LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
Firm Profile OVERVIEW
EXPERTISE
Carrier Johnson + Culture is an international architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and planning firm with over 80 professionals creating individualized solutions for the built environment. Founded in 1977, we have over 45 years of success designing worldwide. Our work is seen everywhere from Southern California to Virginia; Guangzhou to Portland. Known for great architecture, CJ+C has an outstanding reputation for design excellence with the ability to bring the “WOW” factor to a project and surrounding community. Our firm has received over 200 awards for design excellence in architecture, interior, and sustainable design.
Architecture Interior Design Landscape Architecture Planning
KEY PRACTICE AREAS
Our design practice is based on the convergence of design disciplines, which helps our clients, and their organizations, capitalize on their essentials: defining who they are and what makes them successful. Our design teams work in partnership with our clients to help define their unique attributes and translate them into built space, communicating their message through a physical expression of their culture.
LOCATIONS
Corporate Higher Education Multi-Family / Mixed-Use Civic / Community Outreach Science & Technology
San Diego Los Angeles Seattle Atlanta
LEED CERTIFIED PROJECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
5 LEED Platinum
We think critically and creatively about how beautiful designs can perform better for their users, owners, and the planet. towards our goals of resilience, utility, and beauty for the modern age. We do this through an Integrated Design approach, which entails collaborating with clients and industry partners to explore project performance goals and options early in the design process to ensure that sustainability, resilience, and energy savings are holistically weaved into the design vision. Carrier Johnson has coordinated LEED Certification on 59 projects across three states. As signatories of the AIA 2030 Commitment program, our firm has pledged to significantly reduce our use of natural resources, non-renewable energy sources and waste production while simultaneously promoting the regeneration of natural resources.
26 LEED Gold 20 LEED Silver 7 LEED Certified
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY We believe that the quality of our work is stronger when it’s influenced by and catered to the experiences of many people. Our firm thrives on the unique diversity of communities our projects serve and colorful backgrounds of our team members, who come to us from around the word. As such, we strive to incorporate the views and needs of all demographics and user groups in our work. With each project, we investigate the ethical, physical, economic and cultural implications of our design decisions on the community, environment, end users, and industry, guided by a goal of improving our world with each move we make.
Culture The word culture represents our passion to pursue that which represents the unique qualities of a given project. Our core belief is that understanding people and their culture lies at the heart of strong design thinking. We believe an organization’s culture defines its unique offerings; it is what sets every project apart and it is our passion to find it, invoke it, and realize it in built form. Culture is the catalyst for all we do. SO HOW DO WE DO IT? We seek clarity of concept before anything else. We are driven by a search for curated architectural outcomes through research-based client engagement. We strive to not only elicit a “wow” factor in our designs but also to reveal the genuine spirit of a people and place, thus arriving at a design solution befitting that specific environment. We don’t just craft solutions derived from traditional design elements. Material choice is informed by vernacular landscapes; massing is informed by nextdoor neighbors; color is informed by emotional connections. WHY DO WE USE THIS APPROACH? There’s a natural tendency to spend more energy making a building meaningful when we understand the end user wholly, and what they represent and need. We spend concentrated time revealing our client’s project desires, while continually assessing and tuning the culture inside our own firm. Our portfolio is intentionally diverse. We seek out new challenges that help us grow and cultivate new skills and expertise. As an organization, we don’t adhere to a top-down org chart. Rather, we think of our firm as an inclusive circle where a Junior Associate has as much design influence as a Principal. Ours is an environment where people enjoy the art of the design process, where they can continually learn and grow, and where exploration is encouraged. Ours is a culture of curiosity.
Landscape Architecture Complementing Carrier Johnson + Culture’s architectural expertise, the firm’s landscape architecture team is technically highly qualified, which makes their practice very adaptable to any project type, scope, and work processes, while working in collaboration on architectural in-house projects or with other firms. Led by Amber Lake, our passionate landscape team is dedicated to creating impactful outdoor spaces that enrich the lives of the surrounding community. The team’s combined experience elevates any project by implementing best practices in design from the project’s onset and through the project completion with special attention to detail but also with full commitment to provide innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective design solutions. The landscape architecture team’s holistic approach to each project enables the creation of experiential spaces tailored to the specific context and client’s vision and expectations, embracing the end user’s wellbeing while fostering a sense of community. We believe in the power of landscape architecture to create transformative spaces that enhance the well-being and connectivity of individuals. By engaging with the community, understanding their needs, and incorporating sustainable practices, we aim to create outdoor environments that inspire and endure.
Design Principles
BALANCED
SIMPLE beauty
wellbeing
DESIGN + CONCEPT
mindful design
future ready
ADAPTABLE
SUSTAINABLE
Project Strategy
Project Approach + Client’s culture and expectations
HOLISTIC DESIGN APPROACH Integrated Design Management
UNDERSTAND
+ Social context + Budget and schedule + Existing topography + Challenges and limitations
IDENTIFY
+ Resources + Unique needs of the community
COORDINATED DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION Collateral Project Management
+ Design Concept
CREATE
+ Design Development + Functional eco-landscapes
PRODUCE
+ Implementation + Documentation
EFFECTIVE DESIGN EXECUTION Quality Control Management
EXECUTE
+ Construction Administration
Services
Sectors
+ Project site and context analysis
+ Civic Design
+ Research into stakeholder interests, community needs and opportunities
+ Master Planning
+ Exterior programming and conceptualization + Landscape design process from Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents and Construction Administration
+ Academic Campus Design + Multi-Family and MIxedUse + Hospitality and Retail
+ Municipal landscape permitting
+ Life Sciences
+ Community outreach and engagement
+ Healthcare
+ Continuous collaboration within multi-disciplinary design teams
+ Entertainment Districts
+ Sustainable design strategies and LEED certification + Interior design collaboration to blend indoor and outdoor experiences
CONFIDENTIAL TECH INNOVATOR COMPANY
Office Amenity Renovations Carrier Johnson + Culture approached this office renovation with human wellbeing at the forefront by bringing the landscape in, utilizing the latest technology, and promoting inclusive environments.
Our designs were inspired by the colors, lighting and textures of iconic coastal canyon landscapes. Each floor of this renovated office speaks to a different level of a canyon - from the canyon floor to the horizon views at the top. Wayfinding and signage are shaped like rock; green walls wrap hallways and corners; desert floral patterns dot the interior environment.
The most dramatic architectural piece - an artful stair - creates a central vertical connection through the building. Its wall graphics and textures evoke striations of a canyon’s natural sediment layers.
EXPERIENCE The new office helps to enrich the lives of its staff with a game room, library, two eat-in kitchens and relaxing lounge spaces. Biophilic elements, such as green walls, wood panels, and natural fiber finishes, are integrated throughout - blurring the line between interior architecture and interior landscape.
Project Data CLIENT Confidential
LOCATION San Diego, CA
PROJECT TYPE Office Renovation
SIZE 10,555 SF 7,476 SF Meeting Space 3,909 SF Amenity Space
COMPLETION 2023
CISTERRA DEVELOPMENT
The Radian
Carrier Johnson + Culture’s design for Downtown San Diego’s East Village’s newest mixed-use residential project features a modern 22-story steel and glass tower with 241 market-rate apartment units rising above 36,000 square feet of ground-level retail fashioned from the facade of an existing building in honor of its local historic significance. A key selling point of the property is a unique amenity package that centers around two indoor-outdoor amenity decks on the 7th and 22nd floors.
LEVEL 22’s AMENITY FLEXIBLE USE DECK includes moveable furnishing, outdoor exercise space; unit patios with gated access and privacy planters with a bioretention basin system for stormwater management and planting interest; a dog run overlooking the street and organized away from gathering spaces.
