ASLA 2012 Professional and Student Awards Program
Concealed Identification and Credit Form
Entry Number: 393
Project Title: Cherry Creek North
Official Entrant: Design Workshop, Inc.
Lead Designer (if applicable): Todd Johnson, FASLA
Landscape Architect of Record/Firm (if applicable): Design Workshop, Inc.
Client/Owner (if applicable): Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District
Please indicate if you wish client name to be kept confidential: ___yes _X__no
Photography and graphics credit:
1: Plan Design Workshop, Inc.
2: Design Workshop, Inc.
3: Jamie Fogle/ Design Workshop, Inc.
4: Design Workshop, Inc./ CommArts
5: left D.A. Horchner/ Design Workshop, Inc.
right Jamie Fogle/ Design Workshop, Inc.
6: Design Workshop, Inc.
7: D.A. Horchner/ Design Workshop, Inc.
8: Jamie Fogle/ Design Workshop, Inc.
9: D.A. Horchner/ Design Workshop, Inc.
10: D.A. Horchner/ Design Workshop, Inc.
11: Jamie Fogle/ Design Workshop, Inc.
12: Design Workshop, Inc.
13: D.A. Horchner/ Design Workshop, Inc.
14: D.A. Horchner/ Design Workshop, Inc.
15: left D.A. Horchner/ Design Workshop, Inc.
right Jamie Fogle/ Design Workshop, Inc.
16: Jamie Fogle/ Design Workshop, Inc.
Additional Project Credits:
Client: Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District
Julie Bender, President/ CEO
Kevin Wrede, Director of Physical Environment
Design Team:
Landscape Architect: Design Workshop, Inc. – Denver, CO
Todd Johnson, Principal
Eliot Hoyt, Principal
Jim MacRae, Principal
Jamie Fogle, Project Manager/ Landscape Architect
Kristin Turner, Project Manager
Allyson Mendenhall, Project Manager
Heather Fritton, Project Assistant
Kartika Rachmawati, Project Landscape Architect
Scott Baker, Project Landscape Architect
Jake Sippy, Project Landscape Architect
Todd Wenskoski, Designer
Paula Espinosa, Project Landscape Architect
Emily Dowgiallo, Project Landscape Architect
Laura Kessel, Project Landscape Architect
Jenny Staroska-McCoy, Project Landscape Architect
Carol Sperat, Project Landscape Architect
Heath Mizer, Project Landscape Architect
Environmental Graphics Consultant: Stantec/CommArts - Boulder, CO
Lighting Design Consultant: Patrick B. Quigley Associates - Torrance, CA
Civil Engineering Consultant: JVA, Inc. - Boulder, CO
Electrical Engineering Consultant: Scanlon Szynskie Group, Inc. - Aurora, CO
Irrigation Consultant: HydroSystems-KDI, Inc. - Lakewood, CO
Traffic Consultant: Fehr and Peers - Denver, CO
Horicultural Specialist: Bloomin’ Designs – Broomfield, CO
Program Manager: Nolte Vertical Five – Centennial, CO
Contractor Team:
General Contractor: The Weitz Company – Denver, CO
Unit Paver and Stone Wall Contractor: Gallegos Corporation – Denver, CO
Landscape Contractor: Valley Crest Landscape Development – Parker, CO
Electrical Contractor: Weifield Group – Denver, CO
Environmental Graphics Contractor: Urban Fabrication – Denver, CO
Surveyor: Engineering Service Company
Geotechnical Testing: Ground Engineering
Concrete Wall Renovation Specialist: Restoration Concrete Inc. – Arvada, CO
Concrete Paving Contractor: Clem ‘N’ Sons Concrete – Englewood, CO
Arborist/ Tree Care: Swingle Lawn Tree and Landscape Care – Denver, CO
Demolition Contractor: OE Construction Corporation – Golden, CO
Traffic Control: Highway Technologies
Major Product Suppliers: Endicott Clay Products – Fairbury, NE
Kornegay – Phoenix, AZ
Landscape Forms – Kalamazoo, MI
Miracote – Rancho Dominguez, CA
Neenah Foundry – Neenah, WI
Pavestone – Grapevine, TX
ASLA 2012 Professional Awards
General Design Category
Descriptive Data Summary
ENTRY NUMBER: 393
PROJECT TITLE: Cherry Creek North
PROJECT LOCATION (CITY & STATE): Denver, Colorado
PROJECT TYPE: Streetscape renovation
PROJECT STATEMENT | Threatened by outdated aesthetics, competition from the adjacent indoor shopping center,
increasing annual maintenance costs and deteriorating landscape infrastructure, the property owners of the 16-block
Cherry Creek North retail district in Denver, Colorado, saw an opportunity to reinvigorate Colorado’s premier outdoor
shopping district. Through extensive neighborhood outreach and design collaboration, the Landscape Architect-led team
transformed the public realm into “The New North” where people now linger, shop, sit, dine and explore.
