AIASB Design Charrette 2020 Design Team Presentations

For the past two months, over 150 volunteer architects, landscape architects, planners, civil engineers, designers, property owners and associated stakeholders have been hard at work developing a new vision for Santa Barbara’s downtown core.  The Santa Barbara Chapter of the American Institute of Architects put together the 2020 Design Charrette to Reinvigorate, Reinvent, Reimagine, and Repurpose our Downtown with housing, energy, and life.

At 6 PM on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 each of the sixteen design teams will present their key recommendations and design concepts to the public via a zoom webinar.  All are welcome!  Please join Courtney, Mariella and the Santa Barbara community for this exciting event!

Click here to join the webinar!
Password: 937473


Central Coast Green Building Council 2020 Green New Construction Award

We are thrilled to announce the Direct Relief Headquarters has been awarded a U.S. Green Building Council 2020 Green Award by the Central Coast Green Building Council. Thank you to DMHA , our incredible client and the entire project team.

The Central Coast Green Building Council Green Awards recognizes outstanding sustainable building achievements and community members within the tri-county region.

The Green Awards highlight innovative design, construction, products, businesses, schools, governments and educational programs.

Check out this video of our project by DMHA highlighting the project team’s collaborative successes in designing a sustainable, efficient, beautiful and thoughtful site for the Direct Relief headquarters, offices and distribution center.


SB Beautiful Golden Leaf Awards

We are thrilled to have our Dune parklet awarded a Santa Barbara Beautiful ‘Golden Leaf Award’ through our participation with Allen Construction‘s ‘Locals Helping Locals’ program. Thank you Allen Construction, Dune Coffee, Santa Barbara Beautiful and the Santa Barbara community for showing creative resiliency throughout this pandemic.

KEEPING SANTA BARBARA BEAUTIFUL DURING COVID-19
SB BEAUTIFUL “GOLDEN LEAF AWARDS”
CELEBRATING 55 YEARS OF BEAUTIFICATION

WHO:   Santa Barbara Beautiful continues a 55 Year tradition of beautification with “Golden Leaf Awards”.
WHAT:   SBB honors local businesses & organizations who showed leadership during this challenging time of Covid-19 Pandemic to enhance public space & support the arts.
HARD NUMBERS: (60) Hand-Calligraphed Awards Certificates for “Outstanding Community Support”
QUOTE:  We’re honored to celebrate our 55th Anniversary with Golden Leaf Awards – dedicated to the strength of our community & the individuals who have given joy to our city during difficult times. Congratulations to each and every one!”  ~ Penny Haberman, President SB Beautiful.

