Rio Salado College Cafe
Rio Salado Community College, Tempe, AZ
Arizona ASLA Award Winner
Rio Salado College Café Patio represents an imaginative use of a small restrictive site. The project included a pedestrian courtyard, outdoor café, and classroom, associated with a building expansion. The design weaves innovative stormwater management with creative hardscape design that enhances the image for the College, and provides enjoyable multi-use spaces, while preserving stormwater storage, and incorporating environmentally friendly features that reflect the values and goals of the College.
The College’s purpose for the project was to provide a pedestrian connection between campus buildings that were separated by a retention basin. The basin was seen by the College as a necessary evil that divided the campus. But the design team provided the College a larger vision. In addition to providing connecting shaded walkways, the design accomplished so much more, by creating an outdoor environment that maximizes the use of the site, adding colorful plants and hardscape materials, shade trees, seating, gathering areas, and shade sails, together creating an outdoor ambience for the Café @ Rio, the college’s sustainable kitchen and café.