In a majestic canyon near the town of Ivins, Utah, a campus of impressive concept and design sits in an amazing setting. This is Tuacahn, Canyon of the Gods. Born from the inspiration and vision of two men, Playwright Doug Stewart and Philanthropist Hyrom Smith, it was meant to become a mecca for the arts, with a grand outdoor amphitheater for state-of-the-art musical dramas. The campus is surrounded by a complex of buildings used as studios and classrooms for dance, drama, music and fine arts. The site became the first chartered High School for the Arts in Southern Utah, having received state approval and funding.

David Trueblood and Associates were retained to prepare masterplan revisions and design the water features, landscape and plaza area for the $26 million project. The team also included architects Les Stoker AIA, and Kim Talbot, AIA, with engineering by Alpha Engineering, and Layton Construction Co. serving as project manager and general contractor.

There is a lot of magic in this location. It sits next to the Red Mountain, near Snow Canyon State Park, considered sacred by the early native inhabitants. With land all around being gobbled up in the popular winter haven of St. George, 20 minutes away, it was a miracle that these 80-plus acres were still privately owned and available for purchase. This good fortune would be repeated throughout the project as many other disasters and obstacles were overcome during the more than two year completion.

Nestled in a natural box canyon, overlooked by towering red cliffs, the challenge of the project was to find a design solution to compliment such a powerful natural setting. The crucial goal was to create a large complex that would accent the existing natural surroundings without diverting attention. The intent was to introduce a manmade structure in a natural environment that would blend in harmoniously and yet remain a powerful statement by itself.

Grand Entry

The Tuacahn entry experience begins with a winding road through a desert valley, arriving at a narrow gateway to the canyon and main complex. Visitors get a glimpse of the astonishing scene once they turn a final corner and it explodes into sight. To assure that the first view of Tuacahn would be impressive, the dramatic entry features a huge, 8'h x 20'w red stone carving of the Tuacahn logo centered between two broad stairways of water, which cascade on either side and fall into a large, natural shaped pond, framed by rolling green lawn. Against the geometric stairs, which mimic the formality of the grand entry beyond, the stonework appears to be an ancient, natural rock formation. Actually, it is a fiberglass creation, cast from molds of real boulders, placed close together and painted to resemble a natural rock outcropping that blends the scene into the surrounding environment.

The first view of Tuacahn showcases a dramatic entry with a huge, 8'h x 20'w red stone carving (below) of the Tuacahn logo. The structure is centered between two broad stairways of water which cascade on both sides and fall into a large, natural shaped pond framed by a rolling green lawn. The rocky landscape (above) features water tumbling over red boulders which provides a unique and naturally powerful setting for students.

To the right of the grand stairway is a symbolic orchard of flowering pear trees that offer a haven of shade to entice visitors to picnic and relax. Approaching the main stairway, the runnel becomes a waterfall again, this time dividing the broad stairs down the middle, welcoming visitors with the sound of splashing water. Arriving at the top of the stairs, beneath the welcome shade of the wide pavilion roof, the "source" of the water is finally seen. In the midst of a small pool stands a deeply fissured boulder called the "source rock". A low, brick wall for sitting surrounds the pool, which is the focal point for crowds gathering near ticket offices and concessions.

In back of the plaza, the terrain falls down in a natural bowl forming a spectacular 2,000-seat amphitheater. The audience, looking down on the wide stage, sees only stone structures on either side of the stage, but directly behind the stage there are no backdrops blocking the view of the sloping mountain beyond, only rocky landscape and what is apparently a natural stream and waterfall tumbling over the boulders. Actually, this water feature is also completely manmade. The team deliberately planned the placement for dramatic effect to be used in stage productions, and it was built and hand painted to match real boulders by Pacific Aquascapes, located in California. The waterfall can be controlled to generate a stream from a gentle 500 gallons per minute to a cascading 30,000-gallon flood.