WINNING PROJECTS & PARTICIPANTS:
  1. “Light It Blue”: City of Santa Barbara – Nina Johnson, Project Coordinator
    1. Project Description: Local landmarks lit up in blue during the month of May to show gratitude to healthcare & essential workers.
    2. Host Facility Sponsors: Arlington Theater; Lobero Theater; SB Museum of Natural History Sea Center; Cottage Hospital Santa Barbara; Mission Santa Barbara.
    3.  Coordinators/ Artists/ Sponsors: Andrew GartnerGartner Design Co. (Coordinator); Lani Ballonoff, SPARK Creative Events (Sponsor); Kym Cochran & Jonathan Smith, The Environment Makers (Participating Artists); Casey Caldwell, SB Arts Collaborative/CAW) (Sponsor); Jake Hanson, Bella Vista Designs (Sponsor); Ethan Turpin Art & Design (Participating Artist); Nina Dunbar (Coordinator).
  2. “Locals Helping Locals”: Allen Construction – Lindsay Helmick, CFO Project Coordinator
    1. Project Description: Building Pro Bono Outdoor Parklets; Seating; ADA Ramps, etc.
    2. Community Partners: Hayward Lumber; Mission Audio & Visual; CJM::LA; Evergreen SB
    3. Local Businesses: Brass Bear Brewing & Bistro; Dune Coffee; Holdren’s Steaks & Seafood; Kunin Wines; Little Kitchen; Mollie’s Restaurant; Renaud’s Patisserie & Bistro Montecito; Restaurant Roy; Valley Project; Villa Wine Bar.
  3. “2020 Design Charette – Downtown State Street”: AIA Santa Barbara Chapter, Project Coordinator
    1. Project Description: Reinvigorate, Reinvent, Reimagine, and Repurpose our Downtown with housing, energy, and life.
    2. Charrette Committee Co-Chairs: Cass Ensberg FAIA & LEED AP; Detlev Peikert AIA, LEED AP BD+C; Ellen Bildsten AIA LEED AP; Matt Beausoleil AIA & 2020 president AIA SB.
    3. Steering Committee: Alex Pujo AIA; Amy Fitzgerald-Tripp AIA; Paul Rupp AIA; Dennis Thompson FAIA; John Campanella; Karen Feeney, Hon. AIASB; Nina Johnson; Tony Tomasello; Jasper Jacobs P.E.
  4. “2020 Awards for Responsive Works to Covid-19~Artists’ Stipends”: County of SB Office of Arts & Culture – Sarah York Rubin, Executive Director
    1. Project Description: In recognition of artists’ essential contributions, up to 20 stipends of $500 each to local artists who created work in response to this unprecedented time of COVID-19.
    2. Dennis Smitherman, County Arts Commission; Karen Kerns, SB Bowl Foundation.  Project Participants:   “#WeMakeEvents” “#RedAlertRESTART” .
  5. Project Description: Local participation in a nationwide event of Red illumination of performing arts & culture venues on September 1, 2020 in support of live entertainment industry during Covid-19 pandemic.
  6. Host Facilities Event Sponsors: SB Bowl: Rick Boller, Executive Director; Eric Shiflett, Program Director. Arlington Theater: Tammy Steuart (Metro Theaters)
  7. Project Coordinator: Christopher Darling
  8. Lighting: SPARK Creative Events

About Santa Barbara Beautiful

Since 1965, Santa Barbara Beautiful has planted over 12,000 trees, provided over $500,,000 in grants to support local art and design projects, funded scholarships to students majoring in environmental horticulture & architecture, and celebrated numerous individuals, residences, and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional efforts to make Santa Barbara beautiful.
The purpose of Santa Barbara Beautiful is to stimulate community interest and action toward the enhancement of Santa Barbara’s beauty as a complement to current and future government and private activity.
Santa Barbara Beautiful is an organization of volunteers dedicated to beautifying our area in a variety of ways not only by working independently but also by cooperating with city departments, neighborhood association and other agencies. Formed in 1965 by concerned civic leaders, Santa Barbara Beautiful is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation. Contributions are tax-deductible


UNITY | PROGRESS

Located across from Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden for over 60 years, Unity of Santa Barbara is an integral part of the Santa Barbara community.  We recently had the pleasure of working with Unity on the renovation of their downtown campus.  CJM::LA worked closely with both the Unity leadership team and congregation to develop a new design for their “front yard” space.  What was once a traditional lawn with limited event capacity is now a beautiful courtyard suitable not only for outdoor services, but also weddings and other community events.  Thank you to Allscape Design + Installation for an incredible job with the landscape installation, Stone Concepts for hardscape installation and VE Builders for carpentry work.

BEFORE | AFTER :

Unity courtyard before

Unity courtyard after | new permeable pavers, olive trees and custom wood benches

PROCESS PHOTOS:

CJM::LA verifies hardscape, gravel and wood samples on site

Stone Concepts lays Hydro-Flo permeable pavers by Pacific Interlock Pavers

Allscape installs olive trees in the courtyard

hardscape and olive trees installed in the courtyard

VE Builders installs custom mangaris benches in the courtyard

completed courtyard


DUNE | PARKLET

Our friends at DUNE Coffee believe that specialty coffee is for everyone, and should be accessible, approachable and fun.  In May of this year, Santa Barbara City Council voted 7-0 to close State Street to cars in an effort to flatten the curve of Covid-19.  The owners of DUNE wanted to use this opportunity to create an inviting, bold and unique experience for the community.  Our concept was to create modular, multi-use seating elements for people to sit, perch or lean on while they chat, read, think, people watch or simply sip some coffee.

