Mogavero Architects

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Mogavero’s Landscape Architect Honored for Contribution to World Peace Rose Garden

If you’re driving by California’s State Capitol in Downtown Sacramento, you can’t miss the rose garden located east of the Building along 15th Street.  With such an array of breathtaking roses, you might ask yourself, who designed this beautiful space? Proudly, our very own landscape architect, John Nicolaus, was recognized for his incredible contribution for the design of the State Capitol International World Peace Rose Garden during a meeting of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission earlier this week. The garden was celebrated for its 10th Anniversary back in May. John donated his services and inspired other colleague firms in Sacramento to do the same by working on the design from 1995 until the garden’s dedication in 2003. “John’s attention to detail and commitment to excellence is to be commended!” said TJ David, Co-Creator of International World Peace Rose Gardens. ‘Building a garden in Capitol Park was a daunting task, especially given the multitudes of stakeholders involved’ says Nicolaus. John was also presented with a framed aerial view of the garden in bloom, commemorative 10th anniversary t-shirts, and a cake decorated with blooms from a ‘Coretta Scott King’ rose. ‘Designing a space like this was truly inspiring’ said John.  ‘The idea that a physical space can contribute to peace, community and mutual understanding is a powerful one’. The World Peace Rose Garden is located on 15th Street between L & N Streets and showcases over 670 roses in over 165 colors and fragrances. The garden also holds a Peace Pavilion which is a favorite spot for weddings and ceremonies. In 2010, the garden was voted one of the Top 10 “Best Public Rose Gardens in America” in a competition of over 130 gardens across the USA (Go Sacramento!).  Since then, about 15% of the garden has been replanted with new varieties to further enhance visitors’ experiences. Next time you’re downtown, take a moment to stroll through the garden, reflect, and take in the beauty of the space.

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David Mogavero Recognized for Being Outstanding Environmentalist!

Earlier this week I attended the 40th Annual Environmentalist of the Year Awards put on by Environmental Council of Sacramento. The event was held at the Sierra Health Foundation, beautifully situated on the banks of the Sacramento River. Our Senior Partner, David Mogavero, was recognized as a lifetime member for his many years of serving on the leadership board of ECOS and continually supporting our community through sustainable building and business practices. “ECOS has played an important role in shaping the Sacramento region. I have been fortunate to be part of the organization for so many years and to contribute to Sacramento’s sustainability and positive, green growth” said David. It was inspiring to see so many individuals come together from all walks of life to support and recognize our sustainable community and its outstanding advocates. Notably in attendance was Assemblymember Roger Dickinson along with local business representatives and community advocates. To demonstrate the practice of maintaining a sustainable environment, ECOS produced the award placards from 100% sustainable materials, consisting of recycled glass and renewable bamboo. Here’s to another 40 years of sustainable practices in and around the Sacramento region! -Morgan

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Parklets in Sacramento?

As you may know, for the past eight years Mogavero Notestine Associates has been actively engaged in Park[ing] Day, which is an annual event which helps to bring attention to the benefit of parks in our community through the creation of short-term parklets, which last for only one day: over the years we’ve been involved it has become a much larger, more energized event – and now the City Council will be considering issuing permits to business owners for longer-term parklets. A parklet is most commonly a low deck installed in two or three adjacent parking spaces, with seating and decorative elements and often bike parking, too. Not only does this beneficially transform the use of land, but it also creates usable, human space for an environmentally sound, pedestrian friendly community. For the past 25 years, MNA has been trying to activate our neighborhood sidewalks, and we feel that this is a great method to accomplish this. We hope these parklets will enable business communities to help foster Sacramento’s continuing evolution into a more pedestrian/bicycle friendly place, while benefiting not only the environment, but their bottom lines, by adding not just activated foot traffic, but happier people, more ready to buy services and goods. Link to SABA Article – Morgan

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Park[ing] Day 2013 – popup parks greening the Midtown grid

