VODA worked with the Artspace organization and Wasatch Community Gardens to help craft a new community garden in downtown Salt Lake City. VODA applauds any effort to improve the neighborhood, and to build a stronger sense of community in our city. As landscape architects, we support programs that will educate the wider population of the city on issues of land stewardship, environmental sustainability, food security, and quality public spaces. This project was a prototype for future community gardens to be sponsored at Artspace’s other properties in the downtown area. VODA helped to facilitate public meetings, design, and cost estimation.
Working closely with EDA Architects and Carbaugh & Associates, VODA was enlisted by the University of Utah College of Architecture + Planning to aid in the analysis phase of their ambitious project to retrofit the existing College’s building to achieve a “net zero” project.
VODA worked on a team led by CRSA to craft a master land use plan for the Cache Logan Airport area. Involving all adjacent communities, the master land use plan was created to ensure that future development along the two major corridors adjacent to the airport was compatible with the continued operations of the airport. GIS and other mapping software was used to analyze environmental and developmental constraints to development in the study area.
In 2009 VODA worked on a team at CRSA to assist Nibley City in creating new Commercial and Institutional Design Standards. These standards were developed with the input of both the Planning Commission and City Council, and adopted successfully in 2009. Several meetings were held directly with the City Council, and weekly progress reports were provided the Nibley City Planner. Of particular interest for the process was the way that commercial development along the Hwy 89/91 corridor would create “sense of place” for Nibley.
Working on a team with CRSA, VODA worked with the lead architect for the new Davis County Senior Center, an addition to the Davis County Health Department building. Together the team developed conceptual plans and final construction documents quickly in order to take advantage of low construction costs. The landscape design included lush but low water use plants, two small plazas, and a raised bed vegetable garden area. Since completion, the raised bed garden has been particularly popular with the seniors using the facility.
VODA staff worked with the architecture team at CRSA to craft site plan options for the new Magna Branch of the Salt Lake County Library. Several options were explored, and more refined landscape options were developed to assist the client in seeing the possibilities for public interface at the library entrance. With a prime location on Magna’s Main Street, the library served to encourage more visitors to the neighborhood, and to support the other businesses on the street.
Working on a team with CRSA, VODA staff designed the low water-use landscape for this cutting edge project. This LEED Platinum certified facility is located on previously developed land adjacent to a restored wetland complex and nature preserve. All plantings used on the site are native and require little to no water. Rainwater is collected in above ground and below ground cisterns and no potable water is used in the maintenance of the landscape. Boardwalks are constructed from recycled material and pervious paving facilitates stormwater infiltration.