CJM::LA worked closely with the owners of DUNE and Allen Construction to make the parklet come to life. Allen Construction has been supporting the Santa Barbara community through their  ‘Locals Helping Locals’ program, where they offer free labor to help local businesses stay open through the pandemic.  We cannot thank the team at Allen enough for their hard work and collaboration, we could not have done it without them!

DESIGN PROCESS

parklet rendering by CJM::LA

work from home style sketch explorations by CJM::LA

 

INSTALLATION

installation day time-lapse

Allen Construction installing the parklet modules

CJM::LA and Allen Construction reviewing module spacing

Courtney and Mari selecting plants at La Sumida Nursery – Chondropetalum tectorum and Dianella ‘Cassa Blue’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mari masking out pink stripes at the parklet

FINISHED PRODUCT

peaking through the palms at the parklet


Islay Pool Progress

Construction of this downtown Santa Barbara home, winner of a 2019 Santa Barbara Beautiful award, was completed last year. This spring, pool contractor California Pools began installation of the integrated pool & spa. See more about the home and construction process in the owner’s blog.

finish grading before pool construction

pool framing and plumbing

the outdoor fireplace, a remnant of a prior home on the property, is resurrected in a new pool-side terrace

California Pools place rebar for the pool deck


Santa Barbara Residence | In-Progress

Ongoing renovation of an existing single story residence in Santa Barbara, CA. Architect: Andrulaitis+Mixon, general contractor: Hall Contracting Corp.

BEFORE + IN-PROGRESS

BEFORE: 1950’s facade, Ulmus parviflolia in poor health

IN-PROGRESS: residence under construction, removed trees will be replaced with native Quercus agrifolia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEFORE: dueling sandstone retaining walls

IN-PROGRESS: partial retaining wall demolition, lower finish grade provides better visibility at driveway

 

GRADING & SITE PREP

permeable wood decking in-progress, structural engineer: Hume Engineers

salvaged sandstone set aside for re-use in the new retaining wall system

uncovered large boulder will be integrated into the new retaining wall system

temporary erosion control on the newly contoured front slope


SHORELINE RESIDENCE | BEFORE & AFTER


This Santa Barbara seaside renovation is in an exquisite location with breathtaking views of the ocean and islands. The recent architectural improvements executed by Allen Construction significantly enhanced the home’s Spanish-style character and gave it a new vibrancy. CJM::LA’s master plan for the site included a blend of formal and informal plantings, new small play lawn, permeable paving, ocean view deck and trellis, and thoughtfully integrated hardscape elements. The overall goal was to implement our client’s vision for a relaxing and safe getaway retreat.

Structural solutions for building near a bluff edge, as well as civil engineering expertise were provided by Ashley & Vance Engineering.  The landscape was installed by Quality Tree Care.

BEFORE + AFTER

BEFORE – existing impermeable concrete entry drive

AFTER – new entry drive lined with young ornamental plantings

AFTER – hydro-flo permeable paver entry drive

BEFORE – backyard

AFTER – finished installation of Cherokee creek flagstone and slope-stabilizing plants

CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

CMU blocks being stacked to form the base of the BBQ

BBQ completed by Quality Tree Care

Quality Tree Care installing slope plantings to strengthen soil structure and prevent erosion. Deck post  helical pile footings (required due to their proximity to the bluff edge) also installed by Quality Tree Care!

wavy drift of Helictotrichon sempervirens (Blue Oat Grass) is reminiscent of the ocean shoreline

installation of ‘play’ lawn by Quality Tree Care


A First Look at our SOMOfunk Project

Read Full Article:
First Look at the Blockbuster Development Proposed for the Funk Zone
April 27, 2020
SITELINE

