Message from Brian: Urban Land Institute Spring Meeting

This year is shaping up to be a year of involvement and re-engagement within the profession for me.  The effects of the recession seem to be wearing off and the promise of a stabilized, and dare I say growing, economy in the Bay Area have reinvigorated my desire for professional growth and to become more involved in professional organizations.  Since the beginning of the year I have joined two groups that I have had interest in for some time now, SPUR and ULI.  A few weeks ago I attended the ULI Spring Meeting in San Diego.

San Diego innovative downtown development

This being my first ULI event I really didn’t know what to expect.  In reviewing the session outlines I was convinced that I would be exposed to current trends in housing and office sectors, which I was, but I was surprised to find inspiration regarding public outreach techniques and office culture.  Here are just a few of the topics and ideas that caught my attention:

Innovation

• Innovation in nature is usually defined as mutation and is usually fatal.  Innovation in society may have failure as a potential consequence but it is not lethal.
• Strongest element supporting innovation in the workplace is culture.
• Mistakes refine you but don’t define you.
• Office environments can support innovation by increasing the opportunities for interactions, engagement and water cooler talk.

The New Workplace

Comparison between Facebook and Salesforce.com campus strategies

• Strategies vary widely depending on the campus location (suburban vs. urban) and the level of existing amenities in close proximity.  Salesforce.com being located in downtown San Francisco does not provide the same level of onsite amenities as Facebook since restaurants, dry cleaning, gyms, and other businesses are located in close proximity.  While Facebook, being isolated on the Bay edge in Menlo Park provides extensive amenities on campus.
• Newer companies have the ability to rethink what the office environment and culture should be because they don’t have decades of organizational baggage.
• Yahoo recently made a very public decision to discontinue telecommuting to reinvigorate their office culture.

New Models for Community Engagement in Real Estate

•  Technology is now providing new tools to engage the community.
• MindMixer is trying to develop a better way to connect to the people who care most about the community.  Project specific sites allow residents to post ideas and pictures as well as respond and cast votes.
• Popularize.com allows residents to vote and post ideas for specific projects and sites.  It can ask the question what would you want built on this site, or what stores would you like included in this shopping mall.  This information can then directly inform decisions made by the developer.
• Fundrise.com is taking the idea of crowd funding to real estate by congregating small investors.

Brian Fletcher, President

Message from Ben: CPRS 2013 – Camaraderie

Each year our marketing team decides which conferences we would like to attend and the CPRS conference in Northern California is always a “must”.  It’s a rare opportunity to gather with those involved in creating better places for our communities without the pressures of day-to-day life.  We put a big effort into the conference this year by assisting multiple clients submit for awards, sponsoring multiple events, updating the look of our booth and making sure we supported our entire staff to attend when they could. (check out the Give + Grow tab and Latest News tab for more.)

Even though attendance may be lower than previous years, most people seemed to have a more positive outlook.  The feeling that I came away with is “camaraderie”.   It may be that things are slowly starting to turn around, it could be that some are making the most of what they have or it could just be that the folks that attended this year really wanted to be there, but for the first time in a long time it seemed like everyone had their guard down and were open to talk about how life really is.  It was refreshing and really made the conference enjoyable for me.  We are all working together for the same common goal and it really felt like clients, design professionals, product representatives and even competing landscape architecture firms all had the same feeling of camaraderie this year, like hey, we actually enjoy what we do!  It was interesting to note that two different events had motivational speakers from Australia trying to help all of us work on our attitudes and outlooks.

Some conference highlights included:

• Catching up with current and past clients and hearing all the exciting things that are going on.
• Attending the best of the best for our two award winning projects.
• Having fun at the Region 1 and Region 2 socials.
• Attending some very rewarding class sessions including one on new public outreach strategies and another on trail building techniques.
• Chatting with students as they passed by, one of which won the Nike Fuel Band giveaway!

Another very interesting observation is the major “changing of the guard” that is going on.  I don’t know if it’s because of our own firm’s transition or my getting older but it seems like more and more folks are retiring or transitioning to other paths.  Many of us are stepping into the big shoes of our trail blazing predecessors and it was interesting to see the excitement and fear on folks faces as they wrestle with the new responsibilities.  Peter Callander said “people come and go but clients need to know that you will always be there to help them”.  We look forward to being there for our fellow professionals and assisting them with whatever their challenges may be and hope that this feeling of Camaraderie continues.

