URBAN DESIGN / STREETSCAPES
Urban Design includes downtown centers such as Avalon Waterfront on Catalina Island, Yorba Linda Historic Main Street, and SALT mixed-use project in downtown Oceanside. These projects included design of new plazas and special paving, seating areas, new landscaping, and public art installations
Streetscape projects are designed to create a new and distinctive visual character in parkways and median areas, as well as providing sustainable landscapes that reduce water consumption and maintenance.
URBAN SOLUTIONS
The Yorba Linda Town Center project includes a refurbished and upgraded historic downtown, featuring enhanced paving, seating, and artwork. In addition, a new and sustainable perimeter streetscape surrounds this large mixed-use development.
As part of the Harris Associates team, BGB designed the Main Street improvements as well as the new perimeter landscape that surrounds the entire project. The streetscapes were designed to provide storm water infiltration and retention to supplement the existing water table. The downtown refurbishment received an APA Honor Award for Historic Restoration.
STREETSCAPE VISION
In 1996 BGB was selected to be the lead designer for the refurbishment of the iconic downtown waterfront for the town of Avalon on Catalina Island. The project included new plazas, seating areas, and pedestrian-only street promenades.
Avalon Harbor
The town of Avalon was developed in the 1920’s – 30’s by Chicago chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr., after purchasing the island in 1919. After building the streets, water system, and other infrastructure, he created the famous waterfront promenade along Crescent Avenue.
Tile artist credits :
Casino Walk Murals – RTK Studios
Wrigley Fountain – Marlo Bartels
Wrigley Plaza
The signature Wrigley Fountain was refurbished as part of the new Wrigley Plaza. Perimeter fountain tile walls are new, centerpiece column is original. The Casino dance pavilion, home to world-famous Big Bands in the 1930’s, is shown to the right of the picture.
The planning and design of the Avalon Downtown and Waterfront has been featured in local books and national publications. BGB has received the following professional design awards:
American Society of Landscape Architects – National: Centennial Medallion
American Society of Landscape Architects – Southern California: Merit Award for Historic Preservation
Los Angeles Business Council: Urban Design and Beautification Award
The North Beach Promenade “SALT” project in downtown Oceanside provides residential and restaurant uses adjacent to a large public plaza designed by BGB.
The colored and textured concrete plaza incorporates a “nautilus” shell design with a kinetic sculpture as the focal feature. Surface-level blue lights highlight the design at night. The plaza has become a popular feature of the downtown street scene. The photo, top right, depicts the popular ocean-view roof top recreation and dining terrace designed by BGB.