Project Data CLIENT Cisterra Development
LOCATION San Diego, CA
PROJECT TYPE Mixed-Use Residential
SIZE 22-Story High Rise 241 Residential Units 36,000 SF Retail Space 273 Parking Space
COMPLETION 2023
SAPPHIRE TOWER
Sapphire Tower Indoor-outdoor spaces that support the Southern California lifestyle are highly prized. Therefore our landscape design team’s primary focus was rethinking the pool deck amenity space. The update and redesign of the amenity deck incorporates an outdoor kitchen, BBQ area and dining area. To improve the dining experience, this new area is situated beneath a feature shade structure and protected by polycarbonate resin louvers that buffer and shelter diners from westerly offshore winds without blocking views of the bay.
Before + After POOL DECK BARRIERS
Amenities
Project Data CLIENT Sapphire Tower
LOCATION San Diego, CA
PROJECT TYPE Residential
SIZE 33-story tower
SERVICE Repositioning / Renovation: Exterior Facade Common Areas Amenities
CONFIDENTIAL TECH INNOVATOR COMPANY
Holland Waterfront Gateway Holland Waterfront Gateway was an exploration competition into the possibility of a unifying performing arts and civic center in the heart of Vancouver, Washington. The task was to envision a central arts and culture hub to draw a mix of cultural expressions within a developing waterfront community. Special attention was given to finer-grained details, locally known but easily overlooked for out of town visitors. This included a massive art mural in honor of our country’s military history.
A local map maker responsible for identifying, documenting and exploring hiking trails throughout Washington State and California was integrated into the meandering expressions of the central plaza. Inspired by the scale and impact of these elements, a pedestrian experience reaches out to adjacent historical parks, the waterfront and new developments to emphasize connectivity and interaction of multiple areas as a community. This effort was a strong integration of architectural expression, civil engineering structure, and landscape architectural experience connections to ideate a centralizing civic hub.
Project Data CLIENT Holland Partner Group
LOCATION Vancouver, WA
PROJECT TYPE Mixed-Use
COMPLETION Submission 2022
SERVICE Site Planning Landscape Design Architecture Master Planning
HIGH STREET RESIDENTIAL | TRAMMELL CROW
1950 India Street
High Street Residential, a subsidiary of Trammell Crow Company, retained Carrier Johnson + Culture Landscape Architecture to produce a feasibility study of their new 25-story high-rise residential apartment tower to be located at 705 W. Grape St. in the Little Italy neighborhood of San Diego. The new development will extend along India Street with an adjoining 2-story retail space.
Project Data CLIENT High Street Residential Trammell Crow
LOCATION San Diego, CA
PROJECT TYPE Office Renovation
SIZE 523,711 SF 460 Units 25 Levels
COMPLETION Study Completed 2022
The project will feature 460 units with an average unit size of 912 SF along with 25,810 SF of retail and 5 levels of aboveground parking. An additional 67 Affordable Housing Units are also included in the new development.
GEMDALE, LLC
Pinnacle 360 The Pinnacle 360 mixed use development project is situated atop a hill with the building carefully designed to maximize views in every direction. Located on Hoover Street and replacing the abandoned Temple Community Hospital, residents will have unobstructed views of Hollywood, the Hollywood sign, Griffith Observatory, Century City, and the Downtown Los Angeles skyline. Pinnacle 360 is adjacent to several neighborhoods such as Silverlake and Hollywood, where 30,000 residents live within a one mile radius.
Amenities This distinctive development was specially designed with modern conveniences and contemporary features that draw residents outdoors. Residents will enjoy resort-style amenities with two distinctlydesigned podium amenity areas that are interconnected between the two sides of the buildings. One deck is focused on leisurely activities with fire pits, dipping pool and outdoor seating under a grove of olive trees.
Project Data CLIENT La Terra Development, LLC
LOCATION Los Angeles, CA
PROJECT TYPE Mixed-Use/Residential
SIZE 3.05 acre site 327,746 SF 221 units
SERVICES Site Planning Architecture Interior Design
The other deck is geared to more active recreation with a larger pool, sun bathing areas, outdoor fireplace, BBQ grilling stations and a glass-edge spa. Additionally, on the top story of the building, residents can enjoy two large outdoor rooftop sky decks; one oriented toward the view to Hollywood and the other taking in the view to Downtown Los Angeles.
FOULGER PRATT
Block F Makers Quarter Makers Quarter is an innovative neighborhood in the East Village district of Downtown San Diego undergoing redevelopment inspired by the maker movement, which are guided by these principles: establish, enhance, and promote San Diego’s core culture, create a new employment hub, create an authentic, sustainable urban space, and foster a walkable neighborhood that encourages a healthy lifestyle.
Block F Makers Quarter supports such an environment by adding residential units, commercial resources, and common open spaces that embody creative and social engagement. A contemporary 32-story tower will accentuate the skyline and a mid-rise office + retail building with a red brick warehouse to anchor the tower’s base. The existing seismic fault lines on the site provide two major opportunities: The addition of a lively public Pocket Park (a visual extension of the future East Village Green) and multi-story art wall - functioning as a screen for above grade parking - that will serve as a public outdoor gallery.
Project Data CLIENT Foulger Pratt
LOCATION San Diego, CA
PROJECT TYPE Mixed-Use Residential Office / Retail
SIZE 3.05 acre site 327,746 SF 221 units
PHASE Schematic Design Development as of 2023
SUSTAINABILITY LEED Gold Target
SUNSTONE HOTEL INVESTORS, INC.
Sunstone Community Planning Process Carrier Johnson + Culture was hired to assist with yield studies and conceptual designs for the combined properties located in La Jolla Village. Uses may include hotel, residential, amenities for both (possibly shared), restaurant, commercial, co-working space, a potential bank with financial offices, and shared parking to support all uses.
Project Data CLIENT Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.
LOCATION La Jolla Village, CA
PROJECT TYPE Hospitality
PHASE Conceptual Design Yield Study
SERVICES Landscape Architecture
VIEWPOINT DEVELOPMENT LLC
Viewpoint 30th + C Working closely with the interior designer, the vision was to embrace the history and quirk of Golden Hill into a sunken social outdoor parlor courtyard and pavilion roof deck to views of San Diego. ‘Stay Golden’ became our mantra as materials, textures and spaces came to define intimate hubs where residents could sip a cocktail, play games or focus on physical health with a spill out gym garden.
Inspiration
Inspired by Balboa Park and the timeless characteristics of the San Diego Botanical Building, the landscape design team drew upon the arches and curves of the latticed architecture in the park and transcribed that motif into glass and steel arched partitions with the sunken courtyard. This design move complimented the interior design while providing semi-transparent privacy in a constrained space.
Project Data CLIENT Viewpoint Development LLC
LOCATION San Diego, CA
PROJECT TYPE Mixed-use / Residential
PROJECT TYPESIZE Mixed-use / Residential
SERVICES Landscape Architecture Interior Design Architecture
GOLDRICH + KEST
Goldrich Kest 475 W. Broadway Located off the central spine connecting Downtown San Diego, this development on Broadway organized itself between a bustling commercial axis, existing pedestrian urban paseos, atypical front entry sequencing and structure spaces with an array of amenities. Our client was equally interested in leisure as play and well as health and wellness.
Amenities The upper most amenity level takes advantage of downtown and waterfront views and sun exposure. A tri-level exterior deck was proposed with a pool for active play, a separated spa for quiet overlooks to the city, casual fire pit terracing and a tucked away media heavy dining and lounge space. The lower level focused on a yoga spill out area from an indoor gym. This is an often-requested flexible space, but for this level a series of saunas spilling out to a garden space, a health focused café and outdoor seating areas surrounded by vegetated green roofs add to an intensified health and wellness center for the development.
