Landscape Architect Articles

Double Down07-12-16 | Feature

Double Down

Land Expressions, a firm located in Spokane, Wash., designed and built two water features at two different locations. This one, the Gresham Children's Fountain at the Gresham Arts Plaza, Gresham, Ore., involves two splash pads that brought new life to a previously rundown city center plaza.

The two splash pads differ in size and intent: one is 42'8" in diameter and the other has a 51'6" diameter; one was created for younger children with their parents and the other for older children. Since both use recirculating water, an extensive filtration system was required and includes four sand filters, four UV lights, and a chemical injection system. In addition to the splash pads, Land Expressions installed two fabric shade structures – there had been no shade in the plaza prior to this.

At night, a series of color changing RGB LEDs creates a light show on the splash pads. There are eight different choreographed "routines" that the jets "perform," reaching up to 14' in the air. The splash pads run at about 300 gallons per minute.

Of the six months Land Expressions had from contract to grand opening, more than three of those went into planning the mechanical, electrical and plumbing. After that, the structural fill and concrete elements were placed, with the added challenge of large equipment in a small space. Each spray fixture required four pipes: one for supply, one for drainage, and two conduits. Underground, a surge tank can hold 8,000 gallons. A nearby two-story building holds the control systems for the splash pads. After completion of the MEP, a crane was brought in to help place the concrete elements and the structural fill. The softscape, shade structures, and site furnishings were installed last.

Land Expressions is a landscape architecture and contractor firm headquartered in Spokane, Wash. Founded in 1987, the team focuses on collaboration to get the job done efficiently, whether their client is a homeowner, a commercial building owner or a developer.

When choosing projects to feature in this issue, we were so impressed with the projects Land Expressions submitted to us that we knew we could not feature just one - we had to include both. We still got more than we bargained for, with double the features in double the projects.

Gresham Children's Fountain
Called in to renovate an existing art plaza, Land Expressions designed and built two splash pads at the Gresham Children's Fountain in Gresham, Ore. The new plaza was to be a multi-use space: splash pads by day and choreographed water and light show by night, with space for vendor tents, music, events and even vehicles.

The first step was to demolish the existing rundown plaza, and excavate space for the three needed vaults. Subgrade structures were then placed: a pump pit, surge tank, and access for bypass from a sanitary sewer to a stormwater system.

The mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) took more than half of the project's six month timeline. The technical mapping included placement of four pipes for each spray fixture (supply, drain, and two conduits); extensive surveying, as the concrete slopes in two directions and each fixture had to be dialed in horizontally and vertically; pulling all wire; and placing all cast-in-place fixtures. The structural fill came next, followed by the use of a crane to place the concrete elements. Finally, the softscape, shade structures and site furnishings were installed.

The splash pads, 42'8" and 51'6" diameters, were designed with different age groups in mind. While both are open within the space, one is aimed at younger children playing with their parents and the other is geared towards older children playing independently and with one another.

At the Pyrotek corporate headquarters in Spokane, Wash., Land Expressions designed and built two courtyard spaces with recirculating fountains in each. This space, the 45' x 20' east courtyard, is used by employees and visitors.

One of the main challenges in constructing the spaces was that each of the courtyards is 20' below the main sidewalk. The lack of space required all materials and equipment, including a mini excavator, to be lowered over a safety wall on the sidewalk and down into the space. A crane was brought in twice and a crane truck was brought in four times to assist with this process. Each time, the major downtown street above had to be closed. This photo shows the east courtyard during construction.

The first step in constructing the courtyards was demolition of the existing space, followed by drainage and the mechanical, electrical and plumbing. The completed stainless steel water feature in the east courtyard, which was installed after the hardscapes, has water flowing in two different directions. A plate in the middle of the feature, nearly invisible, divides the water. One side flows at 200 gallons per minute and the other flows at 60 gallons per minute. Both share one external basin, so the water quality is the same on either side.

The jets can reach up to 14' tall, and both splash pads run at about 300 gallons per minute using recirculating water. An extensive filtration system was put in place to meet health department standards, including four sand filters and four UV lights with a chemical injection system of acid and chlorine.

There were several challenges that Land Expressions encountered with this project. The shorter timeframe, six months from contract to grand opening, was just the beginning. Three and a half months were required for the MEP – which also required huge amounts of equipment in a very small space, constrained by existing structures. Additionally, the team had to dig a well below the grade of the vaults so they could install a pump to drain water to the city's sanitary system.

In spite of the challenges that arose, Land Expressions worked as a team to create the splash pads in time for the plaza's grand opening on the Fourth of July, 2014. The new Children's Fountain brought fun energy and an active community to the city's downtown, creating a multi-use gathering space for both children and adults.

Pyrotek Headquarters Courtyards
When Pyrotek Corporation relocated its headquarters to downtown Spokane, they hired Land Expressions to design and build two outdoor spaces for employees and visitors to enjoy. The catch? Both are located below street level, a full story below the city sidewalk.

Both sites were custom designed with the intention that if they were viewed together, they would appear related. (In fact, at first glance, we at LC/DBM didn't realize there were two separate spaces – we thought it was one courtyard.) The east and north courtyards were worked on simultaneously over the course of five months.

A mini excavator was lowered 20' down from street level to assist with the construction process; in fact, all of the equipment and materials had to be lowered over a safety wall at street level into the spaces. A crane was needed twice and a crane truck was needed four times, requiring the shutdown of the major downtown streets above the courtyards each time.

The work on each courtyard began with the demolition of the existing space. The MEP and drainage were designed next, and cast in place waterproof concrete installed, using water stops and cold joints instead of a liner. Following that, the hardscapes were laid, including decking, concrete flatwork, and pavers placed on a pedestal system. The stainless steel water feature was completed next, and finally, the softscape was installed.

The stainless steel basin water feature in the east courtyard flows in two different directions. A thin plate was carefully placed in the center of the feature to divide the water. The plate was positioned so it would be nearly invisible. One end flows at 200 gallons per minute while the other flows at 60 gallons per minute. Both go into one basin, ensuring the water quality remains the same.

The water feature in the north courtyard is made of concrete, and flows at 60 gallons per minute from the upper basin into the lower basin. The lower basin divides two seating areas within the 60' x 20' space, creating places for separate groups to gather.

The north Pyrotek courtyard is a slightly larger space, at 60' x 20'. Being below street level but open to the outside presented more problems than just getting the materials to the space: work began in January, and carried on even when temperatures dropped to the teens.

The concrete water feature in the north courtyard flows at 60 gallons per minute from the upper tier to the lower tier. The feature was strategically placed to divide the space and allow for individual groups to gather. The project as a whole won a 2015 Merit Award of Excellence from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Solid bedrock prevented the use of any below grade space for drainage, water storage, and mechanical vaults. The installation of pavers on pedestals helped solve the drainage problem, after which the concrete feature could be installed. The mechanical components for the water features were housed inside the building.

Like the Gresham fountain, several challenges arose with the Pyrotek courtyards. Solid bedrock prevented the use of below grade space for drainage, water storage and mechanical vaults. The mechanical components for both were placed inside the building, and the paving was elevated with pedestals to assist with drainage. Additionally, the weather caused problems. The project was started in January, and work continued even when temperatures dropped into the teens.

The National Association of Landscape Professionals presented Land Expressions a Merit Award of Excellence in 2015 for the two Pyrotek courtyards.

As seen in LC/DBM magazine, July 2016.