News

Two of BIO-WEST’s landscape architecture projects were honored at the 2022 Utah Annual Professional Awards Program, hosted by the American Society of Landscape Architects Utah Chapter.

The Three Creeks Confluence Open Space project was given the Honor award and was the headliner project under the Urban Design award category. The Red Butte Garden Six Bridges Trail project was entered under the General Design award category and won a Merit Award.

Urban Design Awards recognize projects, finished or in progress, that activate networks of space that mediate between social equity, economic viability, infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and beautiful place-making in the public and private realm.

The Three Creeks Confluence Open Space is the first step in a 100-year plan to daylight Salt Lake City’s urban waterways. The 2.5-acre Glendale property previously existed as an asphalt paved, dead-end segment of 1300 South Street and an abandoned home that had suffered from vandalism and fire. Now, the property features a community gathering place that provides opportunities to fish, kayak or canoe, observe local artist installations, sit and relax in the shade, watch for urban wildlife, climb and play, or participate in local festivities and events. This unique open space was created by daylighting 200 feet of the three creeks concrete conduit, which contains the combined flows of Red Butte, Emigration, and Parleys Creeks, where it joins the Jordan River. This project showcases the environmental and aesthetic benefits of uncovering and restoring these local waterways, while also making investments in social equity, economic viability, green infrastructure, and place making in this diverse and often overlooked neighborhood.

“This project does indeed present a very high standard and should be a model for other cities dealing with blighted sites,” the ASLA Arizona Awards Jury wrote about the project. “The quality of work is excellent, and we really appreciate the thought process that went into every aspect of the design…”

Design Awards recognize site-specific constructed works of landscape architecture where physical design, functional success, and aesthetic quality were the primary considerations.

The Six Bridges Trail project is located in the eastern foothills above Salt Lake City at Red Butte Garden on the University of Utah Campus. It involved the design and development of an accessible nature trail located along Red Butte Creek The ADA accessible trail project has been a master planning goal for Red Butte Garden for nearly two decades and is designed to bring Red Butte Garden guests and university students through this untouched, natural stream gorge that was previously inaccessible to visitors. The project consists of approximately 900 feet of meandering trail, three elevated trail sections, six pedestrian bridges, five interpretive waysides, and two observation platforms. The project also features 300 linear feet of streambank restoration, removal of concrete debris, upland habitat restoration, and native riparian-wetland habitat plantings.

“This project represents our responsibility as landscape architects to provide accessible spaces for all abilities” the ASLA Arizona Awards Jury wrote about the project. “It also provides creek restoration and habitat. The design team did a great job understanding of the site by performing a comprehensive site inventory / analyses and creating a hydraulic model regarding the floodplain to assure the design would be successful. This is a great project and adds value to the client and visitors.”

To learn more about these projects and to read about the other 2022 ASLA Utah Award Winners, visit https://www.utahasla.org/2022-asla-utah-awards