Working with community stakeholders and residents of Englewood in January 2015, Joe Sikora and Diana Fernandez lead a visioning workshop about transforming Mackay Park into a more vibrant, safe and inclusive community Park. Mackay Park is the city's largest public green space and is located near the downtown center. The process not only involves creating a shared vision for the park, but it is also building a Friends of the Park group.
Villanova University Housing Gains Conditional Use Approval /
After beginning work in 2011 on this significant project for new student housing on Villanova’s campus, our team finally gained conditional use approval from Radnor Township. The landscape plan includes gathering spaces and outdoor study areas for students, large quads sheltered by the new buildings, rain gardens, extensive planting, the preservation of many existing shade trees within the buffers, and new buffer plantings. We are collaborating with Robert A.M. Stern Architects, Voith & Mactavish Architects, and Nave Newell on this ambitious project.
For more information about the approval, read the Philadelphia Inquirer article here: http://articles.philly.com/2014-11-26/news/56459869_1_new-dormitories-zoning-changes-radnor-township-board
America's Best Restroom /
One of our award winning projects, Longwood Gardens East Conservatory Plaza, wins another honor: top bathroom in Cinta's 'America's Best Restroom' contest. An online public vote selected Longwood's restroom over a strong field of finalists in the 13th annual contest. Read more here: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/11/19/365269208/americas-best-restroom-2014-is-verdant-and-curvy.
As project lead, we collaborated with Kim Wilkie and Farewell Mills Gatsch Architects on the design of the new building and the surrounding garden.
The Xtreme LA Charrette Invites Manhattanites to “Live Where You Live” /
Our own Amy Syverson recently participated in the Xtreme LA design charrette in the beautiful flint hills of Manhattan, Kansas. She was invited to the adrenaline-inducing 30 hour design event as one of 20 emerging leaders from across the U.S. who worked with a dozen students from Kansas State University to reimagine the future of the rapidly growing Manhattan urban area. Amy was inspired by what her peers are doing in firms across the country and came home energized by the experience.
Beautiful weather and wide-open prairie skies were a memorable piece of the trip
The newly established Flint Hills Discovery Center celebrates Manhattan's natural landscape
Creative and community events make a lasting mark on Manhattan's downtown spaces
A 50 slide package of ideas (here a multi-use path that increases daily access to the flint hills landscape) was presented at the end of the charrette, right before the team boarded the bus to fly back home!
Hank Gathers Recreation Center is Under Construction /
After completing a community-driven design process in 2014 with The Trust for Public Land, construction has started at Hank Gathers! The recreation center will become a green oasis for the community and provide amenities such as new play equipment, a new spray ground, a walking path, and picnic tables.
Project team members gather near new spray ground.
Demolition of playground begins.
Form work is placed for new concrete walks.
Our Newest Project, Roosevelt Park Plaza Pop-up /
Roosevelt Plaza Park Pop-up is a temporary park that will last from now through December in front of City Hall. The pop-up seeks to enliven the existing park and encourage its users to spend time outside in the city. The main feature of the park are IBC (Intermediate Bulk Container) Totes, which are industrial containers used to transport/store liquids that many of the businesses in the city use. The totes have been transformed into a work of art, planters, shade structure, and a piano house. At night, lighting inside the totes transform them into a colorful, interactive experience. Installation began on August 21, 2014 and is now officially open to the public!
Ribbon Cutting at William Dick Elementary School /
After a year of rigorous collaboration with multiple city agencies and The Trust for Public Land, William Dick Elementary Schoolyard is open! Mayor Michael A. Nutter and Superintendent Dr. William Hite kicked off the ribbon cutting ceremony with announcements about the City's continued efforts to green schoolyards and recreation centers. William Dick Elementary School is the first of ten sites The Trust for Public Land will help transform in partnership with the City of Philadelphia's Green2015 initiative.
To learn more about our process of design for the school visit: https://www.tpl.org/william-dick-elementary-schoolyard-design-and-construction-journal
City officials, students, and faculty gather around to cut ribbon.
William Dick School students enjoy new play equipment.
Gymnastic students perform stunts during the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Aerial view of William Dick Schookyard after improvements.
League Island Park Ribbon Cutting /
The Philadelphia Navy Yard held a grand opening/ribbon cutting ceremony for League Island Park on May 15, 2014. The 2.5 acre park, located in the historic Town Center, is adjacent to the new Center for Energy, Education and Innovation Facility. Present at the event were Joe Sikora, Will Agate, Carmen Zappile, Dave Hassinger and Sean Finan.
Volunteerism at its Best /
Staff and friends of Sikora Wells Appel gathered Saturday, April 12 at First Presbyterian Church located in Haddonfield, NJ. The group volunteered for a wonderful non-profit organization called Feed My Starving Children. Founded in 1987, Feed My Starving Children is committed to feeding starving children all over the world. The group hand-packed meals, which consisted of rice, proteins, vitamins, and minerals; a single pack of food will feed a family of six. Each of these packs were then boxed and shipped to nearly 70 countries around the world. The few hours spent made a personal impact on everyone who participated knowing their good deed would make a difference on an unexpected family.
New name, New Space /
We are proud to announce our new name and location: Wells Appel is now Sikora Wells Appel and we've relocated to Haddonfield, NJ, the same town where it all began 35 years ago. Please make a note of our new contact information, and if you're in the neighborhood stop on by!
Quarry Site Visit in Northern New Jersey /
Staff members, Dan Chieco and Diana Fernandez recently visited a quarry in Northern New Jersey in search of stone material to compliment native stone found on the William Paterson Campus. As part of the new academic project, we have been tasked with creating an outdoor landscape that promotes collaboration and aesthetic beauty. Working with 14 feet of grade change a series of walls and terraces are incorporated into the design.
View of granite vein at Tilcon Quarry in Northern New Jersey.
Diana is a fan of the granite boulders.
Einstein Medical Center Montgomery Awarded LEED Silver Certification /
We are proud to announce that the U.S. Green Building Council has granted our project LEED Silver Certification. As landscape architects for the new hospital and Healing Garden, we collaborated with Perkins+Will and the rest of the project team to create a 90-acre campus that serves the needs of the hospital staff and patients, while becoming an asset for the environment and the community.
Read more about this exciting development here: http://www.einstein.edu/news/einstein-medical-center-montgomery-awarded-leed-nc-silver-certification/
The design of the Healing Garden and the constructed stormwater wetland (shown above during and after construction) sought to create a connection to the Norristown Farm Park beyond.