Valley Square Streetscape Design

By Chris Isenberg, ASLA, Senior Associate, McCloskey & Faber, PC

Editor, Stephen Kelly

Valley Square in Warrington Township is a community of 25,000 in south east Penn. This is phase-one of a mixed-use development, about 30 acres of an eventual 130-acre project. McCloskey & Faber, PC, Landscape Architects and Planners were hired at the land development stage to prepare landscape and site lighting drawings. A signature light fixture was chosen: Era Series luminaires (KIM Lighting) on ornamental poles (AAL DB6 by Architectural Area Lighting). The fixtures line all major streets and tie the development together. Light wells beneath the 60" sq. removable tree grates were used to access the RainBird root watering systems.

Valley Square is located at the intersection of Street Road and Easton Road in Warrington, Penn., the south east part of the state. The project encompasses 130 acres, 30 of which are in the village area. The second phrase of the project, about 20 acres, remains to be built. Uses within the first phase include about 300,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurants and about 90,000 sq. ft. of office space on the second floor areas.

The remainder of the property includes an additional phase of the village area (about 15 acres), a Wegmans Food Store, a traditional mid-box retail center and an age-restricted condominium development.

Large corner areas feature 12" x 12" pavers ("Autumn" and "Pewter" blends) in grids crossing the field on the diagonal and strategically located round planting beds. The accessible curb ramps are done in EP Henry ADA pavers (4"x 8"x 2") in a charcoal color.

As with many projects of this size, Valley Square required the significant talents of many people over many years. The original land planning sketches were prepared by the in-house engineer at Metro Development of Philadelphia. Metro Development acquired all the various properties, directed the writing of a new mixed-use ordinance and expanded the project to adjoining properties at key times along the way. The focus throughout the land development was a town center type retail development for Warrington. The vision was a development with an area for community events, in effect, a downtown for a township without one.

PZS Architects of Philadelphia provided the concept and vision for the village area. McCloskey & Faber, PC, Landscape Architects and Planners, were hired at the land development stage to prepare landscape and site lighting drawings for the development. A signature light fixture was chosen for the development. The fixtures line all major streets and tie the development together.

The tumbled concrete seat walls (EP Henry Coventry "Harvest Blend") have three-inch thick natural Pennsylvania bluestone copings.

After land development approval, Metro Development sold the majority of their interest in the village area to Grasso Holdings of Philadelphia. With the continuing oversight of PZS Architects, McCloskey & Faber, PC developed the construction drawings and detailed design of the pavements, plantings and site lighting for the village.

"We sought a balance of urban spaces with the suburban Philadelphia, Bucks County lifestyle," explains Chris Isenberg, ASLA of McCloskey & Faber, PC.

Among the site amenities are 6-foot long Ipe wood benches (Framer's Modern) with ductile iron end frames, and T-Series planters (both Victor Stanley) with Rainbird micro-spray pop-ups installed at the center of each planter.

The event area is the congregation point for the village and the focus of the main street and the boulevard entrance. It can accommodate community events, concerts and holiday decorations. Two 20-foot square cobalt blue Parasol Cygnus fabric structures provide shade and frame the view of the Border's Book Store from the boulevard entrance. A fire pit and seating walls are positioned near the bookstore. This area always draws a few people warming themselves on cool evenings. The tumbled concrete seating walls (EP Henry Coventry) are "Harvest Blend" with and natural Pennsylvania bluestone copings. Large caliper Green Vase Zelkovas provide the backdrop for the event area. Perennials include coreopsis, daylilies, Russian sage, salvia, sedum, lillyturf and periwinkle. A large circular lawn area in the front has been used for the Christmas tree and standing room for various events.

The original design for this circular area included a dancing fountain, pavers and color changing RGB paver lights. The infrastructure has been installed but the construction of this feature has been postponed to a later time.

Decorative poles for traffic signs are actually DB6 light poles (Architectural Area Lighting). The traffic signs have cast aluminum frames.

The hardscape includes more than half an acre of EP Henry pavers installed along main street, the entrance boulevard and side streets. Sidewalk areas include 4 x 8 inch pavers and 8 x 8 inch pavers in "Autumn" and "Pewter" blend tones. Large corner areas are grids of 12 x 12 inch pavers in the same hues crossing the field on the diagonal and strategically located round planting beds.

Raised planting beds were constructed of granite block stone with mortar joints. The raised planting beds design elevates the plantings above the sidewalk de-icing salts and discourage people from walking through the beds.

There are more than half an acre of EP Henry pavers along Main Street, the entrance boulevard and for the side streets. Sidewalk areas offer 4 x 8 inch pavers and 8 x 8 inch pavers in "Autumn" and "Pewter" blend tones. Raised planting beds, constructed of granite block stone with mortar joints, discourage people from walking through the beds and protect the plants from de-icing salts.

Tree grates were used only along narrow sidewalks to provide adequate walking space.

Site furniture includes a contemporary look, Victor Stanley's Framer's Modern bench and their T-series planters and trash receptacles.

Near the bookstore is a gas fire pit (Fire Science) with fire screen and gas logs that draw people on cool evenings. Perennials include coreopsis, salvia, autumn sedum (rusty colored clusters near the seat wall), lilyturf and periwinkle.

Light poles and ornamental sign poles are manufactured by Architectural Area Lighting. The street lights are the KIM Era series. Cast aluminum frames were added around the traffic signs.

The street trees are primarily Armstrong maples with "Sentry" gingko on the narrow sidewalks. All shade trees near the storefronts had to be installed by Thanksgiving 2007. The selections were limited to those that would survive fall planting. The perennials are primarily daylilies, black-eyed Susans and ornamental grasses.

The original design for this circular green area included a dancing fountain, pavers and color changing RGB paver lights. The infrastructure is installed, but the construction postponed. This area is the site for the annual Christmas tree and offers a fair amount of standing room for various events. Stella D'Oro daylilies (yellow flowers) and Green Vase Zelkova trees provide the backdrop for the event area. Russian sage is flourishing behind the seatwall. Safety bollards (Hydrel 3110 series) and trash receptacles (Victor Stanley T-Series) are additional elements.

The second phase of this attractive, successful project has been delayed due to the state of the economy. We look forward to our continuing involvement in this project sometime in the near future.

Valley Square, Warrington, Pa.

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