Lowell Village Townhomes Grand Junction, CO
This proposed development project for a 2-acre in downtown Grand Junction will bring new urban living options to the downtown area that currently do not exist. To our knowledge, there has been little to no ground-up, market-rate residential development in downtown Grand Junction in the past 20-30 years. Our proposed site/subdivision plan for this site will deliver 36 for-sale townhomes (30 with home offices/guest rooms), rehabilitate the Lowell School building as 12 for-rent loft apartments, and create new community gardens and greenspace. Having additional residents living and working at this site, coupled with putting the site back on the tax rolls, will help further the ongoing revitalization of downtown. Key elements of this innovative site and landscape plan include: micro-basins in public right-of-way spaces to capture urban runoff, food forest plants that provide perennial food production (such as fruit, nuts, berries, and herbs), community garden plots, a composting and recycling hub for residents, an on-site greenhouse to grow starter plants for the landscape areas, water harvesting using rain barrels, a gray water system, supplemental photovoltaic electricity generation for net metering, and accessory dwelling units above garages to address the ever-increasing affordable housing problem.
Colorado Mesa University Rooftop Garden Grand Junction, CO
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This extraordinary project is one of the most unique in Western Colorado. Located at the Business College building three stories above the Mesa State College campus, this rooftop garden reveals extraordinary views of the Colorado National Monument, the Grand Mesa, and downtown Grand Junction. The project area measures 40 feet x 150 feet in size (6,000 square feet) and is located on the sunny south facing façade of the third floor of the building.
Initially, the design of this area was confined to a 25 foot x 52 foot space to be filled with “Green Grid®”, a modular roof tray system planted with Sedum plants. What evolved through the design process was one of three concepts developed for the rooftop, each with the thought of expanding the use of the building and providing a space in which the students and faculty could enjoy year-round. Early in its conception this space was intended to be engaged; where extraordinary views could be enjoyed; where conversations could be had; where studying was to be inspirational rather than mundane. The space consists of three outdoor rooms with benches, chairs and stair seating surrounded by a three-sided perimeter viewing area. Custom built, drip irrigated planters, have been used in concert with an ivy-covered “green wall” to create a wind buffer for the terrace. Craftsman style lighting is integrated into a custom designed and built shade canopy made out of bent steel tubing and cream colored shade fabric that provides relief from the hot summer sun. The flooring of the garden consists of three different colors of concrete pavers which rest on adjustable pedestals, synthetic turf, and Green Grid® planting trays. All of these elements combine to form the first public rooftop garden in Western Colorado that increases aesthetic value, increases roof life, increases insulation and energy efficiency, increases biodiversity and wildlife, manages water efficiently, reduces air pollution, reduces urban heat and noise pollution, and increases fire prevention. |
Bella Dimora Subdivision Grand Junction, CO
This project consisted of a 108-unit residential subdivision located on a 13.85 acre site on the south side of Patterson Road between 28 ¼ Rd and 29 Road in Grand Junction, Colorado. Nvision Design Studio, Inc. prepared the design and planning documents for the landscape areas located between the residential units, the property lines, and the hardscape areas on site.
The landscape concept for Bella Dimora is based on concentrating the majority of the planting along the main streets and in front of the residential units. The purpose for this treatment is to increase the visual appeal from the street looking into the units as well as to provide an attractive, beautiful, and low-maintenance landscape adjacent to each residence. The plant palette will be based mainly on native and adapted plants found in and around the Grand Valley and commonly sold at local nurseries.
This landscape treatment meets or exceeds the minimum requirements found in Chapter 21.06.040-Development Standards for Landscape, Buffering and Screening, and provides an enhanced aesthetic appeal as intended by the City of Grand Junction. The landscaping in this concept reduces heat and glare on the street and buildings, facilitates movement of traffic, shades cars and parking surfaces reducing local and ambient temperatures, buffers and screens cars from adjacent properties, promotes natural percolation of surface waters, improves air quality, buffers and screens potentially incompatible uses from one another, and conserves the value of property and neighborhoods within the City.
The landscape concept for Bella Dimora is based on concentrating the majority of the planting along the main streets and in front of the residential units. The purpose for this treatment is to increase the visual appeal from the street looking into the units as well as to provide an attractive, beautiful, and low-maintenance landscape adjacent to each residence. The plant palette will be based mainly on native and adapted plants found in and around the Grand Valley and commonly sold at local nurseries.
This landscape treatment meets or exceeds the minimum requirements found in Chapter 21.06.040-Development Standards for Landscape, Buffering and Screening, and provides an enhanced aesthetic appeal as intended by the City of Grand Junction. The landscaping in this concept reduces heat and glare on the street and buildings, facilitates movement of traffic, shades cars and parking surfaces reducing local and ambient temperatures, buffers and screens cars from adjacent properties, promotes natural percolation of surface waters, improves air quality, buffers and screens potentially incompatible uses from one another, and conserves the value of property and neighborhoods within the City.
