Skip to Content

SDSU West Campus Housing Masterplan

The Facts

Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Size: 16 Acres
Partners: Carrier Johnson Architects
Client: San Diego State University
Budget: N/A
Completed: 2013

About the Project

landLAb collaborated with Carrier Johnson Architects on the master plan for the West Campus housing at SDSU . The landscape draws inspiration from historic gardens and architecture of the Alhambra. Perched high on a hillside, the patios, terraces and roof deck are oriented to capture views of mountains beyond. Bougainvillea covered arcades direct the user into the main entry points and public dining areas. Series of courtyards pique your interest, and create a variety of spaces for both the public and for residents. A gated pool and large fire pit activate the main dining terrace. A pedestrian bridge and elevator connects the main dining facility to the Canyon Towers and Canyon View Park at the lower level. Centered on the North side of the development, lies grand staircase that provides a direct route from the main dining terrace down to the Canyon Trails (and access road). Along this same access road, small cafe is conveniently located, to grab a quick latte on your way to class, or a sunny place to hang out and meet up with friends.



Housing Masterplan

Site Section A

Site Section B

Site Analysis

San Diego Food Bank

The Facts

Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Size: 4.5 Acres
Partners: OBR Architects
Client: City of San Diego Food Bank
Budget: N/A
Completed: In Progress

About the Project

landLAB collaborated with OBR Architects on the San Diego Foodbank’s refresh of their existing  wharehouse building. The goal of the project was to provide an opportunity for Donor Recognition, create useable outdoor areas for staff, provide learning opportunities with a demonstration urban veggie garden and composting area revitalizing and activating un-programmed and unused spaces. A  The project incorporates on site stormwater, and low water use plantings.



Site Phase Plan

Phase 1 Plan

Phase 2 Plan

Planting Scheme

USD Barcelona Hall

The Facts

Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Size: 1 Acre
Partners: OBR Architecture
Client: University of San Diego
Budget: N/A
Completed: In Progress

About the Project

Text Text



Site Plan

Hilltop+Euclid

The Facts

Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Size: 9.75 Acres
Partners: Studio E Architects
Client: Affirmed Housing Group
Budget: N/A
Completed: In Progress

About the Project

landLAB collaborated with Studio E Architects, on Affirmed Housing’s, affordable housing/mixed use project located in Chollas View Neighborhood of San Diego. The new apartment complex comprised of Adjacent to the new development is an interconnected neighborhood park creating a connection to the surrounding community



Site Plan

Site Analysis

Building A + B Elevation

Building A + B Section

Building C + D Section

Cal Poly Pomona Parking Structure #2

The Facts

Location: Pomona, CA, USA
Size: 4.6 Acres
Partners: JFLK Arch., HNA Pacific, PCL Cons.
Client: Cal Poly Pomona
Budget: N/A
Completed: 2014

About the Project

landLAB team with JFLK Architects + HNA Pacific and PCL Construction for the Cal Poly Pomona Parking Structure #2 Design Build competition.  The landscape concept for the parking structure is a recognition of Pomona’s and Cal Poly’s Agricultural past and how the site (and structure) can be improved and restored for a more sustainable future.  Consideration of pedestrian circulation and way-finding, with a focus on minimizing potential vehicular and pedestrian conflicts informs the design.  Paths, trails and seating will be incorporated into the design to encourage user interaction and activate the space. There are 4 distinct landscape zones encompassing the parking structure; while each area is defined by the long, linear nature of the garage, the overall aesthetic will be unified and coherent by a continuous ground plane of low-water use and California native plant species. The signature “Arroyo” flanks the elevated pedestrian connection to IPoly and the large lightwell into the center of the garage.  Replicating a natural, palm canyon desert habitat – this “Arroyo” landscape would include endemic species such as the California Fan and Mexican Blue Palms.



