Golden Environments By Arthur G. Beggs, ASLA, Peridian International, Inc. Historically, the visions and values of Southern California have fluctuated dramatically over the past forty-five years, propelling local land planning and design firms between seasonal tides of professional success. Yet, spurts of spectacular Golden State growth have helped to launch Newport Beach-based Peridian International, Inc. into an internationally respected status, strengthening its ability to react to the dynamic sunrises... and sunsets... of the industry. A firm belief in fostering close, personal working relationships with clients and allied professions has helped Peridian ensure responsiveness to its project requirements and coordination of its design and development effort. With four decades of professional experience behind it, the multi-disciplined firm offers a wide range of professional services related to land use analysis; industrial, commercial, community and urban planning; park and recreation planning and design; urban revitalization and design; and hotel and resort development. Established in 1951 Pasadena by Courtland Paul, FASLA, (who has recently retired from everyday activity but retains the title of Principal Emeritus) as Courtland Paul and Associates, the firm is now collectively owned by Rae Price, FASLA, Jerry Pearson, ASLA, and Gary Beggs, ASLA, who have each been with the firm for over thirty years. Whereas today's design portfolio encompasses a blend of hotels and resorts, golf course communities, affordable housing, commercial office parks, hospital and university projects, early work consisted largely of private, residential garden designs in the Pasadena/San Marino area. Notably, in the mid 1960's Courtland Paul, Arthur Beggs and Associates-- as it was then known-- established itself as the first landscape architectural firm to work with home-building companies, designing their model homes and sales complexes. Indeed, the tremendous growth and expansion of the Southern California suburbs represented a remarkable opportunity for Landscape Architects, as homebuilders sought to market their model homes by infusing them with imaginatively-designed gardens featuring swimming pools, shade structures, patio centers, large trees and instant lawn. Propelled by many new clients with multiple projects, Peridian's staff size increased dramatically from six to thirty in a two-year period. Unfortunately, a 1968 aerospace industry recession caused a slump in new home sales, which in turn negatively impacted Peridian. Realizing they had "all their eggs in one basket," the partners sought to diversify project types in order to eliminate total dependence on the vagaries of the housing industry; consequently, the firm aggressively pursued and entered three new project arenas-- retail shopping centers, commercial office buildings and city parks. The Age of the Environment dawned in the 1970's, initiating broader, more expansive design responsibilities-- land planning, community entrances, parks, greenbelts, recreation centers and street tree plans-- toward homebuilder clients. Many environmentally sensitive projects emerged from the establishment of the California Coastal Commission, the Clean Water Act, and other legislative entities. Principal Jerry Pearson acknowledges this increased concern for the environment by outlining how Peridian continues to "design for change" through regenerative studies, pollution mitigation projects and demonstration gardens. Sadly, another economic recession hit Southern California in 1974, and yet Peridian was fortunate to survive the downturn with a substantial amount of beautification planning for the Southern California Edison Company. This brief downturn was followed by seven years of prosperity featuring broadly diversified projects: high-profile, residential communities such as Raintree in Culver City, Woodbridge in Irvine, Coronado Shores in San Diego, and Big Canyon in Newport Beach, all complemented by public agency park work and several significant commercial projects in Century City. In 1977, a small Marriott Hotel project indirectly led to essentially all of Peridian's established hotel and resort work over the next nineteen years. The hotel's pleased owners, W.B. Johnson Properties of Atlanta, retained Peridian for conceptual design on many proposed projects throughout the United States-- Greenwich, CT, Newark, NJ, Atlanta, GA, and Long Boat Key, FL to name a few. W.B. Johnson eventually established The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in 1984, retaining Peridian to design fifteen of their hotels, twelve of which have been built. Meanwhile, Southern California's economic condition continued to affect turbulence in Peridian's history. A 1981-82 recession motivated the firm to phase out its Pasadena office and move everyone to its new headquarters in Irvine. Contrarily, the subsequent seven years were a time of unparalleled growth and expansion; the company doubled in size, establishing additional offices in Florida, San Diego, northern California and Singapore. Major, high-visibility projects were completed, a joint-venture firm in Mexico was established (and still exists), and a satellite office in Japan affiliated with Tokyo Landscape Architects was also initiated to assist with the substantial amount of projects being generated there. Late 1990 and 1991 saw yet another economic downturn, necessitating radical down-sizing. Subsequently in 1993, the "old" Peridian was completely phased out, and a "new" firm-- Peridian International, Inc.