BLM Regional Office Complex Grand Junction, CO
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This project included the design and documentation for the landscape and related parking lot and streetscape of an office complex located on 6.2 acres of land in Grand Junction, Colorado.
In keeping with the requirements specified by the City of Grand Junction Development Code, the planting requirements for the project included 109 trees, 634 shrubs, 135 perennials, over 22,000 sf of irrigated native grass, and over 10,000 sf of turf grass. The seven principles for xeriscape landscape design were utilized in developing the planting design for the site: Planning & Design, Turf Alternatives, Mulches, Zoning of Plants, Soil Improvements, Efficient Irrigation, and Appropriate Maintenance. Following the LEED certification process, the general planting scheme was to provide turf areas to assist in cooling certain areas of the site near the building, as well as to provide breakout areas for the employees. In all other areas of the site the focus was to create attractive wildlife habitat and to provide shade for the parking lot and street, thus helping to reduce the urban heat island effect. As a Federal government requirement, the client required that the landscaping nearest to the street be arranged in such a way as to create a deterrent to errant or “hostile” vehicles that could potentially threaten the safety of the employees. This was done with the use of large boulders, trees, and shrubs located between the street/parking lot and the main building. |
Mesa County Valley School District 51–Alternative High School Grand Junction, CO
This project included the design and documentation for the landscape and related parking lot for an alternative school located on approximately 3 acres of land in downtown Grand Junction, Colorado. The desires from the school district team revolved around ease of maintenance, a theme that is very common in our current society. As budgets in the public school system continue to get slashed, so then do program elements. We took it as a challenge to find creative and cost effective ways to achieve design goals for this project.
The landscape program included large shade trees to help reduce the urban heat island effect, simple decomposed ground cover areas to minimize maintenance, a multi-use entrance plaza for students and faculty, and three outdoor explorative spaces designed for experiential learning, teaching, and recreation. Some innovative programs that were discussed throughout the project included the involvement of the students in the development of the site, such as tree and flower planting, fence building, and raising food in outdoor hoop houses and raised planters.
The landscape program included large shade trees to help reduce the urban heat island effect, simple decomposed ground cover areas to minimize maintenance, a multi-use entrance plaza for students and faculty, and three outdoor explorative spaces designed for experiential learning, teaching, and recreation. Some innovative programs that were discussed throughout the project included the involvement of the students in the development of the site, such as tree and flower planting, fence building, and raising food in outdoor hoop houses and raised planters.
Colorado Mesa University Residence Hall Grand Junction, CO
This project included the design and planning for the landscape located at the corner of North Avenue and Cannell Avenue located on the Colorado Mesa University (prev. Mesa State College) campus in Grand Junction, Colorado. The project included the future demolition of two commercial buildings and three residential buildings and the construction of three new buildings, a parking lot and drive aisle, pedestrian paving and a plaza, and an open play field.
This scope of work included the design and documentation of all landscape areas consisting of approximately 58,625 square feet. The design included conceptual and schematic grading and layout of pedestrian paving, site lighting, signage, site furniture, planting, and irrigation. Nvision Design Studio, Inc.. worked closely with the Architects in order to achieve consistency and unity between the site components and the architecture.
This scope of work included the design and documentation of all landscape areas consisting of approximately 58,625 square feet. The design included conceptual and schematic grading and layout of pedestrian paving, site lighting, signage, site furniture, planting, and irrigation. Nvision Design Studio, Inc.. worked closely with the Architects in order to achieve consistency and unity between the site components and the architecture.
Rifle Creekside Subdivision Rifle, CO |
Landscape Plan |
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This project included the preparation of landscape architectural drawings and design related services for the proposed Rifle Creek Subdivision located at the intersection of Acacia Drive and Creekside Drive in Rifle, Colorado. The project is within the jurisdiction of the City of Rifle.
The design theme integrated Xeriscape™ landscape principles and followed all of the guidelines set forth in Chapter 16, Article XIII of the Rifle Land Use Code. The landscape design included a combination of trees, shrubs, perennials, and turf grasses, as well as natural nonliving elements such as rock mulch and native landscape boulders. The submittal requirements to the City of Rifle included Landscape plans requiring the following items: calculation of net site area, calculation of required landscape treatment area, location and dimensions of areas to be landscaped and areas of existing landscaping, location, general type and quality of existing vegetation, existing vegetation to be saved, locations and labels for all proposed plants, plant schedule with the botanical and common names, quantity, spacing and size of all proposed landscape materials at the time of planting, location and description of other landscape improvements such as earth berms, walls, fences, screens, sculptures, fountains, street furniture, lights and courts or paved areas, location and coverage of required irrigation systems, planting and installation details as necessary to ensure conformance with all required standards, and a guarantee from the developer that all plant materials will be warranted for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the time of installation. |
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DeBeque Farms DeBeque, CO |
Landscape Plan & Photo Simulation |
