LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.
Issue link: https://landscapearchitect.epubxp.com/i/320919
58 Landscape Architect and Specifier News frame a courtyard on the north, west and south sides. The west tower was folded in the plan for solar gain, and its southern half is raised on colums to open the courtyard. Beneath this raised portion, a student meeting room was designed above a dry arroyo bioswale, with fingers extending below the building edges and buffering the west tower from the campus ring road. The arroyo is adjacent to a student event area at the south of the site. One of the project highlights was on the west tower, a 7,500-square- foot vegetated roof and event terrace that offers views from the mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Framed by a patterned planting of low water-use grasses, perennials and succulents in less than 10 inches of soil, the vegetated roof not only captures and filters stormwater, but also reduces heat island effect and increases the energy efficiency of the building. revealing, reusing and Conserving Water Water is a scarce resource in Southern California and requires significant energy to transport from distant sources. Conservation top To withstand the salt air, the project incorporates aluminum windows and doors, and stainless steel hardware for exposed elements. industrial fiberglass grating was incorporated for sunshades, and railing systems were specified for durability in marine environments. The buildings were constructed with high-quality cast-in-place white concrete for durability and consistency with the existing housing architecture. Bottom, Left The apartments were sited to use prevailing winds and natural ventilation to maximize comfort in both summer and winter. The housing complex offers numerous amenities to students, including two basketball courts, flexible outdoor space, a barbecue station and meeting rooms. Bottom, right Basins, weirs and planted swales manage runoff throughout the complex, which is at the low end of the campus stormwater system, heightening the need for water management. Plantings in the courtyard include coast live oak, California sycamore, Torrey pines, 'forest pansy' eastern redbuds, Douglas iris and St. Augustine turfgrass. (Continued on page 60) 54-63.indd 58 5/21/14 4:48 PM