-- was formed to replace it and continue its work. Working closely with clients as problem solvers, staff members attempt to fully ascertain and understand client motivation prior to the design process. Each site is thoroughly inventoried and analyzed, incorporating natural features and existing plantings wherever possible. Land uses and plantings are selected in harmony with the existing topography; the form of the design may be totally driven by the location of strong natural features at one extreme, or it may derive its essence from a purely rational and analytical process. Moreover, Peridian considers its active involvement in the construction phase of each project-- a vast majority actually are constructed-- to be extremely important in ensuring the successful outcome of its projects. Heavy emphasis is placed upon the ability of the construction documents -- fifty percent of which are prepared on AutoCad 12--to fully depict the scope of the contractor's work. Striving to be universally respected and recognized for innovative design and completed projects, this firm continuously attempts to create "pleasant places for people." As principal Rae Price, FASLA, explains, "California is definitely not buffered from economic recessions, a fact that Peridian knows only too well... As we respond by becoming more disperse and diverse, we learn that [countries] all over the world strive for beauty and conveniences. Landscape Architects are certainly well-positioned to provide these services." Looking to the future with a combination of optimism, reality and caution, Peridian International Inc. plans to build upon its history of diversified experience to maintain and sustain its stature through a new generation. Slide Cutlines: 1. The horseshoe garden's vast lawn is used for weddings and other special occasions at The Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena. Principal Jerry Pearson and Peridian International, Inc. were charged with the extensive rebuilding and restoring the entire hotel to the delightful landscape of its original circa 1920's condition. 2. Peridian's distinctive flair for resort development is reflected in the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, the first coastal resort in Southern California in thirty years and the flagship resort hotel for the Ritz-Carlton chain. 3. Two wooden bridges and a major trail system span and encircle Woodbridge Village's man-made lakes. An early example of the current trend toward urban spread, Woodbridge Village is well-planned to satisfy every community need. 4. Xerox Center, Santa Ana 5. Warner Gateway (commercial center) Woodland Hills 6. The Citadel, City of Commerce (mixed use commercial center) 7. The Mirada Fountain, Rancho Mirage 8. Phase 1 of the Kilroy Airport Center master plan created a smart and substantial business environment within a kind of "outback area" amidst the Long Beach Airport runway, a car dealership and FAA requirements. 9. Lakewood Civic Center, Lakewood (government center) 10. Landscape Architects strived to accommodate both the business and resort appeal of The Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach by combining its corporate look with a tropical softness. 11.The main swimming area at the Marriott's Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Palm Desert lies on a small island. Visitors to this very exotic desert oasis may board a small boat in the lobby and sail from lagoons right out onto its golf course lakes. Staff Photos: 1. Reception area-- Anita Rubalcava, Bob McMahon, Gary Beggs 2. Design Review-- (seated) Gary Beggs, Jerry Pearson, Mark Schattinger; (standing) Bob McMahon, Rae Price, Anita Rubalcava, John Van Derhoof 3. Slow time at the office-- (along railing) Gary Beggs, Mark Schattinger, Steve Kellogg, Bob McMahon, Jerry Pearson, Ty Price, John Van Derhoof; (aboard ship) Rae Price General Captions to choose from: Principal Jerry Pearson, ASLA, describes Peridian's increased concern for the environment as almost "experimental in nature... yielding cutting-edge designs and solutions to environmental problems." Principal Jerry Pearson, ASLA, sees the future for Peridian as compact and controlled, keeping the firm "cozy" at fifteen to twenty staff members that can "concentrate on good design and take care of our clients."