Project Data CLIENT Goldrich + Kest
LOCATION San Diego, CA
PROJECT TYPE Mixed-use / Residential
PHASE Feasibility Study Completed 2022
SERVICES Landscape Architecture Interior Design Architecture
IIDA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC
IIDA 4th + b
This new 32 story high-rise hospitality development with 2 levels of below grade parking, ground level urban open space, lobbies for office and hotel, restaurant and support functions on level 2, five levels of office (levels 3-7), amenities on level 8 and 23 levels of hotel containing 301 keys (levels 9-30) with patios on level 9, roof top pool, bar and support functions on level 31 and banquet level at level 32.
Site Plans Level 1: Integrated plaza with art exhibit, water features, seating areas designed to draw customers, and organized points of entry. Level 3: Exterior office amenity space that includes a bocce ball court that can serve as a recreational event space, variety of gathering spaces, and a sunken fire pit. Level 9: Casual gathering vibe, shade structures and amenities geared toward social hours, green walls to anchor the fire pit lounge and bar, private patio spaces, and moveable furniture. Level 31: Pool and spa, shade structures, USB connected chaise lounges for casual work, and furniture to enhance the relaxing rooftop atmosphere.
Contextual Site Plans COMMUNITY CONTEXT: ARRIVAL
Project Data CLIENT IIDA Group Holdings, Inc COMMUNITY CONTEXT: ADJACENTS
LOCATION San Diego, CA
PROJECT TYPE Residential
SIZE 15,061 SF
SERVICES Landscape Architecture Interior Design Architecture
COMPLETION N/A Horton Plaza |
IIDA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC
Citizen M
Our Landscape design team provided coordination for ground level improvements per city standards and hotel brand and as an identifiable entry to the hotel. On the roof deck level, we are coordinating large tree installations as a part of the exterior amenity deck that requires significant structural coordination for flush install conditions.
Project Data CLIENT IIDA Group Holdings, Inc
LOCATION San Diego, CA
PROJECT TYPE Hospitality Hotel
SIZE 107,402 GSF
SERVICES Landscape Architecture
PHASE Construction Documents
SUNROAD ENTERPRISES INC.
Sunroad Harbor Island When Sunroad Enterprises faced potential setbacks with their vision due to a lack of support from the Port of San Diego, they turned to us, recognizing our unparalleled expertise in waterfront planning. Drawing upon our in-depth knowledge of the Port’s vision, cultivated through our co-authorship of the Port of San Diego master plan update, we devised an integrated solution that seamlessly wove together the threads of public access, immersive engagement, and the demands of private development.
Central to our approach was the Port’s mandate for both upscale and affordable hotels on the site. Unlike prior designs that obstructed pristine views, we championed an inclusive strategy. We integrated both hotel brands within a single tower, fostering shared infrastructure to enrich open spaces and bolster public accessibility. This innovative approach not only safeguarded critical view corridors but also empowered our landscape team to craft enchanting outdoor realms, promising unforgettable waterfront-centric experiences. Our visionary design concept garnered unanimous approval from the Port, catapulting the project into the next phase of rigorous environmental review.
Project Data CLIENT Sunroad Enterprises Inc.
LOCATION San Diego, CA
PROJECT TYPE Mixed-use / Residential
SIZE 265,000 SF
SERVICES Landscape Architecture Interior Design Architecture
Carrier Johnson remains steadfast in guiding the project through the CEQA process and maintains a close partnership with the California Coastal Commission staff, ensuring the seamless realization of this waterfront gem. Witness the unfolding success story of East Harbor Island, where innovation, collaboration, and visionary design converge to shape the future of San Diego’s waterfront landscape.
CSU EAST BAY
The Core The Collaborative Opportunities in Research and Engagement project or “CORE” is a place of knowledge for the CSU East Bay campus, serving as both its new main library and a “21st Century Learning Center” providing students with opportunities to work with cutting-edge technology. The project name refers to both its location at the “core” of campus and its envisioned role as an important center of knowledge + campus life. Embracing a holistic project approach, the design team identified opportunities to address broader campus-wide challenges. Our team focused on pedestrian circulation and stormwater / drainage issues - both resulting from the campus’s hilly terrain. Located on a steep hillside that separated the upper campus from the lower campus, the new 3-story CORE building bridges that gap. To achieve this goal, the design team created a diagonal cut through the building that forms a stepped exterior spine, physically connecting the lower campus to the upper campus. This spine allows students to move directly up/ down through the campus in a very experiential fashion, flanked on both sides by the CORE building. This approach creates a visually strong campus link that can be used 24/7 and is activated by internal building activities and pedestrian flow.
Connections Existing campus pedestrian and maintenance connectivity faced accessibility connections due to significant changes to grade. The north-south campus promenade unceremoniously terminated at the start to a fire lane with little wayfinding strategies towards the site’s main entry. The east-west campus axis connecting a primary student parking area and the University Union and a variety of student services was interrupted by a 30’+ foot elevation change. As the lowest point, the central lawn between the library and student services flooded during major rain events. CORE library serves as a connectivity conduit by linking via bridge, elevator and stair the upper north-south axis to the dead ended north-south promenade. A system of storm water units collecting roof run off into a series of bioswales ultimately collect to the center in a bioretention basin.
Materials Materials such as integral color concrete, pavers and synthetic lumber decking complement more formal plaza treatment identifying primary entry, path of travel and gathering areas. Softer textured and smaller scale paving moments introduce courtyards and green space in relation to larger scaled entry plazas. The use of ‘plug-in’ spaces such as amphitheater and linear bench seating allows students to people watch, observe or digitally connect with their surroundings in both north and south plazas. Intermediate plaza hubs terminate the pedestrian bridge above and fire access lane crossing to the central green below offering places to sit, connect, meet and gather.
Project Data CLIENT CSU East Bay
LOCATION Hayward, CA
PROJECT TYPE Higher Education Library
COMPLETION 2023
SIZE 100,000 SF
CERTIFICATIONS LEED Gold Net-Zero Energy
SCRIPPS COLLEGE | PITZER COLLEGE
Scripps Pitzer Science Center Introducing a joint use multi-discipline laboratory addition and renovation for the Keck Science Center in Claremont, this ground breaking project will revolutionize scientific education and research for Scripps and Pitzer Colleges. This ambitious endeavor encompasses a magnificent 80,000 square foot addition, seamlessly integrating 14 state-of-the-art teaching labs and support spaces. Additionally, a carefully planned phased renovation will breathe new life into 37 research labs and offices, 3 teaching labs, and five classrooms.
WHERE ARTS & SCIENCES MEET Carrier Johnson + Culture’s Landscape Architecture teamed up with sculptor Elizabeth Turk to create a focal point to the recessed main west entry. Located within the West Plaza, Turk’s piece titled ‘Suspended Meditation’, a one-ton limestone boulder hollowed out and gold leafed hovering inches above a pitch black reflecting pond. Aircraft cable anchors the central pendulum tethered by three 18’ stainless steel prism masts. Inspired by explosion photos of the atomic bomb, message is reflection and pause before creating great and terrible things through the pursuit of science.
Project Data CLIENT Scripps College Pitzer College Claremont McKenna College
LOCATION Claremont, CA
PROJECT TYPE Science Center Higher Education
SIZE 80,000 SF of Addition 80,000 SF of Renovation
COMPLETION 2024
SERVICES Landscape Architecture Feasibility Study Conceptual Design
OAKS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Oaks Christian School Oaks Christian is a private boarding school that prides itself on close parent to student support and education. As an infill project of a former industrial complex, the school sought to bring a feeling of home. Utilizing an underused parking lot in front of their building, a stage space, flexible gathering area, sports courts and outfitted BBQ outdoor kitchen were proposed. A required fire lane integrated with the flexible space with the much needed intent for large events, smaller gatherings, or park space for games.
