2014: VOLUME 8, NUMBER 4
MICHIGAN CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIET Y
OF LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 2014: VOLUME 8, NUMBER 4
MICHIGAN CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIET Y OF LANDSCAPE
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ARCHITECTS
Honor Award: Landscape Architectural Design PEA, Inc.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
As the time comes to celebrate holidays and make New Year’s resolutions, I have taken a moment to look back on a most productive year. Our executive committee has accomplished many things, including some great programs, events and a record-setting annual meeting! We welcome two new executive committee members; Clare Jagenow, ASLA as President-Elect, and Lindsay Nelson, Associate ASLA as Associate Member at Large. Michigan ASLA has been hard at work, with countless hours spent in the pursuit of a better and brighter tomorrow for the profession in our beautiful state. Along with our lame duck legislators, our government affairs committee and lobbyists are diligently working. A big thanks to those who have worked so hard to make a difference for all Michigan landscape architects! In the industry, we have had a most productive year – with proverbial and literal shovels in the
ground. In this final issue of SITES for 2014, we celebrate the highest accolades that have been earned by Michigan landscape architects’ built and planned works. I hope you enjoy reading about the constructed work, master planning efforts and one very special, significant historic project. We have a great wealth of experience and talent in Michigan landscape architects; here are the best of the best for this year.
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May the coming year be filled with success and incredible placemaking.
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SuLin Kotowicz, LLA, ASLA President, Michigan Chapter of ASLA
For more information, please visit our website at www.michiganasla.org, or find us on Facebook or LinkedIn.
McLaren Proton Therapy Courtyard Garden
Lake St. Clair Greenspace Project Merit Award: Landscape Architectural Design Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority
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Visitor Entrance to the Milford Proving Grounds Merit Award: Landscape Architectural Design PEA, Inc.
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House Master Plan Honor Award: Landscape Planning and Analysis SmithGroupJJR
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Warren Technical Center Walking Path Honor Award: Landscape Architectural Sustainability PEA, Inc.
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Bayfront Park Merit Award: Historical Significance Beckett & Raeder, Inc.
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Chapter President’s Awards
EDITOR’S NOTES ON THE COVER: Bold patterns in the landscape create a striking image of the Milford Proving Grounds when
viewed from the surrounding office windows. Image courtesy of PEA, Inc.
If you would like to contribute to SITES or have a topic of interest, please email: SITESpublications@michiganasla.org
Honor Award [Landscape Architectural Design]
MCLAREN PROTON THERAPY COURTYARD GARDEN Firm: PEA, Inc. Project Location: Flint, Michigan
The McLaren Proton Therapy Center is a medical office building using advanced technology to treat cancer. A tiny interior courtyard space accessible from a waiting room is intended to provide a garden oasis, make a design statement pertaining to the healing process and provide a positive distraction for staff and visitors. The design provides several distinct themes chosen by the client that foster a positive distraction for users. Achieving the challenging programmatic goals with a functional and attractive design when the project area was limited to a 2,000 square foot, 20 foot wide, “L” shaped courtyard is what makes this project a success. This tiny garden effectively provides a positive distraction within the building and has become a beloved space by the client and the building users. Client Goals: 1. Utilize a design metaphor to tell the story of a healing journey. (This was the greatest challenge) 2. Provide contemporary design elements that are intriguing and capture one’s attention in order to provide a momentary distraction for users. 3. Incorporate a well-defined “swoosh” pattern into the courtyard layout to match the “swoosh” pattern found throughout the building design. 4. Provide a garden oasis within the building with beautiful garden elements. 2
LEFT: The concept provides for irregular, unpredictable patterns that contribute to the design metaphor and create the type of momentary distraction desired by the healthcare facility. Image courtesy of PEA, Inc.
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BELOW: The courtyard represents a healing journey. Three phases of the garden exhibit unique character. I: calm and predictable, II: transitional and unpredictable, III. arrival and peaceful. Image courtesy of PEA, Inc.
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III The irregular boardwalk surrounded by unruly grasses provides bold contemporary flare and demands user focus which contributes to the sense of “getting away” Image courtesy of PEA, Inc.
