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UCSD Social Sciences Courtyard

The Facts

Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Size: 1 Acre
Partners: UC San Diego
Client: UC San Diego
Budget: N/A
Completed: 2012

About the Project

landLAB was hired by the University of California, San Diego to re-design the main pedestrian entry to the facility off of Ridgewalk, and two courtyards at the existing Social Sciences facility located in the north part of the UCSD campus. Design charrettes with the Urban Studies students and Social Sciences faculty facilitated design direction and programming for the outdoor spaces. The design also focused on planting groupings of native Torrey Pines at key locations to mitigate strong prevailing winds from entering the courtyards through passages in the building. Existing lawn areas that were not actively used were replaced with low water use native plant material along with additional seating for students and faculty to enjoy the beautiful San Diego climate.



Site Plan

UCSD International Center

The Facts

Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Size: 1.8 Acres
Partners: Blue Motif Architects
Client: UC San Diego
Budget: N/A
Completed: 2012

About the Project

landLAB collaborated with Bluemotif architects on the new International Center, which is located prominently on the central campus pedestrian spine “Library walk” at UCSD. The design of the International Center is focused on sustainable site planning and design principals, enhancing pedestrian access to the facility and through the site, while keeping the original character of the facility. The new buildings were carefully sited amongst the existing eucalyptus grove, creating new outdoor spaces that enhance interaction of visitors, students and faculty from the surrounding colleges. A series of interconnected indoor/outdoor spaces, each with its own character and identity, are nestled amongst the eucalyptus providing areas for both large and intimate gatherings in a play of light and shade. The design features green roofs, rain gardens, recycled materials and is planned to be a minimum LEED gold facility.



Site Plan

Landscape Typologies

Historic Eucalyptus Grove Preservation

Crosswalk Charter School

The Facts

Location: Hesperia, CA, USA
Size: 8.5 Acres
Partners: HMC Architects
Client: Hesperia Unified School District
Budget: N/A
Completed: In Progress

About the Project

landLAB collaborated with HMC Architects on the new Crosswalk Charter School facility in Hesperia, California. The project is to be constructed in two phases. The site design clusters sport courts and ADA-accessible play areas into age-appropriate zones to promote safety and encourage interaction amongst students. The design includes outdoor classrooms and ‘labs’ for ecological experiential studies such butterfly, vegetable, native planting and rain gardens. The existing site was home to several specimen Joshua Trees which will relocated and incorporated into the final landscape design. Sustainable design features on this project include low water-use plantings, planted bioretention areas, the use of recycled materials, and porous concrete.



Site Plan

Ngwe Saung Beach Resort

The Facts

Location: Mynamar, Myanmar
Size: 16 Acres
Partners: Mco. Architects
Client: Withheld
Budget: N/A
Completed: In Progress

About the Project

landLAB collaborated with Myklebust Company to create this conceptual design proposal for the Ngwe Saung Beach Resort in the country of Myanmar. In comparison to Clearwater Bay, the vision for the Ngwe resort revolves around the experience of a resort integrated with its jungle surroundings and the natural beauty of the beach site property. The design is comprised of nature trails that access the beach and reveal panoramic views. Relaxing and cozy hillside retreats of modern jungle bungalows take design cues from both the balinese aesthetic as well as the surrounding eco-romanticism of the landscape. The project will focus on using local materials while the project trails will be integrated with art and sculpture, both local and foreign to create a unique experience that blends modern and traditional with the implementation of environmental and sustainable features such as water harvesting and the use of local materials. Landscape palette follows closely with plants and tree species endemic to Myanmar to establish a sense of place and minimize the introduction of foreign plant material to the area.



Resort Masterplan

Qualcomm BA Tower & Parking Structure

The Facts

Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Size: 8.5 Acres
Partners: Delawie Architecture
Client: Qualcomm
Budget: N/A
Completed: In Progress

About the Project

The overall approach to the BA site is to create discrete landscape typologies which serve both the building and the campus as a whole. Functional areas, such as building entries, roads, drop-offs and pedestrian paths will be treated with sculptural, modern forms supporting the image of Qualcomm as a leader in design and innovation. The periphery bioswale and slope areas will emulate the natural forms and gradients of the native Southern California landscape that surrounds the development. These open spaces will be designed to connect to adjacent Qualcomm sites (both existing and future), ultimately enhancing the cohesiveness of the campus as a whole. The tight spaces between the buildings are conceptualized as a slot canyon or arroyo, and will be planted to maximize the atmospheric and spatial qualities of the architectural design. Hanging vines, shimmering trees and swaying grasses will be used to amplify the dynamic effects of the light and air moving through the space, and could also serve as a storm water garden. The project is being designed to LEED GOLD standards established by the United States Green Building Council.



