Project Service: Urban Design

Lloyds Estates Resiliency Demonstration Project

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As a component of a drainage master plan project, CGA developed an innovative design solution for the implementation of a flood-control dam structure to be coupled with a bio-swale with a tidal wetland landscape typology. The focus of the project was to utilize the proposed pump station site as an opportunity to create an educational pocket park focusing on green and sustainable solutions to marry drainage designs responsive to sea-level rise and tidal impacts. Together, they work to control the impending floods and serve to provide the ecologically significant benefits of tidal wetlands while increasing the holding capacity of the system. Beyond its environmental and engineering impacts, the project also utilizes the opportunity afforded by the site and its location to signal and create a gateway experience for the City, as it is on the edge of the City’s boundary and along a well-transited thoroughfare. The design for the site, despite its size, is envisioned to have a high social impact, as it will be of a high design quality that includes a boardwalk with Folia® educational signage, unique paving design, furnishings for passive uses, native landscaping, branding signage with character lighting design, security features, and the inclusion of a transit bus bay.

Broward County EOC Library Park Master Plan

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In response to Broward County’s desire to reconfigure their Emergency Operation Center (EOC), CGA reconceptualized the spaces in between the various other buildings (including the County Courthouse and a branch of the County Library System) in the campus setup as a series of socialized spaces. These were sized and detailed to operate as event spaces to accommodate uses such as program uses that could be organized by the Library (book fairs, reading sessions, author-meets, etc.) or events that could be organized by greater community services, such as fresh food market, antique fair, and other such public-use events. Considerations for these were the quality and branding of the environment and embedding security features into the design so that the space could be defensible given the sensitive nature of the program uses of the various campus buildings. Lastly, access driveways and parking areas were detailed and conceived in manners that increased their flexibility of use and application, so that they could, on a low-intensity use period or during an event, could function as a use-area and not ‘feel’ like a road or parking lot.

Doral Boulevard Streetscape Master Plan

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CGA prepared the Doral Boulevard Streetscape Master Plan for NW 36/41st Street to guide the character of the boulevard over the following 2 generations. The master plan addresses issues both of the planning and beautification nature. The plan establishes the guidelines for urban development fronting the boulevard, determining building heights, massing characteristics, sidewalk amenities, and it established the parameters through which a pedestrian-friendly environment can be created. Additionally, the master plan establishes a beautification palette consisting of street furniture, paving styles, plant palettes, and architectural features at strategic points for the creation of gateways and determinant of a sense of place. An important aspect of the project is the planning of a consistent branding strategy with the use of landscape buffer design, gateway designs, city entrance designs off of both the Turnpike and the Palmetto Expressway, and a coherent theme consistent with the various urban and sub-urban qualities present along the 4-mile corridor’s stretch.

Fire Station Commemorative Plaza

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The Delray Beach CRA’s 2002 Downtown Master Plan identified NW/SW 5th Avenue as the mid-point along Atlantic Avenue, between Interstate I-95 and the downtown core. The plan recommended the creation of twin public plazas on the northwest and southwest corners of the intersection to serve as a new neighborhood center and gathering place for the community as a whole. CGA designed the plaza on the Northwest corner which consists of landscape features and pedestrian amenities. The design also included colorful terrazzo and keystone pavers similar to the Libby Wesley Plaza (SW corner) of intersection, and includes four bronze emblems featuring fire rescue motifs. Green building elements such as permeable pavers and native vegetation were also incorporated into the project. The design allows for seamless integration into the Atlantic Avenue corridor while still honoring the unique civic identity of the Fire Rescue Headquarters.

174th Street Bridge Park Conceptual Design (Unbuilt)

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CGA designed an award-winning concept for an innovative pedestrian bridge over “the most dangerous within the City-limits.” This was in support of a Miami-Dade County Transportation Planning Organization grant. The CGA design team approached the design by breaking free from traditional pedestrian bridges (usually surrounded by a cage structure) that transcend the illusion of a cage and instead create an elevated park system, increasing pedestrian and vehicular safety. The design approached the project as creating a destination and experience by branding it as a ‘park’ and not just a ‘bridge.’ Instead of simply creating a connection across the street, the project should instead be thought of as a solution that creates an extension of open space that envelops the bold ethos of its context with an iconic and emblematic solution that increases connectivity and capitalizes on the vistas of Sunny Isles Beach. CGA was able to obtain approval of its security and safety strategy from FDOT District 6 and paved the way for the project to move forward into its design and construction process.

North Bay Road Pedestrian Bridge

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CGA was retained by the City of Sunny Isles Beach to survey, design, permit, and administer the construction of the North Bay Road Bridge, spanning a canal between 174th St. and 172nd St. along North Bay Road. The principal function of the bridge is to provide pedestrian access across the canal, as well as it is designed to provide access to emergency vehicles as a bypass to Collins Ave. during periods of heavy traffic congestion.

The CGA team approached the project first as a ‘place’ and a pedestrian amenity, and second as an emergency access last. The design was centered on creating a park-like setting with planting and seating that would appeal to pedestrian use and would promote lingering. A strong branding strategy was embedded within the hardscape design that reinforced the concept of using infrastructure as a recreational asset and in turn has established it as a landmark within the City. The project included several work efforts adjacent to the bridge, including the construction of an observation deck in Town Center Park, located at the eastern end of the canal, and a boardwalk connecting the deck to the North Bay Road bridge. Associated drainage, roadway, utility, and hardscape improvements were made along 174th St. and 172nd St. to account for the increased drainage and other impacts to the surrounding infrastructure.

The project involved intensive coordination with regulatory agencies, utilities, government entities, and local stakeholders. The CGA team was able to procure all necessary permits to conduct the work on schedule.

Surfside Corridor Analysis

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The Town of Surfside noticed high interest in redevelopment of the corridor between Collins and Harding Avenues. In an effort to stay ahead of the new construction, there was interest to prepare criteria to help guide future development into the desired development pattern. CGA prepared an analysis and zoning criteria which included the following:

  • Preparation of new zoning criteria and comparison of existing conditions
  • A review of green book traffic engineering standards as well as Miami-Dade County and FDOT as it relates to mid-block accessibility, walkways, pedestrian activity
  • Impacts to existing buildings and strategies for potential non-conformities such as if there is a modification to an existing building, under what circumstances would the entire development need to be brought up to the proposed code
  • Consistency of new criteria with comprehensive plan
  • Consistency of new criteria with other sections of the zoning code such as off-street parking, signs, accessory structures, conditional uses, landscaping
  • Requirements for open space in terms of landscaping, public space
  • Coordination with legal in terms of vested rights, reduced density or intensity resulting from new zoning criteria
  • Design criteria for pedestrian walkways

Tamarac Corridor Study

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The Redevelopment Study focused on key commercial areas within Tamarac. Three primary areas of opportunity were identified with unique marketing, economic development, urban design and land use strategies. The study included planning and design strategies intent on (a) positioning the City’s commercial areas to be more competitive for redevelopment opportunities; (b) identifying current and future market demand within the City’s commercial areas; (c) identifying the ten-year potential for key uses and activities within the City; (d) recommending zoning patterns to promote sustainable transit-oriented development principles; and (e) reflecting green principles for redevelopment. The final study provided recommendations to target specific market sectors and made recommendations to better-situate the City in a highly competitive redevelopment market, with a focus on increasing economy, live-work, livability, walkability, sustainability and aesthetic qualities to serve as attractors for commercial investment and a new generation of home-buyers.