Siegfried provided civil engineering, surveying, and landscape architecture services for the University of the Pacific’s William Knox Holt Memorial Library Plaza.
Through site topographic surveys for the plaza’s fountain area and adjacent concrete flatwork, Siegfried was able to design an accessible path from the adjacent walkways to the building entry point as well as the existing entry ramp and reimagine a new water feature for the plaza. The water feature utilizes natural rock to provide water movement and sound. It also includes an underground water storage vault. These design elements improve energy efficiency, conserve water, and reduce maintenance costs.
Siegfried also prepared the project’s civil and landscape architecture construction documents which addressed demolition and existing conditions, paving and site amenities, grading, utilities, and a planting and irrigation plan.
This project was not without its challenges. The prior system had a noisy exterior pump with the equipment adjacent to the building, it pumped a large volume of water, which had constant evaporation and water loss, and it frequently required removing algae blooms, cleaning, and chemically balancing the water. The new water feature addressed this by integrating a new underground vault system. This pondless system provides light and debris control, which minimizes chemical balancing, algae control, and cleanup. The system uses a UV light treatment system, lowering electrical requirements, and it runs quieter. It provides a naturally balancing biological clean water system where bacteria balances itself and provides water clarity with bottom algae. The only maintenance required is the occasional debris vacuuming, plant care, and pond treatment for initial balancing.
The new plaza feature also provides a use for the typical overspray of water features that usually ends up on the walkways and outside the intended area. By designing a planter area large enough for the water feature itself, and a perimeter of the landscape area, the planting selection buffers some of the overspray and benefits from the water application. The irrigation system within the planter can be adjusted for this hydrozone planting condition, operating at a lower watering time and application.
- Civil Engineering
- Landscape Architecture
- Surveying