- Ben Woodside, Principal, Marketing Director

Message from Brian: My New Year’s Resolution

So it’s that time of year again, the beginning of a new year. This time of year is always refreshing to me. It allows all of us to sweep away our mishaps and failures from the prior year to start a new with a clean slate. Vows to get in shape or to finally try a triathlon have escaped me this past year and now I begin my process of evaluating new goals for 2013. I am sure I will still have fitness goals, maybe even some vows to be a better person.

However, this year I thought I would try something new, to re-start my sketch journal.
I know, not the game changing New Year’s resolution you might expect. Who knows, maybe I was inspired by reading too many of my son’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” books. Keeping a sketch journal to me is re-capturing a piece of why I fell in love with landscape architecture. For me, I found this profession through my love for art and design. Through art and technical drawing classes in high school and early design classes in college I fell in love with putting pen/pencil to paper. So throughout college I always had with me that classic black hard bound sketch journal. Between classes or even during rest breaks on hikes or mountain bike rides that journal would come out of the backpack and would provide me with a few moments of bliss before I had to move on. It has taught me to be a better artist, improved my speed, helped me explore design solutions and record works that I admire. And having saved these journals they now provide me an incredible record of trips taken, designs explored, and my evolution as a professional.

As the years have passed new roles and responsibilities creep in and old loves fade to the background. I have tried over the years to rekindle my sketching only to be swallowed up with the next deadline push. So with this entry I am taking on a new strategy in hopes that journal sketches will become part of my daily life again, peer pressure. So, next time you see me ask to see my journal.

one of Brian’s early sketches for the award-winning Stojanovich Family Park in Campbell

Message from Marie: The Gift that keeps Giving

If I had to do my husband’s job, I think I would just want to bang my head against a wall, over and over again. As a technical support engineer, he spends his entire day on the phone with clients, staring at a computer screen, trying to figure out what went wrong, and what to do to fix it. He enters a few keystrokes after discovering the solution, and, Voila! Case closed – literally. He moves on to the next issue. Sure, his clients are happy to have their problem fixed. But for the larger community? Nah, nothing to show for it. (*See footnote buried elsewhere in the website for husband’s rebuttal to this statement).

Landscape architecture, and working at Callander Associates in particular, has always been rewarding to me because of the tangibility of the outcome. Delivering the signed bid package or final report to the client oftentimes is cause for a mini-celebration for the project team that worked on it. The delivery is usually the culmination of many months of hard work, some late nights, a bit of head-banging, and a flurry of activity to ‘cross the t’s and dot the i’s’ and get the submittal out the door, on schedule.

But the ultimate goal of the firm has always been to get things off the shelf and in the ground. Sure, we’re proud of the effort that went into preparing those documents, of the preparation and problem-solving that gave us the confidence to release them for construction. The real celebration, however, happens at the grand opening, when we get to see members of the community walk through and enjoy the facilities for the first time. We get to see the lines that we started drawing on paper many months ago morph into built facilities. We get to bike across bridges, trek on trails, scamper across sports fields, and play on playgrounds that we designed.

While the act of symbolically cutting an oversized red ribbon at these grand openings may indeed be slightly hokey, the gift to the public that the ribbon represents is sincere. And like the gift that keeps on giving, these facilities are things that we can return to and experience again and again. Indeed, it is the facilities that are overused, that are ‘loved to death,’ that are a real testament to a design’s success. And that makes all the head banging worth it.

Ribbon-cutting at Laureola Park in San Carlos

Having already received a B.S. in Biological Sciences, Associate, Marie Mai, went back for her B.S. in Landscape Architecture, both from UC Davis. She went on to open Callander Associates’ San Jose studio and has been with the firm for over 12 years. We are glad you found your passion with us, Marie! 

Message from Dan: Back to Basics

Back to Basics: Design Studio 101

On the very first day of my first architecture design studio class, Professor Don Leon gathered the entire class of about 20 students in a circle around the open floor of the presentation gallery. Standing at the center, he lowered himself to his hands and knees and placed his outstretched hand on the dusty black and white tiled floor. His index finger pointed stiffly at the joint where four tiles tightly intersected. He then began to describe a tiny bubble of water that was beginning to rise from between the tiles. The group gathered closer…leaning in…squinting to see the apparent…leak?

Professor Leon slowly started to lift his hand, pointer finger moving vertically, as he continued to describe the stream that this bubble of water had apparently become. His finger raised four inches above the floor…circled down then back up… eight inches now…then back down and up again…slightly higher each time. He continued to make this rhythmic pattern mimicking the flow of the small fountain of water he colorfully described to us …a fountain that clearly wasn’t really there.

