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!

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!