This CE Center article is no longer eligible for receiving credits.
Over the past decade, there has been a renaissance in the design and construction of the public spaces in many major cities. This renaissance has resulted in the creation of new plazas, parks, pedestrian streets, and waterfront areas in our cities. These public spaces help to enhance the experience of urban social and cultural life. But what are the elements and components of these public spaces that make them successful and provide enticing public spaces for users?
Michael Albany Photography LLC.
Park Towne Place is a premier apartment complex that sits adjacent to Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The Lighting Practice designed an interior lighting system for all public amenities as a as the exterior hardscape and landscape.
Designing for the public realm is essentially placemaking. The Project for Public Spaces is a nonprofit organization that has spent more than 40 years developing guidelines for making successful public spaces. In its work, it has developed a chart that outlines the qualities that make public places successful. Successful places share four qualities: they are accessible, comfortable, present a good image, and provide a place for sociable contact and people to engage in activities. This course will examine key features and characteristics of public spaces and provide insight regarding appropriately sourced materials that can be used in designing these public spaces to enhance user experience and provide designs that enrich the social experience.
Public outdoor spaces can provide experiences in outdoor dining, active outdoor activities such as poolside recreation, or just relaxing and taking in the surrounding landscape. In addition, attractive public spaces can greatly increase the appeal, value, and marketability of nearby commercial and residential properties.
Urban areas and large cities do not always have large tracts of land available for public use. Many communities and organizations are moving toward creating small pocket parks and pop-up parks that provide flexible outdoor experiences on smaller tracts of land, thus allowing for more public outdoor spaces to be developed in their neighborhoods.
In designing these pocket parks, pop-up parks, and decks, pedestal systems and other modular products can provide architects and designers with greater design flexibility. Rooftop gardens in particular are a growing trend, as more and more urban areas are passing mandates requiring green roofs on commercial buildings over a certain size. Modular wood tiles and pedestal deck systems are two products that provide design flexibility with respect to location and layout.
Adjustable Pedestal Deck Support Systems
Offering tremendous design flexibility coupled with ease of installation, adjustable pedestal deck systems provide a unique and viable alternative to traditional deck building materials and methods. Pedestal deck systems can be utilized over any structural surface in a variety of locations whether for structural decks on bare ground, to support rooftop decks over roof membranes, to create green roofs, to support modular tiles over ground-level plazas and terraces, or to support modular tiles over a pavement or a pool surround.
Pedestal systems are made with high-density polypropylene plastic (comprised of 20 percent post-industrial recycled content) that are 100 percent recyclable. Pedestals can elevate and support wood tiles, concrete pavers, site furnishings, and a variety of other surfaces when sophisticated, commercial-grade decking is required. These pedestal systems are available in a range of heights and weight-bearing capacities to suit a variety of applications. Residential, commercial, and industrial grades each have different characteristics.
Adjustable pedestal supports are designed to elevate a variety of substrates, including granite or concrete pavers, wood tiles, composite materials, fiberglass grating, or conventional wood truss systems. In addition, pedestal systems can support decks over occupied space, allowing space for electrical systems, duct work, and irrigation. The pedestal heights can range from 1/8 inch to 36 inches in height. (Note that heights above 30 inches require railings to comply with code, and the decking systems do not come with railings so designers should include some type of perimeter containment to meet code requirements.) Through a pedestal system, elevations ranging from 1/8 inch to 36 inches in height can be attained and adjusted by the millimeter. The range in heights is achieved through the use of fixed and adjustable pedestal types of varying heights and weight-bearing capacities. There is a pedestal system to accommodate commercial, industrial, and residential products. Weight-bearing capacity per pedestal ranges from 750 to 1,250 pounds. Bracing accessories are required for pedestal systems over 24 inches in height. Additionally, there is a joist top accessory that can be used to convert the pedestals into traditional joist and plank decking supports.
The pedestal system is one of the most labor- and cost-efficient methods of creating a flat, level deck over a sloped surface. It is important to select a pedestal that features base levelling. These adjustable deck support systems are impervious to water, mold, and freeze-thaw cycles. Deciding which systems to specify is dependent on the support and elevation requirements of the installation; however, the supports can be used to create outdoor spaces in a variety of sizes and locations. Pedestals containing 20 percent or more post-industrial recycled material could contribute to multiple points within Materials and Resources Credit 4.
