Planning & Design Meetings 2/2/2010 - Minutes
PALO ALTO HS LANDSCAPE
Programming and Predesign
Palo Alto Unified School District
10 NOV 2009 | Page 1
PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL MASTER PLAN
Palo Alto Unified School District
PROGRAMMING AND PREDESIGN: MEETING NO. 3
DATE: 2 February 2010, 3:30-5:00 pm
SUBJECT: Landscape Subcommittee Meeting
ATTENDEES: See attached sign-in sheet
The following are the highlights of the meeting:
1. The purpose of the meeting was to review and comment on the initial, conceptual
design for the Landscape Master Plan ideas for Gunn High School.
2. Todd Young (TY), Principal of Gates of Associates, presented the following:
a. Overview of Master Plan Process
•Public Destinations Diagram
•Bike Circulation Diagram
•Student Circulation Diagram
•Landscape Character Diagram
b. Master Plan Concept
c. Master Plan Enlargements
•Corner Impression
•Gateways
•Primary Arrival Zone
•Core
•Media Arts Quad
•Classroom Quad
•Parking
3. TY reviewed the Student Circulation diagram, shown at the previous Landscape
Subcommittee meeting:
Comment:
Pedestrian circulation should be shown from the Caltrain path onto campus and
between the Tower Building and the El Camino Field
Response:
We will add those links to the graphic.
Comment:
The drop-off/arrival zone should extend down to the front of the Tower Building
Response by TY:
That is reflected in the following master plan graphics and we will also revise the
diagrams to show that the drop-off zone extends from the entry on El Camino up to
the front of the new Media Arts building
PALO ALTO HS LANDSCAPE
Programming and Predesign
Palo Alto Unified School District
10 NOV 2009 | Page 2
Comment:
The campus entries should be shown on the diagram
Response by TY:
We will add the entries to the graphics. In the next slides we review entry design
treatment
4. Todd Young presented the corner impression design at Embarcadero & El Camino
Comment:
Aesthetically I like the way you have dressed up the corner, especially because this is
one of the first campus impressions. However this location serves as a pedestrian
connection to the Standford Stadium so the crosswalks should be directly aligned to
prevent people from trampling the planting. What is your reasoning for offsetting the
crosswalks?
Response by TY:
We wanted to create design continuity on the corner with a low sign wall and planting
masses. We can create a more direct link to the path if that is what is preferred.
Comment:
It looks nice with the planting as shown.
Comment:
Perhaps we could strike a compromise by strengthening the link while also
maintaining the aesthetics of the design.
Response by TY:
That makes sense. We can tweak the design to strike more of a balance.
Comment:
I like the historic feel of the design.
Comment:
I like the character and verticality of the architectural element. Will it clash with the
existing marquee reader board though? Is this the most appropriate location for the
marquee?
Comment by TY:
I agree that the two styles are very different. Perhaps the reader sign could be
incorporated into the new architectural element. Who is the target audience for the
reader board?
Response:
The school community.
Comment:
Is this the most visible location for the marquee? It is not the campus entry.
PALO ALTO HS LANDSCAPE
Programming and Predesign
Palo Alto Unified School District
10 NOV 2009 | Page 3
Comment:
It is the most visible location even if it’s not the campus entry. Even if it’s not adjacent
to the neighborhood that the school population lives in, El Camino experiences
frequent traffic.
Response by Erwin:
It is the historic entry to the school. It could be symbolically reminiscent.
Response:
Would it detract from the main school entries?
Response:
It would be a symbolic entry. It gives the campus an identity from the main
thoroughfare. It is very difficult to see the entry on Embarcadero. Perhaps we can
explore the idea of incorporating the reader board into the new architectural element.
Comment:
I like the idea of partially screening the cars in the parking lot. However, I’d like to see
soft drifts of planting rather than formal lines of shrubs.
Comment:
I like the ides of having some formal lines of planting at key locations, like maybe at
the corner and then as you move further away from the corner you could transition to
softer planting drifts.
Comment:
You also have to consider maintenance. We want the plants to be allowed to take
their natural form rather than be pruned into balls or have the tops hacked off.
Comment:
The plant palette is going to be very limited under the existing tree canopy.
5. Todd Young presented the Embarcadero and Churchill Entry designs
Comment:
I like the historic character which ties into the corner impression design and our
Tower Building
Comment:
There is a shuttle service at the Embarcadero entry on the south side of the drive.
Perhaps you could show a shelter with seating in that area.
Response by Todd Young:
Thank you, that is very valuable information.
6. Todd Young presented the primary arrival zone concept design
Comment by Public:
PALO ALTO HS LANDSCAPE
Programming and Predesign
Palo Alto Unified School District
10 NOV 2009 | Page 4
I like the way you stole parking to create a plaza in front of the theaters. Will pervious
paving be used?
