OJB Brochure PDF

T h e O f f i c e o f Ja m e s B u r n e tt
H o u s to n | s o l a n a B e ac h | B o s to n
Sunnylands Center & Gardens | Rancho Mirage

T H E O F F I C E O F JA M E S B U R N E T T
T HE O FFICE O F JAMES B URNE T T O UR HIS TO RY O UR P R O CESS O UR PASSI O N
The Office of James Burnett was founded in 1989 The Office of James Burnett follows a proven Landscape design is our passion—it is who we
in Houston, Texas with the primary focus of creat- design and planning process in which the client are, not just what we do—and that passion is
ing landscapes that transform perspective and is an integral part. We stay connected, listen and reflected in the spaces we create. We consider
evoke emotional responses, creating unique and respond to your needs. Through every phase of all facets of your project, beginning with the first
unforgettable sensory experiences in the garden. the design process we stay focused on the site impression and concluding with the finest detail.
Our work is a testament to compositions that users and their needs. From concept design to
reflect a seamless, unified relationship between construction administration, we know how to
landscape and architecture. A second office was work with owners, project managers, architects,
opened in San Diego, California in 2003. contractors and other consultants.
2 f i r m p r o f i l e
BROCHSTEIN PAVILION
Developed as a key element of the “Vision for the

Second Century” strategic plan, the Brochstein
Pavilion has transformed the Central Quadrangle into
the social center of the Rice University campus. The
6,000 square-foot pavilion offers light refreshments
and features a 10,000 square-foot covered outdoor
terrace. Set in a field of decomposed granite, a grove
of 48 Allee Lacebark Elms responds to the grid of
the building and organize the space between the
Pavilion and the adjacent Fondren Library.
Two low concrete fountains define the space under

the canopy and movable seating accommodates
impromptu gatherings of students and faculty.
Additional plantings of Live Oaks and improved
pedestrian paths reinforce the existing framework
of the Quadrangle.
Client: Rice University Awards: ASLA National Honor Award Team: Thomas Phifer & Partners
Location: Houston, TX ASLA Texas Chapter Merit Award Fisher Marantz Stone &
Size: 10,000 sf AIA National Honor Award Partners
Cost: $5.2 M AS&U 2010: Architectural Citation Photographer:
3 B ROC H STEIN PA V ILION
Dates: 2007-2008 Hester + Hardaway

“The award winning landscape de-

sign of the Brochstein Pavilion, a
newly-constructed café and central
gathering space, introduced a won-
derful water feature and movable
furniture to Rice. The furniture con-
cept has been enthusiastically em-
braced by student, faculty & visitors
and we are now implementing other
key areas of the campus.”
Barbara White Bryson, FAIA

Associate Vice President Facilities and
Engineering and Planning, Rice University
The water trays provide a calming and continuous sound in

the garden.

Students can experience the garden at all hours of the night.
“Susan and I have received many

favorable comments regarding the
landscaping at the Rice Pavilion and
we have enjoyed seeing students
and faculty using the outside at least
as much as those inside. The building
is certainly outstanding but the it is
the landscape that really makes it
successful.”
Raymond Brochstein

The fall color of the Elms provides a wonderful contrast with the
lustrous green of the Iris and Horsetail. The Horsetail provides
a buffer between the “porch” and the adjacent campus walks.

The garden courts provide a shady respite for students and

visitors to gather between classes. WiFi, moveable chairs, and
food service in the pavilion supports the use of this outdoor
commons.

Brockman Hall for Physics
The Brockman Hall for Physics is a 111,000 SF

facility housing classrooms, laboratory space,
lecture halls and administrative offices for the
Physics Department as well as physicists from the
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Driven by Rice
University’s belief that some of the most important
moments on campus are moments of informal
discussion and debate outside of the classroom,
the design of the building and landscape seeks to
provide a multitude of spaces for lively and inspiring
conversation.
Sheltered from the sun by the building overhead, a

ground-floor courtyard features a reflecting pool,
raised ipe terrace and enhanced plaza with movable
furniture. As the design developed, the Office of
James Burnett was also asked to redesign the
“Courtyard of Science”, an interstitial space between
the wings of Brown Hall to the south. A grove of
Honey Mesquites organizes the space and intimate
decomposed granite courtyards with movable
furniture create a number of social spaces.
Project: Brockman Hall for Physics Awards: SCUP / AIA-CAE Honor Award,

Area: 111,000 SF Excellence in Architecture
Location: Houston, TX for a New Building, 2012
Client: Rice University AIA Houston Design Award, 2012
9 B ROC K MAN H ALL
Team: Kieran Timberlake Associates
10 B ROC K MAN H ALL

11
12 B ROC K MAN H ALL

ANNENBERG CENTER FOR Information
Science & Technolgy at caltech
The Annenberg Center for Information Science and