Friday 20 September was Park(ing) Day – an event Mogavero Notestine Associates has participated in since just after its inception in 2005. (http://parkingday.orgg) (http://rebargroup.org/parking-day/) This year, for the first time, the section of 20th street between K & J was almost completely filled with popup parklets, ranging from the silly and fun to the sublime, and of course Mogavero Notestine Associates was there in good form. Our parklet included 90% or better recycled, reused or repurposed materials and elements, a landscape and planning approach, and a planned theme of “Adirondack Hiatus”. The goal was to create a gardenlike retreat space, with a sense of serenity and escape, while using as close to 100% recycled or reused materials as possible. Our process was intensely collaborative, and had a noticeable improvisational component – once we had the elements and concepts, we pre-assembled in the Mogavero Notestine Associates garage, and tweaked and built on the design there. We were lucky enough to get assistance from Lumens Light & Living (http://www.lumens.com) who loaned us the two lovely green Adirondack chairs and matching table (all with a very high recycled plastic content) and also a wonderful Chilewich rug – which also had significant recycled content. We had some bespoke land art created by our own amazing Erin Reschke, and some artwork on loan from local sculptor Vince King (http://kingsculpture.com/about/) which helped really make our space pop; overall the collaborative spirit pervaded not only our process, and our parklet, but the entire event as well: we collaborated with Hammel, Green and Abramson’s (http://hga.com/about-us/locations/sacramento-office) first-ever park(ing) day team to ensure that visitors to our two little more isolated parklets would be able to easily pass from one to the other without having to step into the street. After the main park(ing) day event, we were also involved with the Rooftop Alliance and Loftgardens (http://www.loftgardens.com) popup rooftop garden party, which involved relocating our parklet to the top of a nearby parking garage, along with a handful of other parklets, to highlight the Rooftop Alliance’s goal to raise awareness of rooftop gardening opportunities and benefits. Local restaurant Lowbrau provided drinks and links for those so inclined on Saturday, and on Sunday there was an open all-acoustic jam session which lasted for several hours. It was fascinating to see how large and energized this event has become – I’ve been involved in this with Mogavero Notestine Associates from the first time we participated, and previously it was rather small and guerrilla in nature – this year, walking down the road towards our parklet, with both sides of the road chock full of parklets was a truly tremendous experience. – Gerard

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Capitol Yards Breaks Ground in West Sacramento!

Last week, our firm and our client The Wolff Company celebrated the groundbreaking of Capitol Yards apartment homes in West Sacramento. The project is the largest of its kind to be undertaken within the capitol region in years, and will sport 350 units when complete. Mogavero Notestine founding partner David Mogavero spoke at the ceremony...

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Natural Stormwater Strategies – Multiple Cases and Applications

For decades, Stormwater has been routed to drain inlets and piped underground to either a treatment plant or the nearest river; while efficient at conveying water away from a parking lot, this is expensive, and buried pipes that “flow to the river” are environmentally destructive: the beauty of natural Stormwater management is that instead of DI’s, PVC pipe, charcoal filter vaults and manhole covers, the mitigating “equipment” includes trees, grass, rocks, soil, pervious pavers and interesting topography – elements that most people consider site amenities...

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The Arbors at Oak Park Celebrates Grand Opening!

The Arbors at Oak Park, a senior affordable project our firm designed, had its grand opening today.  It was a great event with strong community support, attended by neighborhood activists and advocates.  Mayor Kevin Johnson and Assemblymember Roger Dickinson helped to dedicate the project and welcomed the new residents to the neighborhood. Having worked on planning and urban design projects in Oak Park for many years, particularly visualizing this prominent corner at MLK Boulevard and Broadway, Mogavero is proud to be a part of this project and contribute to supporting the revitalization of Oak Park.  This sustainable, urban infill project has 55 units for low income seniors combined with 5,000 square feet of commercial space complemented with a series of outdoor garden rooms.

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Natural Ventilation Strategies – Case Study: UC Davis Tercero Student Housing Phase Two

Historically almost all buildings were naturally ventilated; the UC Davis Tercero Student Housing project incorporates natural ventilation strategies to provide fresh air and cooling, avoiding the higher energy consumption of mechanical systems...

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Our firm has been recognized as bike friendly!

The Sacramento Area Council of Governments has awarded Mogavero Notestine Associates a 2013 certificate for being a bicycle friendly business, and Mogavero has been recognized....

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AIA EXPO in Denver: Cool New Products, including a Holodeck

There were about 16,000 conferees and 1,000 vendors at the American Institute of Architects 2013 National Convention and Expo in Denver the week before last. A "petting zoo" showcase of the building industry's newest products, from cladding stone to structural fasteners, shading devices, and software, the Expo is always fascinating. I walked the floor for a good 4-5 hours and wanted to share some standouts...