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.
Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina
The design team’s challenge was to re-envision the existing hotel as a premier luxury destination that employs aspects of local culture and heritage to create a unique sense of place. An existing pool and water features were renovated, two new pools added, and restaurants enhanced. The resulting Four Seasons Hotel redevelopment and new residences by partner To...
Ambleside Mixed-Use Development
Landscape improvements for this new mixed-use development integrate and enhance the streetscape improvement measures the city of West Vancouver is currently implementing, providing a vibrant and pedestrian friendly landscape along the entire perimeter of the site. The landscape design for the 1300 Block, Marine Drive South at Ambleside Village Centre contribut...
Ballpark Village 200
SWA/Balsley has been contracted for full district-wide landscape services for this exciting new urban redevelopment, located directly across the street from Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.
This downtown revitalization effort includes creating an iconic, unified district identity, strengthening pedestrian connection to the d...
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...