Landscape Architect Articles

A Vivid Landscape Element in the Heart of the Spokane Arts and Entertainment District,08-03-16 | News

A Vivid Landscape Element in the Heart of the Spokane Arts and Entertainment District
Landscape Architecture by Land Expressions

Spokane Washington's INB Performing Arts Center on busy downtown W. Spokane Falls Blvd., needed a new arrival experience for the hundreds of attendees who gather in front of the center. The only space for the arrival feature was a 10-ft. by 201-ft. median between the street and the drop off area, which would require a safety barrier. Land Expressions conceived of 4'6" tall, 750-lbs. custom metal planters with 40" freestanding metal pickets as the safety barrier.

Color, big bold color was used to create a dramatic and playful new landmark in downtown Spokane, Washington. A long row of planters, many over four feet tall, painted in bright eye popping colors can't be missed when driving W. Spokane Falls Blvd., the busiest downtown street in the city.

Spokane's INB Performing Arts Center needed a fresh new arrival experience appropriate for the city's bustling Arts and Entertainment District. When the client saw the concepts presented by Land Expressions, a landscape architecture firm based in Mead, Wash., they immediately approved, knowing that the strong statement is exactly what was needed in that spot.

The INB Center and the new Davenport Grand Hotel across the street are both stark black and white and cast deep shadows. The large colorful planters bring a feeling of sun and cheer, especially in the long winter months. The requirements for the design were few but inflexible. The only available land for the new feature was limited to the 201' long median between the street and the drop off area. It is 10 feet wide, including a 4-foot sidewalk. Because hundreds of people gather for events in front of the INB Center on busy W. Spokane Falls Blvd., this area is required to have a safety barrier. The heavily constrained space challenged the landscape architecture team. Land Expressions' concept of using huge custom-made metal planters was an ideal solution. The 4'6" tall planters, along with smaller planters and 40" freestanding metal pickets between, create a substantial safety barrier. The size and bright colors made for a vivid and artistic element in the cityscape. Additional planters were used elsewhere on the grounds for continuity. The colorful contrasting plant material was carefully selected to further brighten and complement the bright planters, and to be tough enough for roadway conditions and tolerant of the heavy shade created by the adjacent buildings.

The planters were custom made by Star Steel, a local structural metal company. Made of 3/16" steel, folded with only one seam, the large planters weighed 750 pounds each. Land Expressions installed them with their crane truck. Tabs for a chain hook-up were welded inside each planter, along with brackets to strengthen the sides. A strip of steel 3 inches wide was welded at the top to make the planters appear to have double wall thickness. Rather than powder coating, the exterior was painted for ease of repair, touch up and graffiti cleanup. Foam was installed inside of two walls to alleviate pressure from freezing expansion of the soil. The fence pickets are 2x4 tubular steel, attached to a concrete footing one foot below grade. The planters rest on compacted crushed stone.

Small shade tolerant trees were chosen for the largest planters. Other than the Japanese tree lilacs (Syringa reticulata) and Galiean Kousa dogwood, the plant material is mostly evergreen for winter, but also flowering and with bright foliage. Fire Witch dianthus, evergreen Candytuft, and Blue Oat grass are very showy but also evergreen. The reddish-orange foliage of the Admiration barberry with the Blue Oat make a great combination, with Karl Foerster grass and Franklin's Gem boxwood added for height. It is a simple plant palette, but together make a strong composition.

As seen in LASN magazine, August 2016.