The Landscape Architect was presented with the challenge of designing this project after the client had a basic landscape plan from another architect. The client viewed this space as a difficult challenge and desired a creative and useful solution. The site, a linear stretch of land between a corporate office building and an imposing parking deck, is approximately 35 sq. ft. wide and 380 ft. long. For the Landscape Architect to make this into a useful space, an understanding of who would be using it and how it would be used was essential. The occupants of the office building are a highly specialized computer company whose employees are often young, casual, and work at a computer twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The concept was to design a space that would appeal to these employees and be a benefit the company could sell to both current and future employees. To create the ?EUR??,,????'??corporate pocket park?EUR??,,????'?? the Landscape Architect took the approach of designing an alternative outdoor environment. The concept was to develop four different use spaces within the rigid site constraints. A portion of the plan incorporates a community green with large shade trees and meandering seat walls with PC portals built in. This feature allows employees to engage in work activity in a quiet outdoor space. The green space transitions into hardscape with a naturalized water feature in a passive setting. The waterfall flows under a bridge connecting the parking deck to the building and drops into a pool adjacent to an outdoor dinning terrace. This terrace is also equipped with PC portals and is an extension of the indoor dinning area. The dinning terrace leads to a sports court where employees can play a quick game of basketball or volleyball. This concept provides different types of spaces and elements to meet the needs of a variety of employees. This special place is provided for the employees in appreciation of their hard work. ?EUR??,,????'??The area is long and narrow, and was not particularly inviting,?EUR??,,????'?? said Bill Lincicome of HighGrove Partners. ?EUR??,,????'??The length of this area is enclosed on both sides by either the building or the parking structure.?EUR??,,????'?? The LA?EUR??,,????'???s Role The Landscape Architect developed the concept of the ?EUR??,,????'??corporate pocket park?EUR??,,????'?? and was responsible for implementing that concept through the design process. The Landscape Architect was responsible for full service design and worked in conjunction with the developer, general contractor, engineer and the client to develop a creative site solution within a reasonable budget. Close communication between the team members regarding details and materials helped to make this project a success. ?EUR??,,????'??The con-struction schedule was predicted for a 36-week turn around,?EUR??,,????'?? Lincicome said. ?EUR??,,????'??In spite of site conditions that made the staging of the hardscape and landscape work most difficult, the installation was completed in 18-weeks time. ?EUR??,,????'??This turn key operation also included grade recon-figurations as well as the moving and re-installation of all manholes to fit the landscape design.?EUR??,,????'?? Challenges The greatest challenges of the size are the density and green space limitations. The building requirements and the configuration of the site plan restricted the Landscape Architect to working in a 13,300 sq. ft. space. A portion of that space had to be utilized to connect the parking deck to the building. The grade changes within the site also proved to be tricky. The topography of the site and the form of the architecture created a 14-foot drop between the north and south wings of the building. This positioned the entrance of the building and the connection to the parking deck at the center of the site. By transforming the connection into a bridge, dramatic entrance from the building and parking deck disguises the condition that divides the site vertically into two zones. The grade change allows the pocket park to be separated into passive and active spaces. The location of the parking deck and proximity of a major highway to the pocket park presented other environmental challenges. The introduction of the waterfall created a source of white noise that helped to mitigate the impact of surrounding uses. ?EUR??,,????'??The density of the site and green space limitations posed by the development of the site and green space limitations posed by the development of the site were established prior to the involvement of a Landscape Architect,?EUR??,,????'?? Lincicome said. ?EUR??,,????'??The physical configuration of the site, the company?EUR??,,????'???s program requirements of the building, and the building?EUR??,,????'???s relationship to the adjacent parking deck restricted the landscape area to 13,300 square feet.?EUR??,,????'?? The Client At this computer company the Landscape Architect faced a condition that is commonly found in a corporate office setting; the program requirements and site plan created limited space for the Landscape Architect to work with. However, this client is unique. It was essential to the success of this project that the Landscape Architect understand the challenge of this distinctive work environment and the special requirements of this particular company. The Landscape Architect spent considerable time engaging in dialog with the company?EUR??,,????'???s employees who do not meet the profile of typical corporate office users. The Landscape Architect was required to present an unusual design response in order to meet the needs of these highly creative people. This approach ultimately helped to determine the final form of the design. As a result of the close analysis of customer needs, the special conditions of the site, and the innovative design of this project, the Landscape Architect essentially created a new category of work that could be described as an ?EUR??,,????'??urban canyon.?EUR??,,????'?? Part of the inspiration for the ?EUR??,,????'??urban canyon?EUR??,,????'?? came from the concept of an inner city pocket park where the needs of both active and passive users must be met in the same space, and occupants are separated from the surrounding distractions. ?EUR??,,????'??The Urban Canyon consists of four different areas that transition from active to passive uses,?EUR??,,????'?? Lincicome said. ?EUR??,,????'??These areas include a community green, hardscape elements with a naturalized water feature, an outdoor dining terrace, and a sports court.?EUR??,,????'?? The narrow passage and steep walls created by the building and parking deck were transformed into two planes that perform four very different functions and allow employees to engage in several different types of activities within a limited amount of space. ?EUR??,,????'??The design of the ?EUR??,,????'??Pocket Park?EUR??,,????'??? was a case of turning lemons into lemonade,?EUR??,,????'?? Licicome said. ?EUR??,,????'??The end result is a benefit for the employees occupying the building.?EUR??,,????'?? Jennifer Loftin is the Director of Marketing for HighGrove Partners in Atlanta.