PROJECT NARRATIVE | Over the past 20 years, the District’s aesthetic appeal and amenities had grown outdated and
were not compatible with the high-caliber retail tenants and visitors. The District needed to maintain economic
sustainability while enhancing the pedestrian shopping experience. After a rigorous design competition, the Landscape
Architect was selected to lead an interdisciplinary team of Environmental Graphic designers; Civil, Electrical and
Structural Engineers; Lighting Designers; a Horticultural Specialist and an Irrigation Designer to design and construct
the new streetscape improvements and to revitalize the undesirable public space of Fillmore Plaza. All improvements
were financed and authorized through a vote by all District property owners that allowed the Cherry Creek Business
Improvement District (BID) to issue $18.5 million in bonds for the project. These were the first major streetscape
improvements in more than 20 years.
Throughout the 16-block, mixed-use District, new wayfinding and identity graphics, upgraded lighting and electrical
systems, sophisticated intersections with enhanced paving, seating and planting, and 20 Art and Garden Places (AGP)
were constructed during the 12-month, first phase – just in time for the 2010 holiday shopping season.
Within the District, the one-block, seldom-used Fillmore Plaza was transformed from a series of underused pedestrian-only
open spaces flanked by underperforming retail stores into a hybrid, dual-purpose street that is considered one large
AGP. When in event mode, the two-way vehicular traffic and on-street parking can be closed to vehicles to host the more
than 20 planned events throughout the year. This six-month, second phase of the project was completed in time for the
20th annual Cherry Creek Arts Festival.
The Landscape Architect developed a project vision and guiding principles, iterated concept plan alternatives with
extensive stakeholder input, designed and documented the site design, and oversaw the quality of the construction during
the three-year process. The four major components of the design focused on balancing stakeholders interests and
concerns; creating opportunities for additional dwell time throughout the District; making the new design ecologically
responsible; and increasing the value of the design equitably throughout and for the good of the entire District.
BALANCING STAKEHOLDER INTERESTS | The project was financed from bonds serviced through property tax
assessments on all of the District’s property owners. Thus, the design had to be responsive to them and to the residents of
the surrounding high-income neighborhoods who were very involved in the evolution and were concerned about the
impacts of the project. The design team established a Project Advisory Group that included a dozen thought leaders
representing eight stakeholder groups to address all of the concerns for both phases. The transformation of Fillmore Plaza
alone involved over 10 public meetings that ultimately led to city council and neighborhood support. By leading a
transparent and collaborative process, the project received full stakeholder support and, to the benefit of all
stakeholders, the District remained open for business during all construction.
CREATING DWELL TIME | As an outdoor shopping venue, Cherry Creek North creates a special experience enhanced by
the wonderful Colorado climate and the ambiance of the place. The District has evolved from the fabric of the city and has
the intricate details and idiosyncrasies that only time can create. The design team took a holistic approach to ensure they
were giving a fresh look to the District’s composition – only fixing what was broken and leaving the successful parts
alone. Most of the existing street trees, sidewalks, street curbs and underground infrastructure remain intact. To set the
ASLA 2012 Professional Awards
General Design Category
Descriptive Data Summary
mood and provide easy navigation for shoppers, the design team created a cohesive set of over 80 identity banners and 21
wayfinding directories; added more than 90 new benches; and designed the AGPs with specialty lighting, planting, paving
and/ or seating in places that needed activation. To make the shopper experience easier, the frequently non-functioning
pay parking kiosks were replaced with over 500 solar powered “Smart Meters” with consumer-friendly technology that
are accessed on the 18” step-out strip of unit pavers.
MAKING A GREENER SHOPPING EXPERIENCE | In an era when the most successful projects are elegant, hip and
sustainable, the District was lagging behind other high-end retail areas. The annual maintenance budgets could not cover
replacements for seating, pedestrian paving, electrical and irrigation systems, and up-to-date wayfinding signage. By
focusing on the reduction of water-use, energy efficiency, material selection and recycling, the new design reduced the
District’s environmental footprint and re-established itself as a premier shopping experience.
• Over half of the existing water-demanding turfgrass was replaced with low-water-consuming
perennials and shrubs. This reduced the District’s annual water consumption by 58 percent and the
annual operating budget by $10,000.
• 250 additional shade and ornamental trees were added to reduce the urban heat island effect and to
increase the tree canopy for urban wildlife habitat by 50,000 square feet.
