DESIGN PORTFOLIO
CONTENTS
1. RESUME
2. COLLABORATIVE DESIGN
PROJECT TRANSITIONS
3. PROJECT MANAGEMENT
DELL CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER
HEROES MEMORIAL PARK
4. INSTALLATION ART
LOST CASTS
SKYLINE GALLERY
TONI TOSCANO
EXPERIENCE
Project Manager & Landscape Designer
Plural - San Francisco, CA - 2021 to present
• Currently co-managing the multi-phase permitting, design, documentation, and construction of the Eames Institute in Sonoma County.
• Successfully delivering high quality work to a client with a keen eye for design and an aggressively paced schedule.
Project Manager & Landscape Designer
Nudge Design - Austin, TX - 2018 to 2021
E: tonittoscano@gmail.com
P: 530.391.7855
L: linkedin.com/in/toni-toscano
• Assisted with and/or managed 3-5 projects simultaneously at various stages of project schedule - city permitting, design development, construction documentation and construction observation.
• Managed the design and construction of three ¼ acre courtyards at the new Dell Children’s Hospital Specialty Pavilion. Prioritized a wide array of desired uses within the design - child-scale landscapes, restorative space for staff, and sophisticated flex space for hospital events.
• Collaborated with 8+ consultants to produce construction documents for Heroes Memorial Park in Kyle, TX. Managed the design and detailing of key features that honor veterans and first responders of Hayes County. Park opened on 9/11/22 and is deeply beloved by the community.
Artist/Finalist - AIA Design Shine Competition 2019
Umlauf Sculpture Garden | Austin, TX
• Selected as one of three finalists teams to design, construct and install an interactive temporary art instillation. Worked in collaboration with teammate Alex Krippner. Exhibition ran for 6 months.
EDUCATION
Masters of City Planning, concentration in Urban Design
University of California, Berkeley - 2015
Bachelors of Science in Landscape Architecture
University of California, Davis - 2013
PROJECT TRANSITIONS
Project: Project Transitions
Role: Project Manager
Firm: Nudge Design
Principal: Brian Ott
Location: Austin, TX
SUN/SHADE ANALYSIS
Every project starts with a sun/shade analysis on the hottest and coldest day of the year. In Texas, this is essential to understanding how people are going to inhabit the space and helps us get an early idea of plant palettes.
I believe in a collaborative design process and I rely on the collective knowledge and intuition of the designers around me.
One of the practices I learned during my time a Nudge was the “Timebox” exercise. At the beginning of schematic design, the project manager gives a brief overview of the project goals and then everyone draws three different design alternatives in 20 minutes. The results reveal patterns between our sketches - or what I like to call our “collective design intuition.” It also produces new ideas and sparks meaningful conversation. This is an exercise that I hope to bring with me to every future job.
Below is an example of the Timebox exercise for a housing project with Project Transitions, an organization providing transitional housing for individuals with HIV.
A few of the important factors we had to consider in this design were:
• security
• a mix of communal gathering spaces and quiet contemplative spaces,
• comfortable pathway materials - many individuals with HIV experience pain in the soles of their feet.
AUGUST 5TH - HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR JANUARY 6TH - COLDEST DAY OF THE YEAR 9 AM 9 AM 12 PM 12 PM 3 PM 3 PM 6 PM 6 PM AUGUST 5TH - HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR JANUARY 6TH - COLDEST DAY OF THE YEAR 9 AM 9 AM 12 PM 12 PM 3 PM 3 PM 6 PM 6 PM
TIMEBOX SKETCHES
12 concepts in 20 minutes!
SCHEMATIC DESIGN ALTERNATIVES
Organized the common themes between sketches (i.e. our collective design intuition) into alternate concepts to present to the client.
DELL CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER
Role: Project Manager
Firm: Nudge Design
Principal: Brian Ott
Location: Austin, TX
Visitor Courtyard
The Specialty Pavilion is one of Dell Children’s latest expansion projects housing cardiovascular, neurosciences, fetal care and cancer programs. Nudge Design’s scope included the design and documentation of the surrounding streetscape and three courtyard spaces. I acted as project manager from initial schematic design through construction observation.
The visitor courtyard, highlighted here, is the main courtyard visitors (i.e. children and families of children receiving treatment) interact with when coming to the Specialty Pavilion. Therefore the viewpoint of a child was an important consideration when designing the space. We wanted the space to feel immersive to children and provide an opportunity to connect with nature and escape into a landscape full of fun textures, colors and pollinator attracting plants.
Section studying the sense of enclosure created by the grade change, rock features, and tall plantings
Initial sketches of the rock wall. The design evolved once we started collaborating with contractors and investigating the quarry’s available inventory.