Site Plan

Site Circulation

Site Hydrology

Concept Scheme

Imperial Valley Center for Exceptional Children

The Facts

Location: El Centro, CA, USA
Size: 9.5 Acres
Partners: HMC Architects
Client: El Centro Unif. School District
Budget: N/A
Completed: In Progress

About the Project

landLAB collaborated with HMC Architects, and the Imperial County Office of Education on the new Imperial Valley Center for Exceptional Children, in El Centro California. The new facility (designed for severely handicapped children) is the first building to be constructed as part of the master plan for the new educational campus. The building’s main entry doors are centered on-axis with Mount Signal; distant views to this recognizable landmark will provide guidance in orienting users of the building. Outdoor play spaces have been designed with focus on the specific program requirements for children with varying degrees of Autism and Muscular dystrophy: specific play spaces work to develop both gross and fine motor skills and include variety of healing/ sensory gardens. The landscape design and site planning are informed by sustainable design principals such as; reducing the heat Island Effect, courtyards have been made accessible for all users, by providing additional seating, and outdoor spaces for school performances and gatherings.



Site Plan

Imperial Valley County Office of Education Masterplan

The Facts

Location: El Centro, CA, USA
Size: 26.5 Acres
Partners: HMC Architects
Client: El Centro Unif. District
Budget: N/A
Completed: In Progress

About the Project

landLAB collaborated with HMC Architects, and the Imperial County Office of Education on the Campus Master Plan for the new educational campus located in El Centro California. The master plan connects the existing administration facilities with the new campus including pedestrian open space connections, plazas and courtyards. The new campus will demonstrate sustainable design principals including; reducing the heat Island Effect, passive heating and cooling, on-site storm water management, low-water use and California native landscaping, as well as the use of local, recycled and renewable materials. Buildings and associated parking lots were carefully sited to create courtyards and public spaces that are interconnected through a system of pedestrian walks and trails. A large central open space adjacent to the IVCEC center provides passive recreational opportunities for the public, ICOE staff and students, while functioning as a natural storm retention and infiltration area.



Campus Masterplan

Pedestrian Circulation

Landscape Typologies

Site Hydrology

Site Elevation with Proposed Landscape Typologies

UCSD East Mesa Graduate Housing Masterplan

The Facts

Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Size: 16 Acres
Partners: Carrier Johnson Architects
Client: UC San Diego
Budget: N/A
Completed: 2014

About the Project

landLAB teamed with Carrier Johnson Architects and Clark Construction on the East Campus Graduate and Family Housing Project Design Build Competition. The landscape concept for the new graduate housing village is connection and community.  Creating an attractive, fun, safe and healthy neighborhood and home for students and their families.  The landscape strives to increase opportunities for social interaction and collaboration, places to study, hang out or play.  While the proposed landscape is cohesive in character, smaller zones within the larger development provide a variety of different spaces for the residents. The community is designed around a unifying central space called ‘the Hub’.  The Hub is a flexible social gathering space for events, music, food & dining, food trucks, farmer’s markets and just hanging out.  The main ‘spoke’ on this wheel is a large path aligned to the future pedestrian bridge – this will become the main pedestrian pathway for the entire neighborhood, continuing to the East in phase II.



Housing Masterplan

Masterplan Phasing

Site Analysis

Site Analysis

Site Program

UCSD Warren Housing Feasibility Study

The Facts

Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Size: 14.5 Acres
Partners: Kevin deFreitas Architects
Client: UC San Diego
Budget: N/A
Completed: 2013

About the Project

landLAB is collaborating with Kevin deFreitas architecture on a feasibility study for the Warren Housing complex at UCSD North Campus. The primary objective of the feasibility study is to develop a framework for potential projects in and around the residential complexes and to update the existing facilities with sustainable landscape and building features while creating an attractive destination on campus for all to enjoy. The study promotes incorporation of integrated indoor/outdoor study pavilions, demonstration gardens, active and passive recreation areas and nature lookouts within a clearly defined hierarchy of pathways to create a ‘there there’ landmark. Refreshing outdoor spaces and enhancing bicycle and pedestrian connections to adjacent warren mall and the rest of UCSD’s campus by creating appropriately scaled and engaging pathways, nodes, and portals is a primary component of the feasibility study.



Housing Masterplan


Site Analysis

Site Opportunities

Concept Scheme 1

Concept Scheme 2

Concept Scheme 3

UCSD The GRK Fraternity Housing Feasibility Study

The Facts

Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Size: 153.5 Acres
Partners: deFreitas Architects
Client: UC San Diego
Budget: N/A
Completed: 2014

About the Project

landLAB collaborated with Kevin deFreitas Architect on a feasibility study for  an on campus  fraternity neighborhood for the UC San Diego Campus. The project incorporated a large sunken central open space wrapped with Fraternity houses with a large open event lawn, BBQ terrace, and storm water garden. Interconnected to the neighborhood is the GRK commons building housing lecture rooms, auditorium as well as tower for medical offices. At the heart of the project is a micro retail center featuring small local businesses providing the necessary amenities for not only the housing but to serve all of the East Campus Health Sciences Neighborhood.



Housing Masterplan