Technology at the California Institute of Technology
provides a modern center for collaborative research
and instruction in the disciplines of science and
engineering. The facility represents the most recent
of Caltech’s sustainability initiatives and is currently
being evaluated for LEED Gold certification. The
landscape surrounding the building reflects this
environmental ethic and exhibits a substantial
departure from the traditional Pasadena ornamental
palette.
Palo Verde trees structure the building’s entry

plantings, which are organized into a series of
planks to echo the adjacent glass façade. The shrub
understory heavily focuses on water conservation
and is comprised of a number of succulents and
ornamental grasses. The project also includes a
significant social component through its provision
of decomposed granite seating areas with movable
furniture, which are used for impromptu outdoor
gatherings. The new environmental aesthetic, with
its concomitant water conservation benefits, is
being enthusiastically embraced by the campus
community.
Client: The Annenberg Center for Size: 10,000 sf

Information Science and Cost: $20.2 M
Technology at the California Dates: : 2007-2009
Institute of Technology Team: Frederick Fisher + Partners
13 CALTEC H IST Location: Pasadena, CA HLB Lighting Design
14 CALTEC H IST
Welcoming courtyards and ample shade invite the indoors out

and expand usable space.
15 CALTEC H IST
Flexible seating and decomposed granite patios afford a more

impressible use of outdoor spaces.
16 CALTEC H IST
SUNNYLANDS CENTER & GARDENS
The 15-acre Sunnylands Center & Gardens is an

extension of the 200 acre desert retreat of publisher,
diplomat, and philanthropist Ambassador Walter
Annenberg and his wife Lenore. Sited to take
advantage of impressive views to the mountains
beyond, the Center is organized around a 15,000
square-foot LEED gold-rated building that
accommodates docent-led tours of the estate,
educational exhibits, receptions, cafe, exhibition
space, theater, and a gift shop. The landscape design
provides a carefully orchestrated garden experience
that responds to the climate of the Sonoran Desert.
Visitors entering the site move through a richly

planted entry drive before arriving at the Center’s
formal auto court. At the rear of the building, twin
reflection basins flank the formal plaza that overlooks
the function lawn and desert gardens beyond. A
sweeping promenade leads visitors past a maze
garden, reflection garden and interpretive paths
through the native landscape.
Client: Annenberg Foundation Trust Awards: ASLA National Honor Award HLB Lighting Design
Size: 15,000 square-foot ASLA Texas Chapter Honor Award Hillmann & Carr
Cost: Confidential ASLA San Diego Chapter Awards Litwak Group
Dates: 2009-2012 Team: Frederick Fisher+Partners Reich + Petch (Interior Design)
17 SUNN Y LAN D S CENTER AN D G AR D ENS
LEED: Gold CMS Collaborative
Sunnylands Center & Gardens represents a new aesthetic for the

area that celebrates the character of the Sonoran desert.

Sculptural desert plantings adjacent to the Center create visual

interest at the terrace level. Solar arrays provide power for the
Center.

Nestled in a grove of Hybrid Mesquite, the labyrinth offers an

opportunity for quiet reflection.

President Obama meets with President of China at the Sunnylands Estate

Center and Gardens which provided a handsome backdrop for the US -
China Summit in June 2013

A view of the west terrace and cactus garden. The terrace is

shaded and cooled to provide a comfortable garden experience.

23
“The landscape architecture and the

project’s cutting-edge approach to
sustainable design and management
take inspiration from the desert
environs. The project’s landscape
architect, Jim Burnett, describes this
approach as “intelligent beauty,”
which celebrates rather than ignores
the arid climate.”
Rachel Berey
Topos Magazine
Vol 83 / 2013
The sculpted gardens east of the center cascade into a two-acre

spread of desert wildflowers. Benches have been placed along
paths throughout the gardens.


KLYDE WARREN PARK
Built over the existing Woodall Rodgers Freeway,

this 5.2-acre park serves as an important pedestrian
connection between the Central Business District,
Uptown and the burgeoning Arts District in
downtown Dallas, Texas. Bisected by the existing
Olive Street bridge, the park is organized by a
sweeping pedestrian promenade that features a
continuous canopy of specimen Pond Cypress.
The promenade draws visitors through the park
past a botanical garden, a children’s garden with
an interactive water feature, a reading room, and
an event lawn. A large public plaza adjacent to
Olive Street connects the restaurant terrace, the
performance pavilion, the casual take-out pavilion
to the street and features an interactive fountain
feature.
The pedestrian promenade continues to the east

across Olive Street and features a number of passive
plaza and garden spaces. The pedestrian promenade
continues beyond the plaza and connects to a
series of intimate garden courtyards, a dog park
with an interactive fountain feature and a signature
interactive water feature that anchors the park
along Pearl Street. Groves of Oak trees flank the
site, providing a strong architectural rhythm along
the street and serving as a buffer from the activity
of the adjacent frontage roads.
To encourage continued use of the park, the