LOBBY/WAITING ROOM limestone seat-wall features viewing garden viewing garden swale bound aggregate paving loading zone loading/drop off lawn lawn lawn existing tree 2020 existing tree 2023 existing tree 2019 relocated tree relocated tree relocated tree relocated tree relocated tree relocated tree relocated tree relocated tree mounded garden
scale: 1”
The main rock wall feature is inspired by the naturally occurring limestone ledges of the Texas Hill Country. We worked with the general contractor, landscape contractor, and stone supplier to select stones well suited for the application. This required the flexibility to pivot the design based on stone availability and constructability.
HEROES MEMORIAL PARK
Role: Project Designer
Firm: Nudge Design
Principal: Philip Koske
Location: Kyle, TX
The concept for Heroes Memorial Park began as a modest veteran’s memorial, but after funding was secured the scope grew into a much larger community park. Nudge Design acted as prime consultant on the project - we were tasked with conducting public outreach efforts, design documentation, and construction observation. My role was both project designer and project manager for various portions of the project.
I co-lead outreach efforts with the local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter, fire and police departments. We listened to and documented stories from local veterans. The overwhelming narrative we heard was the desire for a space to honor the sacrifices veterans made and a way to communicate that story to younger generations.
I begin unique and complex details as sketches. I built three options for this waterwall in Sketchup to discuss with the client and to use as a tool in discussions with the structural engineer, Coldspring Granite, and our water design consultant.
WALL OPTION B PANELS -FINSH/TEXTURE CAN VARY THROUGHOUT 2 LD1.10 1' LD1.13 WATER WALL SECTION X LDX.XX TILED RETURN AND WING WALL X LDX.XX TILED RETURN AND WING WALL 2'-6" CONCRETE CORE OF WALL PER STRUCTURAL 2" MIN AIR GAP 3.7 GRANITE PANEL; TYP BASIN CURB AND STONE BAND WET BASIN; REF WATER FEATURES PLANS TOP BASIN; REF WATER FEATURES PLANS WALL CAP STONE VENEER; TYP 3'-0 1/2" 6" 6" 6" 1' 1'-7 3/4" 3'-6 1/4" 3'-6 5/16" 1' X LDX.XX TILED RETURN AND WING WALL QUIRK MITER JOINT 2'-8" 3'-0 1/2" 2'-2 1/2" 2'-6" 2'-2 1/2" 2'-6" 2 LD1.11 WATER WALL STONE PANELS 3'-0 5/8" 4" NOTCH CONCRETE CORE OF WALL AT WING WALL EDGE OF CONCRETE STRUCTURE, REF STRUCTURAL 2" 2" 2" STEEL ANGLE TO COVER AIR GAP AND CREATE SURFACE TO TILE OVER SILICON JOINT 1/8" 2'-6 1/2" 1/8" 2'-6 1/4" 2'-6 1/4" WEIR STONE; TYP SILICON JOINTS X LD1.X 6" 1:9 2'-6 1/4" 2'-6 1/8" 2'-6 1/16" 2'-6" 4' 2'-8" 2'-2 5/8" 1:9 1 1/2" 1 1/2" 3 1/2" 2" 3" WING WALL (SHOWN IN FRONT) INCREASE SIZE OF STONE PANELS TO MAINTAIN A " JOINT BETWEEN SECTIONS ALONG FACE OF WATER WALL BASIN CURB (SHOWN IN FRONT) SUPPORT GRATE SYSTEM PER WF FOUNTAIN BASIN AGGREGATE LINE WING WALL (SHOWN BEYOND) FOUNTAIN BASIN AGGREGATE 1/2" SUPPORT GRATE SYSTEM PER WF WEIR STONE; TYP 8 3/4" 9 1/8" 2 1/2" 3/4" R1" X LDX.XX WATER WALL TIER 1 X LDX.XX WATER WALL TIER 2 X LDX.XX WATER WALL TIER 3 X LDX.XX WATER WALL TIER 1 X LDX.XX WATER WALL TIER 2 X LDX.XX WATER WALL TIER 3 Date Issued: Revisions: Sheet Title: Sheet Number: HEROES MEMORIAL PARK KYLE, TX 90% Construction Documentation Project Number: www.nudgedesign.com December 18, 2020 20-002 FOR REVIEW ONLY. Not for regulatory approval, permitting or construction. 