A large existing oak tree in the outdoor study area will be preserved so as to maintain a unique quality of the school’s ‘backyard.’ During site review, members of Oaks Christian and CJ+C Landscape identigied a parking lot adjacent to Cedar Valley Drive as an opportunity for exterior programmed use. The site includes two vehicular entry points, a required fire lane, desired onsite parking and the need for an outdoor space for students, family and staff that relates to the interior program.
Project Data CLIENT Glenroy Coachella
LOCATION Coachella Valley, CA
PROJECT TYPE Hotel
SIZE 94,616 SF 130 Rooms
PHASE Construction Documents
SERVICES Concept Design Interior Design Master Plan
LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY
Loma Linda University Student Housing CJ+C completed a comprehensive vision and open space framework designed to connect the Mixed-use University Village to the Academic and Medical campus and provide a green way of public and private plazas and promenades. The program consists of 19.5 acres of student housing, apartments, retail, classrooms, extended stay suites, medical office building and parking. The Loma Linda Master Plan presents a comprehensive vision and open space framework designed to connect the mixed-use University Village to the Academic and Medical campus and provide a green way of public and private plazas and promenades.
Project Data CLIENT Loma Linda University
LOCATION Loma Linda, CA
PROJECT TYPE Higher Education Mixed-Use / Master Plan
SERVICES Master Plan
SIZE 19.5 Acres
COMPLETION In Progress Our concept celebrates Loma Linda University’s wellness, fitness, dietary, and community principles – the four pillars that define the landscape and public realm for the project. The comprehensive master plan introduces a mix of uses relevant to the growth and evolution of LLUH to provide significant on-campus student housing, academic programs, a neighborhood market and retail, and a new school of dentistry to create an new “wellness and living hub” for the campus.
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
National University Entitlement Plan Carrier Johnson + Culture was commissioned to prepare a feasibility study for the consolidation of National University’s academic campuses and offices in San Diego to its Spectrum property located in Kearny Mesa. The goal is to create a flagship campus that will become a “higher education laboratory” that supports the client’s objective of providing “precision education.” CASE STUDY: Innovative Approach to Maximizing Value for Clients. Carrier Johnson plays a significant role in working with City of San Diego Long Range Planning, Park and Recreation and other City Development offices to influence creative zoning solutions which support the goals of the community while also being supported by the business wishing to grow and expand in the area.
Too often a city insists on requirements that the private sector can’t or won’t implement. As a result, both the city and businesses lose - all because the decision making process is too rigid and non-collaborative. Carrier Johnson has a better and more successful model. Our collaborative model is guiding the City to grant zoning for the new National University campus that reaches far beyond expectations. The increase in value to the property owner is substantial and the benefit to the City in terms of revenues from property taxes and sales taxes and gains in accessible public space is significant as well.
Project Data CLIENT National University
LOCATION San Diego, CA
PROJECT TYPE Higher Education
SCOPE Master Plan Feasibility Study Programming
SIZE 13.227 Acre
AFFIRMED HOUSING GROUP
Affirmed Housing SDSU Our team was tasked with conducting a feasibility analysis for green spaces within an affordable housing development, integrated into the larger expansion plan for the SDSU Campus at Mission Valley. The outdoor landscape would connect to the surrounding residential community, foster connection between residents, and connect to the nearby river park. The concept design was based off of four identified pillars: community growth, exploration, connection, and nature.
SOCIAL CONNECTIONS TO NATURE An important component to the project was the childcare facility offering. The adjacent fire lane and extended buffer to the east allowed the team to expand on outdoor learning space beyond the square foot of play space per child minimum. It connected directly to the River Park to the south and east of the development linking to more urban streetscapes. Whether a part of the daycare system or a park visitor, active green space ties in seamlessly to a public park, a safe private environment for young children and coffee shop amenities for caregivers and residents alike.
Project Data CLIENT Affirmed Housing Group
LOCATION San Diego, CA
PROJECT TYPE Student Housing Residential Child Care Facility Activation
SERVICES Landscape Architecture Architecture
PHASE Yield Study
JMI REALTY
SDSU Mission Valley Carrier Johnson + Culture created the Master Plan for the development of the proposed expansion of San Diego State University Campus at the Mission Valley Qualcomm Stadium site. Carrier Johnson’s strategy for the proposed project embraces “open space first,” with 75 acres of community parks and 8 acres of campus parks and green space adjacent to the San Diego River.
SNAPDRAGON STADIUM AT SDSU WEST The expansion would include a new 35,000 seat football stadium for the Aztecs, demolition of the existing 70,000 seat stadium, 1.6 million square feet of campus space, 4,600 residential units, 95,000 square feet of neighborhood retail, and two hotels with a total of 450 guest rooms.
Project Data CLIENT JMI Realty
LOCATION San Diego, CA
PROJECT TYPE Higher Education
SCOPE Master Planning Landscape Architecture
SIZE 132 Acre Site
GASLAMP QUARTER ASSOCIATIONS
Gaslamp Fifth Avenue Promenade The Gaslamp Quarter is a designated historic district spanning 8-blocks from Harbor Dr. to Broadway in Downtown San Diego and is home to a lively nightlife scene of restaurants, bars, and lounges, as well as beautiful Victorian and Art Deco architecture. Throughout its long and exciting history at the core of San Diego civic activity, the Gaslamp’s prominence has fluctuated in response to both local and regional pressures.
The Vision In response to a decline in recent years, Carrier Johnson + Culture, Kimley-Horn and the Gaslamp Quarter Association are collaborating to create a transformative street improvement vision for an eight-block pedestrian plaza. The new Gaslamp Promenade will dramatically re-envision and re-brand the street realm in a way that both respects the historic nature of the Gaslamp Quarter, as well as connect major event and live/work centers. Fifth Avenue is a central corridor through the heart of Downtown San Diego. Tree-lined streets, seating areas, and attention to retail and restaurants will create a pedestrian-centric environment focusing less on car travel and more towards local and visitor experiences.
Project Data CLIENT Gaslamp Association
LOCATION San Diego, CA
PROJECT TYPE Urban Design
SERVICES Programming Circulation Studies Traffic Studies Utility Infrastructure Review Emergency Security Studies Concept Visioning
When the project is complete, Fifth Avenue will be periodically closed to vehicular traffic between Broadway and L Street (except for morning servicing of the neighborhood) while the east-west streets will remain permanently open. The schedule of closures will respond to traffic studies balancing work commutes, stadium events, Gaslamp street events and weekend use.
NAVFAC
Soltek China Lake This landscape architecture design project focuses on the sustainable development and enhancement of the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station located in California. The project includes comprehensive exterior design services for a new gym facility and chapel, integrating drought-tolerant planting with bioretention basins, and revitalizing the existing promenade through updated planting and improvements.
DESERT COMMUNITY & SPIRITUALITY Our design intenteds to create a harmonious and ecologically responsible outdoor environment that supports the wellbeing of the base community while aligning with modern sustainable practices. This is a collective hub of spirituality and well-being. Our landscape and interior design team interwove a diversity of faiths within the chapel and active programming within the recreation center. Community courtyards at each location connect interior programming to exterior uses and gathering spaces including daily flag ceremonies, historical commemorations, memorials and weddings. This project stemmed from damages sustained during the August 2020 earthquake and is a part of the China Lake Earthquake Recovery Program.
