Articles & Press Releases

• February 1, 2009
  Green Chi: Vantage - Palo Alto, CA
• December 15, 2008
  Hospitality: The Westin Verasa Hotel
• December 22, 2007
  vTA: Going Solar
• 2007 MAME Awards
• October/November 2006
  HBA Magazine: Associate Profile
• BIA Home Tour Article - PDF

New Projects

• Sacramento International Airport, LEED Project | Sacramento, California: vTA was selected as the landscape architect of record for the expansion of the Sacramento International Airport. vTA and Archiverde, Landscape Architects in Dallas, Texas, will be responsible for the landscape design of the new passenger Terminal B and the Terminal B garage. Scope of work will include all exterior areas of the project including the “Great Meadow” which will be viewed through the terminals five story atrium and greet visitors with expansive views towards downtown Sacramento and the great Central Valley beyond. The design team will also be responsible for the landscape design of several ancillary buildings, and support service areas, as well as the interface areas to existing Terminal A.
• Sonoma Vineyard Estates | Sonoma, California: Sonoma Vineyard Estates is a 58 acre wine country retreat in the heart of the Sonoma Valley. The site has been sensitively designed to enhance and protect existing trees, wetlands and riparian corridors.  Surrounding vineyards and olive orchards create a private enclave for fifteen casitas and a clubhouse.  Each casitas has an entry courtyard, shared indoor/outdoor spaces, and outdoor entertaining areas.  Along the existing creek, meandering trails connect the visitor to secret gardens, a wine cave and the clubhouse.  The outdoor upper terrace at the clubhouse has a demonstration/gourmet kitchen and dining area that overlooks the pool.  Beyond the pool area is an event lawn, bocce courts and vegetable gardens. 
• Pepper Lane | San Jose, California: Pepper Lane is a high density housing community situated to allow for pedestrian links to the adjacent commercial area and optimum open space.  The development is made up of 371 units and seven public open spaces with various amenities including: two separate aged children play areas, a dog park, two game table areas, several large expanses of turf area for free play and badminton, bocce court, multiple picnic areas with barbecues, sensory garden with seating, community garden plots for homeowners and a restored historic home that belonged to the Nola family was converted into a community center.
• Gasser Supportive Housing | Napa, California: Though small this project has big goals to not only create a healthy living environment where people can transition into a new future but also to be a LEED silver certified project and to follow the Green Communities criteria 2008 for affordable housing.  vTA was asked to design a space that inspires social interaction, reflection, and rejuvenation while utilizing sustainable products and materials such as, paving materials, site furnishings, low water use plants, organic mulches, weed suppression and amendments.  The future maintenance plan is to create a beautiful engaging landscape with low impact on the environment by focusing on a highly efficient irrigation system and to Integrated Pest Management principles to reduce chemical use.
• Summer Lake Models | Oakley, California: Summer Lake models consist of eleven models, five of which are lake front properties.  The design of the models play on their unique location by focusing on outdoor living and entertaining spaces by incorporating elements such as open air kitchens, a sand beach with canoe and market umbrellas, colored glass fountains, lake front dining, outdoor fireplaces, a playhouse, and a kid’s big wheel track. A park with children’s interactive water feature was also designed within the model complex to maximize the visitor’s experience and capitalize on lake views.
• Napa Riverfront Promenade | Napa, California: Napa Riverfront Promenade is one of the most exciting projects happening in downtown Napa.  It extends the river trail from Angele at the end of Main Street, around the beautifully restored Napa Mill, continues down the riverfront property and under the Third Street Bridge to Veteran’s Park next to Downtown Joe’s.  The centerpieces of this development are modern Venetian style buildings connected by an enclosed bridge reminiscent of “The Bridge of Sighs”.  By incorporating an outdoor plaza area with restaurants, retail/ office spaces and high end loft living with roof top gardens, an exciting space is created that connects pedestrians to the river.  vTA collaborated with the City of Napa and the Army Core of Engineers to design a flood wall that will not only protect downtown from the one hundred year flood but is also aesthetically pleasing and provides access down to the water.
• Hunter Ranch | Paso Robles, California: The existing Hunter Ranch Golf Course is a top rated public championship course located in the heart of Paso Robles wine country. The new resort and spa intends to enhance the experience of visitors by providing an intimate setting in which to enjoy the many local attractions.  The proposed resort includes approximately 100 rooms, a restaurant, spa, and event facilities, all delicately set around the sites many century-old oak trees.  In addition to golf, the projects outdoor recreation activities include a swimming pool, outdoor dining, bocce courts and nature trails.  The design concept for the architecture and landscape will be to preserve and enhance the rustic site’s natural beauty.
• Napa Crossing, LEED Project | Napa, California: Napa Crossing not only focuses on high quality retail with a strong emphasis on the agrarian and rural landscape theme representative of Napa’s agricultural history but also to be a LEED silver certified project and to follow the sustainable Napa guidelines for Green Construction.  To keep with the agrarian theme, olives trees and columnar beech trees are used to create a loose country boundary, while various plants are used to pull out colors from the architecture.  An emphasis on form and texture in plant selection creates movement and structure in the landscape while using low water use plants and other sustainable and/ or organic materials.  The future maintenance plan is to mature this naturally elegant landscape with low impact on the environment by focusing on a highly efficient irrigation system and to Integrated Pest Management principles to reduce chemical use.
• Habitat for Humanity: vTA volunteers planning and landscape design services to Habitat for Humanity's 2006-2007 Project Playhouse. The project's five-playhouses were donated by the local chapter of Home Builder's Association (HBA). The HBA members participating included Brookfield Homes, Centex Homes, Pulte Homes, The Olson Companies, KB Homes, PG&E, Lennar and Standard Pacific Homes. The playhouses are all located in the rotunda area of the stunning Blackhawk shopping center, and will be auctioned to prospective buyers, during which Habitat for Humanity hopes to raise $100,000.00 for future projects.