Foundation sponsors daily activities including
musical performances, family activities, fitness
classes and architectural skyline tours. Opening
weekend festivities in late October 2012 attracted
an estimated 44,000 visitors and the park is rapidly
becoming the new civic heart of Dallas.
Client: Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation Team: Thomas Phifer & Partners Architects Fluidity Design Consultants
Project Size: 5.2-acre Biederman Redevelopment Ventures Jacobs Engineering
Project Cost: $85 million Bjerke Management Solutions
Dates: Design: 2005-2008 Endres Ware Architects
26 K LY D E W ARREN PAR K Construction: 2009-2012 Focus Lighting Design
27
“...The Office of James Burnett has

delivered something radical - 5.2
acres of green space laid across an
eight-lane highway...The project’s
success has far exceeded projections,
with attendance averaging 12,000 to
15,000 visits per week.”
Laura Mirviss
Architectural Records
The heart of the park is a 28,000SF event lawn with a performance

pavilion designed to accommodate a full symphony orchestra.
Groves of trees enclose the lawn and help buffer the park from
the busy city streets. The groves of trees and arch structures
at Klyde Warren Park establish a strong architectural rhythm
through the park.
28 K LY D E W ARREN PAR K
The Foundation operating the park schedules an average of 5 T H E O F F I C E O F JA M E S B U R N E T T
events each day, including musical performances, fitness activities,
book readings, arts and crafts activities. The Botanical Garden
offers an ever-changing sensory experience for garden lovers.
“I have found the OJB team to be

creative, diligent and responsive to
our evolving needs. Built over an
existing 8-lane freeway, the 5.2 acre
project has transformed an unsightly
depressed highway into a world-
class urban park. Since opening in
Oct 2012, public interest in the park
has exceeded our expectations.”
Jody Grant, Chairman

Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation
Built over an existing freeway, the park provides a variety

of flexible outdoor rooms that support a diverse range of
programmed activities. Dog Park below.
“My experience with Jim and his firm

is consistently positive. During our
many meetings, presentations and
work sessions I found the team as-
signed to our project to be attentive
to our concerns, passionate about
the work and focused on solving
problems.”
Linda Owen, President Emeritus

Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation
The Butterfly Fountain, whose programmed jets emulate a

wriggling caterpillar whose “transformation” into a butterfly
is marked by a burst of water and mist. Rolling berms under a
canopy of River Birch creates a fun environment for children to
play and socialize.
MYRIAD BOTANICAL gardens
Opened in 1988, the 15-acre Myriad Botanical

Gardens is an integral component in the downtown
fabric of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Funded by TIF
district proceeds related to the construction of the
adjacent Devon Energy World Headquarters, the
City of Oklahoma City hired the Office of James
Burnett to develop a design that creates a world-
class urban park while respecting the framework of
the existing facility.
Arriving at the newly-renovated Crystal Bridge

tropical conservatory, visitors to the park meander
through a variety of specialty botanical gardens
before grabbing a coffee at the café, enjoying a meal
at the restaurant or watching a performance on the
great lawn. New public promenades and a series
of flexible garden spaces support the expanded
program of Oklahoma City’s annual Festival of the
Arts. An expansive children’s garden, a dog park and
art installations throughout the park ensure that the
gardens offer something for everyone.
Name: Myriad Botanical Gardens Awards: ASLA San Diego Chapter Awards Frankfurt Short Bruza Associates,
Location: Oklahoma City, OK Team: Gensler, Fluidity Design Consultants EndresWare Architects Engineers, Robert
Client: The City of Oklahoma City Fisher Marantz Stone Partners, Pacific Birchell & Associates,Sweeney Associates,
Size: 15 acre Aquascape, Murase Associates, Mike Schnelle, Ph.D. Mary Irish, Dyal and
M Y RIA D B OTANICAL G AR D ENS

Cost: $40M Cardinal Engineering Alvine Partners
33
Dates: 2008-2011 Engineering, Thornton Tomasetti
“The renovation fo Myriad Gardens

has exceeded my expectations
and become the new heart of
downtown Oklahoma City. Their
design has revitalized this important
public space by creating a series
of interconnected public plazas,
courtyards and garden spaces that
are flexible, functional and attractive
year-around.”
J. Larry Nichols,
Executive Chairman
Devon Energy Corporation
Right: Aerial View of the Gardens Top: Native and regionally

appropriate plantings engage visitors of all ages.
34 M Y RIA D B OTANICAL G AR D ENS

Organized around a central reflecting pool, the plaza supports

concerts and small events during warmer months and is
transformed into an outdoor ice skating rink in the winter.

“I continue to be impressed by the

quality and consistency of the work
produced by the OJB team. I found
the work presented by the firm to
be creative, relevant to the issues
faced by our City and represented
it in a way that was clear, concise
and understandable to all the
diverse members of the Steering
Committee.”
Larry Ogle,
Assistant Director
Parks and Recreation Department
Oklahoma City, OK
Visitors meander through a variety of specialty botanical

gardens before grabbing a coffee at the café, enjoying a meal
at the restaurant or watching a performance on the great lawn.

The children’s interactive water feature includes programming

that recreates an Oklahoma thunderstorm as expressed through
playful water design

Several new traditions, including a regular concert series, have

already begun to draw significant crowds to the project site.