Proposed Site Plan

UCSD Ridgewalk Market & Cafe

The Facts

Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Size: ? Acres
Partners: Alfredo Azaria Architects
Client: UC San Diego
Budget: N/A
Completed: 2010

About the Project

landLAB collaborated with Alfredo Azaria Architects, and UCSD Housing and Dining on in the Thurgood Marshall neighborhood at the University of California, San Diego. The facility is located along “Ridgewalk,” the major north south pedestrian spine in the North campus of UCSD, and is surrounded by both student housing and academic buildings. The project features outdoor dining terraces that have been integrated into the sloping site allowing access to an existing open lawn area, providing areas for social interaction, dining and relaxation in the beautiful San Diego climate. The project incorporates sustainable design features including; on site storm water management, low water use native plantings and use of recycled materials.



Illustrative Site Plan

Westerly K-8 Elementary School

The Facts

Location: Long Beach CA, USA
Size: 1.25 Acres
Partners: KFA Architects
Client: Long Beach Unified School District
Budget: N/A
Completed: 2008

About the Project

landLAB collaborated with architects Killefer Flammang on the expansion of the Westerly school a private K-8 elementary school in Long Beach, California. landLAB was involved in the original site planning for the expansion of the school that features sustainable design principals including: on site storm water management featuring bioswales, infiltration areas, and a proposed interpretive wetland utilizing low water use native and adaptive planting. The school expansion will be implemented in two phases, with the first phase including a new art and music building, and the second phase, that adds a new multipurpose gymnasium/auditorium and surface parking lot and drop-off. The design features numerous outdoor spaces for art installation, play experience, school gatherings, outdoor classrooms, in a setting of low water.



Illustrative Site Plan

Brighton Apartments

The Facts

Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Size: ? Acres
Partners: Bruce Peeling Architects
Client: Withheld
Budget: N/A
Completed: 2001

About the Project

landLAB collaborated with architect Bruce Peeling on the Brighton Apartments located in Ocean Beach, San Diego. The two units feature private patios surrounded by native low water use plantings, which contrast the clean and simple patterning of the hardscape elements. The landscape areas (boulevard) adjacent to the street are also planted with native low water use plantings, and incorporate bio swales and infiltration areas to accommodate storm water from both the roof and hardscape areas, while still allowing access to on street parking.



Illustrative Site Plan

West Campus Pointe Entry

The Facts

Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Size: .5 Acres
Partners: Gensler Architects
Client: Alexandria
Budget: N/A
Completed: 2010

About the Project

landLAB collaborated with GENSLER on the entry court and signage redesign for the newly renovated Campus Pointe office and research Facility. The team was hired to come up with a creative solution to direct visitors to the front door of the facility as the entered the site through a large surface parking lot. The solution was to provide signage, site lighting and visual clues in the landscape planting to direct visitors to the main entry which was redesigned to have a large, dramatic wall with signage, with bold swaths of textured plant material and rock of varying sizes as a the centerpiece to the drop-off area, providing a dramatic contrast to the simple background plantings in the parking lot.



Site Plan

Scheme A

Scheme B

Scheme C

Scheme D

UCSD Parking Lot 405

The Facts

Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Size: 1 Acre
Partners: UC San Diego
Client: UC San Diego
Budget: N/A
Completed: 2009

About the Project

landLAB was hired by UCSD to design the landscape associated with the reconfigured parking lot 405 adjacent to the new Music Building and existing Student services building in the heart of the UCSD campus. With the closure of Myers loop (Town Square pedestrian plaza), much needed handicapped parking needed to be relocated close by the center of campus. landLAB worked collaborated with Snipes-Dye Civil Engineering to grade the sloping parking lot to both accommodate the amount of required ADA parking, while also capturing and cleansing the parking storm water runoff through planted bioswales. Careful attention during the site planning for the parking lot allowed a mature Black Acacia tree to remain in place providing valuable shading to the parking lot, with another mature tree being transplanted to the student services main courtyard directly adjacent to the site.



Site Plan