A play structure and game court flank the shaded gathering area to the north and south. Logan Simpson Design provided pro bono design for Escobedo at Verde Vista, an affordable housing development in downtown Mesa, Ariz.
Photos Courtesy of Logan Simpson Design

Logan Simpson Design's landscape architects provided pro bono design and helped with the construction administration and installation for Escobedo at Verde Vista, Valley Partnership's community project.

This 70-unit affordable housing development in downtown Mesa, Ariz., is part of a multiphase $29 million public-private partnership project. Families eligible for this rental community earn between 40 and 60 percent of the county median income, which is between $18,600 and $46,260.

The design included an entry portal, establishing a new threshold to the site. This was key to providing a flexible space for events and outdoor activities. It also offered a shaded play area showcasing youth-painted tiles that commemorated donor contributions.

Affordable Housing
The multiuse development provided affordable housing with on-site day care/after school programs, computer lab, gym, and a restored 1940s housing unit that will serve as a museum that recalls the community's post-war history.

This 10-acre site housed African-American, British and U.S. Air Force pilots during World War II. After the war ended, the development was converted into segregated public housing for minority households living in poverty. It was desegregated in the 1960s and later vacated and boarded up in 2007 and 2008.

Pro Bono Design Work
Logan Simpson donated more than 300 hours to design the outdoor spaces. Raised planters, planted with accent and edible plants, provide enclosure and opportunities for education. Beyond the programmed space, mature shade trees were protected during construction. A flood-irrigated lawn area offers a park-like setting for community use.

Logan Simpson Design provides environmental and landscape architectural services for a wide range of projects throughout the Southwest and Intermountain West. Valley Partnership is an advocacy group for responsible development. Each year, Valley Partnership selects a nonprofit organization that can benefit from the skills, efforts, and supplies provided by their partners to renovate and enhance facilities for children and those in need.

Story Ideas?
If you have a project where landscape architectural design services were provided pro bono, you can submit your Stewardship proposal to: stewardship@landscapearchitect.com or call Larry Shield at (714) 979-5276 x125.