MHG was engaged by the property owner shortly after their purchase of the property, to transform a portion of the parking lot at the rear of the building into an amenity space for tenants.  MHG’s landscape architecture team designed a multi-function space, while retaining a vehicular drive aisle for pickup, drop off, emergency vehicle access and convenient accessible parking.  The new amenity area includes at its center a three-room pavilion that provides flexible options for working alone or adapting to support small group gatherings.  The resulting innovative shelter includes an automatic louvered roof system activated by precipitation with spaces defined and divided by a range of living walls, solid walls, and furniture. Outlets are available for plugging in audio/visual equipment and personal communication devices, and lighting inside the pavilion provides ambience.

Adjacent to the structure are 2 sitting areas, one for solitary or one-on-one conversation and another for more communal activities.  A bocce court anchors the corner of the space with a retaining wall and artistic metal and cable railing to accommodate the change in grade and provide spectator and player seating.

The connection between the amenity space and building entrance incorporates new concrete pavers, using patterns and colors to delineate car drive aisles from pedestrian zones to make this a pedestrian-friendly transition for all users. Highlighting the approach to the building entry are a series of decorative metal panels reflecting the biomedical nature of the interior laboratory uses.