We are excited to share some initial drawings for the SOMOfunk project via this recently published article.  The SOMOfunk project will bring a new energy to the Funk Zone on Santa Barbara’s waterfront.  Following is an excerpt from our landscape narrative:

FUN[KY]
THE LANDSCAPE DESIGN IS INSPIRED BY ITS NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT.  WHAT IS TODAY KNOWN AS THE FUNK ZONE, HAS PREVIOUSLY EXISTED AS AN INDUSTRIAL AREA, A WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD, PART OF THE EL ESTERO SWAMPY MARSH AND A VIBRANT TRADE HUB.  REMNANTS OF THESE USES REMAIN IN THE BUILDINGS, THE LAND, THE HARDSCAPE, THE PLANT MATERIAL AND THE SOUL OF THIS PLACE.  THESE REMNANTS WILL BE RE-PURPOSED FOR USE AS HARDSCAPE, FURNISHINGS AND SCULPTURAL ELEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT SITE.  WHAT MAKES THE FUNK ZONE FUNKY IS ITS ABILITY TO SHAPE-SHIFT AND ADAPT, WHILE MAINTAINING ITS OWN IDENTITY SEPARATE FROM, BUT IN CONVERSATION WITH, THE LARGER SANTA BARBARA COMMUNITY.  THE EXTERIOR SPACES AT THE PROJECT FIT SEAMLESSLY INTO THE FABRIC OF THE FUNK ZONE BY IMPLEMENTING FUN, COLORFUL AND QUIRKY ELEMENTS INTO THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

Click here to read the full article.


Courtyard and TownePlace Suites, Agoura Hills | IN-PROGRESS

The new Courtyard and TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Agoura Hills is almost complete. Architect: Awbrey Cook Rogers McGill, construction by DavisReed and landscape installation by LSCO.

This dual-brand hotel features a large courtyard with multiple “outdoor living” features: fire pits, BBQs for guests, shady gathering areas and a large pool. The new building is surrounded with native California shrubs and grasses and roughly 25 new oak trees, all irrigated with recycled water.

motorcourt with decorative pedestrian handrail (primer coat!) and ramp to Agoura Rd.

permeable pavers by Belgard

aloes with the Santa Monica mountains (beyond) & purple valve cover indicating recycled irrigation water

glass pool enclosure and pool deck underway

custom steel pool enclosure designed to complement the Craftsman-style architecture

baby dragon trees & porcelain “Sundeck” pavers by Belgard

custom steel pergola with Octopus Agave below

”Twist” bike rack from Forms + Surfaces

concrete fire bowl with built-in radial concrete bench, fire bowl by Concrete Creations

“Filterra” proprietary biofiltration planters by Contech, with native Juncus patens

“Palazzo” concrete detectable warning pavers by Ackerstone. The craftsman-style trellis is part of a pedestrian network linking adjacent commercial properties to improve walkability in the City of Agoura Hills


WLAM | Landscape Architecture Myth Busting – Part 2

Part 2: More myth-busting as we continue to address common misconceptions about landscape architecture.

Myth #3. Density means eliminating urban green space

FALSE: We can have both density & greener, healthier cities

Larger, denser cities are cleaner and more energy efficient than smaller, suburban towns. Suburban and rural towns may have immediate access to open space and wildlands outside city limits because of their more dispersed organization, but large cities can emulate natural ecologies.

Street trees, courtyards, green roofs and living walls, along with botanic gardens and parks provide a network of outdoor spaces that enhance the biological diversity of our cities and help provide essential infrastructure. This framework of planted spaces is able to capture and treat urban run-off, lower temperatures, improve air quality and provide resilience against climate change. Gardens and community farms also provide food and improve human health.

