Innovative landscape architecture projects honored for excellence in design, planning, and sustainability.
LPA received multiple honors at the recent American Society of Landscape Architects San Diego Chapter Awards for work on corporate, civic and education projects.
Several LPA landscape designers were on hand at the University of San Diego event to accept the awards, alongside clients from San Bernardino City USD, the City of Escondido, and Pretend City Children's Museum.
“It was a privilege to be honored for our company’s great work and to represent the integrated teams that worked on many of these projects,” said LPA landscape Design Director Rocio Gertler.
The four award-winning projects represent a wide range of types and phases, from the master plan update for a city park to a completed, 32-acre corporate campus, reflecting the team’s depth and breadth of expertise.
Grape Day Park
Honor Award in Planning/Analysis
Grape Day Park, the largest recreational area in downtown Escondido, has been re-envisioned through a master plan that considers existing site conditions, neighborhood context and extensive community outreach. The updated plan includes connections to boulevards, greenways, event sites, and transportation lines, promoting community use and safety. By balancing programmed and flexible spaces, the design supports both formal and informal community activities, enhancing this well-utilized area for future generations.
The jury praised the team’s “multi-pronged approach” to gathering community feedback, including their use of text messages to reach citizens. About the design, the jury said: “Beyond a park, it is urban design. Facilities, amenities and the park bring the city together.”
Edwards Lifesciences Campus
Merit Award in Institutional Design
Edwards Lifesciences’ headquarters provides a lush campus retreat amidst Irvine, California’s bustling industrial district. Covering 32 acres, with 50% dedicated to open space, the landscape seamlessly unites multiple buildings with active, passive, recreational, and restorative outdoor spaces. These spaces cater to more than 4,000 employees and numerous visitors, offering terraces for gathering, dining, and relaxation. The design prioritizes sustainability and wellness, echoing Edwards’ mission to improve the quality of life for people around the world.
Pretend City Museum
Merit Award in Un-built Works
Pretend City Children's Museum, now under construction in Orange County, is a child-sized interconnected city where children can explore real-world roles. The site design integrates nature throughout, with playgrounds, outdoor hands-on exhibits, a large children’s garden and outdoor dining and staff break areas. Every element from the parking lot to the museum interior fosters learning and engagement, reflecting Pretend City’s commitment to diversity, child development, and sustainability. S2 Associates is the exhibit designer on the project.
Jurors applauded the design for providing “a lot of good stuff inside,”
Cardinal Child Development Center
Merit Award in Un-built Works
The Cardinal Child Development Center for San Bernardino City USD is a net zero energy facility designed as an urban oasis on underutilized land. The site’s existing mature trees are preserved in a secure courtyard, designed to ensure all classrooms have direct access to outdoor spaces. The landscape is programmed with diverse functional areas, including spaces for growing, learning, and playing, supporting a nature-based learning approach with pollinator gardens, drought-tolerant plants, and integrated play equipment.
The jury appreciated the project’s “soft shading elements and curvilinear lines,” as well as the team’s focus on saving existing trees.