12 18 20 Philip Koske, #2641 SITEWORK DETAILS Scale: 1/2"= 1'-0" WATER WALL PLAN 1 Scale: 1/2"= 1'-0" WATER WALL STONE PANELS ELEVATION & SECTION 2 LD 1.11 2 LD1.10 2 LD1.13 WATER WALL SECTION X LDX.XX TILED RETURN AND WING WALL X LDX.XX TILED RETURN AND WING WALL 2'-6" CONCRETE CORE OF WALL PER STRUCTURAL 2" MIN AIR GAP 3.7 GRANITE PANEL; TYP BASIN CURB AND STONE BAND WET BASIN; REF WATER FEATURES PLANS TOP BASIN; REF WATER FEATURES PLANS 3.9 WALL CAP STONE VENEER; TYP 3'-0 1/2" 4 SILICON JOINTS 6" 6" 6" 1' 1'-7 3/4" 3'-6 1/4" 3'-6 5/16" 1' X LDX.XX TILED RETURN AND WING WALL QUIRK MITER JOINT 2'-8" 3'-0 1/2" 2'-2 1/2" 2'-6" 2'-2 1/2" 2'-6" 2 LD1.11 WATER WALL STONE PANELS 3'-0 5/8" 4" NOTCH CONCRETE CORE OF WALL AT WING WALL EDGE OF CONCRETE STRUCTURE, REF STRUCTURAL 2" 2" 2" STEEL ANGLE TO COVER SURFACE TO TILE OVER SILICON JOINT 9 1/8" 2'-6 1/2" 1/8" 2'-6 1/4" 2'-6 1/4" 3.10 WEIR STONE; TYP 1 SILICON JOINTS X LD1.X 6" 1:9 2'-6 1/4" 2'-6 1/8" 2'-6 1/16" 2'-6" 4' 2'-8" 2'-2 5/8" 1:9 1 1/2" 1 1/2" 3 1/2" 5 1/16" 2" 3" WING WALL (SHOWN IN FRONT) INCREASE SIZE OF STONE PANELS TO MAINTAIN A JOINT BETWEEN SECTIONS ALONG FACE OF WATER WALL BASIN CURB (SHOWN IN FRONT) WING WALL (SHOWN BEYOND) FOUNTAIN BASIN 3 1/2" 3.10 WEIR STONE; TYP 8 3/4" 9 1/8" 2 1/2" 2 3/4" R1" X LDX.XX WATER WALL TIER 1 X LDX.XX WATER WALL TIER 2 X LDX.XX WATER WALL TIER 3 X LDX.XX WATER WALL TIER 1 X LDX.XX WATER WALL TIER 2 X LDX.XX WATER WALL TIER 3 Date Issued: Revisions: HEROES MEMORIAL PARK KYLE, TX 90% Construction Documentation Project Number: www.nudgedesign.com December 18, 2020 20-002 FOR REVIEW ONLY. Not for regulatory approval, permitting or construction. 12 18 20 Philip Koske, #2641 Scale: 1/2"= 1'-0" WATER WALL PLAN 1
WATER
The honor wall and water wall features are one of the ways we memorialized veteran’s stories through the design. I worked closely with our experiential branding designer, structural engineers, stone supplies and fountain consultants to coordinate the design and detailing of this prominent feature in the design.
LOST CASTS
Role: Designer/Builder
Competition: AIA Design Shine Competition
Location: Umlauf Sculpture Garden, Austin, TX
Lost Casts was an art instillation designed and constructed as part of the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and AIA Austin’s Design Shine competition, 2019. My partner Alexandra Krippner and I were one of three teams selected to build a sculpture within the garden.
Lost Casts draws upon the history of the land where the Umlauf Sculpture Garden now stands. Decades prior to the presence of Charles Umlauf’s family home, the site was utilized by soldiers during WWII to practice their fly casting in the small ponds.
Anglers must, like an artist or sculptor, be close observers of nature in order to successfully practice their art. Through tracing the fly-casting lines with luminous arcs, Lost Casts delicately highlights the first type of casting performed on this site - to be followed decades later by an entirely different type of casting, Charles Umlauf’s lost wax method of casting his sculptures.
These almost ghostly reflections of the past swoop through tree canopies and around sculptures framing different views as one walked around the pond.
SKYLINE GALLERY
Show: Skyline Virtual Outdoor Gallery
Dates: November 14-22 2020
Location: Austin, TX
The Skyline Virtual Gallery ran as part of the annual Austin Studio Tour. Guests could visit it through a self-guided outdoor virtual gallery or through an online gallery experience.
I published the gallery map below which took viewers on a bit of a scavenger hunt around Lady Bird Lake to look for the gallery QR codes (see right). Once scanned the QR code would open an online gallery of photos taken from that specific location (see images on next page).
This series was born out of the pandemic. Began taking long walks with my camera as an outlet for my anxious energy. Through my lens I started to see my immediate surroundings differently. Some days I would appreciate the details I never noticed before, and other days I felt suffocated by the monotony. I poured my emotions into these photographs as I searched for an escape within a newly confined world.