Modular Wood Tiles
Modular wood tiles provide a decking surface for exterior roof decks and pop-up parks. The tiles come in a variety of sizes, including 2-by-2-foot, 2-by-4-foot, 2-by-6-foot, 2-by-8-foot, and 30-by-30-inch units. Each modular tile has top planks and bottom runners that are held together with stainless steel screws that are inserted from the bottom so that the fasteners are not visible on the surface. The modular wood tiles are integrated with a pedestal system, and there are tabs on the pedestal that hold these surface paver units in place. Wood tiles are lighter than concrete or stone pavers, and the hardwoods used in fabrication of the wood can be refinished unlike composite materials. A fastening kit connects all of the pieces to create a monolithic surface.
The wood slats are typically made from four species of South American hardwoods: ipê, cumaru, garapa, and massaranduba. These wood species were selected for their durability as they are among the hardest and densest of wood species. Many of the wood tiles are available in Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified species. Garapa and massaranduba are only available as FSC-certified wood species. As modular wood tiles can be FSC certified (FSC-C13454), ipê, cumaru, garapa, or massarunduba wood tiles could contribute to LEED points under Materials and Resources Credit 3.
The 2-by-2-foot wood tiles are also available as fused bamboo tiles. The bamboo is manufactured through a fused process that combines two stages of high heat to carbonize the bamboo. This removes all of the starch and sugar in the bamboo and then restructures the wood by reinforcing its natural strength characteristics. The modified bamboo strands are fused together using a phenolic resin, which is the same resin used in making bowling balls. This process results in an extremely dense and durable product for exterior use.
All of the wood tiles are harvested in an environmentally responsible method designed to preserve the economic viability of rainforest hardwoods. The wood tiles are made from tropical hardwoods that contain a rich variety of graining and coloration, are exceptionally dense, and resistant to insects. These commercial-grade, responsibly harvested wood tiles weather well and are available in a variety of species. The density of tropical hardwood species make for minimal maintenance. If maintaining the wood color is desired, wood tiles can be periodically cleaned and sealed. Left to weather naturally, the wood tiles will develop a silvery-gray patina.
Wood tiles come with a five-year limited warranty against manufacturing defects. The wood tiles are ADA compliant, as the surface texture and spacing between the units meet ADA criteria. The wood tiles meet industry standards and certifications for wind uplift resistance, fire resistance ratings, slip resistance, and weight bearing capacity. With respect to seismic requirements, bracing accessories for the pedestals are available. The pedestal support system can be paired with a specialty fastening kit to prevent wind uplift in high-velocity zones. All wood tiles are tested for slip resistance, hardness, and fire rating in accordance industry standards and certifications.
Wood tiles are ideal for blending the warm beauty and upscale appearance of real wood with durability and low maintenance. Weighing one-third as much as concrete tiles, wood tiles are a good alternative when surface material weight is a factor. The tiles can be laid in a parquet or linear pattern, or mixed with pavers, river rock, stone, plank decking, or other options to create unique aesthetics.
Design Flexibility
Design flexibility in decking systems can be attained by adjusting the pedestal system heights to compensate for a range of heights and slopes or through a joist and plank accessory used in conjunction with the pedestals. The joint-plank accessory attaches to the top of the pedestal. The accessory is made of the same high-density post-industrial recycled content as the pedestals and has eight flaps, two on each side. The flaps fold up and will hold a joist of either 2-inch-by or 4-inch-by lumber. Wood plank decking can then be set on the joists just as with any traditional joist system.
Image courtesy of Bison Innovative Products
Shown is a joist top accessory on an adjustable pedestal.
Pedestal systems can provide flexibility through a leveling capacity that compensates for slopes and changes in grade. Through this levelling system, elevations can be adjusted in height by the millimeter. This allows the designer to create outdoor decks and plazas in a variety of challenging locations.
The three types of pedestal deck support systems are all adjustable for height and can accommodate slope. Pedestals systems are manufactured for three types of projects: residential, commercial, and industrial grade. The pedestals for each of these project types can accommodate almost any type of surface material, are all 20 percent post-industrial recycled content, are all impervious to water, mold, and freeze-thaw cycles, and are all made in the United States.
The industrial-grade adjustable pedestals can reach heights from 1/8 inch to 36 inches, have a 1,250-pound weight-bearing capacity, and contain built-in slope compensation from 0–½ inch per foot slope (0–4 percent). Accessories are available to compensate for additional slope. Pedestal heights from 24 to 36 inches require bracing. There is a joist top accessory that can convert the pedestals into traditional joist and plank decking supports. Low fixed-height stackable pedestals can be used when low clearance is needed.