Project Data CLIENT Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) China Lake
LOCATION Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, CA
PROJECT TYPE Community Support Facilities
SIZE 51,781 SF
SERVICES Landscape Architecture Architecture
COMPLETED 2022
LATERRA DEVELOPMENT, LLC
Veterans Home Yountville The New development for the VA in Yountville was defined by creating an overall welcoming exterior experience. With six main areas of focus the landscape team’s goal was to work with the VA and bring a sense of nature into the various areas of interest. Walking through the site the team started with a defined welcoming entry plaza that would have different avenues that would break off and flow directly to the central courtyards or memorial grove. The overall approach was to provide multiple overlooks that would be immediate to new proposed walking trails and include small experiential space for either meditation or larger expansive areas for physical therapy.
Project Data CLIENT California Department of Veterans Affairs
LOCATION Yountville, CA
PROJECT TYPE Skilled Nursing and Memory Care Facility
SIZE 240 Bed 11-Acre Campus
SERVICES Site Planning Architecture Landscape Architecture Within the courtyards, the design team provided various flexible spaces for staff, family, and children for different events. The memorial grove was a larger challenge as it was existing, ultimately the preservation of the existing trees allowed for a design with a unique and therapeutic walking trail that was a key design element in the physical therapy circuits and bringing a larger impact with the mental health connection to nature.
LENNAR MULTIFAMILY COMMUNITIES
HACLA Imperial Courts Campus Located in Watts, the Imperial Courts community was looking for a larger improvement to a community center. As a part of the study to integrate community input, safety, and physical and mental health, the project strives to reacquaint a development-locked neighborhood to the benefits of green space. At the forefront of the design is the overall health, safety, and well-being of community members, visitors, and recreation center staff.
Before + After Though focused on the community desire and need for recreational gatherings, goals of the master plan are to return shade from tree canopies, seasonal interest in shrubs and understory, and awareness of connections to nature and sustainability. Two community workshops and follow up meetings with community leaders were conducted prior to the start of site plan design concept generation. Over the course of two days, the team engaged community leaders, residents, and visitors to the Friday Farmer’s Market to discuss preferences, suggestions, and concerns regarding the recreation center as an exterior space, and the Watts Empowerment Center expansion. A report compiled the community input and was submitted to secure grant funding for this much needed opportunity.
Project Data CLIENT Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA)
LOCATION Watts, CA
PROJECT TYPE Community Park Master Plan
SIZE 105,200 SF
SERVICES Site Planning Community Engagement Landscape Architecture Grant Support
PADRES
Park at the Park Re-Envisioned as Gallagher Square Gallagher Square is a unique semi public space that offers a moment of green within a dense urban environment. On non game days, it is a central attraction for pet owners, music venues and seasonal festivals.
Though a popular event space, the Park at the Park is routinely damaged from use requiring extensive repairs at the end of each event or heavy use. The San Diego Padres requested three design options for future renovations of Gallagher Square, formerly Park at the Park and present the studies. Potential renovations were to highlight six main points of interest that the Padres wanted to accomplish in addition to maintaining Padre fan and player history. + Tiered terracing on existing hillsides for large and small group seating
Project Data CLIENT San Diego Padres
LOCATION San Diego, CA
PROJECT TYPE Park Space
+ Expansion of the Balboa Gate entrance to mitigate larger crowd circulation
SIZE
+ An update to the family and children entertainment play area
SERVICES
+ A firework platform for events and associative safety considerations + The relocation of the children’s Play Ball Field6) Concession locations for special event needs
105,200 SF
Conceptual Studies Landscape Architecture
PADRES
Padres Gallager Square Concept 1 Part of a design competition, the Padres had asked Carrier Johnson + Culture to re-imagine what Gallager Square could be. Our landscape developed and presented 3 options to the Padres. The study consisted of six main points of interest: a tiered terrace on the existing hillside, an expansion of Balboa Gate on 9th and K street, the development of a family and children play area, a firework platform, relocation of the play ball field, and upgrading concession stand locations.
What If: We find new ways to enjoy the park on a daily basis? + Urban plaza space to host special events + Coffee shops, restuarants, and local kiosks operating daily to activate the new plaza space + Shaded seating areas to relax and take in the beauty of the park + Expanded Balboa Gate entrance plaza to accommodate flexible event use in conjunction with the wiffle ball field
PADRES
Padres Gallager Square Concept 2 Concept two explored using the existing topography to maximize space for events and create play areas for children.
What If: We redefined the existing slope to create green terraces for multi-use activities? + Broader terracing for larger groups that can accommodate canopies for larger events + Providing a mix of softscape and hard-scape to mitigate the excess turf damage + Minimal disruption to the main space in front of the stage to still allow high occupancy events
PADRES
Padres Gallager Square Concept 3 Concept three supports health and wellness by promoting an active lifestyle. Incorporating a sectioned area with removable site elements to play pickle ball, volleyball, and tennis or host markets.
What If: We memorized the anatomy of a Padre’s swing as an exhibit and shade structure? + Slanted cant to mitigate drop and offer backrests + Broader terracing for larger groups or furnishing + Materials that add to the industrial feel of adjacent buildings + Minimized landscape to address damage from overuse + Redirect softer landscape towards the play space
Amber Lake PLA, LEED AP Director of Landscape Design
Registration CA 6425 WA 21008820 Education Master of Architecture, NewSchool of Architecture + Design, San Diego Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Certifications LEED accredited professional Awards 2018 President’s Award, American Society of Landscape Architects, San Diego Chapter - Boardwalk Jamboree, Trammel Crow
As director of landscape design, Amber recognizes the importance of surrounding environmental and cultural contexts as they relate to the health and identity of a community. She strives to apply built and natural perspectives to converge cohesive landscape and architectural experiences in the urban environment. Amber’s projects incorporate sustainable design features, integrate community voices through engagement, and tune the exterior design with the benefit of connections to nature. Public input and collaboration for many of our projects bridge communication between neighborhoods, urban context and developers. The mental and physical benefits of engaging the outdoors are key components of exterior landscape design through interior transitions. Designs are brought together using these relationships that strive to be on brand for the project and relevant to the community. Academic Experience California State University, East Bay CORE Building | Hayward, CA New 100,000 GSF library aiming to achieve Zero Net Energy; creation of visually strong campus bridge that can be used 24/7 and is activated by internal building activities and pedestrian flow Long Beach City College Landscape Master Plan | Long Beach, CA Landscape master plan for the community college; the plan addresses its two campuses as distinct environments while reinforcing the identity of the college* National University Campus Consolidation Study + Master Plan | San Diego, CA Feasibility study for the consolidation of National University’s academic campuses and offices in San Diego
Associations American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Landscape Architecture Department Advisory Council, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; Member College of Architecture & Environmental Design (CAED) Advisory Committee, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; Member
Scripps Pitzer College Science Center Feasibility Study | Claremont, CA Program verification and analysis for the expansion of the existing facility Loma Linda University Health Village Master Plan | Loma Linda, CA Comprehensive vision to connect the Mixed-use University Village to the Academic and Medical campus and provide a greenway of public and private plazas and promenades Scripps Pitzer College Science Center Feasibility Study | Claremont, CA Program verification and analysis for the expansion of the existing facility Scripps Pitzer College Science Center Renovation | Claremont, CA Multi-discipline laboratory addition and renovation with landscape concept upgrading the current site conditions for a pedestrian plaza Scripps West Plaza | Claremont, CA Exterior improvements included the restoration of an Inscription Walk honoring women of science from Pitzer College and women of the arts from Scripps College; creation of outdoor lecture spaces, a private art installation from alumn sculptor Elizabeth Turk, pedestrian-centric circulation and gateway identification,, and an identifiable character for a joint-college entry plaza SDSU Mission Valley Expansion | San Diego, CA Preparation of the Master Plan for the redevelopment of 170 acre stadium site that includes the expansion of SDSU Campus; expansion includes a new 35,000 seat football, 1.6 million