The design satisfies the client’s goals by using a design metaphor which incorporates a three phase landscape to tell the story of a healing process. The diversity of landscape character and division of design themes within the courtyard enhances the perception of the size of the space. Within this garden, you are never more than ten feet from the interior of the building, yet it feels like you’ve journeyed to another place. This aides in a sense of “getting away”. The design draws users into the space to experience the entire garden and not just the area immediately visible from the waiting room. The increasingly complex geometry forces the user to concentrate on their movement and take notice of their interaction with the landscape. The series of positive distractions effectively completes the process of “taking the user to another place”, providing a mental break from their business at hand within the building.
For more information contact: Jeffrey T. Smith, LLA, ASLA 517.546.8583 www.peainc.com
Branch Manager / Landscape Architect PEA, Inc. jsmith@peainc.com 3
Merit Award [Landscape Architectural Design]
LAKE ST. CLAIR GREENSPACE PROJECT Firm: Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority Project Location: Lake St. Clair Metropark, Harrison Township, Macomb County
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The 700-foot Boardwalk in the Point Rosa Marsh is shown here. Image courtesy of Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority
The Lake St. Clair Metropark Greenscape Project was a massive effort to infuse green infrastructure, improve water quality and restore rare coastal wetlands at one of southeast Michigan’s most popular recreation venues.
Lansing Center January 26-28, 2015 Lansing, MI Radisson Hotel Lansing at the Capitol
The first phase of the project restored nearly 400 acres of wetlands within the 770-acre park. Enhancements included phragmites eradication, removal of built-up sediment and muck along the shoreline, construction of a 700-foot boardwalk through the marsh, development of interpretive overlooks and signage, installation of water control structures to assist with managing invasive plants, and construction of shallow water habitat for native birds, reptiles and amphibians,. The restored marshlands are part of the natural filtration system for the adjacent and connected parking lot redevelopment project. The second phase of the project undertook storm water drainage initiatives to improve water quality in Lake St. Clair. The effort included the redesign and reconstruction of the 4,300 space main parking lot which previously discharged storm water directly into the Black Creek, immediately upstream of the swimming beach. Storm water is now collected, treated and redirected east to the Point Rosa Marsh where additional biological treatment can be made prior to entering the lake. The project received three separate Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants from the Environmental Protection Agency totaling $2.7 million. Storm water management and water quality improvements were the basis for receiving grant funding. Results of the overall project include cleaner water, restored coastal marshlands, enhanced park aesthetics, new recreation amenities and fewer beach closures. The storm water drainage and marshland improvement project comprehensively addressed a number of interrelated goals. It incorporated valuable landscape architectural elements, increased green space, reduced the area of impervious surface, implemented storm water best management practices and sustainability principles, replaced aging infrastructure and improved vehicular and pedestrian circulation. The project is a major milestone in the redevelopment of Lake St. Clair Metropark as an environmentally-sustainable recreation venue. For more information contact: Tim Phillips 810.494.6022 www.metroparks.com
Park Planner Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority tim.phillips@metroparks.com
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Merit Award [Landscape Architectural Design]
VISITOR ENTRANCE TO THE MILFORD PROVING GROUNDS Firm: PEA, Inc. Project Location: Milford, Michigan
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26,000 SF of irrigated lawn was replaced with a no-mow, non-irrigated landscape consisting of thousands of shrubs and perennials. Image courtesy of PEA, Inc.
The primary visitor entrance to a sprawling 4,000 acre automotive engineering campus and testing facility challenges the status quo of the design vernacular on the campus by creating a no-mow, non-irrigated landscape that can be broadly embraced in terms of its visual character. The landscape architect departed from the mundane visual of suburban office landscapes and expanded the potential for sustainable design to provide an intriguing aesthetic of distinct form and character in a landscape setting that is almost always reserved for the banal landscapes of turf grass. Sustainable landscapes are often expressed with “un-designed” features such as meadows or diverse native plantings. Additionally, natural landscapes in an office/campus setting, are commonly misinterpreted as unkempt or weedy. The designer must consider that to be broadly accepted, a landscape must appeal to not just those with an appreciation of native plants or natural landscapes, but also to a broad group of visitors. It must appear organized, functional and have a distinct “design” aesthetic to avoid the negative perception of a “weedy” landscape. This design solution reflects the form and character of the campus testing facilities by creating imagery of motion. A curved wall with contrasting tall grasses and low ground covers reflects the flow of the site’s circuitous test tracks. Rhythmic patterns of straight lines composed of decorative crushed stone suggest fields of straight test tracks while complimenting the strong lineal geometry on the building. A sidewalk that transects the rigid pattern of straight lines creates additional imagery of motion with its sinuous flow. The bold patterns in the landscape create pleasing forms, but more importantly they organize the plantings in a manner that breaks down the overall plant massing into clean lines and well defined beds that people expect in an office landscape. By “organizing” the various ground covers, this design eliminates the perception that no-mow landscapes are too wild, unrestrained and inappropriate for office environments.