Industrial-grade and commercial-grade pedestals are designed to support heavy pavers over any waterproofed structural surface. The commercial-grade pedestals range from 1/8 to 36 inches in height. Couplers can be added to the adjustable pedestals to extend up to 36 inches in height. Pedestal heights from 24 to 36 inches require bracing. The weight-bearing design capacity of the commercial-grade pedestal is 1,000 pounds per pedestal.
The industrial-grade and commercial-grade adjustable pedestals give maximum design flexibility for a variety of surface materials, including wood deck tiles, concrete pavers, and more. Wood decking tiles supported by adjustable pedestals can be integrated seamlessly to create a roof deck system that is as simple as it is beautiful. All of the pedestal feature precise spacer tabs allowing for deck drainage, and the screw-to-adjust height setting on adjustable pedestals assures a perfectly straight and level deck.
A residential-grade pedestal deck system is suitable for any project type from commercial to residential. One simple pedestal model covers heights from 2–43/4 inches. Additional accessories are available to compensate for slope and accommodate heights from 1/8 inch all the way up to 12 inches. This model also supports up to 750 pounds and is the preferred system for do-it-yourself homeowners.
All of these adjustable pedestal models utilize a threaded design, making the leveling process during installation a simple turn of the pedestal base. This allows contractors, designers, and installers to accurately plan, precisely align, and uniformly install level decks with a combination of ease, speed, and accuracy. Spacer tabs ensure accurate spacing, lock the pavers in place, and allow water to drain. The pedestals have a broad footprint that provides stability, is impervious to freeze-thaw cycles, and offers a range of heights suited to almost any application.
Photo courtesy of Bison Innovative Products
The Denver Museum of Contemporary Art uses adjustable pedestals to support custom plank decking, creating this stunning deck.
Flexibility with Site Furnishings
Modular site furnishings provide flexibility in designing tight outdoor spaces, particularly with roof gardens and small pop-up parks, such as the one in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa site. Modular cubes can be used as planters seating or storage units and can be fabricated from aluminum or ipê wood. These cubes are available in an array of colors and finishes, and due to their material contents, they can contribute to LEED points (recycled aluminum and FSC-certified wood species). The modular cubes are used in place of a modular wood deck tile. The modular aluminum cubes are made in the United States, have a low-VOC finish that meets FAA reference test method 24, ASTM D2369 for determination of volatile content, are available in a metal or powder-coated finish, contain 20 percent recycled content, and are 100 percent recyclable. Many sizes and colors are available per custom order, thus providing flexibility for the designer.
Well-designed public spaces that utilize sustainable and renewable materials benefit the overall environment as well as the local community. And in designing public spaces, it is important to select quality materials that are durable to the outdoor elements as well as public use.
Appropriateness of Western Red Cedar for Public Spaces
Western red cedar has long been known for its durability. Its botanical name is Thuja plicata, derived from thujaplicin, which is a chemical substance that is found in these trees and serves as a natural fungicide, thereby preventing the wood from rotting. Hence, its durability lies in its natural resistance to rot, decay, and insects.
Western red cedar is also a sustainable, resilient tree species. It has one of the widest growth ranges on the West Coast, as it grows in lush forests and mountainsides as well as many forested swamps and stream banks within its range. “Western red cedar is one of North America’s great renewable resources. The range of western red cedar is essentially in two segments: a Coast Range-Cascade Range segment from southeastern Alaska to northwestern California and a Rocky Mountain segment from British Columbia and Alberta to Idaho and Montana.” Although the species is slow growing, it is naturally durable and has one of the longest life spans of any North American softwood. According to U.S. Forest Service reports, this species tolerates shade very well and thus can survive in forest understories. In addition, U. S. Forest Service predictions indicate that this species’ growth rates are likely to thrive as accelerated climate change occurs.1
Western red cedar also has a broad range of aesthetic qualities, making it a popular choice in design applications. It is pitch and resin free, which means that it accepts and holds a variety of finishes. Western red cedar provides both color and texture for projects, as it has naturally rich tonal properties, and the knotty grades of decking and siding add textural enhancements to designs. Paul Mackie, known as “Mr. Cedar” in the building industry, is an expert in the properties of western red cedar. In his opinion, “Western red cedar is simply one of the world’s most beautiful woods. No man-made material can duplicate its naturally luxurious appearance.”