As he lifted himself back to his feet and dusted off, Professor Leon asked for everyone who saw the fountain of water to raise their hands. The class exchanged glances, some with looks of curiosity and confusion and others clearly with expressions of concern…but no one could, in all honesty, raise their hand.

What we learned that day is that none of us had yet mastered one of the most important tools we would need to be truly effective designers; the ability to fully envision that which does not yet exist. It’s a skill that comes naturally to us as children when we refer to it as “fantasy” or “imagination”. It’s the ability to look at a cardboard box and see the castle turret or the pirate ship mast disguised as the climbing tree in our back yard. But, as with many skills, without regular use, an active imagination begins to atrophy. For many, as we mature, the frivolity of imagination is viewed as a distraction from responsible pursuits. Eventually, the vision of “what could be” succumbs to the reality of what presently is and from there seldom waivers.

As designers we are able to continue to exercise the freedom to imagine and use that skill to see the full potential of a site and project. This, in fact, is one of the most valuable services we can provide our clients. This vision can also be a great source of professional inspiration and motivation. I love to look at an open field or abandoned lot and envision the spaces, details, materials and future visitors of a park, playground or public space.

A risk we face in today’s design environment is failing to continuously practice our visionary skills. We may find ourselves allowing preconceptions, budgets and time constraints to be the driving forces of a project. We are often tempted to fall back on recycled precedents and standards and forget that each project has opportunities for its own unique solutions. Clearly, not every project will be a ‘masterpiece for the Ages’, but every project does present a chance for us to add our own unique touch. Doing so makes a better project and subsequently makes us better designers.

When you look at the intersection of those tiles on the floor, do you simply see the dust or can you see the bubble of water rising up?

–Dan

Lizzie Fountain – one of many designs envisioned by Dan Miller

Associate, Dan Miller has been a key member of Callander Associates for almost a decade. The benefits of being able to envision how a space will be utilized is especially evident when designing for large structures, as seen on Dan’s work for Virginia Corridor and the Sacramento City College Ped Overcrossing.     

Message from Mark: Winds of change

Can you smell it? That faint whiff of enthusiasm?  It’s back, and, wow, have we missed it!

Don’t let anybody fool you.  Times are still tough, but there’s some genuine energy in the environment that I haven’t felt since…….2007?

I’m pretty sure the fundamentals of our situation are essentially unchanged: Greece is still on the verge of bankruptcy, huge swaths of business space remain vacant and foreclosures are still an everyday phenomenon. Add to that, the uncertainty in the political climate, with the outcome of the presidential election and the direction of the country to be determined.

So why am I optimistic? Because I truly believe that people are tired of WAITING for things to get better, tired of hunkering down on the sidelines, and are taking the initiative to make things happen.  Most folks are inherently industrious.  They don’t want to leave this earth having never shaken things up.  And independent of any economic indicator, any prognostication by Ben Bernanke, it’s the collective actions of lots of individuals that ultimately shakes us out of our stupor and back to life.  I can’t wait!

For so many of us, the absence of a vigorous economy has been more that a financial matter, it’s been a drain on our collective souls.  There simply haven’t been as many opportunities for the grand gesture, to work on the big projects that have big impacts.  And the energy and enthusiasm (and, yes, occasionally anxiety) that go along with them are back.  I can tell you that we (Callander Associates collectively) are excited.  We are looking forward to diving back in.  If there’s one thing Peter instilled in this firm it was a can-do attitude.  It’s that attitude that allowed us, landscape architects, to lead design teams on landfill, waterfront and transportation projects.  As landscape architects, we learned in school that we could make a difference in peoples’ lives.  That’s a big reason for becoming a landscape architect. It’s a big reason people join Callander Associates.

Well, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get back to work!  No, it’s not going to be the same as it was before, and, to be honest, that’s likely for the good.  Our clients have been pressed hard to make more out of less. Projects have been deferred, done ‘in-house’ and, when outside help was called for, done with a much more critical eye. We welcome the challenge. We’ve always been convinced that the longer our clients evaluate us on our merits the more likely they’ll be back.  We’re excited, we’re ready and we’re ENTHUSIASTIC about the future!

Mark Slichter is celebrating his 25th year at Callander Associates and is an avid sailor. He’s certainly seen his ups and downs in this industry and knows a thing or two about having the wind at your back and the sun on your face. We are excited to keep this ball rolling with you, Mark!