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The project was a success in terms of its design intent and function and its bold aesthetic was well received.
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For more information contact: Jeffrey T. Smith, LLA, ASLA 517.546.8583 www.peainc.com
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Branch Manager / Landscape Architect PEA, Inc. jsmith@peainc.com
Honor Award [Landscape Planning and Analysis]
EDSEL & ELEANOR FORD HOUSE MASTER PLAN Firm: SmithGroupJJR Project Location: Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan The Edsel & Eleanor Ford House Master Plan provides a framework for maximizing historic stewardship and continued growth of the civic and educational missions of the 87-acre estate built in 1929. The plan focuses on identifying areas for future development to better meet the needs of existing programs, improving the visitor experience, implementing sustainable practices into the maintenance and operation of the estate and presenting opportunities for new programs that focus on the creation of a Center of Learning. As the first comprehensive evaluation of the property in 38 years, the master plan addresses circulation, arrival sequence, parking, wayfinding, lighting, building use, building and site restoration, stormwater management, historic vegetation and habitat enhancements—all with an aim toward enhancing the visitor experience and minimizing wear and tear on the property’s historic resources. Additionally, the plan identifies potential revenue-generating opportunities to support continued growth of the civic mission and historic stewardship of the Ford House. A primary goal of the master plan was advancing sustainability as a driving force on the estate by identifying opportunities to improve water quality, restore habitat and address stormwater and landscape management practices. These actions will not only improve the health and longevity of the estate, but will also provide new opportunities for interpretation and environmental education—a perfect chance to meld sustainability and historic stewardship. 8
ABOVE: The Grosse Pointe Shores estate of Edsel & Eleanor Ford ca. 1929. The period of significance used to inform the recommendations of the master planning effort is 1929-1943, the time frame in which both Eleanor and Edsel Ford occupied the estate with their four children. Image courtesy of Ford Family Archives.
Opportunities for a more robust interpretation of the estate’s historic assets (including the Jens Jensen-designed landscape as an essential component of the Ford House story) were recommended to expand educational programming, attract new visitors and further interpret Edsel Ford’s interest in preserving habitat and protecting the environment. The landscape’s preservation framework was developed by addressing the unique needs of its living material, which grow, change and senesce through time and therefore present different historic stewardship challenges than traditional building material. Additionally, as one of the largest open spaces of its kind in the urban, residential and regional context of Grosse Pointe and St. Clair Shores, the estate offers unparalleled, public access and exposure to woodlands and the waterfront of Lake St. Clair while providing novel upland and wetland habitat opportunities within the region and Great Lakes system. For more information contact: Paul Evanoff, PLA, ASLA 734.669.2706 www.smithgroupjjr.com
Landscape Architect SmithGroupJJR Paul.Evanoff@smithgroupjjr.com
The Illustrative Master Plan represents the long-term vision for the Ford House. It is a compilation of the discovery findings, analysis and recommendations of the master planning effort and its goals include preserving and restoring the estate and Main House arrival areas, maximizing interpretive opportunities, enhancing the visitor experience and embracing sustainable practices that celebrate the legacy of the Ford Family. Image courtesy of SmithGroupJJR.
