J2 Design

Phoenix & Tucson, Arizona
by

USS Arizona Memorial Gardens; Scottsdale, AZ
The USS Arizona Memorial Gardens at Salt River is a nationally significant memorial honoring the sailors and Marines who served aboard the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This award-winning site features more than 1,500 illuminated commemorative columns that trace the ship's actual perimeter, with gaps representing those who survived. The memorial garden is inspired by the ship's mast and features pathways leading to flagpoles representing each branch of the U.S. military, along with engraved quotations from Pearl Harbor witnesses and a preserved USS Arizona relic. The memorial serves as a powerful place of remembrance, reflection, and education for visitors from across the country. Photo Credit: Chris Loomis

Scott Avenue Improvements; Tucson, AZ

 
Completed in 2009, the Scott Avenue Improvement Project was the first award-winning phase of Tucson's downtown revitalization effort. The roadway was narrowed to create wide, shaded sidewalks, gathering spaces, public art, and interpretive elements celebrating the area's rich history. Sustainable features include passive water harvesting, stormwater mitigation, recycled materials, native Sonoran Desert plantings, energy-efficient lighting, and solar-powered gateway features. As the first water-harvesting streetscape designed and implemented by the City of Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility, Scott Avenue established a new standard for sustainable urban design. Today, it serves as a vibrant community destination and a model for future transportation and streetscape projects throughout Tucson. Photo Credit: Erik Hinote

Frontier Family Park; Queen Creek, AZ
Frontier Family Park is an 85-acre award-winning destination park serving the residents of Queen Creek. The park incorporates innovative stormwater infrastructure, including flood-control conveyance systems and stormwater-harvesting bioswales. Signature amenities include a five-acre urban fishing lake, 24 pickleball courts, a six-field baseball complex, three multi-use sports fields, volleyball and basketball courts, and rentable shade pavilions and ramadas. The inclusive playground features a four-story play tower, a splash pad, a zip line, tunnels, shaded play areas, and ADA-accessible elements. Advanced lake management systems, energy-efficient LED sports lighting, and thoughtfully designed gathering spaces further enhance the visitor experience. See LASN's March 2026 Parks Issue for a full-length feature on Frontier Family Park. Photo Credit: Chris Lumis

Water Tower Plaza; Gilbert, AZ
The renovation of Gilbert's Water Tower Plaza transformed a historic landmark into a vibrant, multi-functional, award-winning gathering space within the Heritage District. The design blends historic character with modern amenities through unique architectural details, interactive water features, flexible event spaces, and dynamic lighting. Sustainability was a key focus, incorporating permeable pavers, underground stormwater storage, water-efficient landscaping, and recirculating water systems that reduce overall water consumption while supporting the urban tree canopy. Cultural preservation was also prioritized through the restoration of the historic adobe building and the retention of the beloved Granite Ball Water Feature. The revitalized plaza now serves as a year-round community destination. Photo Credit: Chris Loomis

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USS Arizona Memorial Gardens; Scottsdale, AZ
The USS Arizona Memorial Gardens at Salt River is a nationally significant memorial honoring the sailors and Marines who served aboard the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This award-winning site features more than 1,500 illuminated commemorative columns that trace the ship's actual perimeter, with gaps representing those who survived. The memorial garden is inspired by the ship's mast and features pathways leading to flagpoles representing each branch of the U.S. military, along with engraved quotations from Pearl Harbor witnesses and a preserved USS Arizona relic. The memorial serves as a powerful place of remembrance, reflection, and education for visitors from across the country. Photo Credit: Chris Loomis

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Scott Avenue Improvements; Tucson, AZ
Completed in 2009, the Scott Avenue Improvement Project was the first award-winning phase of Tucson's downtown revitalization effort. The roadway was narrowed to create wide, shaded sidewalks, gathering spaces, public art, and interpretive elements celebrating the area's rich history. Sustainable features include passive water harvesting, stormwater mitigation, recycled materials, native Sonoran Desert plantings, energy-efficient lighting, and solar-powered gateway features. As the first water-harvesting streetscape designed and implemented by the City of Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility, Scott Avenue established a new standard for sustainable urban design. Today, it serves as a vibrant community destination and a model for future transportation and streetscape projects throughout Tucson. Photo Credit: Erik Hinote

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Frontier Family Park; Queen Creek, AZ
Frontier Family Park is an 85-acre award-winning destination park serving the residents of Queen Creek. The park incorporates innovative stormwater infrastructure, including flood-control conveyance systems and stormwater-harvesting bioswales. Signature amenities include a five-acre urban fishing lake, 24 pickleball courts, a six-field baseball complex, three multi-use sports fields, volleyball and basketball courts, and rentable shade pavilions and ramadas. The inclusive playground features a four-story play tower, a splash pad, a zip line, tunnels, shaded play areas, and ADA-accessible elements. Advanced lake management systems, energy-efficient LED sports lighting, and thoughtfully designed gathering spaces further enhance the visitor experience. See LASN's March 2026 Parks Issue for a full-length feature on Frontier Family Park. Photo Credit: Chris Lumis

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Water Tower Plaza; Gilbert, AZ
The renovation of Gilbert's Water Tower Plaza transformed a historic landmark into a vibrant, multi-functional, award-winning gathering space within the Heritage District. The design blends historic character with modern amenities through unique architectural details, interactive water features, flexible event spaces, and dynamic lighting. Sustainability was a key focus, incorporating permeable pavers, underground stormwater storage, water-efficient landscaping, and recirculating water systems that reduce overall water consumption while supporting the urban tree canopy. Cultural preservation was also prioritized through the restoration of the historic adobe building and the retention of the beloved Granite Ball Water Feature. The revitalized plaza now serves as a year-round community destination. Photo Credit: Chris Loomis

J2 Design (J2) was founded in 2002 in Phoenix, Arizona, on the principles of innovation, integrity, and design excellence. Led by managing partners Jeffrey Velasquez, PLA; Aaron Allan, PLA; and Jason Touchin, PE, J2 provides expertise in landscape architecture, water resources engineering, and civil engineering. In the spring of 2025, the office of Wheat Design Group of Tucson joined the J2 family. For more than two decades, J2 has delivered landmark, resilient placemaking projects for its clientele. The staff is committed to delivering destination projects on time, on budget, and with award-winning results. J2's services include civil engineering, water resources engineering, park, recreation and open space design, master planning, urban design and downtown redevelopment, trail systems, environmental restoration, irrigation and lake systems, and municipal facilities. Supported by a team of 38 technical, design, and administrative professionals, J2 offers flexibility and expertise to successfully deliver a wide range of project types.
Employees: PLAs (9), Principals (3); Total (38)
Software used: AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Microstation, Inroads, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office Suite, Arcview, HecRas, Flow2D, Lumion 3D, D5 Rendering Software

As seen in LASN magazine, August 2026.