Message from Erik: Looking Back

Well, I didn’t make it up the hill this weekend like I was planning. I guess I can’t expect mother nature to cooperate every time I get the hiking bug. But, it gave me a chance to reflect on what it was that drives me to make those climbs every chance I get.

The scenery? Meh, as beautiful as it is, I’ve seen it all before. Fresh air? Not really, the thin mountain air hurts my lungs. The exercise? Hahahahaha! No, there’s something more to it.

I closed my eyes and placed myself back on the John Muir Trail years ago and hear a voice that I have heard on every single hike I’ve been on over the last 15 years: “Turn around, Erik.”

You see, what drives me is something as simple as turning around. To look back, marvel how far I have traveled and appreciate the new understanding this simple act of changing my perspective gives me.

I realize that I do this even when I’m not hiking. I do this alllllllll the time. Especially, with how difficult everything seems these days. All the struggles and trials. Every day, there seems to be a host of new obstacles to overcome and often, with some still lingering from the day before.

But, when I stop and turn, for those few minutes I’m no longer looking up at a never ending mountain, unable to see beyond a ten ton boulder or around a blind curve. Instead, I’m looking down at an incredible view and I’m able to trace every agonizing step, not to mention the occasional stumble. I love seeing how far I have come and how high I am. There, way off in the distance, that’s where I started; without a clue of how difficult or rewarding the journey will be. I can see the rivers I crossed, the wrong turns I took, the lessons I learned. I can see the places I stopped to rest and the other hikers I met along the way.

To look back: what an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. It excites me, it encourages me…to start again, knowing the hike will continue to be difficult and at times steep but realizing that the next time I stop and reflect, the view will be even greater.

Erik

I also watched the Mars rover land this weekend…

Message from Ben

“Failing to prepare is like preparing to fail.”
John R. Wooden (Basketball Coach, Author)

Preparation – that’s what it’s all about.

Some people think it’s like arts class every day, but, as a professional design practice, there is a lot of preparation involved before putting ideas to paper. From understanding physical site issues to community and client goals, from budgetary constraints to just starting each day with the right attitude so as to have rewarding interactions with clients and those around us, it’s our job to prepare, explore all the options, and work hard to ensure that we provide the best solution for each unique situation. Not only is it our responsibility and reputation – it’s our business!

I am reminded of the importance of preparation as I work towards my goal of riding the Death Ride in July – a 129-mile road bike race that spans over 15,000 feet across five passes. One of my training goals as I build up to the Death Ride is the Sea Otter Classic Grand Fondo, a 95-mile timed ride. Buying the right bike, getting it professionally fitted, heart rate testing, following a proper diet, and months of training led up to a great ride and a great finish. It was hard but I really enjoyed it. After finishing around 2:00pm, my family and I ate lunch, toured the event, and enjoyed a beautiful day in the Monterey area. When we left at 6:30pm we noticed some poor souls who were still pushing their bikes up the last big hill to the event grounds. They had been suffering for almost 12 hours! I admire their courage but wonder how hard did they prepare?

Message from Brian

Where did my love for Landscape Architecture begin? When I was in high school my parents hired a local landscape contractor to renovate our backyard. Mom and Dad had the foresight to involve me in the entire design process from initial consultation to completion. Maybe they saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself just yet, or perhaps it was just obvious to them that this profession combined two of my great loves: art and the environment. Either way, I vividly remember when the first concept plans were presented. They reeked of ammonia from the blueprint machine and of alcohol from the markers, but they were so cool! I was hooked.

I started my career at Callander Associates almost 16 years ago. I had graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo at the top of my class and had a couple years of job experience under my belt. However, as I’ve learned through my own experiences interviewing potential staff, no matter what’s on a resume, it usually comes down to a feeling and a leap of faith. I am so grateful to Peter Callander for taking that leap of faith on me and for providing everyone in the office with opportunities for learning, growth and leadership. Today, I am honored to be a part of the leadership team charged with building upon Peter’s legacy and for providing similar opportunities for our curious, creative, and hard-working staff.

That’s just my story. There are two dozen more stories, each as different as the next, and all of which contribute to the culture that is Callander Associates. As you navigate through our new website, I hope you get a sense of our firm’s values and beliefs, our personalities, and how we strive each day to provide the best possible service for our clients. Me, I’m passionate about people: the incredible staff of professionals I get to work with each day, the relationships I continue to foster with clients, and the positive impact our projects have on the communities they serve. And, of course, the smell of ammonia and markers.