BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS ARE INVESTING IN LANDSCAPING SOLUTIONS TO CREATE ALLURING OUTDOOR SPACES
BY NICK FORTUNA
Attractive landscape designs and outdoors amenities have always been an option for building owners and managers looking to enhance their properties’ appeal. But due to the pandemic, investing in outdoor spaces has taken on increased importance, as building occupants used to dining and socializing outdoors over the last 21 months look to replicate that experience in the workplace.
Lauren Holt, Boston branch manager for BrightView Landscapes, said clients in both office buildings and high-rise apartment buildings are installing so-called green roofs or roof gardens to create a better experience for workers and residents. She said clients are getting creative with their limited rooftop and terrace space, installing dog parks, pickleball courts and shaded areas to sit outside.
Dog parks complete with artificial turf are becoming more prominent in residential spaces but also are seen as one way companies can encourage employees to come back to the office, Holt said. The artificial turf, which typically sits atop a sand base with a complex drainage system, holds up much better against the elements and things like pet urine than natural grass, she said.
Building managers often will rinse the turf with water daily and add a cleaning agent weekly to prevent rooftop dog parks from becoming smelly nuisances, Holt said. Depending on the available space, some clients are installing tiny dog parks with just enough room for a dog to relieve itself, while others are devoting up to 2,000 square feet to this amenity. Large dog parks may even include climbing obstacles and other equipment for canine agility courses.
For dog owners, this single amenity can be the deciding factor when choosing among apartment buildings, so managers and owners increasingly see dog parks as a way to remain competitive in the rental market, Holt said.
“Architects are becoming ever more creative when it comes to establishing outdoor spaces, and apartment buildings nowadays are very much trying to think outside the box and become distinctive,” she said.
Similarly, clients are using pergolas, parasols, awnings, picnic tables, chairs, fire pits and fireplaces to create warm, inviting spaces for people to congregate, she said.
The shaded areas make it easy for residents working from home to take their laptops outside and enjoy the fresh air. Edison bulbs and string lights make these areas useable at nighttime as well, providing a place to unwind after work. Electric or propane fire pits and elegant outdoor fireplaces, enclosed in glass and stone save for a venting system at the top, encourage residents to enjoy the homey setting and socialize.
To give these areas more of a verdant feel, clients are installing native plant species and irrigation systems to create container gardens. Some small containers may hold only a few chrysanthemums, while others are large enough for trees or bushes, Holt said.
“The containers make these spaces more welcoming since they’re no longer just hardscape,” she said. “The plants add a pop of green to what otherwise might be kind of a sterile space.”
Brad Roppe, West Division vice president of Business Development for LandCare, said water scarcity in some parts of the country is a big reason why many building owners and managers are installing drought-tolerant landscapes. The monetary savings from reduced water consumption may be modest, but corporate brands can enhance their reputation as good environmental stewards and help their buildings achieve LEED status by choosing sustainable landscape options, he said.
Clients are using native species and “smart” irrigation systems to limit water usage, Roppe said. Sensors on sprinklers water plants only when they need it and turn off once plants have gotten enough. In addition, clients are replacing natural turf with plant species that are “less thirsty,” along with rock coble and mulch, he said.
“The movement toward more water-conscious designs has become a pronounced trend,” he said. “Water is obviously a pretty precious commodity, and some jurisdictions are instituting water restrictions, so people want to make sure they have a nice aesthetic regardless of those restrictions.”
Roppe said that with turf conversions, three things to look out for are safety, water waste and foreseeable damages. For example, some clients who replace natural turf fail to adjust existing valve boxes, sprinkler heads and drip lines, which can create tripping hazards. Other clients may forget to cap off sprinklers following a turf conversion, so water is wasted on rock cobble and mulch.
As for foreseeable damages, retail stores may not want to install rock cobble with large stones, and smaller plants shouldn’t be placed next to pedestrian paths and parking areas where they’re likely to be damaged by foot traffic.
“You don’t necessarily want to create a design with a bunch of hand-sized rocks near automobiles or storefronts,” Roppe said.
Roppe said corporate clients are seeking to encourage workers to stick around the office and collaborate as a team, so they may install volleyball or bocce ball courts as part of an outdoor entertainment space. Similarly, there’s a renewed focus on creating inviting outdoor spaces within apartment buildings, providing a greater value to residents.
“Certainly, folks who look at their landscaping as an amenity want to make sure that they have designs that invite people outside and that can serve the needs of their employees and guests,” Roppe said. “That trend was already happening, but I certainly do think that seeing the benefits of that during COVID-19 encouraged more folks to take a greater interest in their outside spaces.”