A plaza in downtown Denver, Colorado was a “harsh place,” a “terrible concrete plaza,” explained Kasey Toomey, PLA, landscape architect, artist, and senior project manager at Terremoto. “We decided to create a habitat, a green space for all these creatures” — not just people.
The new 18,000-square foot plaza purposefully creates space for insects and birds but also significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. All material, except for some Black Locust wood lumber and a few metal tables and chairs, was sourced within 100 miles. “We’re pretty fluid — we respond to local materials and product manufacturers’ expertise.”
Terremoto usually designs projects close to their home turf in southern California. With this opportunity, they wanted to see if they could apply their highly local, low-carbon design approach in another state.
Danielle VanLehe, landscape designer at Terremoto, said when they arrived in Denver they intentionally stayed in a hotel far from downtown. “We spent time hiking and immersing ourselves in the natural environment, which became our guide and helped us make decisions about plants and boulders.” Terremoto started the design process this way to ensure they were “respecting native ecosystems.”
They also partnered with Kevin Philip Williams, a local botanist and plant designer, to help them think through the native plant communities for the new plaza. The team curated a mix of plants that connect to foothill and short grass prairie ecosystems.
The designers also ran their plant selections by the local Audubon Society. They advised which plants would provide habitat for local bird species missing from downtown Denver. “We looked at plant structure, type, when they bloom, and which would provide nesting space and protective cover,” VonLehe said.
Given the tight budget of $1.3 million, there wasn’t enough for a fountain or basin for the plaza, which sits on top of the basement of the surrounding buildings. This led the team to design in boulders with natural depressions, which the team then set next to irrigation systems. The indents in the boulders catch water, providing a water source for insects and birds.
With a conceptual design in place, Terremoto took their client out on a multi-day tour of nearby native plant nurseries, material suppliers, and product manufacturers. “In all our projects, we develop intimate relationships with materials and manufacturers. That process influenced the design of the plaza.”
They selected Lyons Sandstone for boulders, pavers, and decomposed granite, because they agreed to work with them in a collaborative way. “We started a dialogue with the quarry — exploring their stone yard to find those boulders with the depressions.” This approach also demonstrates their fluid approach to design: “In our first drawings, the plaza definitely wasn’t pink, but then we found this source,” Toomey said.
They undertook a similar process to find a manufacturer that could transform old trees into sculptural benches. Terremoto selected Where Wood Meets Steel because the company could take a light touch to processing benches. “We usually only do one or two moves to an object or material — to keep it closest to its natural state.” Beyond the beauty of these natural materials, there are added benefits. Materials with little processing have much lower embodied carbon emissions and are often more economical.
The only material not from the local area is the Black Locust wood used for the decks, some benches, and other custom furniture. Toomey said it’s a strong, durable wood that is grown and processed in many parts of the U.S. It’s also a far better alternative to tropical hardwoods like Ipe. Extraction of Ipe causes immense harm to rainforest ecosystems.
Toomey thinks creating an “‘ecosystem’ with the developer, local builder and product manufacturers” is key to making authentic places that are connected to people and ecosystems. “It’s important to focus on local relationships and materials that build and deepen community.”
And it’s possible to forge these relationships in another place while minimizing travel emissions. Terremoto’s team took fewer but longer trips to Denver. “We inserted ourselves only when necessary.” To maximize efficiencies, they also participated in the construction process over five days, choreographing the placement of plants, benches, and boulders. “We were part of the team as it was being built.”