THE PARK AT LAKESHORE EAST
The Park at Lakeshore East is a 5.3-acre urban

park that is the central amenity of the 28-acre
Lakeshore East development in Chicago’s Inner
Loop. Overlooking the confluence of the Chicago
River and Lake Michigan, Lakeshore East is a $4
billion redevelopment that at completion will include
4,950 residential units, 1,500 hotel rooms, 2.2M gross
square feet of commercial space, 770,000 square
feet of retail space and an elementary school.
Two sweeping promenades serve as the primary

circulation across the site and each features a series
of fountain basins, seating areas and ornamental
gardens. An extension of Field Street’s axis, the
Grand Stair offers a commanding view of the park
and accommodates the 25’ grade differential created
by Chicago’s 3-tiered transit system. Additional
amenities include a children’s garden, dog park and
event lawn.
Name: The Park at Lakeshore East Awards: AIA Excellence in Regional Chicago Magazine - Best New Park
Location: Chicago, IL & Urban Design, FIABCI Prix’d Builder Magazine - Builders Choice
Client: Lakeshore East, LLC, City of Chicago Excellence Award Design & Planning Award Building Stone
Magellan Development Group ASLA Texas Chapter Merit Award Institute, Tucker Design Awar, American
Size: 5.3 acre Friends of Downtown Chicago Architecture Award, Metropolitan Planning
39 T H E PAR K AT LA K ES H ORE EAST
Team: SOM , Master Plan Site Design Group Best New Open Space Council’s Burnham Award for Planning
Excellence
Stainless steel scuppers punctuate the red granite fountain

walls. Water gardens at the end of each promenade activate
the streetscape and invites visitors to the park.

“The design, which evolved exceed- T H E O F F I C E O F JA M E S B U R N E T T
ed our expectations and produced a

botanical garden incorporating very
creative landscape features and el-
ements... Throughout the develop-
ment of the park, the Burnett firm was
readily available at a moment’s notice.
The design and resulting cost met our
budget parameters and timing.”
Joel M. Carlins
Lakeshore East LLC
Looking east across North Park Drive. The park’s circulation

system provides for easy access from all of the surrounding
developments.

Orderly bands of paving mark the former course of Lakeshore

Drive through the project site, terminating at a small plaza on
the north side of the site.

Top: Gentle topography, a variety of paving materials and a weir

fountain feature with drinking bowl add variety and interest to
the dog park.

PLAYA VISTA CENTRAL PARK
Located on the former site of Howard Hughes’

aircraft facility, Playa Vista Central Park is part of
the last entitled development sites remaining in
the Los Angeles area. Conceived as a public art
installation, the park is organized into a series of
distinct landscape experiences unified by a central
spine and linear bands of specimen trees.
A central 9-acre park consisting of sport courts,

playground, soccer field, botanical gardens, water
features, and a bandshell, serves as the social hub
for the campus. Each parcel has park-front access or
direct views to the central green providing a strong
relationship between architecture and landscape
architecture. Richly landscaped courts and roof
gardens are integrated in with the proposed and
historic buildings providing tenants with easy access
to the famed outdoor environment of Southern
California.
Marked with signature benches and earth forms,

the entry plaza greets visitors to the park before
leading them into a berm garden that features
bold installations of regionally-appropriate plant
material. Central to the park is a function lawn
and performance pavilion surrounded by bosques
of shade trees. Colorful sports courts and an
imaginative children’s garden beyond seem to float
in the middle of a nearby lake and provide a unique
identity to the park.
Michael Maltzan Architects “Landscape Designer &

Architect” | OJB “Executive Landscape Architect”

Name: Playa Vista Central Park Awards: AIA-California Council 2011 Merit
Location: Los Angeles, CA Team: Michael Maltzan Architects “Landscape Designer & Architect”
Client: Playa Vista Capital OJB “Executive Landscape Architect”
Size: 9 acres
44 PLA Y A V ISTA CENTRAL PAR K
Dates: 2008-2011
The band shell offers a focal and community center point for the gardens.


Strong geometric forms allow for handsome delineations of space.

Strong geometric forms allow for handsome delineations of space.

Large swaths of color and thoughtful terrain treatment add sculptural and
graphic interest to the site, and carve the large space into comfortable
and human scales.

THE CAMPUS AT PLAYA VISTA
Developed as a component of the 64-acre Playa Vista

master plan, this 6.5-acre office development features
structured parking and four separate buildings
totaling 325,000 SF of Class A office space. Richly
detailed courtyards utilize combinations of paving
materials and drought-tolerant plants to create a
unique mood and identity for each building entry.
Third floor terraces built over the garage deck are

shared by the building tenants and feature modest
event lawns, seating areas, ornamental planting and
sweeping panoramas of the Santa Monica mountains
to downtown Los Angeles. To minimize the impact of
thermal gain and stormwater runoff, each building
also features an extensive planted with regionally-
appropriate plant materials and a small private terrace.
Name: The Campus at Playa Vista Team: Tishman Speyer

Location: Los Angeles, CA Gensler
Client: Playa Vista Capital Photography:
Size: 6.5 acre Dillon Diers
50 T H E CAMPUS AT PLA Y A V ISTA
Graphical organization of bright desert plantings extends the

architecture into the gardens and adds visual interest from all angles.