At CJM::LA, we help make our cities healthier and greener by advocating for more planting and functional outdoor space, especially in our densest multi-family housing projects; designing public parks, paseos, and green roofs; and improving city streetscapes.

transplanted Mexican fan palms line the stairs at Bella Riviera workforce homes in Santa Barbara, CA

plant pockets and climbing vines beautify the drive aisles at the East Beach Collection in Santa Barbara, CA  | architect: WHA

live roof at the Hilton Garden Inn in Goleta, CA

textural plantings line the sidewalk at the Arlington Village apartments in downtown Santa Barbara, CA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

entry plantings at homes designed for Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County in downtown Santa Barbara, CA

citrus trees within over-structure planters create a beautiful courtyard at Bella Riviera workforce homes

mediterranean plantings within raised planters help create opportunities for outdoor seating

neighborly gifts grown in downtown Santa Barbara, CA

Myth #4. Planting shouldn’t be done in a drought because plants use water

FALSE: Drought resilience is improved by planting smarter & better managing water resources

During a prolonged drought, there is less available water in the natural ecosystem, which negatively impacts human food and water security. Less water available in aquifers and other natural water bodies means less water for the agricultural industry and for our cities.

Landscape architects provide drought resilience by designing systems to comprehensively and efficiently manage water resources. By implementing bioretention basins, rainwater cisterns, efficient irrigation, greywater recycling and use of climate-adapted and native plants, we optimize our water resources and reallocate the potable water supply for drinking use.

It might seem counter-intuitive, but plants improve our ability to resist the impacts of drought by improving soil health, allowing soils to better capture and store water. Plants also sequester carbon, lower air temperatures, and if used in applications like green roofs, reduce building energy use and reduce the urban heat island effect. We shouldn’t eliminate plants because they use water. Instead, we should be smarter about how we supply plants with water and which plants we elect to use.

Want more info? See these additional links about drought resilience and using green infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of other hazards, like wildfires and climate change.

bioretention plants treat stormwater runoff at the Direct Relief headquarters in Santa Barbara, CA.

 


WLAM | Why Landscape Architecture?

As a part of our ongoing stewardship of the profession, this month we’re showcasing landscape architecture to the world and inviting the public to learn about what we do.  This is the second post in our WLAM series, stay tuned for more each week during the month of April.

This week we are taking time to appreciate and share what we do and why it is important to us.

Landscape architecture is essential to nurturing our public health, safety and welfare. This practice is important to us because of its profound effect on the communities and people around us. The spaces we design cultivate the evolution of our lives, relationships, communities and much more.

At CJM::LA 

Every day is different!  We love the diverse nature of our profession and the variety of ways we apply our collective knowledge and skillsets to our daily workflow.

We oversee projects from site analysis through design development, construction and post occupancy

as part of an initial site visit, Courtney and Cameron study the site plan of a residential property in order to analyze the existing trees and topography, views and opportunities for screening.

typical site analysis notes

Mari collects soil to send to the lab for analysis

as part of the schematic design process, Cameron does a quick sketch of a hotel pool renovation.

Nicole reviews schematic options for a residential backyard with our clients

hand drawings are converted into an illustrative plan using software such as Adobe Photoshop

 

Henri delivers plans

 

 

 

 

 

Courtney and Ryan from DMHA present construction documents at the Central Coast Board of Architectural Review as part of the discretionary review process

as part of the construction observation phase, Nicole oversees the installation of the permeable pavers at our Habitat for Humanity Sawyer Condos project in Carpinteria, CA.

We work closely with our suppliers, manufacturers and collaborators

vertical storage at Santa Barbara Forge

reviewing gravel samples from Decorative Stone Solutions

 

 

harvesting inspiration at San Marcos Growers

sourcing plant material at San Marcos Growers

We work on a variety of projects

We celebrate together too!

Beer festival at the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens

Virtual drawing game at staff meeting

Hatchet building, team building

It is both this dynamic design process, dedicated team and the impact our work has on our community that keeps us dedicated to our practice.