Ideas For Utility Screening

While finishing a recent project, we received a request from Tallahassee Growth Management to consider screening the required fire apparatus and backflow preventers from drivers on the adjacent roadway. The challenge was to find a way to make these less noticeable and still maintain the required 7-foot clearance around the equipment.

BEFORE

We decided to camouflage the backflow preventer by approximating the background color of the landscaping behind the units, and block the view to traffic with landscaping.

We photographed the surrounding installed landscaping, then use Adobe Illustrator to match the average color with Pantone color chips. The result was presented to the Owner for approval.

Covers for the irrigation and potable water backflow preventers were added. As in many construction projects, the instructions were "creatively" interpreted by the ones doing the work. The FDC and Valve were left their original colors, but without harm to what was intended.

AFTER

Comments

Stormwater Bioswale Failure

There are a lot of great designers out there offering workable ideas for stormwater treatment and control. Parking lot bioswales (depressed areas to treat and/or control storomwater runoff are a great example of their thinking. This is only one example: With anything, once it's built, it requires maintenance to function properly. The permitted facility shown below is rather new (around a year old) and it's intended function is already significantly impaired. Here' is what sometimes happens: Outlet structure blocked by debris and dead plant material. Landscaping/sod has died and sides are eroded.

Avoiding Pedestrian Hazards in Parking Lots (2) Landscape Strips

This local landscape strip in the parking area exhibits several flaws. The area is too narrow for the selected tree species (Live Oak) The topsoil within the planting area has been eroded away either by foot traffic or rainfall, or both There is no mulch around the tree to aid in moisture retention. It is possible that the soil is so compacted that the roots must surface to get the oxygen needed to survive. A path is not provided between areas separated by the landscape strip, making traversing an area like this, with exposed roots, hazardous to pedestrians. A mitigating feature is that the planting strip is, placed at a 90 degree agnle with reference to the store entry so that pedestrians are not forced to cross the strip in order to reach the front entry. Some Suggested Design Considerations Ensure the species of tree is well suited at maturity for the space provided. Know the characteristics of the development of the root system. At the time of planting, pr

Applying Form Based Codes-It Could Have Been Better

This famous Bread Company is located on a major roadway in St. Petersburg, Florida. It’s close to mid-day. Can you tell if it’s open for business? This structure meets most of the parameters for situation according to Form Based Codes: It addresses the street with the front of the building pushed as close as possible to roadway, still allowing for a sidewalk in front; Parking is located at the rear and is accessed by an alley on the corner and by a small drive/roadway along the rear. The building façade includes windows along the front, so there is no bare wall. But it looks lifeless. At the driveway / alley looking across the front. At the driveway /alley, looking the other way. It looks forced and pretentious. Notice the backflow preventers out front. At the front… At the front…apparently no signs allowed. Not even way-finding. Below is a view across the street, with more of the same... Sunken Gardens (across the street) Sunke

Canter Group Planning & Design Blog

Search This Blog