Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/93509
portfolio PROJECT: Commercial property, Escondido, California LANDSCAPING: Benchmark Landscape, Poway, California Healing Grounds BY LAUREN HEARTSILL DOWDLE Landscape restores environment and patients. T o extend a healing, tranquil environment beyond the hospital walls, Bench- mark Landscape (benchmarklandscape.com) installed a $2.5 million sustain- able landscape at Palomar Medical Center West in Escondido, California. When built, the hospital was the largest construction project in California, span- ning 35 acres, so Benchmark's design had to go the distance. The landscapers start- ed by installing numerous bio-swales that drained to fi ve bio-basins for fi ltering surface runoff water. They also added an extensive drip-irrigation system that uses recycled water. Benchmark's plant pallet consisted of California native and drought tolerant plants, succulents and grasses, California sycamores and live oak trees. De- signers also incorporated hardscape elements such as large boulder outcroppings, natural rock walls and monuments at focal points and entryways. This project won Benchmark an achievement award in the "California-Friendly Landscape Construction Commercial" category from the San Diego chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA). Visit totallandscapec- are.com/natural-medicine to see more project photos. To have your project featured, e-mail high-resolution photos, a descrip- tion of the project and the name of your business to LHeartsill.rrpub@ gmail.com. 84 TOTAL LANDSCAPE CARE / October 2012