Berkeley Rose Garden
Location: Berkeley, CA
Size: 1 acre
Partners: ELS Architecture & Urban Design
Berkeley’s magnificent historic public Rose Garden was constructed in the Great Depression by state and federal civilian works projects. In 2019, the City of Berkeley embarked on a program of significant improvements and upgrades. PGAdesign was retained to design a modern automated irrigation system to replace the problematic existing system patched together over the years. PGAdesign’s involvement was led by Principal Cathy Garrett, and Bob Towar, PGAdesign’s irrigation designer, designed and documented the system.
Designing a watering system for the Rose Garden held many challenges. Installers had to deal with numerous crossings beneath existing pavement, some historic and original flagstone. Further, each garden level in the terraced amphitheater-like site is separated from adjacent levels by stone stairways. Fixed benches and steeply sloping terrain required careful and inventive solutions to route and install irrigation piping and wiring. The completed installation provided this unique civic treasure with a state-of-the-art, weather-based watering system that is part of Berkeley’s city-wide system. Resulting benefits include lower water use, and significant reduction in maintenance time and resources spent on the garden irrigation system.
Awards
2016 American Society of Landscape Architects, NCC Design Merit Award
Location: Berkeley, CA
Project Type:
Civic
Parks + Recreation
Size: 1 acre
Berkeley’s magnificent historic public Rose Garden was constructed in the Great Depression by state and federal civilian works projects. In 2019, the City of Berkeley embarked on a program of significant improvements and upgrades. PGAdesign was retained to design a modern automated irrigation system to replace the problematic existing system patched together over the years. PGAdesign’s involvement was led by Principal Cathy Garrett, and Bob Towar, PGAdesign’s irrigation designer, designed and documented the system.
Designing a watering system for the Rose Garden held many challenges. Installers had to deal with numerous crossings beneath existing pavement, some historic and original flagstone. Further, each garden level in the terraced amphitheater-like site is separated from adjacent levels by stone stairways. Fixed benches and steeply sloping terrain required careful and inventive solutions to route and install irrigation piping and wiring. The completed installation provided this unique civic treasure with a state-of-the-art, weather-based watering system that is part of Berkeley’s city-wide system. Resulting benefits include lower water use, and significant reduction in maintenance time and resources spent on the garden irrigation system.
Awards
2016 American Society of Landscape Architects, NCC Design Merit Award
