The strong structure of these historic projects guided Melendrez in developing early spatial organization diagrams built around a central green, or commons with circulation at the perimeter and focal elements anchoring the north south axis. These diagrams became the fundamental structure of the Santa Monica College Quad; however, when design aesthetics and style were discussed it was imperative to SMC Staff and Melendrez for the Quad to represent its location and the landscape character of Santa Monica.

A Great Lawn is at the center of the Quad and is used for the number of large gatherings, that the college offers. Neighbors from the surrounding community have come to enjoy the lawn on the weekends as a public park with an expanse of green not often found in the Los Angeles area. Most importantly, the lawn doubles as a storm water mitigation device through the use of a porous, below-grade storm water collection system that captures approximately 75 percent of the campus run off, provides first flush filtration and acts as temporary retention, and allows storm water recharge into the ground. Additionally, all plazas and impervious paving areas are designed and engineered to pitch storm water run off into planting areas to greatly reduce surface drains and piping to storm sewer systems. Water conservation and storm water management are inextricably linked in Southern California as the climate offers short, yet sustained rainy winters with drought conditions often occurring throughout the rest of the year.

An arcing walkway joins the soft, kinetic landscape of the seating gardens with the high-energy life of the main quad. The walkway shown in the image is ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Pedestrian Circulation
With nearly 40,000 students enrolled at SMC, circulation and gathering spaces around the Great Lawn were important design informers. Pedestrian circulation flows from all directions with primary routes through the Quad from north to south, with secondary movements arriving from parking facilities, transit stops and drop off locations around the perimeter of campus.

A bold, arcing promenade of Stepstone Narrow Modular pre-cast concrete pavers are set parallel to the direction of circulation for a dynamic expression of movement along the north/south corridor. The thickened pavers set on a concrete slab allow for the Promenade to withstand the heavy pedestrian circulation, but also double as a maintenance drive and emergency route for fire truck access.

The arrival plaza functions as a filter, under the Chinese Elm grove (bottom), from Pico Blvd to the heart of campus. The Chinese Elm trees will reach 60-70 feet tall and will create a dense canopy of shade. The water feature provides a dramatic arrival element as students criss-cross their way through the trees into the Quad from all directions.

A dual row of elegant Phoenix dactylifera ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The Promenade and broad site wall divide the Quad into contrasting landscape expressions. To the west, the Great Lawn and direct circulation corridor enhances the campus experience with a row of Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cajeput Tree) and cast-in-place concrete seating plinths establishing a strong rhythm along the walk. East of the Promenade a more garden-like landscape expressed through a series of intimate, densely planted seating pockets creates a transition from the Quad to the existing campus core.

A fourteen-foot diameter custom urn by Quick Crete is the focal element for pedestrians arriving through the Humanities and Social Sciences Building courtyard. Variegated century plants, barrel cacti and succulents connect with the existing ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Plant Material Selection
To reinforce a sense of the tidal waters of Santa Monica, succulents and other water conserving plant materials were selected for their striking forms, colors and kinetic qualities. The planting design is composed of materials appropriate to the Mediterranean climate of Santa Monica as well as meeting the durability and maintenance requirements of the College. Melendrez has worked closely with the SMC staff on the Quad, and other recent projects, to establish a plant palette that balances aesthetics and maintenance to ensure the long term success of campus wide landscapes, including irrigation systems designed for recycled water as part of the College?EUR??,,????'?????<

?EUR??,,????'?????< we want our students to feel.?EUR??,,????'?????<
- Louise Jaffe, SMC Board of Trustees Vice Chair

The Arrival Plaza anchors the Quad on the north and acts as a physical filter for pedestrians arriving from the Pico Boulevard entry, slowly immersing visitors into the Quad as they move to the heart of campus. Future plans include the currently under construction Student Services Facility and new transit stops along Pico Boulevard, so the design and construction of the Quad allows for integration with these projects as the College continues to grow.

The pedestrian promenade allows for thousands of Santa Monica College students to traverse campus each day. The promenade is comprised of Stepstone Narrow Modular pre-cast concrete pavers. The thickened pavers set on a concrete slab allow for the promenade to withstand the heavy pedestrian traffic.

A grove of Ulmus parvifolia (Chinese Elm) reduces potential heat islands with a lacy canopy of dappled shade for tables and chairs, by Landscape Forms, Inc. in the Arrival Plaza. Students and staff lounge between classes near a dual sided, low-level water feature that offers considerable sound and cooling properties and creates the ?EUR??,,????'?????<

A rhythmic arrangement of seating plinths, campus standard light fixtures and Melaleuca trees flank the western edge of the quad. Melaleucas provide soft, coastal texture within the formal alignment.

Unique Design Solutions
Along the southern edge of the Quad existing conditions required unique design solutions to contend with service requirements in addition to future unknowns. The recently completed Library includes an entry plaza used frequently by students. The Promenade aligns with the plaza while keeping movement and pedestrians?EUR??,,????'?????<

Low-level water features bring an additional level of light, sound and cooling to the Southern California campus. There are two water features, one on the north end of the Quad (pictured) and the other at the south end. The source for the features is required to be domestic water. The flow of the north water feature is 1,490 gallons per minute (GPM). The volume of the water feature is 1,325 cubic feet with 9,912 gallons of water.

Anchoring the southern edge, in the midst of the broad walkways, Date Palms and tree rows, is a more intimately scaled water feature welcoming pedestrians arriving from the neighborhood serving Pearl Street to the south. The feature?EUR??,,????'?????<

The water feature anchors the connection of the pedestrian promenade and north plaza. Two large existing coral trees (not pictured) were retained to balance the arrival experience from Pico Blvd.

The Santa Monica College Quad balances the needs of a growing educational institution with the goal of providing a much-needed open space for its community. It gives the campus a strong southern California identity, facilitates campus connections and views, and provides a place to gather, as well as a sense of place, for the students and staff.

Chinese Elm and fescue planters create intimate seating pockets within the grove of the north plaza with seat walls and site furnishings providing for small group study sessions.

Design Team
Architect: BP / Architecture
Civil / Structural Engineer: VCA Engineers, Inc.
Construction Manager: Santa Monica College
Landscape Architect: Melendrez
MEP Engineer: MDC Engineers, Inc.
Water Feature Consultant: STO Design Group, Inc.
Contractors General: Trimax Construction Corporation
Concrete: Cal Coast Concrete Construction, Inc.
Landscape: Bed Rose Landscape Company
Gate/Fencing: Quality Fence Company, Inc.
Water Feature: Condor, Inc.

The subtle, low water, tiered water feature becomes an even more dramatic foreground to the Library Building at dusk and into the evening. The light fixtures used in the water feature are Hydrel 4413 Adjustable Niche Mount Fountain Fixture.