News
What we're up to
KTUA Receives Awards from ASLA San Diego
KTUA received two ASLA San Diego Design Awards at a reception on June 28, 2018.
The ASLA San Diego Design Awards are the ultimate recognition of design achievement for landscape architecture firms and projects in and outside of the San Diego region. These awards celebrate the innovation and creativity found among the practitioners of landscape architecture.
AWARD: 2018 Merit Award
Palm Canyon, Balboa Park
Category: Historic Restoration San Diego Landmark
More than forty years after construction of the secondary bridge and stairs, and enhancement of the plant materials, Palm Canyon continues to serve as a critical pedestrian link between Alcazar Garden and the Organ Pavilion, as well as an outdoor classroom for visitors interested in learning about the unique palm and tree species in the canyon. It is also the site for many wedding photos, and is often used by the Girl Scouts for their “bridging” ceremony from Brownies to Juniors. The wooden structures, while requiring routine maintenance, have withstood the test of time, and attract hundreds of daily visitors stop to enjoy the view and explore the historic canyon. The structures touch lightly on the ground to enhance the natural beauty of the canyon and the design of the structures reflects the character of the original “Rustic Bridge”.
KTUA, the landscape architect, was the prime consultant and responsible for the master plan to restore the canyon and canyon access. As part of the documentation, the landscape architect prepared a General Development Plan, site analysis, slope analysis, land use and circulation plan, lighting plan, drainage plan, planting plan, and a series of sketches.
KTUA worked with the City of San Diego to develop a master plan for an area that had been designated for palms and palm-like plant materials. The planning and design took into consideration the historic value and past character of the site.
AWARD: 2018 Judge’s Letter,
Southcrest Trails Neighborhood Park, San Diego
Category: Parks, Trails and Recreation
Using land originally cleared for freeway use and then abandoned in the 1970s, this 2.6-acre park is located east of Interstate 15 and north of Interstate 5. Landscaping utilized drought-tolerant plants. The park site also included a strong theme of the local flora and fauna that played off the adjacent Chollas Creek corridor. Children’s play equipment with climbing rocks, animals and sand play areas with fossils were incorporated into the site, along with walls and monument signs mimicking snakes. The site also included shaded group picnic areas and barbecue grills, game tables, a trail system with exercise equipment located along the trail, a basketball court, a large amphitheater, and a skate plaza. Special attention was given to the water quality and hydrology of the site given the proximity to Chollas Creek. Public art was also integrated into the site in collaboration with a local artist through the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture.
There were several agencies involved in the development and construction of this project including the Commission for Arts and Culture, the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department, Civic San Diego, and The State of California Natural Resources Agency. KTUA was responsible for coordinating and collaborating trying to find a balance between all the agencies’ different goals and objectives for the project.
