SEGD 2010 No. 27 - 51

proposals. Ultimately, Sasaki’s classic design sensibility—particularly its emphasis on boulevards and open spaces—hit the right note. The American Way NATIONAL HARBOR Location: Prince Georges County, Md. Client: The Peterson Companies Master Planning, Landscape Architecture, Public Art Master Planning, and Environmental Graphic Design: Sasaki Associates Design Team: Stu Dawson (principal in charge), Mark Dawson (managing principal), Gina Ford (project manager/ landscape architect), Brian Pearce (lead designer, EGD), Jeff Sprague (project manager, EGD); Dennis Pieprz, Beni Arapi, David Mittelstadt, Chuck Coronis, Jing Wu, Jose Miranda, Lauren Bryant, Jonathan Bryant, Sam Pease, Phil Thibadeau (design team) Fabrication: ad vice studios Collaborators: Clark Multi-Family The project was much like building a city from scratch, says Pearce. “It was a real architects convention, with up to six architects involved to ensure variety. Sasaki was like the connective tissue for all this different architecture, uniting it through a master landscape plan and a cohesive EGD program.” Taking cues from Las Ramblas, Peterson worked with Sasaki to envision American Way, the 3,000-ft. pedestrian-oriented boulevard that leads to the water, overlooks National Plaza (which includes retail, residential, and restaurants), and essentially acts as National Harbor’s centerpiece. Again inspired by Las Ramblas, Peterson envisioned a no-holdsbarred, multimillion-dollar public art component. “Even when it’s required, you don’t have that kind of emphasis on public art because it cuts right into the bottom line,” Dawson says. “But Peterson wanted it to be more than a developer’s dream—he wanted it to be a community dream.” Among the approximately 45 works is The Awakening, a ﬁve-piece cast-aluminum sculpture by J. Seward Johnson Jr. that was transported from Haines Point in East Potomac Park. It depicts a giant head and limbs that appear to jut out from the banks of the Potomac. Albert Paley contributed three sculptures, including an 85-ft.-tall weathering and painted steel entrance sculpture and two 4,500-lb., stainlesssteel eagles that soar over the Potomac atop 60-ft. poles. Waterfront murals by Steven Weitzman and Cheryl Foster celebrate local lore and Builders (contractor); Loiederman Soltesz Associates (civil engineering); EK Fox and Associates Ltd. (MEP); Carroll Engineering (structural engineering); LandDesign (landscape architecture and planning); TWS Design (local landscape architect); Design Island Associates, MRA International (thematic and events consulting); Sardi Design (harborwalk banners); Francoise Yohalem (art consultant); Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design (lighting); Aquatic Design and Engineering (fountains); Davis, Carter, Scott Ltd. (architects); Lynch and Associates Ltd. (utilities) Artists: Albert Paley; Cheryl Foster; Steven Weitzman (Creative Design Resolutions); Albert Raitt (AW Raitt Stoneyard); J. Seward Johnson Jr. Photos: Edward Wonsek history, while stone sculptures from Albert Raitt’s Stoneyard landmark important pedestrian spaces on the site. Nautical EGD Peterson spent a lot of money and time working with other ﬁrms on the project’s EGD components, but wasn’t happy with the results. “National Harbor was meant to be nautical, but they never hit on the right theme,” explains Parana. segdDESIGN 51
SEGD 2010 No. 27

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SEGD 2010 No. 27