Honor Award [Landscape Architectural Sustainability]
WARREN TECHNICAL CENTER WALKING PATH Firm: PEA, Inc. Project Location: Warren, Michigan
The Warren Technical Center campus is home to 16,000 engineers, designers and technicians. This sustainable design project on the campus created a 1.4-mile walking path and native meadow on a site formerly devoted to a vehicular test track. The new pathway and meadow replaced the unused test track, which divided the two functioning areas of the campus and posed a blighted appearance in the property’s mid-section. The landscape architect worked with the client to develop the project scope, which focused on creating a new pathway; however, an abandoned test track occupied the site, and removing the concrete test track was cost prohibitive. The landscape architect and owner collaborated to develop an affordable, sustainable design solution that accomplished the project goal while creatively eliminating the test track and providing a natural landscape.
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ABOVE: The thoughtfully designed pathway geometry and landscape control views and enhance the user experience. Image courtesy of PEA, Inc.
The primary design challenge was how to remove the test track to make a pleasant setting for the walking path. The unique design solution involved cracking the existing pavement until a porous surface was created. Clean soil was then imported from other projects on the campus and used to bury the cracked pavement. New topography was created that buried the track anywhere from eight inches deep up to fifteen feet deep. Deep rooted meadow plants were established over the pavement in an effort to help further break up the concrete surface below and improve infiltration on the site. The natural landscape with undulating topography offers an attractive setting for the new pathway.
ABOVE: The concrete track was cracked to a specification that allows for sufficient infiltration to support drainage and plant growth once overlaid with topsoil. Image courtesy of PEA, Inc. LEFT TOP: Rainwater landing on a hardened surface results in runoff. LEFT BOTTOM: Organic material at the surface allows rainwater an opportunity to infiltrate the top layers of soil. The deep rooted meadow plants separate cracked concrete to continually improve infiltration over time. Image courtesy of PEA, Inc.
The pathway project eliminates the eyesore of the old test track, but more importantly provides a highly desirable and frequently used amenity. The project creatively utilized the available budget to introduce seventeen acres of natural landscape, eliminate seven acres of impervious surface and promote rain water infiltration. In addition, the project prevented over 67,500 cubic yards of waste from being sent to a landfill and eliminated the energy consumption associated with removing the waste. This renovation improved the social quality of the campus, reduced significant waste, conserved economic resources and enhanced the ecological quality of the site. For more information contact: Jeffrey T. Smith, LLA, ASLA 517.546.8583 www.peainc.com
Branch Manager / Landscape Architect PEA, Inc. jsmith@peainc.com 11
Merit Award [Historical Significance]
BAYFRONT PARK Firm: Beckett & Raeder, Inc. Project Location: Petoskey, Michigan
The Petoskey Bayfront improvements continue today with a recent expansion of the Petoskey City Marina. Image courtesy of Beckett & Raeder, Inc.
Bayfront Park in Petoskey, Michigan represents the transformation of a former industrial site into a regional gathering place that offers public access to 7,800 feet of shoreline on Little Traverse Bay. The community considers it a jewel of its park system, and its high-quality, well-maintained facilities substantially shape the city’s image and brand as a premiere resort destination.
prepare a master plan for development of Bayfront Park. Prepared by Beckett & Raeder, Inc., the plan called for a variety of leisure and active recreational uses, all related to a central promenade connecting the downtown “Gaslight” shopping district with the historic City Pier via a pedestrian tunnel under US-31. This plan was implemented in five phases over ten years, completed in 1995 at a cost of approximately $10,000,000.
Hosting vacant lumber processing facilities and rail yards, the waterfront was unorganized and under-developed. The infrastructure favored provisions for vehicles over pedestrians and park users. In addition, the park was physically separated from the adjacent downtown area by the US-31 bypass—a large storm drain pipe offered the only pedestrian connection between the business district and the waterfront.
Because the severe winter waterfront micro-climate of strong winds and lake ice in Petoskey can take its toll on waterfront structures, it was determined early that longevity of the park features would depend on the use of durable materials and thoughtful design detailing to resist the climatic forces. Concrete and metal were the predominant structural materials, and the bold metal pipe element used in park furnishings, arches, railings, and barriers was intended to be durable as well as recall similar elements in the waterfront’s historic industrial uses. As a testament to the success of the custom bench and trash receptacle furnishings, a national manufacturer subsequently introduced the design as the “Petoskey Series” and continues to market it to this day.