DEVON ENERGY
WORLD HEADQUARTERS
This 2.25 acre space is a simple yet elegant

composition of lawn, shade trees and special water
features that acts as a foreground for the Podium,
Winter Garden and Tower. A cascading wall of water
enhances the entry experience and buffers the park
from the activity of the plaza and street. Organized
around a living pool teeming with aquatic life, the
informal dining terrace overlooks a public green that
accommodates 1500-2000 people during special
events.
Along the north edge of the lawn, rich plantings and

a series of overflowing fountain features insulate
private courtyards from the activity of the park.
At the western edge of the park, an elegant pavilion

rises from a skin of water and provides a space for
special events as well as the activities of the everyday
lunch crowd.
Project: Devon Energy Headquarters Team: Pickard Chilton Architects Art: The Office of James Burnett
Location: Oklahoma City, OK Quentin Thomas Associates Murase Associates
Client: Devon Energy Murase Associates LEED: Gold
53 D E V ON ENER G Y H EA D Q UARTERS Kendall Heaton Associates, Inc.
54 D E V ON ENER G Y H EA D Q UARTERS
“OJB was instrumental in the initial

landscape planning and design ef-
forts for Devon Energy’s headquar-
ters in downtown Oklahoma City...
Jim’s firm is client focused, works dil-
igently to understand vision of their
clients and then translate those into
creative, functional design solutions.”
J. Larry Nicols
Executive Chairman
Devon Energy Corporation
conocoPhillips
world headquarters
The 2006 renovation of this corporate campus

created a new core of office, medical, fitness, and
public space on the 62-acre project site. Originally
developed as a passive suburban landscape, the new
design integrates a variety of programmed areas
throughout the campus.
Sited to preserve existing specimen live oaks, the

new campus entry features a formal auto court
and a series of cascading water features. Smaller
garden courtyards lead to the central Commons,
which features a number of private dining terraces
and an event lawn that accommodates 1,000 people.
To promote employee wellness, the site also features
a two-mile jogging path and a two-thirds regulation
size soccer field.
Project: ConocoPhillips World Kendall/Heaton Associates

Headquarters PDR
Location: Houston, TX Awards: ASLA Texas Chapter Honor Award
Client: ConocoPhillips Photograph: Hester + Hardaway
57 CONOCOP H ILLIPS H EA D Q UARTERS
Team: Pickard Chilton Architects Alan Karchmer

“From the beginning The Office

of James Burnett was focused
on creating a landscape that was
inspiring and functional. One of the
most successful elements of the
new campus is the outdoor dining
terrace...Employees are very proud
of the new west campus expansion,
and it was my pleasure to team
with the Office of James Burnett in
developing it.”
Price W. Chumley
Project Manager
ConocoPhillips




hall arts tower
Located on 4 acres in the heart of Dallas’ noted

Arts District, this 16-story, 400,000 GSF mixed
use development is the first of two towers to be
constructed over the podium of a tower whose
construction was never completed. Working within
the framework of the Arts District master plan, this
project includes restaurant, retail and commercial
office spaces that will provide much-needed vitality
within the Dallas Arts District. Central to the design
of the project is the “Texas Art Walk”, a linear garden
connecting Flora St and Ross Avenue. Bridging over
the existing structure, the Art Walk includes water
features, outdoor dining space, public assembly
areas and signature art selected from developer
Craig Hall’s personal collection.
A dramatic sloping roof with amphitheater seating

leads visitors up from the Art Walk to a generous
rooftop terrace whose vibrant garden and expansive
views create a distinguished setting for special events.
A private rooftop garden overlooking the terrace
provides the anchor tenant with a dramatic space
for outdoor meetings with a commanding view of
the District’s Pritzker-prize winning architecture. The
project also improves the streetscape surrounding
the tower, providing street trees, updated lighting
and ample seating areas for pedestrians and will
pioneer the rejuvenation of Ross Avenue.
Project: Hall Arts Fluidity Design Consultants

Location: Dallas, TX Scott Oldner Lighting Design
Client: Hall Financial Group Brockette Davis Drake
Team: HKS Architects Art: HKS Architects
62 H ALL ARTS TO W ER
64
la jolla commons II
This 13-story, 300,000 SF, multi-tenant high-rise

tower of pewter glass and silver metal is sited on a
two-acre park-like campus designed by the Office
of James Burnett.
La Jolla Commons has received LEED Gold

certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Project: La Jolla Commons II Team: AECOM

Location: La Jolla, CA LEED: Gold
Client: Hines
JP Morgan Asset Management
66 LA J OLLA COMMONS II
plaza of the americas
The Plaza of the Americas is a transformation of a

thirteen story 50,000 SF atrium space at the edge of
the Dallas Arts district. The project removes an exist-
ing ice rink and food court and replaces it with an
indoor park. This new park becomes an amenity for
the 407 room Dallas Marriott City Center hotel, two
levels of retail at the park’s perimeter and the twin
25 story office buildings that bookend the space.
Project: Plaza of the Americas