And Corey V. Martin, principal at Hacker Architects, states, “Cedar creates spaces that other materials cannot. Without it, the fundamental form or volume would not have the same power. Western red cedar allows the buildings to be of the land in a perfect way—the building, land, and material can be one.”
Western Red Cedar's Environmental Appropriateness
Climate change and impacts made by continued development are adversely affecting the environment and in turn our communities and health. By adhering to LEED and SITES criteria in designs, design teams can effectively reduce these impacts by specifying products that have been verified for improved environmental life-cycle impacts. Products whose manufacture or harvesting reduce negative environmental impacts can be certified as environmentally friendly. Western red cedar is third-party certified environmentally friendly in the way that it’s harvested and its forests are managed.
Over the past 15 years, the green building industry has invested a significant amount of resources to responsible procurement of forest products. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) encourages the use of construction products and materials carrying environmental product declarations (EPDs), which are calculated through a life-cycle assessment (LCA). The LCA is evaluated through the LEED Green Building point system. EPDs contribute to LEED points. EPDs are created according to internationally harmonized standards and are third-party verified, ensuring that the results for the product are valid. Products with third-party certification (Type III), including external verification, are valued as one-half of a point for credit achievement calculation through LEED. According to its website, the USGBC recently developed a new pilot alternative compliance path (ACP) credit for its LEED rating system. The ACP is designed to further advance environmentally responsible forest management and help to remove the use of illegal wood by promoting responsible wood sourcing and chain of custody.
The green characteristics of any material is the LCA which is a detailed analysis that provides guidance on the environmental friendliness of a product throughout the product’s design. According to Dassault Systèmes, the company that makes the automated LCA tools, “The (LCA) analysis looks at a product’s entire life, which encompasses extraction, material production, manufacturing, product use, end-of-life disposal, and all of the transportation that occurs between these stages.”
LCA studies can provide the designer with comparisons of multiple material types. Some recent studies done by the research laboratory FPInnovations-Forintek have compared the benefits of the Western Red Cedar wood species Thuja plicata against non-wood building materials for residential siding and decking. The studied materials included products such as wood-plastic composite, fiber-cement materials, and extruded vinyl. This LCA study measured these products in areas such as resource and water use, energy requirements, transportation implications, and waste creation. The natural wood showed substantial advantages for sustainable design. John Wagner, a sustainability consultant and editor in chief of Green Builder Magazine, has acknowledged that the LCA comparative study showed western red cedar to be the least environmentally “burdensome” and lowest consumer of nonrenewable resources such as fossil fuels.
Western Red Cedar in Public Placemaking Applications
Environmental considerations are only a part of the multifaceted design analysis conducted by project teams when determining the best materials for a given application. The design and construction of public-realm spaces call for materials that are low maintenance and durable to meet diminishing public maintenance budgets. Western red cedar’s consistent density and ability to lay flat make it an appropriate material in the construction of both a safe and aesthetically attractive public environment. The ability to lay flat allows for crisp, clean surfaces to be created that will not warp or check and thus create unsightly and unsafe surfaces. Its density and durability make it an appropriate material for creating an outdoor shade pergola or arbor or providing an attractive fence to delineate the public space.
Aesthetic considerations and human interaction are not part of the protocols for life-cycle assessments or maintenance of products, but aesthetics and human interaction are important considerations in design projects. Aesthetic qualities contribute to what people find attractive about a place. “People who like being outdoors usually like being part of their natural surroundings,” says Paul Mackie of WRCLA, articulating the appeal of natural products as compared to the synthetic character of some composite wood materials. “If that’s the case, choosing a natural product like cedar is the way to go,” he adds. “People who like to be outdoors or closer to nature prefer to spend time with all-natural materials.”
Social ecologist Stephen R. Kellert has studied the science of biophilia and has authored a book on the subject titled Biophilic Design. The book lists 75 attributes to what is termed “restorative environmental design.” The attributes include natural materials, natural shapes and forms, and natural patterns and processes. Western red cedar provides an aesthetically pleasing material for construction. The exposed wood grain and knots present natural shapes and forms, the natural textures present natural patterns, and the wood is a natural material. In addition, some architects and designers integrate the various cuts of wood, alternating flat and vertical grains for visual effect.