SF campus space, 4,600 residential units, 95,000 SF neighborhood retail, and two hotels with a total of 450 guest rooms, and river park
University of California, Los Angeles - Saxon Suites | Los Angeles, CA
Student housing complex renovation and addition project on 2.8 acre site; landscape approach emphasizes pedestrian activity and circulation between new and existing structures; the design extends existing landscape vernacular such as quiet courtyards and densely wooded environments but punctuates them with nodes - clearing that serve as both gathering spaces and hubs connected to pathways that run through the site.* University of California, San Diego, Revelle Stormwater Design | La Jolla, CA 500 bed student dormitory named in honor of Dr. Charles David Keeling, the American scientist whose research at Scripps Institution first alerted the world to human impact on global atmospheric carbon. This project captures all roof and site area rainfall in a system of vegetated roofs, conveyance channels and bioswales as part of an on-site gray water filtration network. It is also the first LEED-NC Platinum certified housing project in the University of California System.* Public Experience Embarcadero Bayfront Park | San Diego, CA The $28 million Phase One of the North Embarcadero visionary plan was a collaborative effort of designers, city officials, and the greater San Diego community; supported design continuity as the project was implemented, including the redesign of Broadway, connecting the city to the bayfront, integrated with the first ever stormwater capture and filtering system to protect bay water quality* Naval Weapons Station Fitness Center & Multi-Purpose Religious Facility, | China Lake, CA New 37,6W32 SF Fitness Center including basketball/volleyball courts, indoor pool, fitness and group exercise space and racquetball court, as well as a 14.190 SF multipurpose religious facility including a main chapel, multi-faith chapel, and fellowship hall
City of Del Mar Revitalization Outreach | Del Mar, CA With City of Del Mar staff, studies were explored on methods and strategies to enhance the pedestrian experience along Camino Del Mar from 9th Street to 15th Street. Explorations included conversations with residents and business owners in public and private forums. Graphics conveying interests and topics were created and shared to continue the conversation towards improving the main corridor through Del Mar* City of Del Mar City Hall Renovation | Del Mar, CA Exterior landscape enhancements included street frontage appropriate in scale and per City guidelines were implemented. Buffer planting in consideration of neighboring residents were discussed and coordinated with homeowners for screening and separation of civic events. A civic plaza was incorporated along Camino Del Mar to host public events and gatherings such as festivals, exhibits, performances and markets* Downtown San Diego Partnership, Improvement Projects | San Diego, CA In collaboration with the Downtown San Diego Partnership and San Diego’s Clean and Safe program, Carrier Johnson has had the opportunity to engage in a variety of programmatic scales benefiting both public and private stakeholders of the downtown community. This would include grant materials support for art and street improvement along Imperial Avenue and palette home studies utilizing vacant and underutilized parking lots to shelter the unhoused. Carrier Johnson is in coordination to bring various pedestrian scale projects to downtown San Diego including active sidewalks, social curbs and gateways for downtown’s Columbia District. We continue to work with the Columbia District to develop Design Guidelines as a part of their community identity.
Fault Line Park, Pinnacle Development / Civic San Diego | San Diego, CA 1.5 acre park utilizes unbuildable land over an earthquake fault into a community gem, offering numerous recreational opportunities and a landscape environments that reflect a playful interpretation of site geology; includes rolling greens, a playground, water play area and meandering walk paths; a public-private partnership between Civic San Diego and the developer of 45-story residential tower adjacent to the park site - the park and the tower’s outdoor spaces were jointly designed to be integrated with each other.* Gaslamp Fifth Avenue Promenade | San Diego, CA Improvements to create a north-south linkage in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter with innovative, comprehensive and sustainable streetscape design that places an emphasis on non-motorized methods of circulation, increases pedestrian use of the public realm, and helps meet the social and recreation needs of this growing community HACLA Imperial Courts / Watts Empowerment Center Community Study | Los Angeles, CA Landscape design services and deliverables to the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) to identify the location and placement of updated amenities. This included reviewing access and connections to existing facilities, and design strategies to promote a safe environment to inform a new “Campus Master Plan” for Imperial Courts and the Watts Empowerment Center. Design efforts included an intensive community outreach program and incorporation of heard ideas into a comprehensive design. The product was securing grant funding for the construction of the design and the benefit for an incredibly underserved neighborhood.
NAVWAR Redevelopment and Regional Transit Center | San Diego, CA As part of SANDAG’s agreement with the U.S. Navy, programming, planning and design development for new state-of-the-art headquarters for the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command and Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific Divisions. The site encompasses 1,324 acres of bayfront and urban space separated by Interstate 5, with planning and design for new regional transportation hub and mixed-use community. San Diego Padres - Tailgate Park “Vision” Master Plan | San Diego, CA Visual exploration of concepts for the re-visioning of the Padre Stadium Park at the Park. This park serves public, semi-private and private needs of visitors and surrounding residents alike. Heavy use during concert events and the need for park space within a dense urban environment invited Carrier Johnson to ideate what multiple versions and scales of use could look like. With game-day intensity and the surrounding urban context, heavy traffic event space and family scaled green space was provided. Corporate Office Experience Alexandria Real Estate Equities Campus Pointe | San Diego, CA Landscape architecture for notable 24-acre life science campus in the UTC area of San Diego; provides numerous well-being-centric amenities for the multi-tenant campus such as a fitness center, multipurpose lawn, .8 mile loop trail and two organic gardens for the onsite bistro; connects buildings and canyon surroundings with the addition of numerous gardens, rustic landscaping and tree groves*
Boardwalk Jamboree | Irvine, CA New construction podium on a 4.3 acre highly amenitized office/ retail development with on-structure landscape features including water features, garden structures, outdoor recreational and collaboration space that was on-brand for the tenants the client wished to attract. By integrating site drainage into a system of elevated connections, flexible meeting spaces, private breakout space and media outfitted conference pavilions, the purpose was to bring people out of their office and breathe in the outdoors. This project was awarded an ASLA merit award.* BioMed Realty Executive Campus Repositioning | San Diego, CA A series of improvement projects to reposition 4 buildings on the campus to include more connectivity and outdoor activity space in anticipation of increased leasing activity. The challenge was to mitigate an outdated and inefficient water feature taking up over 50% of potentially amenitizable space. Tenant type and interests were explored to create an exterior program and design that would draw users to engage between buildings and connect outdoors for work, leisure and community events. Tower 180, Hammer Ventures | San Diego, CA Repositioning of an existing 25-story high-rise, 8-story lowrise, and a 6-story parking structure. The project also includes a complete exterior renovation to both the low-rise and high-rise office tower and a complete upgrade of the common area spaces of the building. An interesting component was the 8th level patio designated as public open space within a private building. As a part of the original design, the 8th level patio extensively used artificial turf surrounding a large, inefficient pavilion, a large broken water feature and specimen quality cacti and succulents in planters. The result was a design updating the materials, preserving and incorporating the specimen plants, and converting the outdated pavilion into an exterior conference hub.