Location: Dallas, TX
Client: M-M Properties
69 PLA Z A O F T H E AMERICAS
Art: The Office of James Burnett
CONFIDENTIAL CAMPUS
The renovation of this 94-acre corporate campus

consolidates disparate facilities across the Houston
metropolitan area into a new world headquarters on
the site of an existing manufacturing and shipping
facility. This seven building, 1.1M GSF project
includes administrative offices, research facilities, a
cafeteria, child care center and wellness center that
doubles the facility’s capacity. The Office of James
Burnett worked closely with Gensler to ensure that
the landscape design preserves the site’s unique
character and responds to the programmatic needs
of the client.
New structures are located in the site’s interior,

preserving the heavy forest canopy along
the perimeter and insulating personnel from
manufacturing operations. To mitigate the project’s
impact on the flood plain, the buildings are organized
around a central lake that manages the site’s
stormwater. An adjacent wetland system extensively
planted with native vegetation provides habitat for
wildlife and as an amenity for employees. Intimate
gardens and a variety terraces and plazas support
the wellness features distributed throughout the
project area.
Project: Confidential Art: Gensler

Location: Houston, TX Awards: ASLA Texas Chapter Merit
Client: Confidential Award, 2013
Team: Gensler Photography:
C O N F I D E N T I A L C A M P U S
Hester + Hardaway

ENTERPRISE PLAZA AT 1100 LOUISIANA
Faced with an open plaza that lacked amenities, The

Office of James Burnett was challenged by the client
to create an active plaza that provides a new entry
for the 1980’s building. The plaza welcomes visitors
and tenants through the creation of an outdoor
gathering space with canopy shade trees, cooling
water features, comfortable furniture and fascinating
plantings. Because the plaza is located above an
existing parking structure, the design also faced
significant technical challenges.
A large elliptical fountain basin defines both the

primary function space and the primary pedestrian
path to the entry. The fountain features a series of
overflowing basins, concentric rings of bubblers and
a focal with a choreographed display of jets shooting
up to 20’ in the air. Custom-designed planting
structures accommodate mature Oak trees, provide
seating and conceal LED accent lighting. Movable
furniture at the plaza provides additional flexibility as
the needs of site users change throughout the day.
Project: Enterprise Plaza at 1100 Team: Gensler Caption: View from the lobby of 1100
Louisiana WET Design Louisiana looking across the
Location: Houston, TX Awards: ASLA Texas Chapter Merit Award plaza to the downtown skyline.
Client: EPCO Inc. Texas Construction,
80 ENTERPRISE PLA Z A 1 1 0 0 LOUISIANA
Hines Best Landscape/Urban Design
View looking from fountain toward the building lobby, displaying

the bubblers at the outer edge of the basin and the central
topiary mound. View across one of the lawn disks looking at
the water feature and plaza.
Before

Close up view of the cantilevered topiary mounds and benches.

The fig vine cascades over the perimeter walls between the
seating areas. The circular pattern is found in the flooring, seating,
tree mounds and water features.

HESS TOWER
Hess Tower is located on a 1.2 acre city block adjacent

to Discovery Green, a downtown park in Houston,
Texas. The outdoor spaces include a tower plaza,
auto court, bustle roof garden, and perimeter
streetscape for each of the tower blocks. The project
is certified LEED Gold.
The plaza design is one of simplicity and order. A

white stone carpet that includes a water feature
leads tenants and visitors to the entry lobby. The
plaza includes a series of raised planters at seat
height that mound gently to accommodate small
scale flowering trees. A dining terrace located at
the far end includes a raised seating area and small
water feature. Located adjacent to the entry lobby
the auto court allows for easy access to the tower.
Project: Hess Tower

Location: Houston, TX
Client: Trammell Crow Company
Team: Gensler
83 H ESS TO W ER
Art: The Office of James Burnett
84 H ESS TO W ER
85 H ESS TO W ER
bg group place
BG Group Place has been designed to provide a

series of significant landscapes for the tenants and
visitors of the building. The tower is 46 stories, with
a Sky Garden at level 39, roof garden at level 11 and
a tree-lined streetscape at the ground level.
Red oaks are placed in evergreen hedge bars and

are designed to soften the street and provide a
comfortable pedestrian experience. Roof gardens
have been provided above the retail and parking
garage. The garden level above the garage offers
tenants an outdoor seating and gathering space.
The roof level perimeter wall has been kept low and
a transparent railing allows for optimal views to the
city. These roof gardens are highlighted with multi-
stem evergreen trees to provide scale in the garden.
The Sky Garden located near the top of the tower

creates the signature iconic element in the Houston
skyline. The garden includes three separate
observation areas with trees, seasonal planting and
seating areas for the tenants and visitors.
Project: BG Group Place Awards: ASLA Texas Chapter Merit

