At the heart of this design is a thoughtful selection of site elements—some custom, some standard—all carefully curated to reflect the spirit of the place. Studio 431, Landscape Forms’ custom division, partnered closely with Ayers Saint Gross to bring many of these unique elements to life, including custom planter walls that define circulation and create tiered gathering zones, a sleek custom bar that supports outdoor dining and casual conversation, and a series of custom bench swings. “The benches take a familiar form—the front porch swing—but they’re reinterpreted in a contemporary way,” Schultz explains. Positioned along the linear “Purposeful Walk” that connects different parts of the district and nearby park, the bench swings offer shaded, restful gathering points. “They’re welcoming spaces for storytelling and connection—places that recall touching moments like time spent in the backyard with your grandparents,” says Jason A. Castillo, PLA, ASLA, Associate Principal at Ayers Saint Gross. “The idea of informal connection and intergenerational dialogue is rooted in that swing form.” Studio 431’s responsive, hands-on approach and close collaboration with the design team was key to realizing the custom bench swings, especially as the project evolved and budgets shifted. “They get it,” says Castillo. “They have a strong background with landscape architects in their midst. And at the same time, they’re willing to be customizable and think outside the box.” The swings were executed without compromise to their design or quality—a testament to Studio 431’s ability to offer creative solutions grounded in constructability. “We were able to execute on them in terms of the finish, design and what we wanted to achieve out of them,” Castillo says. “That was a big win.” “The Landscape Forms team really understood what we were going for. They were a trusted partner, especially when it came to customization. We had complete confidence in their ability to deliver.” – Amelle Schultz, ASLA, PLA, SITES AP, Principal at Ayers Saint Gross Complementing the bespoke elements is a curated collection of standard Landscape Forms solutions that bring comfort, durability and design cohesion to The Pearl's public outdoor spaces. Chipman tables and chairs, Chipman stools and Parc Centre Lounge seating create programmable environments for gathering, dining and relaxing. Tuuci® Ocean Master cantilever umbrellas provide comfort and additional shade throughout the site. Generation 50 litter and recycling receptacles support cleanliness and stewardship while maintaining the district’s refined aesthetic. Lighting was another essential part of the curated selection. Rama area lights, specified in multi-head configurations, provide high-performance illumination for the plaza and Jacob’s Ladder while minimizing the number of poles and preserving open sightlines. “We didn’t want a ton of poles—we wanted to make sure that we were not cluttering the space,” says Kyle Baugh, Associate at Kimley-Horn. “The clean lines and simple forms helped us achieve the lighting levels we needed in a way that still felt contemporary and sophisticated.” – Kyle Baugh, Associate at Kimley-Horn Along the Purposeful Walk, SHUFFLE, offered in collaboration between Landscape Forms and Schréder, extends functionality beyond light. Equipped with integrated smart technology—including wayfinding, emergency beacons and programmable light rings—the columns not only support safety but also integrate seamlessly with Charlotte’s larger Uptown system. This enables the district to commemorate community events and holidays with dynamic, citywide colored illumination schemes that reinforce The Pearl’s role as both a civic and cultural destination. For Ayers Saint Gross and Kimley-Horn, designing the outdoor spaces at the Pearl Innovation District was a chance to bridge scales and stories—personal and institutional, historic and forward-thinking. And for Landscape Forms, it was an opportunity to demonstrate how thoughtfully designed site furnishings and lighting—blending durability, comfort, smart technology and multifunctional design—can foster belonging, storytelling, resilience and innovation. Studio 431 Custom Elements: Custom Bench Swings, Custom Planter Walls, Custom Bar Seating Landscape Forms Elements: Rama Area Lights, SHUFFLE Lights, Chipman Tables, Chipman Chairs, Chipman Stools, Parc Centre Lounges, Generation 50 Litter & Recycling, Tuuci® Ocean Master Cantilever Umbrellas Design Partners: Ayers Saint Gross, Kimley-Horn Team Members: Whiting Turner, Triggs Photography, LLC

Alondra Gateway Park reclaims a once-vacant half-acre lot along Compton Creek and transforms it into a vibrant community space rooted in local culture and identity. Envisioned back in 2008 as part of the Compton Creek Garden Park Master Plan, the project brings long-overdue public investment to one of Los Angeles County’s most park-poor areas, offering inclusive access for families, walkers, cyclists and the neighborhood’s well-known equestrian community. Features include a nature-inspired playground, California native plantings, picnic and exercise areas, a community-made mosaic and a central plaza designed to foster connection, wellbeing and neighborhood pride. “It’s a very small site—just a half acre—but we packed a lot into this space,” says Mike Hee, PLA, Technical Director at Studio-MLA. “There’s open spaces for community, picnic areas, a playground, planting areas and stormwater functions. Getting this project, which the community had been talking about for years, over the finish line was a big accomplishment for everyone involved.” For decades, Compton Creek and its surrounding neighborhoods have faced disinvestment, environmental neglect and limited access to green space. The community, historically marginalized and disproportionately affected by climate risks, was central to shaping the park’s vision. Studio-MLA worked closely with residents, local businesses and equestrian groups like the Compton Cowboys to ensure the design reflected their needs and identity. “It’s informally an extension of Sr. Cliff’s Texas-Style Burritos next door—he’s the steward of the park, with eyes on it every day,” Hee notes. “We also designed equestrian elements like tie-ups, so riders can stop, rest and enjoy the space. Every time I visit, I see families at the playground, neighbors having lunch, cowboys with their horses—it’s their park, and it’s just awesome seeing them use it.” Landscape Forms site furnishings and lighting help unify the design and support inclusive use at Alondra Gateway Park. MultipliCITY benches and tables, Bola bike racks, Select recycling systems and LEO 360 Solar area lights were all specified in consistent finishes to create a cohesive aesthetic. “Everything feels the same when you touch it,” says Hee. “The benches and tables are accessible, with options to make them ADA-compliant, which is important to what we do—universal access.” LEO 360 Solar area lights became a pivotal solution when the team couldn’t connect to the local grid. “We couldn’t get electricity to the site and had to pivot quickly. This was one of the first completed installations for the solar version of LEO, and it really kickstarted our thinking about using solar lighting on other projects as well.” — Mike Hee, PLA, Technical Director at Studio-MLA Though modest in size, Alondra Gateway Park demonstrates how even limited sites can be transformed into inclusive, multi-functional green spaces that build resilience and celebrate cultural identity. By integrating native landscaping, shade trees and interpretive elements that speak to a history of place, the park helps address years of limited investment in green space while offering a replicable model of equity-driven, community-led transformation. “It’s a great pilot project for the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy,” says Hee. “They can point to it and say, ‘This is what’s possible in communities that don’t yet have access to these kinds of spaces." Landscape Forms Elements: LEO 360 Solar Area Lights, MultipliCITY Tables and Benches, Bola Bike Racks, Select Recycling Systems Design Partners: Studio-MLA Team Members: City of Compton, San Gabriel & Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC), Skanska Integrated Solutions (SIS), KASA, CWE Photography: Hunter Kerhart

Architect: Torgerson Design Partners LLC Photographer: Chris Killingsworth

A New Language of Light: Reimagining Architectural Integration and Performance