Mixed-Use / Residential Experience 330 13th Street, Richman Group | San Diego, CA Mixed-use development includes 21-story residential/commercial tower and 3-story building with on-site open space located over a fault line; this 222 residential-unit project in downtown’s East Village includes rich urban canyon garden, cafe seating, and rainwater infiltration. The urban canyon serves as an accessible paseo during the day with inward facing building entries and restaurant access. The space closes at night for security and privacy.* The Reserve at Copley | La Jolla, CA Design guideline development and planning for 22 acres of open space. Copley Press analyzed the project site within the surrounding context of La Jolla for private residence development. Site and community visits collected ocean views, topographic studies and brush management opportunities totaling approximately 1,130 acres modeled. Utilizing this modeling system, open space preservation bridged community engagement with the site history to create a comprehensive site plan for future home owners and the adjacent community.* Block F Makers Quarter | San Diego, CA 32-story mixed-use project consisting of 406 units, 22,000 SF of retail, 48,000 SF commercial office and 538 parking spaces. An existing fault line, twelve feet of elevation change from front entry to public right of way, a public park offering and adjacency to San Diego’s future Central Green were all taken into consideration at the ground level. The upper level hosted an extensive green roof system with exterior resident program space overlooking the future Green and Fault Line Plaza below.
Marina Green Building C Plaza | San Diego, CA 10,475 SF plaza connecting two mixed-use residential developments; amenities include outdoor gaming areas, stepped seating areas, media wall, fire pits, outdoor kitchen area with BBQ. The interstitial spaces between commercial buildings offered required and necessary views to the San Diego Harbor and public promenade. The challenge was to engage private tenant needs with public circulation. The result was private spill out uses for outdoor gathering and people watching as well as public perches to be a part of the cross circulation to the water.* Pinnacle 360 | Los Angeles, CA Full service architectural and planning services for a residential mixed-use development on an approximately 3-acres of site. Formerly a hospital ward, the existing structure was demolished. In negotiations with community members, public space was provided in the form of an entry plaza and adjacent dog park. On structure amenities include resident pool space and vegetated courtyards. Google Office Retrofit | San Diego, CA In collaboration with our Interior Design group, landscape had the opportunity to engage with Google’s unique brand of employee spaces. Modeled after the San Diego canyon character, a complex integration of mineral, boulder, and fused glass in conjunction with green walls towards better interior health. Hospitality Experience Glenroy Coachella Master Plan | Coachella, CA Director of Landscape for conceptual design, site planning, architectural design, interior design and branding services for a horizontal hotel concept located on approximately 30-acres consisting of approximately 130-140 keys
Port of San Diego Stay Open Micro Budget Hotel | San Diego, CA Director of Landscape for new $10.6M budget micro hotel on the San Diego Unified Port District’s 3-acre site on Pacific Highway, featuring 220 stackable 30-square-foot pods with rooftop restaurant / bar and ground floor lounge. Multiple transit options are nearby and hotel guests are anticipated to utilize electric scooters and shared car riding services. Hyatt House Coachella | Coachella, CA Landscape design for select-service hotel consisting approximately 130 guest rooms and accompanying supportive spaces, including: lobby and front-of-house space, back-of-house and office space, ground floor lobby-adjacent commercial space, meeting rooms, and fitness center. IIDA Hotel on 4th and B | San Diego, CA Landscape design for public urban open space and coffee kiosk at the ground level. The third level is dedicated to IIDA staff and share holders for a simple layout meant for observation and occasional engagements. Level nine is geared towards centralized exterior guest events and gatherings buffered by VIP suite private patios. Level thirty-three hosts a pool deck and restaurant pass through with views of downtown and the city beyond. Citizen M Hotel on 7th and Market | San Diego, CA In conjunction with hotel brand interior design, landscape coordinated ground level improvements per City standards and as an identifiable entry to the hotel. Level 14 is coordinating large tree installations as a part of the exterior amenity deck that required significant structural coordination for flush install conditions. Recreation / Arts Experience Walt Disney Imagineering | Glendale, CA Conceptual design for the House of Tomorrow, exhibit design for the Elias Residence in concert with Imagineers and theater design staff.*
Laguna Festival of the Arts, City of Laguna Beach | Laguna Beach, CA Façade improvements for the home of Laguna’s Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters; designer for a linear landscape frontage with promenade that buffers pedestrians from street traffic, sustainable landscaping and hardscaping, drop off zone. The inspiration was sandy beach patterns complete with varied concrete textures, seeded glass and rammed earth walls indicative of beach bluff strata. Upon entering the Festival of the Arts, significant grading challenges were met to create an open air canopy pavilion space that is accessible between pads of exhibit areas.* Los Angeles State Historic Park | Los Angeles, CA The design for this 30 acre park interprets topography of the setting, including the river valley, surrounding hills and the Los Angeles Basin, and utilizes a native and locally adapted plant palette. Features directly relate to the history of the site and park including agriculture, a railroad hub and culturally diverse immediate neighborhoods.* Smithsonian Institution, Smithsonian Horticultural Division | Washington, DC Native plant exhibit website development, exhibit planning, exterior landscape design, safety design surrounding 600 Smithsonian buildings according to Homeland Security guide lines. Healthcare Experience Kaiser Permanente San Diego Campus | San Diego, CA The new Kaiser Permanente San Diego campus design aims to create a restorative healing environment integrating the medical facility and its users with the surrounding natural context. This is expressed through topography, materials, circulation patterns and landscape typologies that respond to the surrounding mesa context. With the intent to achieve LEED Gold for Healthcare, the project incorporates sustainability goals ranging from user health and wellness to stormwater management and habitat restoration.*
Palomar Pomerado Health District, Palomar West Master Plan | Escondido, CA Part of California’s largest public health district, this 175,000-squarefoot facility is integrated with the architecture to provide a sustainable design for the landscape. The landscape and healing gardens create an organizing structure for the hospital master plan. Healing Gardens are designed as a sequence of spaces, creating a journey through which healing can occur as well as spaces for brief escape or gathering and relaxation for staff, patients and visitors. The green roof raises the ground plane and brings nature closer to the patients and staff in the tower above, as well as providing a setting for the café terrace at the third level with views, especially to the mountain to the east. The green roof is part of the overall plan for the Garden Hospital, integrating nature and technology.* UCSD East Campus Outpatient Pavilion | San Diego, CA The Koman Family Outpatient Pavilion at UC San Diego houses the Disease Centers for Musculoskeletal Health, Breast Health, Urology, Pain, Apheresis and Stem Cell, with related services of imaging, rehabilitation, outpatient surgery and pharmacy. Scope included joint design development for exterior on-structure landscape area for approximately 140,000 sf. Extensive pedestrian upgrades, dropoff and parking modifications, general landscape improvements, and intensive on-structure planting. In addition, an exterior physical therapy courtyard was developed for transitional therapies as patients re-engage with outdoor environment. The central plaza was oriented and designed to integrate with the future Health Science Walk campus spine.* UCSD East Campus Health Science Parking Structure | San Diego, CA The parking structure is nestled into the topography along the northern park preserve of the campus. The major mass of the structure is pushed below grade to minimize disruption to the habitat and the view shed. To provide usable recreation space the roof of the structure is sized for regulation soccer and serves as a multi-purpose sport field.*
Kevin Vankham Landscape Designer
Kevin Vankham is an experienced Landscape Designer and is skilled in utilizing AutoCAD, Civil3D, Lumion, Rhinoceros and SketchUp programs. Prior to Carrier Johnson + CULTURE, he started his career at a small design-build firm focusing on high-end residential and hospitality projects, and worked at a mid-sized company specializing in multi-family residential and international planning projects. Education Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Minor in Sustainable Environments, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Courses towards Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Study Abroad Department Exchange,
