Located on the east bank of Jingji Lake and on the east-west axis of Suzhou city, the new Suzhou Industrial Park Administrative Center (SIP) is the primary work area for government management departments in Suzhou, China. SWA’s landscape master plan and design create a strong identity for the civic campus, which is located in a setting that integrates traditional Suzhou culture with modern amenities. The program includes a civic plaza, fountains, central green, canal waterfront, and streetscape, incorporating landscape elements such as trees, water features, and new landforms to provide inviting amenities while linking the site to its context. Water plays a central role in this “city of canals,” and drives the design by integrating water into citizens’ modern daily life both physically and metaphorically. The existing central canal and linear waterfront park connect the site to Suzhou City, while the main building, civic plaza, reflecting pool, and water platform form a new north-south axis that directs views and provides orientation. SIP’s administrative center connects residents to the city’s past, while creating an environment that is both aesthetically and functionally rich.
Work attributed to SWA/Balsley principal John Wong and his team with SWA Group.
250 West 55th
One Uptown
Bringing a singular landscape design expression to a site featuring two buildings designed by different architects, the SWA/Balsley team worked to seamlessly integrate a variety of outdoor spaces to accommodate the mixed-use One Uptown. At the ground level, tree-lined streetscapes and bike lanes lead visitors to a coworking and dining courtyard along Burnet Ro...
Pacific Design Center
Once surrounded by barren plazas and impenetrable landscapes, the Pacific Design Center’s environment and image have been dramatically transformed by a complete redesign that includes parks, plazas, water features, cafes, lighting, and graphics. A two-acre open space area along San Vicente Boulevard has been transformed into a public park and gathering space,...
Marinaside Crescent
SWA provided urban design and overall conceptual landscape architectural design for this mixed-use project including condominium buildings with shops, restaurants and storefronts at street level, a waterfront promenade, a marina, parks and inner building courtyards, and pedestrian-oriented pathways linking the Marinaside Crescent Road and surrounding streets. ...