• 331 pedestrian lights were replaced with efficient one-bulb metal halide fixtures on a custom pole.
Annual electrical consumption was reduced by 5,600 Watts and costs by over $1,000.
• To reduce impacts to the local landfills, over 40 single-stream recycling receptacles were paired with
trash receptacles at the intersections to provide a choice for the user.
• Wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and 20 percent minimum post-industrial
recycled content in the site furnishings contributed to the long-term sustainability.
• Once construction began, 50 percent of the pedestrian lights, 25 percent of the benches and 30 percent
of the trash receptacles were donated to another Denver metro city. The remaining furnishings were
recycled and diverted from the landfill. Reuse of the 331 pedestrian light pole bases saved the District
$175,000 in construction costs and multiple weeks to the schedule.
• New amenities to the District included 16 newspaper corrals, 20 dog waste stations and 82 bike racks.
Also, the 64 street crossing ramps were upgraded to meet current ADA standards.
INCREASING VALUE WITH EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION | The District is funded by property value assessments; success
means higher taxes for all property owners. Any improvements made to the District needed to create a benefit for property
owners that was greater than their increased costs, and improvements needed to aid retail sales in exceeding the increased
taxes passed onto retail tenants. To accomplish this balancing act, the team equitably distributed the improvements
throughout the District to draw shoppers onto every street. The overall District benefited from this holistic design
approach with a new kit of parts that set the tone by adding six primary identification markers, more than 70 large
planter pots, 37 street identification banner poles with colors that corresponded to the Directory maps at each intersection,
over 80,000 square feet of clay brick pavers and concrete pavers, and the 111 refurbished concrete planter walls. More
colorful and sustainable plantings and mid-block banner poles were added to draw shoppers into the District’s less-traveled,
north/south-oriented streets. This acknowledged merchants’ concerns that people were not traveling those
streets. The east/west-oriented streets were already heavily traveled so the design contained simple, low-water plantings
and concrete pavers for ease of pedestrian use. Over the past year, the benefits of the improvements are reflected in the 2.2
percent drop in vacancy rates and the 16.1 percent increase in sales tax.
Since the streetscape improvements have been completed and since the new Fillmore Plaza has opened, the Cherry Creek
North Shopping District is no longer a tired place. It has seen an increase in vitality, pedestrian presence and retail
activity. Fillmore Plaza truly has become the premier event space in the revitalized District. The results increased
functionality for shoppers, reduced annual maintenance costs for the BID, unified the identity of the District, created more
destinations and retained the authenticity that brings vitality to the experience of shopping, working and living in Cherry
Creek North.
ENTRY NUMBER: 393
PROJECT TITLE: Cherry Creek North
PROJECT LOCATION (CITY &STATE): Denver, Colorado
PROJECT TYPE: Streetscape renovation
1
01 | The ‘New North’ | The Cherry Creek North Retail District revitalized itself by distributing the
construction dollars of the $18.5 million improvements across the entire 16-block district.
02 | A Tired Place | The previous underwhelming aesthetics did not announce the District; seating and
other streetscape amenities were falling apart; the street crossings were not code compliant; and the
landscape and irrigation were inefficient.
03 | Distinct Arrival | The gateway intersection at 1st Avenue and University Boulevard announces the
District and creates more visual interest for the 50,000 cars that pass by daily.
04 | New Kit of Parts | New environmental and wayfinding graphics were added to define the District and
address the complaints from past visitors that they did not know where Cherry Creek North was and
couldn’t easily locate businesses.
05 | Easy Navigation | District-wide directories and banner poles clearly mark the intersections and
reinforce the District’s brand. Lit with LED lights, the banners create identity and help visitors navigate the
District with street name abbreviations associated with distinct color chips.
06 | Sophisticated Intersections | The internal intersections are vital pedestrian gathering points and
vehicular navigation nodes. New wood benches, brick pavers and landscape renovations set the stage for
banner poles and custom street signs to aid wayfinding and identity.
07 | A Fresh Look | The pedestrian experience was elevated by re-conditioning the existing corner
planters and adding richly colored clay pavers, simple wood benches, custom environmental graphics
and seasonal plantings.
08 | Landscape Folly | Art and Garden Places accent the District and provide specialty lighting, paving
and seating that create a sense of surprise and added potential for shoppers to remain in the District
longer.
09 | Nighttime Appeal | Shopping, dining and strolling has resurged in the District because of the
nighttime ambiance found nowhere else in the region.
10 | A Seldom-Used Plaza | Since closing to vehicular traffic and converting to a pedestrian plaza in
1987, Fillmore Plaza had steadily declined into a series of underused open spaces and was no longer a
desirable public space.