Academic Experience Scripps Pitzer College Science Center Feasibility Study | Claremont, CA Landscape Designer for program verification and analysis for the expansion of the existing facility Scripps Pitzer College Science Center Renovation | Claremont, CA Landscape Designer for multi-discipline laboratory addition and renovation with landscape concept upgrading the current site conditions for a pedestrian plaza. Scripps West Plaza | Claremont, CA Landscape Designer for exterior improvements included the restoration of an Inscription Walk honoring women of science from Pitzer College and women of the arts from Scripps College, creation of outdoor lecture spaces, a private art installation from alumn sculptor Elizabeth Turk, pedestrian-centric circulation and gateway identification, and an identifiable character for a jointcollege entry plaza
California State University, East Bay CORE Building | Hayward, CA Landscape Designer for new 100,000 GSF library aiming to achieve Zero Net Energy. Creation of visually strong campus bridge that can be used 24/7 and is activated by internal building activities and pedestrian flow. Loma Linda University Health Village Master Plan | Loma Linda, CA Landscape Designer for comprehensive vision to connect the Mixed-use University Village to the Academic and Medical campus and provide a greenway of public and private plazas and promenade Public Experience Naval Weapons Station Fitness Center & Multi-Purpose Religious Facility | China Lake, CA Landscape Designer for new 37,6W32 SF Fitness Center including basketball/volleyball courts, indoor pool, fitness and group exercise space and racquetball court, as well as a 14.190 SF multipurpose religious facility including a main chapel, multi-faith chapel, and fellowship hall Downtown San Diego Partnership, Improvement Projects | San Diego, CA Landscape Designer for project to bring various pedestrian scale projects to downtown San Diego including active sidewalks, social curbs and gateways for downtown’s Columbia District. We continue to work with the Columbia District to develop Design Guidelines as a part of their community identity HACLA Imperial Courts / Watts Empowerment Center Community Study, | Los Angeles, CA Landscape Designer for updated amenities to existing facilities and strategies to promote a safe environment to inform a new “Campus Master Plan” for Imperial Courts and the Watts Empowerment Center; efforts included an intensive community outreach program and incorporation of heard ideas into a comprehensive design
San Diego Padres - Tailgate Park “Vision” Master Plan | San Diego, CA Landscape Designer for concepts for the re-visioning of the Padre Stadium Park to serves public, semi-private and private needs of visitors and surrounding residents alike Redlands Plaza | Redlands, CA Landscape Designer for transit plaza within city development for a new three story mixed use building (36,000SF) adjacent to a new parking garage (160,000SF, over 380 stalls with bike garage and 6,000SF of ground level retail) within Historic Downtown Redlands* Packing House District Phase 2 | Redlands, CA Landscape Designer for for two buildings to serve restaurant and retail (15,250SF) and a continuation of the existing packing house district* J.Riley Distillery | Redlands, CA Landscape Designer for a local craft distillery incorporating historical context of the existing automotive-use buildings (6,000SF) * Mixed-Use / Residential Experience Cisterra Development, 9th & G “Radian” | San Diego, CA Landscape Designer for 431,622 s.f. multifamily high-rise development consisting of 22 levels with amenity spaces including an exterior gym space, dog run, private unit patios, and a large expansive roof level amenity deck with pool and raised spa Shipways | Alameda, CA Landscape Designer for waterfront revitalization repurposing a former shipbuilding and repair site; included a 4 story residential development (329 units, 8 acres), and public waterfront park adjacent to the site; residential landscape included pool and amenity space on podium, and rooftop terrace*
Hospitality Experience IIDA Hotel on 4th and B | San Diego, CA Landscape Designer for hotel that provides a public urban open space and coffee kiosk at the ground level Citizen M Hotel on 7th and Market | San Diego, CA Landscape Designer for ground level improvements per City standards and as an identifiable entry to the hotel. Level 14 is coordinating large tree installations as a part of the exterior amenity deck that required significant structural coordination for flush install conditions Hotel Cerro | San Luis Obispo, CA Landscape Designer for a new 7 story hotel (65 rooms) in downtown San Luis Obispo, CA. Design highlights included private terraces and culinary vegetable garden on podium and rooftop pool and bar*
*prior to joining CJ+C
Sasha Trofimov Landscape Designer
With over 10 years of experience in Landsacpe design, Alexandra has placed strong emphasis on sustainable design and delivery of many complex project types; retail, healthcare, offices, research facilities, public facilities, multi-family, mixed-use, and residential. Alexandra understands the importance of functionality within design and makes sure to address the clients needs through continuous collaboration. Education Certificates of Achievement in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design, Cuyamaca College, El Cajon, CA Ph.D. Plant Protection, incomplete Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Moscow, Russia M.S. Landscape Engineering Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Moscow, Russia B.S. Landscape Engineering Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Moscow, Russia
Mixed-Use / Retail Highland Marketplace | Highland City, UT 41,000 sq. ft. of retail and 20,000 sq.ft. of commercial. A refreshing mixed-use space of the modern retail plaza with a unique identity deep-rooted in the mountain content creates a community center to meet, hang out, and join in. Science and Tech Experience One Alexandria Square | Torrey Pines, San Diego, CA 22-acre coastal development of technology center and science park. The project includes more than 9 acres of landscape within the highly sustainable amenity-rich mega campus, with over 1.5 acres of existing open space to be preserved. This project is about sustainability initiatives within the campus and the surrounding community, targeting LEED Gold certification for new development, increasing energy efficiencies, and mitigating carbon emissions. Directors Place | San Diego, CA Directors Place is a five-story, 163,000-square-foot life sciences building with office space, an underground parking podium, and site amenities, including a cafeteria and fitness center.
Residential Experience Encinitas Boulevard Apartments | Encinitas, CA Five-story apartment complex with different varieties of amenity areas, including landscape on the ground and on the podium. Shallow Creek Residence | San Diego, CA Renovation of the existing pool and spa area with two new design additions – a pool structure and an open outdoor living room with a kitchen. Hamlet Residence | McLean, VA The Hamlet Residence project depicts a recreation of the existing pool deck and backyard patio in McLean, VA. The backyard had an outdated design and drainage issues. The new design added a modern look and improved drainage without significant disturbance to the site. Towlstone Residence | McLean, VA The company was involved in landscape development during the construction of the main building. The proposed design was split into two phases. The first-phase design included a new entryway area, driveway, front and side courtyards, garden, and firepit recreation area. Development of an Apartment Complex | Vidnoe, Moscow Region, Russia The project development plan and land survey of this new apartment complex presented a challenge due to its close location to the wetlands and a dam. My team took extensive measures to relocate the riverbanks to increase the development area. We also took additional steps to reinforce the riverbanks and surrounding recreational areas in case of future river overflow.
Education Experience Olympian High School | Great Falls, VA DSA project. It is a new two-story classroom building, with landscape upgrades within the main promenade integrated into the existing space. Buena Vista Elementary School | Carlsbad, CA DSA project. Buena Vista Elementary School Expansion. The District is proceeding forward with the acquisition of 5.15 acres of land immediately north of the school site for the construction of 6 classrooms, restrooms, a parking lot, a fire lane, and open fields, including a ponding basin. The 6 new classrooms will house Pre-Kindergarten and 1st-grade students. In addition to the new construction, a band room will be added to the existing cafeteria, which will be used as a classroom. Public Experience Reconstruction of City Park | Vidnoe, Moscow Region, Russia In this award-winning project, I renovated an old city park into a new, modern recreation area. The design includes a new multifunctional building with a cinema and a concert hall rooftop, an entertaining water feature, a bridge across the lake, storage, and rental facilities. Urban Landscaping - Streepscape | Vidnoe, Moscow Region, Russia The project offers improvements to some outdated and unsafe pedestrian and recreation areas in the town of Vidnoe, Moscow region. Since the project’s location was in the historic district, our team attended multiple town hearings and corroborated with the town authorities throughout the design process. Corporate Experience Design of Corporate Office Space | Moscow, Russia Architectural experience. Design development of the office space on the very narrow site. *prior to joining CJ+C
*prior to joining CJ+C
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN