Just north of Beijing, between the Great Wall and Yanqi Lake, the Xingfa Cement Plant once fueled China’s construction boom, operating for over two decades before its 2015 closure under the National Air Quality Action Plan. Today, an adjacent quarry that once provided raw materials has been remediated as a 107.5-hectare terraced park that anchors an accompanying 17-acre research campus on the site of the plant.
Where a single willow tree once stood, the valley now supports a vast, layered network of emergent plant communities selected to adapt in rocky, alkaline soils. Native arborvitae stabilize slopes and retain moisture through summer droughts. Legume-producing species enrich the thin soil, while seasonal stands of smoke tree, mulberry, and elm provide canopy and seasonal color. Invasive plants introduced during the site’s industrial era have been cleared and replaced with species that restore soil conditions. On the southwestern end of the site, a seasonal pond has been added to retain stormwater runoff and reduce erosion across the exposed quarry floor.
Paving, walls, and trail edging were constructed using recycled stone and shale. Salvaged conveyor housings and other industrial remnants were embedded into the landscape along the “Trail of Memory,” a pedestrian spine linking the two quarry pits that pays homage to the site’s industrial past. Climbing up a nearby hilltop to an overlook pavilion, a 1.2-kilometer hiking trail provides panoramic views of the surrounding Yan Mountains.
Tulsa Riverfront Park
SWA directed conceptual studies for incorporating a landmark residential estate, a multi-family housing complex and a creek corridor into the adjacent Arkansas River waterfront of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Recently acquired by a local community foundation, the total 64-acre area features sweeping lawns and a historic home that provides much-needed space for the city’s ...
Pellier Park
In the heart of downtown San Jose, the first of three new SWA-designed parks celebrates the plum tree and agricultural origins of Silicon Valley. The site is a registered California Historic Landmark and the original nursery of Louis Pellier, known as “ The Prune King’ who introduced the French Prune to the Valley in 1856 and sparked the orchard boom in Calif...
Guthrie Green Park
Guthrie Green transforms a 2.6-acre truck yard into a lively urban park in the heart of downtown Tulsa’s emerging arts district. Opened in September 2012, Guthrie Green has become the area’s leading destination, drawing 3,000 plus people weekly to activities that have enriched the urban experience and spurred district-wide revitalization. The high-performance ...
Lynwood Mega-Playground
Inspired by the city’s rich history of aerospace research and manufacturing, Lynwood Mega-Playground brings a dynamic space exploration-themed playground to the heart of the Central Los Angeles city.
Completed in Fall 2024, the playground transforms the Northwest corner of Lynwood Park into a colorful spectacle with super-sized play features including a...