Western red cedar feels soft to the touch and never overheats, whereas synthetic decks can feel scratchy and have a tendency to get uncomfortably hot. The cool-touch, smooth surface characteristics are optimal for outdoor pool decks, condominium roof decks, or other public spaces where bare feet may come in contact with the deck surface.
Western red cedar has been used on a variety of public projects due to its durability, natural resistance to rot and insects, attractive texture, ability to hold a wide variety of finishes, and even the calming effect that wood has on people. Western red cedar has been specified as a preferred material for boardwalks, outdoor pavilions, rooftop decks, and site furniture. Some examples of its many uses are featured in case studies throughout this course.
Illuminating the Public Realm
Studies have shown that there are traditionally three general categories of lighting for public spaces. The three categories include street lighting for safety and convenience, decorative or festive lighting for special occasions, and architectural lighting used to accentuate important buildings, spaces, and monuments. The first lighting category is usually required by code. The second and third provide an aesthetic element while enhancing safety. A strategy for illuminating public spaces should consider both safety and aesthetics and may include all three categories of lighting in the design approach. A well- designed lighting strategy can help bring a sense of animation to a public space and extend its use into the evening.
Newer approaches to lighting design for public spaces are focusing on a holistic approach with more emphasis on designing lighting for people and moving away from the current standards and recommendations that come from a vehicular-based vantage point. Nancy E. Clanton, PE, IALD, FIES, LEED Fellow, president of Clanton & Associates, states, “Too often, we still think of public lighting’s role as allowing motorists to detect pedestrians. Walking pedestrians and cyclists are more vulnerable; where they look and what they need in a lighted environment is completely different from motorists. Intuitively, we know that pedestrians need to detect sidewalk hazards, see destinations and attractions, recognize people, and generally feel safe.3
Lighting designers have a wealth of new technology that provide them with an infinite means for providing public spaces with multiple layers of light by combining ambient lighting, focal point lighting, and colorful accent lighting. Previously, lighting designs considered uniform light to be the standard requirement for safety. Newer approaches use contrast to make a space both safer and more interesting to the user. Recent studies done by Nancy Clanton and Ron Gibbons “have shown that lowered light levels can provide greater contrast, and this contrast can actually improve detection and visibility. In addition, the introduction of LED lighting has given us the ability to precisely focus light on the relevant areas instead of “bathing” a space in light.”3
This recent shift in approach stems from recognizing the needs of pedestrians in communities and especially in urban areas that are increasing in population. It also is a direct outcome of global efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and the shift from car-focused vehicular transportation to more mass-transit transportation, which naturally generates more pedestrians and cyclists within the public realm. The trend toward transit-oriented developments and walkable cities puts greater demand on designing public spaces that enhance the pedestrian experience and provide “lighting for people.”
Lighting for People
There are many types of lighting products that can assist designers in lighting public spaces, including floodlights, downlights, architectural surface lights mounted on building exteriors, recessed in-grade lights and uplights for uplighting site features and monuments, bollard lights, path and area lights, and step lights. This variety of products provides the designer with a palette of lighting tools for creatively illuminating public spaces.
With a focus on lighting for people, the aim or angle of the light is important so that glare is not created. The most discriminating lighting design can be degraded by bad aiming or the fixture’s lack of ability to maintain its aiming position. A light with a 360-degree mounting system can solve both of these problems. By combining several mechanical, engineering, and design techniques, a 360-degree mounting system creates an aim-and-lock technology.
Image courtesy of B-K Lighting
The 360-degree mounting system provides flexibility with aiming and maintaining the direction of a light.
The 360-degree mounting system is made up of three machined aluminum components: the short knuckle, the long knuckle, and the mounting nipple, along with two stainless steel, hex head, aiming lock screws and four high-temperature ‘O’ rings. The short knuckle mounts to the back of the fixture and incorporates an ‘O’ ring to ensure a positive seal between the knuckle and the fixture housing.
The long knuckle incorporates the aiming lock screws that lock the horizontal (rotational) and vertical aiming positions. The mounting nipple is threaded for ½-inch mounting and incorporates two ‘O’ rings: one at its base to create a seal between the nipple and the device to which it is mounted, and one at the top to create a seal between itself and the inside of the long nipple. Stainless steel pins are used to create a 360-degree stop so that the fixture wiring cannot be damaged during rotational aiming.
