SWA provided planning services related to entitlement and land use for 1,400 acres of land in the City of Irvine, representing the last “flat land” development within the Irvine Ranch. Fundamental to the planning of Woodbury was the concept of a village “commons” with a mix of retail, residential, and office uses, which also includes a recreation center, public community park, and elementary school as well as a series of neighborhood parks, echoing a variety of distinct architectural styles. Equally important was the establishment of the landscape framework that became the backbone of the community, with four major entryways, two green inner loops, and a pedestrian esplanade providing connections between the village commons and the retail center. The enclave connects to the Jeffrey Open Space Trail, an innovative departure at the time from traditional urban park landscapes to ‘California Native Meadow’. It also introduced the first phase of a now-implemented broader regional trail system. SWA worked with the City staff in preparing the General Plan, pre-zoning, and annexation applications. This project received the Pacific Coast Builders Gold Nugget Grand Award in 2004 for the “Best Community Site Plan—100 Acres or More”.
The Cannery
The Cannery is a new pedestrian-friendly neighborhood in the City of Davis that exemplifies the most current and best practices of sustainable community design. Drawing from the agricultural roots of the adjacent landscape, the development emphasizes wellness through the establishment of a comprehensive open-space and recreational system and locally produced f...
Mission Viejo Civic Core
The City of Mission Viejo hired SWA to analyze its core area for revitalization potential. The area contains a mix of civic, commercial, and recreational uses. A fragmented ownership pattern, dated architectural design, endless surface parking, minimal landscaping, and the lack of a pedestrian-friendly environment hindered the establishment of a town center th...
Envision Willowick
The Cities of Garden Grove and Santa Ana are developing a “vision” for redevelopment of the Willowick Golf Course site. This process explored conceptual land use options that are formed by community and stakeholder collaboration and input. The Visioning is intended to be used to guide the preparation of development plans for Willowick. The visioning...
NOAH Ethnographic Village
Armenia has set an initiative to increase global tourism and develop a site within its capital city with majestic views of Mount Ararat, where Noah’s Ark is purported to have landed. SWA developed a strategic plan based on several principles derived from the existing context of the site: first, to capitalize its proximity to important landmarks that allow for ...