The Hardscapes Issue of Landscape Architect & Specifier News saw many firms submit their projects for feature consideration. This project was not chosen for a Feature in the issue, but we at LandscapeArchitect.com thought the project deserved to be showcased online . . .

 
The project involved expanding De Leon Plaza by permanently removing the street along the north end of this historic downtown square. The area of the former road was redesigned and repurposed as plaza space to support a growing list of downtown festivals, concerts, and events that the City of Victoria hosts. The plaza also included the design of a new, state-of-the-art, outdoor performance pavilion and public restroom building. The restroom building was also designed to have a shade canopy and caf?(C) seating areas flanked by a subtle water feature. Provisions for vehicles, such as food trucks, to enter the plaza on festival days was achieved by utilizing mechanically actuated, stainless-steel bollards on either end of the plaza. Integrated power pedestals were also included so food trucks would not need to run on generator power during performance events. The plaza is also now home to a bronze statuary of the city's founder, Mart?-n de Le??n, with a low, circular wall and bronze lettering bearing his name. In the backdrop of the installation is an existing historically listed monument dedicated to the 6 nations whose flags have flown over the city during its history. The statuary was recently dedicated at the city's bi-centennial celebration.

The plaza features the use of reclaimed clay pavers throughout. Other pavements within the plaza are colored concrete, with a saw cut running bond pattern. All colored concrete was treated with a surface retarder to give a subtle etched appearance. Low masonry walls and raised planters utilized brick masonry and cast stone to match the finishes of a historically listed property adjacent to the plaza.

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