands at attention to the States Capitol. The Memorial Wall at this final vantage point is engraved with prose and poetry to honor all California Latino Veterans. The entire Memorial plaza is encircled by a low Community Recognition Wall, embracing visitors and those memorialized within.
Quadriga’s role in this project includes conceptual Design through Construction Administration, with completion scheduled for early 2012. Quadriga was honored to collaborate with the Memorial Committee and local Veterans groups on this significant Memorial.
Click here to watch the California Mexican American Veterans Memorial video!Friday, May 14, 2010
CALIFORNIA’S NEW WATER ORDINANCE (or how I stopped worrying and learned to love AB1881)
by Tim Skinner
On January 1st 2010, a new ordinance was added to the California Code of Regulations: AB1881. And before this gets too Orwellian, let’s review how it will affect the industry.
It applies to new construction and rehabilitated landscapes, both public and private sector, homeowner-provided/hired, some existing landscapes, and cemeteries.
It does not apply to registered historical sites, eco-restoration or land reclamation with temporary irrigation systems, as well as plant collections opened to the public.
For years now we have been assembling documents that have grown in terms of their scope and requirements.
Some new pieces of information or services that may or will be required are:
‘Certificate of Completion’, which contains (among other sundry items) - names, telephone numbers and addresses of applicant and owner, ‘as builts’, irrigation scheduling parameters (for both establishment and established landscapes as well as temporary landscapes) and the irrigation schedule and audit;
‘Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance Schedule’ which amounts to a small manual for the property’s maintenance manager to refer – and we hope – adhere to;
‘Water Audit’ performed by a certified auditor. Just think of it as the ‘Hydrological Police’ or ‘Aqua Investigator’ – but in a good way;
Note-Quadriga's pending Certified Water Auditors:
Russ Mallard, Christine Talbot, Marq Truscott, John Suesens
‘Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet’ which includes the hydrozone information for each separate zone and water budget calculations for each, as well as for the project as a whole. In addition to this, local agencies must provide a copy it to the local water purveyor, for review upon approval of Landscape Documentation Package;
‘Soil Management Report’ to be completed by the project applicant, and supplied to the designer so that we might take it into consideration in preparing our design documents. Confusing, because this is a burden we normally place on the landscape contractor in our specifications. Not to worry – we will work it all out.
One item that we’ve been used to for a time now - the good old ‘Maximum Applied Water Allowance’ - has an additional category for higher water usage, with respect to recreation areas, permanently dedicated edible landscape areas (orchard or garden) and those irrigated with reclaimed water. This is good, and will allow for a continued richness of design, rather than a totalitarian xeriscape mandate. However, many of our projects that are being designed and implemented to accommodate reclaimed water, are and will be waiting for that very supply to be provided. In the interim, they are using potable water, so I see some room for interpretation and clarification.
The use of overhead spray has been reigned in, both in terms of where and when it may be used, as well as how it affects the overall ‘MAWA’ of the project site.
Even model homes must incorporate public education, including signage and pamphlets to indicate how planting, irrigation and grading are responding to these new challenging times.
Yes folks, it is a brave new world, but fear not: as a team, we will comply, and feel good about it too, because it is the right thing to do in these times of dwindling and eco-challenged resources. Rest assured that Quadriga will lead that team.
Related link: City of Santa Rosa Irrigation Guideline
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Stormwater Management
Friday, January 8, 2010
Sonoma Velodrome Project
Monday, October 26, 2009
Oak Grove School--Grand Opening
Monday, August 31, 2009
Water-wise Irrigation Practice
Friday, August 14, 2009
Diverse Projects--Interesting Browsing
GREEN MUSIC CENTER - take the video tour!
HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL - Best of 2006 - (go to page 6)
METRO SQUARE - 2001 Ahwahnee Award-Principals for Resource Efficient Communities
SSU COPELAND CREEK MASTER PLAN - provides direction to the University in preserving this beautiful creek that traverses the campus
SACRAMENTO CITY HALL - urban space across from Chavez Plaza
NAPA VALLEY COLLEGE PROJECTS - benefiting the Napa Valley communities: and more at NVC!
FAIR OAKS HORTICULTURAL WATER-WISE DEMONSTRATION GARDEN - open to the public: check out their workshop schedules
YOCHA DE HE ACADEMY - an educational facility for the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians
NAPA VALLEY LODGE - wine country get-away
CESAR CHAVEZ PLAZA - with Farmer's Markets and Summer Concerts
UPPER COLGAN CREEK RESTORATION - for the City of Santa Rosa-click on Appendix J