Response by Todd Young:
We are not at the level of design where we have selected materials, but pervious
pavers will be used in the design for stormwater management.
Comment by Public:
I appreciate that you have saved the trees in front of the Haymarket Theater; however
they do block the view of the theater. I understand that they are healthy trees, but we
may want to look at replacing them with a different species once they are at the end
of their lifecycle.
Question by Public:
Could we use the planter that the existing conifers are in (front of Haymarket Theater)
for stormwater treatment?
Comment by Public:
With all these improvements at the new Media Arts building and the existing
Haymarket Theater it would be nice to make façade improvements to the existing
Music Arts building façade. Would it be possible to include this in the project
envelope?
Response by Erwin:
Yes. We would like to study this area contiguously. It would be nice if the existing
colonnade could continue and terminate at the new Media Arts lobby.
Question by the Public:
Will the drainage from building roofs be undergrounded and emptied into bioswales
rather than running across paving?
Response by Todd Young:
We are not at that level of design currently, however that would be the best way to
handle roof stormwater.
7. Todd Young presented the campus quad design
Comment:
I like the idea of having a larger stage oriented toward multiple angles of the quad.
However do we need to consider the importance of having the Tower Building in the
background of the graduation ceremony?
Comment:
The quad has traditionally been oriented toward the senior deck.
Response by Todd Young:
With this design the quad is oriented toward multiple hangout areas including the
senior area.
PALO ALTO HS LANDSCAPE
Programming and Predesign
Palo Alto Unified School District
10 NOV 2009 | Page 5
Comment:
I like the idea of having a line of trees along the quad walkway, however it is important
to maintain open vistas across the campus and toward the Tower Building.
Comment:
How would activities such as graduation and Turkey Trot Day work on the proposed
lawn? Is there enough space?
Response by Todd Young:
These lawn areas are large, roughly 60 feet across, so I believe there would be ample
space.
Comment:
I like the idea of creating the student activities center as the focus of the quad for
activity purposes but we also want to focus on the gems of our campus, the historic
buildings.
Comment:
The problem is that the historic buildings are backing onto the quad.
Comment:
We should be connecting to the back of the Haymarket Theater rather than screening
it.
Comment:
Currently it is a loading zone and it is ugly.
Comment:
It either needs architectural enhancement or screening.
Comment:
The use of the Haymarket Theater is still open in the future.
Comment:
The paving design could be toned down and simplified.
Question:
Would the quad be graded?
Response:
Yes, it would be a major grading undertaking. The lawn area would be dropped to be
level with the library and the student activities would be on a pedestal flanked by the
stage and a promenade of several stairs.
Comment:
I know that lawn isn’t the most sustainable choice, but there are more water efficient
species and it does serve multiple uses including pedestrian gathering, circulation,
and cooling in the summer.
Comment:
PALO ALTO HS LANDSCAPE
Programming and Predesign
Palo Alto Unified School District
10 NOV 2009 | Page 6
It would make an architectural statement to link to the back of the Haymarket theater.
Comment:
The Churchill entry and arrival needs to link to the central core better.
Comment:
It would be a good idea to have a pilot drainage project.
8. Todd Young presented two parking design options
Comment:
We need to be very cautious about berming around existing trees because even
minor changes can jeopardize the health of existing species.
Response:
We would be extremely cautious and would not propose berms around oaks.
Comment:
You might want to consider no berms at all.
Comment:
The angle parking is preferred because it is easier to pull in and out of spaces. It may
be difficult for students to pull into and out of 90 degree spaces.
Question:
Is there funding for the parking lot?
Response:
Currently it is a below the line item and will not be funded in the first group of projects.
9. Following are additional comments from the Public highlighted by topics.
Lighting
• Lighting should be compatible with tree canopies
• Our campus is very dark at night.
Pathway Hierarchy
• Pathway hierarchy should include fire access and emergency evacuation
Maintenance
• Maintenance should be included in the master plan goals.
Alternative Fuel Vehicles
• You should consider designing charging stations for electric cars in the parking lot
• We are hoping for increased demand for alternative fuel vehicles in the future.
Palo Alto is a sustainable community and will be looking at alternative vehicles
more and more.
• We should at least consider it as a program element and put the infrastructure in
place.
• The Churchill parking lot is the best location for photovoltaics.
PALO ALTO HS LANDSCAPE
Programming and Predesign
Palo Alto Unified School District
10 NOV 2009 | Page 7
END
The next Landscape Subcommittee Meeting will be held on February 25th,at 3:30PM in
the ERC Room
Please advise if you feel that any of the above items are inaccurate or need further
clarification or detail.
cc: Attendees
File