New Plantings Create Harmony

The rocky soil required considerable amending to make a favorable environment for the new plantings, and miles of flex tubing and emitters were laid throughout the planted areas for the most efficient watering system during the hot desert summers. The main walkways from buildings to parking areas are concrete, but on the outer pathway, serving as a secondary exit for the amphitheater, 3/4" native stone gravel was used as a ground cover and to surround the plants in the desert areas. The gravel blended with the colors in the soil and rocks making a unique color contrast to the green hues of the plant materials.

The landscape concept uses very common native plants for the campus such as Yucca, Creosote, Glove Mallow, Rabbit Brush and mesquite on the outskirts and periphery, blending the boundaries with the natural plants in the canyon. Moving toward the formal alee of honey locust, the planting gradually transitions to more lush desert plants including Rosemary, Autumn Sage, Mexican Primrose and Verbena. The closer one gets to the plaza, pedestrian corridor or buildings, the more formal the plantings become. As visitors move away from defined areas, the planting becomes more informal. It is this juxtaposition of plant forms that help achieve the careful blending of Tuacahn into its environment. The grandeur and spirit of the canyon is reflected and enhanced by the overall design, from the selection of plants and building materials, to the choice of colors and textures, making it a memorable experience for all visitors. People who have seen the site have been known to ask if the plants just grew there.

Throughout the project, an emphasis was placed on harmonizing the architecture of the buildings, the landscaping and the surrounding areas. Special red and cream-colored stone was imported from India to match the colors of the soft red and white sandstone in the area. For the paving of the broad plaza, a grid pattern was designed with red and gray cement that reinforces the geometric patterns in the overhead structure and the key intersecting lines of the building facades. With color and line, the grids tie the paving to the architect's design for the buildings. In another place, the grid alternates with sections of turf for the picnic area and gives access to the encroaching desert. This process illustrates the necessity for close cooperation between the architects, the landscape planner, and the construction company.

Overcoming Challenges

"The big problem was to build something here that would not detract from such a magnificent setting. That's why we went with the stone facing on the buildings, instead of brick or other material, to match as nearly as possible the color and texture of the canyon walls," said Les Stoker, the Project Architect. That was also why native plants were used, the same ones already growing there but arranged into a lush oasis. The use of crushed red gravel around the plants and on paths and walkways helped the illusion that it was caused by the same wind and weather that carved the canyon walls.

Perhaps the biggest challenge was overcoming a major setback that almost ended the project. Midway during the construction, a desert tortoise, which is an endangered species, was found one day by a construction worker, which created a crisis for environmental authorities. It was determined that we were working right in the middle of prime tortoise habitat, so for a period of three weeks, all motorized traffic was halted and the only access permitted was by horse and wagon. We experienced the true old west for those weeks as we rode in on horses, juggling plans and equipment, while having the aroma of ranch hands during construction meetings.

Regardless of the challenges that occurred, this was a dream project for any Landscape Architect. Along with the satisfaction of seeing a successful result, there was also a sense of adventure. And the visitors who view the campus appreciate the new look of the site.

"I can never forget the first time I drove here. Coming up the road, there is no gradual preparation for what you will see...you just suddenly turn a corner and wham! It hits you full force: majestic, stunning, overwhelming," exclaimed Jim Bennett, Artistic Director at the school. "This is such an amazing environment to work in, it's hard not to be inspired just being here. It's a powerful setting for any kind of expression, artistic or otherwise. In the face of such grandeur, you feel no impediments, just freedom to expand and explore." LASN

David Trueblood, ASLA is the Landscape Architect on the Tuacahn project and the owner of David Trueblood and Associates in St. George, Utah.

The campus features an 18" bronze sculpture called "Marco" (above left) done by L'Deane Trueblood. In the midst of a small pool stands a deeply fissured boulder (above) called the "source rock". A low, brick wall for sitting surrounds the pool, which is the focal point for crowds gathering near ticket offices and concessions. The sculpture sits near the source rock in the pool.