SWA partnered with the City of Burlingame to transform a surface parking lot into “The Grove,” a vibrant 1-acre community gathering space envisioned as downtown Burlingame’s outdoor living room. Blending urban functionality with engaging public amenities, the design features a grid of deciduous trees, a central glass-clad fountain with a cascading waterfall, communal dining areas, spaces for outdoor games, and a flexible zone for markets, festivals, and performances.
Central to the project is the thoughtful integration of the square on two parcels—one city-owned and one privately developed—into a cohesive hub that reflects Burlingame Avenue’s charm and warmth. At the project’s inception, SWA and Urban Field Studio led an inclusive and thorough community engagement process to ensure alignment with broader downtown revitalization goals, collaborating with the city, local stakeholders, and adjacent property owners.
The design emphasizes the pedestrian experience by expanding walkable areas and creating abundant opportunities for connection and activity. Imaginative features include a nighttime art projection that simulates a creek, paying homage to Burlingame Creek flowing beneath the square. Public restrooms within the cast glass fountain add an artistic and sensory element to the square.
Dubai Expo 2020
From October 2021 to April 2022, the City of Dubai hosted the World Expo: a large-scale International Registered Exhibition that brings nations together with universal themes and immersive experiences. It comprises an entirely new city, built on a 1,083-acre site between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Expo site is organized around a central plaza linked to three mai...
Jeddah Central District
For many Muslims making the holy pilgrimage to Makkah, the journey begins in Jeddah. Recognizing the resource strain from religious tourism, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan outlined the need to address the city’s mounting concerns surrounding housing, mobility, and flooding.
SWA’s Central District master plan introduces 58,000 new acco...
Katy Trail
Katy Trail represents a remarkable resource for the residents of the Dallas Fort Worth region. This project enlivens and makes accessible right-of-way established by the storied, but later abandoned, Missouri-Kansas-Texas (better known as the “Katy”) line, and serves as a unifying element for the surrounding neighborhoods. Katy Trail provides appro...
Lynwood Mega-Playground
Inspired by the city’s rich history of aerospace research and manufacturing, Lynwood Mega-Playground brings a dynamic space exploration-themed playground to the heart of the Central Los Angeles city.
Completed in Fall 2024, the playground transforms the Northwest corner of Lynwood Park into a colorful spectacle with super-sized play features including a...