Miller Company Landscape Architects, Inc.
San Francisco, California
Established in 1979, Miller Company Landscape Architects is recognized locally and nationally as a leader in sustainable and natural design solutions for open spaces. We offer a continuum of services including Master Planning, Site-Specific Design, Construction Documentation, and on-site technical assistance during construction. Our diverse design staff of ten is experienced and creative, offering their focused attention to coordinate with fellow professional team members. We are committed to the idea that expressive, engaging environments are born in a collaborative process. Miller Company fosters the creation of sustainable landscapes in all of our projects. We invest the time to consider the ever-evolving palette of sustainable construction materials and techniques available to the industry and apply them wherever appropriate.
Hilltop "Sundial" Park,
San Francisco, CA
Set atop San Francisco's Bayview Hill, this park was originally designed in 1979. It features a 70-foot tall sundial and amphitheater created by artist Jaques Overhoff. Over the years, the park fell into disrepair. The Trust for Public Land, Bay View neighborhood park advocacy group Parks 94124, and Miller Company held large scale community meetings and small focus group gatherings to discuss the needs of the neighborhood and bring new ideas to the table. Completed in 2016, the park now includes a large children's playground with a colorful celestial theme, offering climbing equipment, slides, swings, and natural boulders to climb on as well as a state-of-the-art skatepark. Other improvements include new telescopes for viewing the cityscape, a large turf field area near the restored sundial, art installations, an adult exercise area, picnic and barbecue facilities, new park lighting, and sustainable planting features.
Opera Warehouse - Avalon Dogpatch,
San Francisco, CA
Above: Avalon Opera Warehouse is a 325-unit multi-family community in San Francisco's 'Dogpatch' neighborhood. Miller Company united three buildings with several uniquely designed interior courtyards which provide respite from the bustle of the city. Features include layered plantings, multiple outdoor dining areas, exercise, bike repair, and dog washing stations, and access to extensive roof decks which offer views toward the bay. Within this setting, stormwater is managed in the landscape through a series of green roofs, infiltration planters, and a cistern located in the garage to supply the irrigation. We have developed a streetscape that breaks down the length of the block to encourage slower driving and creates a lively sidewalk experience. Head in parking was replaced with a combination of back-in angle parking and parallel parking to improve safety, in particular for the bikers who use the shared street. Three public plazas mark the lobby entries of the buildings. Seating, bike racks, lighting, and a variety of paving materials enrich the public right-of-way.
Sherman Elementary School - SFUSD
San Francisco, CA
Right: Miller Company has created green schoolyards for over 35 elementary and middle schools in the San Francisco Unified School District. These natural outdoor learning environments transform not only the school grounds but the school communities as well. We began our work with the SFUSD in 2006 at Sherman Elementary School. In a major feature at this site, we used Sierra granite boulders to create a riparian area with a hillside waterfall, the only one of its kind at a San Francisco schoolyard. The project includes edible and native plant gardens, pollinator habitats, several outdoor classrooms, and a network of pathways.
