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/457513
52 Landscape Architect and Specifier News (Continued on page 54) Centennial Plaza (Continued from page 50) design, construction documents, permitting and bidding and construction observation services for Centennial Plaza. The theme for the plaza is community events: to support music performances, street festivals and theatrical presentation throughout the year. The plaza design is flexible and intimate for daily users, accommodates public art, and even provides a vantage point for viewing a Mexican Free-tailed bat colony under an Interstate Highway 35 bridge just west of the site. The plaza site was physically and aesthetically challenging. It was situated between the Allen Baca Senior Center and the McConico Building, a city office building. There was a sloping side street, parking lot and amphitheater, with the overall site dropped nearly 12 feet. The elevation change created an accessibility challenge in connecting public facilities, while trying to maximize festival space and performance areas. Existing rock, cast stone, brick building veneers and brick paver sidewalks had to be considered and incorporated into the design. The plaza design also needed to accommodate two future projects: a policy center and below-grade parking garage. Baker-Aicklen facilitated an open house and design charrette with local businesses, residents and city staff to generate concepts. The final design, themed "Rows to Rails," is a plaza space representative of the urbanization of the area from an agrarian community to a city catering to high tech and medical industries, while providing higher education and quality of life for its residents. Top The walkway consists of cast stone colored pavers in a herringbone pattern with perimeter buff-colored pavers in a stack bond pattern, consistent with the city's downtown streetscape standards. The pavers are set on a reinforced concrete bed, with joints locked with polymeric sand to facilitate drainage. The overall site drops nearly 12 feet. Gulf Muhly, Mexican Feather Grass and Dwarf Fountain Grass frame the hardscape. Bottom The Centennial Plaza pavement provides ample room for craft and food vendors, plus space for professional and amateur chalk artists to showcase their creations during Round Rock's annual Chalk Walk. Team (Consultants/Contractors) Owner: City of Round Rock Parks and Recreation Dept. Landscape Architect: Baker-Aicklen & Associates, Round Rock Structural Engineer: Engineering 360, Round Rock Electrical Engineer: Feuls Lighting Consultant: RT Lighting; Spectrum Lighting Shelter Consultant: The PlayWell Group Fountain: Fountain People, San Marcos, Texas General Contractor: Patin Construction Mason: Tomek Construction Services Electrician: Allen's Electric