Location: Houston, Texas Award, 2013
Client: Hines Photography:
Team: Pickard Chilton Architects, Paul Hester
86 B G G ROUP PLACE
Kendall Heaton Associates
87 B G G ROUP PLACE
88 B G G ROUP PLACE
89 B G G ROUP PLACE
boeing regional headquarter
The landscape of the proposed Boeing Regional

Headquarters for Monument Reality in Arlington
County, Virginia balances the needs of a defense
industry corporate headquarters with the needs of
the public realm on a challenging site. The 4.7 acre
site is located southeast of the Pentagon, northeast
of the Crystal City, southwest of the new Long Bridge
Park, and beneath the flight path of Reagan National
Airport.
The relationship to these adjacent sites informs

the placement of the building on the site and its
relationship to the landscape. The building takes on
an “L” shape configuration allowing the landscape
to open up towards Long Bridge Park and Reagan
National Airport. Parking is located below grade, and
the landscape flows continuously over top.
Landscape elements in the form of walls and

sculptural planters are introduced to help define
the spaces created on site, and also to meet the
security requirements of the facility.
The project is pursuing LEED Silver Certification

and will utilize storm water collection for irrigation.
Project: Boeing Regional Headquarters Vika, Inc.

Location: Arlington County, VA Bliss Fassman, Inc.
Client: Monument Realty Girard Engineering
Team: Gensler Smislova, Kehnemui, and Assoc.
90 B OEIN G RE G IONAL H EA D Q UARTER

92 B OEIN G RE G IONAL H EA D Q UARTERS


hall wines
Sited on Highway 29 outside of St. Helena in

California’s Napa Valley, the expansion of Craig and
Kathryn Hall’s 28-acre winery will further expand
their sizable production capability and provide a
world-class hospitality destination for their growing
brand. A new landscape treatment along the winery’s
street frontage adds interest and draws attention to
the newly renovated entry and monument signage.
Shade trees and new understory plantings draw
visitors through working vinyards to a new auto court
oriented around a specimen Valley Oak. An entry
courtyard outside the entry of the new hospitality
facility provides a shady setting for casual wine tasting
and doubles as the gathering area for winery tours.
The dining and event terrace west of the new

demonstration kitchen features grand views of the
Napa Valley beyond and accommodates a variety of
special events. A spacious event lawn is organized
around the renovated Peterson Bergfeld historic
building where musical events, festivals and other
community gatherings are accommodated on
the plaza stage. Groves of trees in decomposed
granite provide comfortable shade along the edges
of the winery and feature a combination of fixed
and movable furniture to suit guests’ needs. Low
limestone walls divide the northern gardens into
discrete rooms dedicated to cut flower production,
an organic kitchen garden and an Olive grove that
doubles as a rotating gallery for art installations.
Project: Hall Wines HLB Lighting

Location: St. Helena, California Fluidity Designs Consultants
Client: Hall Wines Nicole Hollis Designs
Team: Signum Architecture Art: James Arp
94 H ALL W INES
Summit Engineering
95 H ALL W INES
96 H ALL W INES
CITYCENTRe HOUSTON
CityCentre, located on a 34-acre site in west Hou-

ston, was purchased by Midway Companies with
the vision is to demolish the existing infrastructure
and redevelop the property into one of Houston’s
premier mixed-use, lifestyle developments. OJB was
hired to be an integral part of the master plan and
implementation team for the redevelopment of this
important project.
Market research conducted on the developer’s target

demographic suggested a desire for varied amenities
clustered in a tight, architecturally-controlled site.
Midway’s resulting strategic vision was to develop the
site as a mixed-use development complete with retail,
office, hospitality, and residential uses grouped in
such a way as to be sensitive to—and complementary
of—regional adjacencies.
Project: CityCentre Art: Midway Companies Photography:

Location: Houston, TX Awards: ASLA Texas Chapter Honor Award Midway Companies
Client: Midway Companies ULI Houston Development of Caption: City Centre Houston central
Team: Gensler Distinction Award courtyard with fire bowls in
97 CIT Y CENTRE H OUSTON

the evening.
Right: City Centre Houston central courtyard at dusk from Hotel

Sorella. .

“From master-planning to construc-

tion details, OJB rose to the complex
challenges of this project...The myri-
ad of popular events and activities
that we host at CITYCENTRE speaks
of the ability of OJB to create flexi-
ble, usable spaces that bring people
together and provide meaningful ex-
periences.”
Jonathan Brinsden
Executive Vice President
Midway Companies
City Centre Houston is a restaurants destination as well as an

event destination.

