For he's a jolly good...

Well, we knew that! Marq Truscott, principal and president at Quadriga’s Sacramento office is not just a ‘jolly good fellow’ he’s an ASLA Fellow!

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!

Peninsula Station - More than just Green

Peninsula Station is a transit-oriented urban infill development that provides affordable housing to 68 working families in the City of San Mateo. The project was designed utilizing the USGBC LEED guidelines, and was rated by the City’s ‘Build it Green’ checklist. It received the 2011 Green Building Award from Sustainable San Mateo County, and was awarded the second highest Green Points rating ever achieved on a multifamily residential project in California. This reflects a commitment to sustainability shared by all of the project’s key partners and the design team.
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!

ACE Mentor Progam

For the past two years I have been lucky to work with some amazing people in the Sacramento ACE Mentor Program. The program teams Architects, Contractors and Engineers with students to “engage, excite and enlighten students” to pursue careers in our industry. This year I was on the School of Engineering and Sciences team- led by James Willsie of Rainforth Grau Architects. Others on the team included Art Ross of CYS engineering, Ray Nalangan of SMUD, Sarah Picker of Caltrans, Owen Jones, AIA and Donna Huntingdale of the Stahl Companies. Our School advisor was Andrew Kennedy- Mr. Kennedy teaches engineering and also advises on the Robotics Team- he is a busy guy.

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

ASLA California Sierra Chapter - Design Awards

On April 22, in honor of National Landscape Architecture Month, the ASLA Sierra Chapter hosted a gala to announce the winners of the 2011 Design Awards. The event was very well attended and featured guest speaker Terry Poltrack, ASLA National Director of Public Relations and Communications.

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.

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!