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Case Studies: South Park Streetscape in Downtown Los Angeles and Monrovia Station Square Transit Village  
Two projects by Los Angeles-based firm AHBE Landscape Architects"?uthe award-winning South Park streetscape in downtown Los Angeles and the Monrovia Station Square Transit Village in the city of Monrovia"?userve as examples of how streetscapes and open spaces can reinvigorate an urban community. At both projects, AHBE provided design solutions that respond to the communities' growing desire for more engaging and sustainable living. The design solutions prioritize pedestrian safety to encourage activity, which in turn promotes neighborhood interaction. In keeping with AHBE's commitment to sustainable design, the streetscape designs at both projects use stormwater infiltration, among other sustainable strategies.   With the ultimate goal of creating a new sense of community, AHBE's streetscape design wraps around the block to encourage pedestrian activity around the area. The streetscape leaves space for outdoor seating for sidewalk cafes, and shaded benches to encourage lingering. Prioritizing pedestrian safety, AHBE included curb extensions, pedestrian lighting and crosswalks to increase pedestrian safety.   The streetscape design features planters specifically designed for stormwater infiltration and to handle a "10-year" rainstorm. During a storm, rainwater flowing from the street into the gutters is diverted into the infiltration planters via cuts in the curb, and percolates back into the ground. This system minimizes the amount of stormwater run-off into the city's system, cleans the water through a natural process and recharges the region's aquifers.  AHBE's open space design further reinforced the sense of community by creating several open space areas for the residents of the buildings. Each high-rise building includes an open courtyard space. Between the Evo and Luma buildings is a courtyard area that is open to the public during daylight hours. A rooftop outdoor living/seating/eating/cooking area is accessible to the residents of the Luma, Elleven and Evo buildings and features a pool deck and sky patio. The design of the streetscape and open spaces of the South Park project exemplifies the transformative effect that green building and landscape design can have on potentially static urban areas.  South Park Streetscape Team Developer: South Group Landscape Architects: AHBE Architects: Ankrom Moisan, GBD Architects, Thompson Vairoda & Assoc. Civil engineering: KPFF Benches: Victor Stanley, "City Sites' collection, model CBF-12 Bike racks: "Bola' Concrete coloring: Davis Colors Trash receptacles: Victor Stanley, "FC-12', Concourse Collection Tree grates, iron, square: Neenah Foundry _____________________  Monrovia Station Square Transit About 25 miles northeast of South Park, in Monrovia, California, AHBE designed a transit plaza and adjacent streetscapes for the Monrovia Station Square Transit Village along Los Angeles Metro's Foothill extension of the Gold Line rail system"?uone of six new Gold Line stations that opened in 2016. Along with being a station stop, the design encompasses nearly three acres of open space that provide the community with a venue for public events. The plaza features a wide promenade with curved seat walls beneath large oak trees. At one end of the plaza, linear granite fountains offer the subtle sound of spilling water for both appeal and noise reduction. More active features include an amphitheater and children's play area.  The 1.3 miles of adjacent streetscapes connecting to the station are also new, sustainable green streets that make the pedestrian connection to the station more inviting. Improvements include new paving and LED pedestrian lights. Suspended modular pavements below permeable pavers are also installed adjacent to the street trees to allow room for larger roots and consequently a larger shade canopy. Infiltration parkways built directly behind street curbs allow stormwater to flow from the street gutters into the infiltration planters before infiltrating into the ground. Through AHBE's strategic design of the streetscape and open spaces in downtown Los Angeles and Monrovia, two communities now benefit from a more integrated experience, whether they are residents of one of the high rises or of Monrovia. The successful implementation of sustainable landscape design strategies at both projects serve as a reminder of the great potential of multifunctional use for mixed-use developments and transit stations alike.  Monrovia Station Square Transit Village Streetscape Team Landscape Architects: AHBE + IBI Group Architects, Civil Engineering and Lighting & Signage: IBI Group Contractor: MS Construction Management Group Irrigation: Sweeney + Associates Benches: "Camber', black steel/ipe slats: Forms+Surfaces Drain grates 18" x 24" "Title Wave": Urban Accessories Litter receptacles: "Dispatch', Forms+Surfaces River cobbles: "Dos Rios'  Comment Box is loading comments...
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