The aim-and-lock technology allows the designer to rotate and aim the fixture without the use of tools. The horizontal (rotational) aiming and the vertical aiming will hold in place by means of two mechanical compression designs. This means the designer can make those very important, very slight tweaking adjustments without the redundant tightening and loosening that most knuckles require. Once adjusted, and with the use of a single tool, the horizontal (rotational) and the vertical aiming is locked into place by tightening the large, recessed locking screws that are located directly above and in-line with each other.
Photo courtesy of B-K Lighting
The Coarsegold Military Memorial
Durable Fixtures for the Public Realm
Lighting that is installed in any exterior space must be durable to withstand exposure to the elements. The following items might be considered a checklist when designers are reviewing fixture qualities.
- The design of the light fixture should include enclosed, waterproof wireways and high-temperature silicone “O” rings that provide watertight seals and compressive resistance to maintain the fixtures position.
- The fixture design should withstand 73 pounds of static load prior to movement to ensure optical alignment.
- The lens should be shock-resistant, tempered glass that is factory adhered to the fixture cap so that the optical compartment is hermetically sealed.
- A fixture with a modular design that has electrical quick disconnects will permit field maintenance.
- A fixture with an anti-condensation valve (ACV) will vacuum seal the optical chamber and eliminate internal condensation. Some fixtures have spring-loaded, exterior-mounted ACV buttons to facilitate the removal of the vacuum-sealed cap for service.
- The hardware should be stainless steel and tamper resistant.
- The fixture should have a warranty (usually limited five years) and be UL listed and ITL tested to Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) LM-79.
- The fixture should be Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) compliant and suitable for use the required outdoor use.
Green-Sourced Lighting
Along with the new humanist-centered approach to lighting design for the public realm, the lighting industry is rapidly developing new products that are energy efficient as well as recyclable, thus supporting environmental stewardship and providing opportunities for LEED credits on a project.
For decades, the lighting industry was generally stagnant in its source options, which were largely incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. With the advent of solid-state lighting that uses semi-conductor light-emitting diodes ( LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), or polymer light-emitting diodes (PLED), manufacturers are now able to produce even greater output in their fixtures and at the same time use even less power while generating less heat. Solid-state lighting has evolved to the point where LED is now the preferred light source. The U.S. Department of Energy has conducted studies on energy efficiency of lighting. LED is rated highly energy efficient, and if the product is ENERGY STAR rated, it uses at minimum 75 percent less energy and lasts 25 times longer than incandescent lighting.
Lighting products can contribute to environmental stewardship by being green sourced or manufactured from recycled materials. The manufacturing process can use renewable solar energy that is produced at the manufacturing site. The products can be returnable to the manufacturer at the end of their life cycle, ensuring, cradle-to-cradle handling. The packaging should not contain any cholorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are a class of compounds of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine in gas forms that are harmful to the ozone layer in the earth’s atmosphere. Lighting products that meet the above criteria also meet LEED criteria for energy and optimization and Materials Selection as well as the following SITES criteria:
- Site Design – Materials Selection
- 5.3 – design for adaptability and disassembly
- 5.5 – use recycled content materials
- 5.8 – support transparency and safer chemistry
- 5.9 – support sustainability in materials manufacturing
- 5.10 – support sustainability in plant production
Creating Scenes in the Public Realm
Exterior lighting is not so much about eliminating darkness but more about illuminating scenes. The following case studies provide examples of how lighting can be used to create scenes and illuminate the public realm.
Designing outdoor spaces for the public requires careful selection of materials that are ot only durable but also reflect the character of the community and the place. The quality and character of the walking surface, the lighting, and the site furniture all contribute to the quality of the design and should make the space inviting, easy for people to interact within, and safe for use during both daytime and nighttime hours. These outdoor spaces can also be sustainable and maintainable if using durable materials that meet LEED and SITES criteria.
End Notes
1Nesom, Guy. “Plant Guide: Western Red Cedar.” USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center and the Biota of North America Program. 8 June 2018. Web. 15 June 2018.
2The Cedar Book X. WRCLA. 2017. Web. 15 June 2018.
3Seitinger, Susan and Weiss, Antonia. Light for Public Space. Philips Lightingz. 2015. Web. 15 June 2018.
Elena M. Pascarella, RLA, ASLA, is a practicing landscape architect, continuing education presenter, and consultant engaged in a private practice based in Rhode Island. The firm’s portfolio can be viewed at www.landscapeelementsllc.com.