Fortunately, Petoskey city leaders and citizens recognized the public waterfront as one of their most important natural assets and an immense opportunity to increase tourism and economic development. In the early 1980s, the city received a Michigan Coastal Zone Management Grant to 12
Petoskey Bayfront Promenade shortly after completion in 1985 (note view to Coast Guard Navigational Marker). Images courtesy of Beckett & Raeder, Inc.
WAYFINDING Designed by Rick Reeder Toni Gasperoni Eastern/Northern Michigan 800.430.6206 x1318
Petoskey shoreline prior to the Bayfront improvements, viewing out to Coast Guard Navigational Marker and Historic City Pier (circa 1983). Images courtesy of Beckett & Raeder, Inc.
For more information contact: John Beckett, ASLA 734.663.2622 www.bria2.com
Landscape Architect Beckett & Raeder, Inc. beckett@bria2.com
tonig@landscapeforms.com Amanda Nawara Southwest Michigan 800.430.6206 x1320 amandan@landscapeforms.com
D E S I G N . C U LT U R E . C R A F T.
MICHIGAN ASLA 2014 PRESIDENT’S AWARD WINNERS DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE YEAR BILL SANDERS, ASLA Sanders & Czapski Associates • • • www.sanders-czapski.com This award recognizes the significant contribution Bill has made to the Society and profession through volunteerism and education. Bill has represented Michigan ASLA as the Government Affairs Chair since 2010 and in role of Vice President of Government Affairs since 2012. Bill has been a great leader, representing Michigan landscape architects in an extremely confident, competent manner. His service has been untiring, and we are proud to honor him. EMERGING PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR CAITLIN JACKSON, ASSOCIATE ASLA
Beckett & Raeder, Inc.
• • • • • •
www.bria2.com
This award celebrates a young landscape architect in the first ten years of their career for significant works of design or contributions to the profession. In addition to Caitlin’s contributions to the Chapter, she has been an integral part of the BRI design team on National park, state park, urban design, streetscape, and university projects. OUTSTANDING FIRM OF THE YEAR GRISSIM METZ ANDRIESE ASSOCIATES • • • www.gma-la.com Grissim Metz Andriese Associates, located in Northville, Michigan, is a nationally recognized leader in landscape architecture. In over 49 years they have acquired a long history of award winning work, including awards from Michigan ASLA and National ASLA. This award is presented to the firm for their continued outstanding design and support of our profession. HONOR AWARD STATE REPRESENTATIVE HUGH CRAWFORD 38th District • • • gophouse.org/representatives/southeast/crawford/ This award recognizes the significant support our Society and profession have received from Representative Hugh Crawford in the State of Michigan. Crawford currently serves as chair of the House Regulatory Reform Committee where he has been a great supporter of Landscape Architects in our state, including helping us to retain licensure. We thank Representative Crawford for his continued support of Michigan Landscape Architects. 14
DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD BILL SANDERS
OUTSTANDING FIRM OF THE YEAR AWARD
EMERGING PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD CAITLIN JACKSON
HONOR AWARD REPRESENTATIVE HUGH CRAWFORD
Shaping the Student Experience.
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2015 MICHIGAN ASLA OFFICERS AND STAFF
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President John McCann, ASLA
Associate at Large Lindsay Nelson, Associate ASLA
President Elect Clare Jagenow, ASLA
Treasurer Monica Schwanitz, ASLA
Immediate Past President SuLin Kotowicz, ASLA
Executive Director Derek Dalling
Trustee Vanessa Warren, ASLA VP of Marketing, Craig Hondorp, ASLA VP of Education Joane Slusky, ASLA VP of Government Affairs Bill Sanders, ASLA Secretary Christy Summers, ASLA Member at Large Andrew McDowell, ASLA
MSU Student Representatives Kim Dietzel, Student ASLA U of M Student Representatives Robert Primeau, Student ASLA Amy Motzny, Student ASLA SITES: Editor and Layout Andrew McDowell, ASLA andrew.mcdowell@smithgroupjjr.com Advertising Sales Joane Slusky, Associate ASLA joane@junosolutions.us
Want to get involved? MiASLA is always looking for chapter members to participate at a greater level. Please feel free to reach out to the Executive Committee members or visit michiganasla.org
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MICHIGAN CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIET Y OF LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTS
1000 W. St. Joseph Hwy., Suite 200 Lansing, MI 48915 www.michiganasla.org