11 | New Arrival to the Destination | Through extensive visioning and public outreach, Fillmore Plaza
has become a hybrid street with two-way vehicular traffic and on-street parking that can be closed off to
traffic during planned events throughout the year.
12 | Dual-Purpose Design | To elevate Fillmore Plaza as a destination and gateway for the entire
District, the hybrid street still accommodates shopping and events throughout the year.
ENTRY NUMBER: 393
PROJECT TITLE: Cherry Creek North
PROJECT LOCATION (CITY &STATE): Denver, Colorado
PROJECT TYPE: Streetscape renovation
2
13 | Transformed | Since the improvements to the streetscape and the new Fillmore Plaza, the Cherry
Creek North Retail District has seen an increase in vitality, pedestrian presence and retail activity.
14 | Event Mode | In Fillmore Plaza, the moveable planters are rolled away and the retractable bollards
lowered to provide an event space for the annual Arts Festival, showcasing the Plaza to over 350,000
attendees during the 3-day event.
15 | Identity in Lights | The District’s identity is strengthened with Fillmore Plaza’s 20 custom, internally
lit ‘blades’ that align with the subtle brick color banding, elegant seating and movable planters.
16 | Setting the Mood | The programmable LED light ‘blades’ in Fillmore Plaza can create various
ambience effects depending upon the holiday season and time of year.
ENTRY NUMBER: 393
PROJECT TITLE: Cherry Creek North
PROJECT LOCATION (CITY &STATE): Denver, Colorado
PROJECT TYPE: Streetscape renovation
Plant List
TREES
Espresso Coffeetree
Imperial Honeylocust
Prairie Rose Crabapple
Chanticleer Pear
Japanese Pagoda Tree
Redmond Linden
Swamp White Oak
Prospector Elm
English Oak
Autumn Splendor Sugar
Maple
SHRUBS
Leadplant
Crimson Pygmy Barberry
Helmond Pillar Barberry
Golden Nugget Japanese
Barberry
Nanho Blue Butterfly Bush
Winter Gem Boxwood
Varder Valley Boxwood
Green Velvet Boxwood
Ivory Halo Dogwood
Rock Cotoneaster
Jackman Clematis
Spanish Gold Broom
Garland Daphne
Compact Burning Bush
Lodense Privet
Cheyenne Privet
Red Yucca
St. John's Wort
Compact Oregon Grape Holly
Blue Globe Spruce
Mesa Verde Spruce
Slowmound Mugo Pine
Fineline Buckthorn
Paint the Town Rose
Morden Sunrise Rose
Nearly Wild Rose
Knock Out Rose
Carefree Sunshine Rose
SHRUBS (Continued)
Ebb Tide Rose
Limemound Spirea
Neon Flash Spirea
Goldflame Spirea
PERENNIALS/GRASSES
Moonshine Yarrow
Paprika Yarrow
Agastache Coronado
Double Bubblemint Hyssop
Sonoran Sunset Hyssop
Sunset Hyssop
Alma Potschke Aster
Silver Sage
Curlicue Sage
Monch Summer Aster
Rise & Shine Astilbe
White Jupiter's Beard
Jethro Tull Coreopsis
Moonbeam Coreopsis
Colorado Male Fern
Ruby Star Coneflower
White Swan Coneflower
Harvest Moon Coneflower
Twilight Coneflower
Sunrise Coneflower
Sunset Coneflower
Wintercreeper Purpleleaf
La Veta Lace Pink Geranium
Claridge Druce Geranium
Blue Avena Grass
Wisely Pink Sunrose
Baja Daylily
Bella Lugosi Daylily
Happy Returns Daylily
Strawberry Candy Daylilly
Stella D'Oro Daylily
Woodside Ruby Daylily
June Hosta
Play With Fire Iris
Hidcote English Lavender
Munstead Lavender
Becky Daisy
PERENNIALS/GRASSES
(Continued)
Moneywort
Mexican Feather Grass
Walker's Low Catmint
Little Trudy Catnip
Felix Crousse Peony
Duchess de Nemours Peony
Dallas Blues Switch Grass
Shenandoah Switch Grass
Pine-leaf Mersea Penstemon
Prairie Dusk Penstemon
Ribbon Grass
Goldsturm Black-eyed Susan
May Night Purple Salvia
Green Lavender Cotton
The Blues Little Blue Stem
Autumn Joy Sedum
Fireworks Goldenrod
Golden Baby Goldenrod
Prairie Dropseed
Large Leafed Lambs Ear
Flowerless Lamb's Ears
Creeping Thyme
Turkish Speedwell
Wooly Speedwell
Royal Candles Veronica
Common Vinca
Dart's Blue Vinca
Illumination Vinca