Site Plan

TORRE SOFIA
SOFIA is located on a 3.5 acre site adjacent to Valle

del Campestre Golf Club with unrivaled views of
the Sierra Madre Mountains in San Pedro Garza
Garcia, Mexico. The 36-story mixed-use tower offers
luxury residences and office space, with roof garden
terraces and amenity garden at levels 4 and 5.
The 32,000 SF amenity roof garden above the

parking garage offers residents private amenities
such as; ornamental gardens, pool deck, spa, pool
pavilion, view terraces, event lawn and children’s
garden. A sculptural living wall clads the parking
garage, leading tenants and visitors to the office
arrival court. A tree lined drive leads residents and
visitors to the residential arrival court anchored by
transplanted monument Live Oaks. The rain garden
is located adjacent to the residential entry lobby
and features storm water while providing a botanic
walk for residents.
More than 65 trees were transplanted throughout the

site, including a monumental Bur Oak tree. Standing
nearly 18 meters (59 feet) tall with a diameter of 3’,
the tree will be a signature landmark. Highlighting the
projects’ emphasis on sustainable design, the project
will be LEED certified; all storm water run-off will
be stored on-site and supply the irrigation system.
Client: Santander Global Properties Team: Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects

Location: Monterrey, Mexico HKS, INC.
Size: 3.5 acres Quentin Thomas Associates
Cost: Confidential Environmental Design
101 TORRE SOP H IA Dates: 20011-20016 SACMAG
A green roof with pool deck sits atop the podium. Views from
the residences above was heavily considered during the design
phase.
102 TORRE SOP H IA

103 TORRE SOP H IA

3 3 1 3 D ’ A m i c o Av e n u e
H o u s t o n , t e x a s 7 7 0 1 9
T 713.529.9919 f 713.529.9955
5 5 0 L o m a s S a n ta F e , s u i t e A
S o l a n a B e a c h , CA 9 2 0 7 5
T 8 5 8 .793 . 6970 f 8 5 8 .793 . 69 05
1 5 0 STANI F OR D STREET, S u i t e 5
B OSTON , M a s s a c h u s e t t s 0 2 1 1 4
T 8 5 7. 2 3 3 . 5 1 7 1 f 713.529.9955
www . o jb . c o m

OJB Brochure PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

OJB Brochure PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

T h e O f f i c e o f Ja m e s B u r n e tt

Sunnylands Center & Gardens | Rancho Mirage

T HE O FFICE O F JAMES B URNE T T O UR HIS TO RY O UR P R O CESS O UR PASSI O N

Developed as a key element of the “Vision for the

Two low concrete fountains define the space under

4 B ROC H STEIN PA V ILION

“The award winning landscape de-

Barbara White Bryson, FAIA

The water trays provide a calming and continuous sound in

5 B ROC H STEIN PA V ILION

Students can experience the garden at all hours of the night.

“Susan and I have received many

6 B ROC H STEIN PA V ILION

7 B ROC H STEIN PA V ILION

The garden courts provide a shady respite for students and

8 B ROC H STEIN PA V ILION

The Brockman Hall for Physics is a 111,000 SF

Sheltered from the sun by the building overhead, a

Project: Brockman Hall for Physics Awards: SCUP / AIA-CAE Honor Award,

10 B ROC K MAN H ALL

12 B ROC K MAN H ALL

Science & Technolgy at caltech

The Annenberg Center for Information Science and

Palo Verde trees structure the building’s entry

Client: The Annenberg Center for Size: 10,000 sf

Welcoming courtyards and ample shade invite the indoors out

Flexible seating and decomposed granite patios afford a more

The 15-acre Sunnylands Center & Gardens is an

Visitors entering the site move through a richly

Sunnylands Center & Gardens represents a new aesthetic for the

18 SUNN Y LAN D S CENTER AN D G AR D ENS

Sculptural desert plantings adjacent to the Center create visual

19 SUNN Y LAN D S CENTER AN D G AR D ENS

Nestled in a grove of Hybrid Mesquite, the labyrinth offers an

20 SUNN Y LAN D S CENTER AN D G AR D ENS

President Obama meets with President of China at the Sunnylands Estate

21 SUNN Y LAN D S CENTER AN D G AR D ENS

A view of the west terrace and cactus garden. The terrace is

22 SUNN Y LAN D S CENTER AN D G AR D ENS

“The landscape architecture and the

The sculpted gardens east of the center cascade into a two-acre

24 SUNN Y LAN D S CENTER AN D G AR D ENS

25 SUNN Y LAN D S CENTER AN D G AR D ENS

Built over the existing Woodall Rodgers Freeway,

The pedestrian promenade continues to the east

To encourage continued use of the park, the

“...The Office of James Burnett has

The heart of the park is a 28,000SF event lawn with a performance

“I have found the OJB team to be

Jody Grant, Chairman

Built over an existing freeway, the park provides a variety

“My experience with Jim and his firm

Linda Owen, President Emeritus

The Butterfly Fountain, whose programmed jets emulate a

Opened in 1988, the 15-acre Myriad Botanical

Arriving at the newly-renovated Crystal Bridge

M Y RIA D B OTANICAL G AR D ENS

“The renovation fo Myriad Gardens

Right: Aerial View of the Gardens Top: Native and regionally

34 M Y RIA D B OTANICAL G AR D ENS

Organized around a central reflecting pool, the plaza supports

35 M Y RIA D B OTANICAL G AR D ENS

“I continue to be impressed by the