Landscape Architect & Specifier News

FEB 2015

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

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 55 of 165

56 Landscape Architect and Specifier News Centennial Plaza (Continued from page 54) architects worked with The Playwell Group and ICON to designed the triangular shaped shelter with three columns heights, pitched toward the southwest to maximize the shade value. The shelter columns and back stage wall are veneered with limestone and cast stone caps. The back of the wall houses the main electric transformer and panel for the plaza stage, vendor outlets, and shelter and plaza lighting. The shelter's roof has a tongue and groove deck with multi- rib panels to absorb sound and match the existing amphitheater stage. Water Wall Leaving the main stage area the paver walkway changes elevation back street level and terminates at a large water wall that overlooks the existing amphitheater. The four-sided 14-foot tall rock veneered column is designed with angled faces that allow for dynamic water movement down the wall to a catch basin. The water wall helps masks traffic noise from Interstate 35. The fountain components were designed and manufactured by Fountain People-Texas. The water feature sits nine feet above the adjacent amphitheater, supported by a rock veneered structural wall with integrated stairway and accessible ramp. The top of the wall is capped with cast stone. Cable railing (Feeney Inc.) provides pedestrian safety. The overlook also is good gathering area for viewing a large colony of Mexican free-tailed bats. Note: This bat species is native to the Americas, and the official "state bat" of Oklahoma and Texas. The freetail bat is also the icon for Barcardi rum, and for Freetail Brewing Company in San Antonio, a city with an estimated 30 million of the bats. Why this bat for Barcardi? The bats efficiently eat the insects that destroy sugar cane. The central lawn and main stage area are surrounded by a five-inch thick reinforced concrete main plaza walk with space to accommodate more than 30 vendors and plenty of pedestrian circulation. The large monotonous walk is broken up with three-foot wide colored concrete bands using integral color (Chem Systems Inc.). The concrete bands, combined with strategically placed landscape beds, are reminiscent of the crop rows that once dominated the region. The integral colored concrete was placed using cold joints and doweled to adjacent standard concrete to prevent heaving. The result is a clean and consistent joint between pavements. Top The expansive plaza is five-inch thick reinforced concrete interspersed with three-foot bands of integral colored concrete. The colored concrete was placed using cold joints and doweled to adjacent standard concrete to prevent heaving. The result is a clean and consistent joint between pavements. Bottom The walkway terminates at the water wall and transitions into an amphitheater overlook. The structural wall has a limestone veneer, capped cast stone and cable railing for safety. A concrete ribbon of curb steps and an accessible ramp descend to a Bermuda sod amphitheater used for viewing theater performances. The overlook view is to a wooded area and Lake Creek, an area that is habitat to a large colony of Mexican free- tailed bats. Materials/Vendors Plaza Lights: Allscapes Dry Cast Stone: Cast Limestone Products of Texas Intergral Colored Concrete: Chem Systems Inc., Houston Light Controllers: ETC Mosaic Cable Rail: Feeney, Inc., Oakland, Calif Fountain Pump System: Fountain People, San Marcos, Texas Trees: Better Trees of Texas, Temple Glen Flora Farms, Glen Flora, Texas Stage Shelter: Icon Shelter Systems, Holland, Mich. Plaza Lights: Lumenpulse Philips Gardco Grasses: Native Texas Nursery, Austin Pavers: Pavestone Austin white limestone veneer: Salado Quarries, Texas Antique Street Lamps: Texas Street Lights

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Landscape Architect & Specifier News - FEB 2015