Landscape: Best Project: Grove Plaza Renovation

Grove Plaza was built in downtown Boise more than 30 years ago.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CSHQA

Grove Plaza Renovation
Boise
Best Project

Owner: Capital City Development Corp.
Lead Design/Civil/MEP Engineer: CSHQA
General Contractor: McAlvain Construction Inc. (MCI)
Structural Engineer: KPFF
Landscape/Urban Design: ZGF Architects LLP
Key Subcontractors: Anderson & Wood Construction Co.; Boden Haus Landscape Inc.; DeepRoot Green Infrastructure; Guho Corp.; Mountain Steel Fabrication Inc.; RM Mechanical Inc.; Sawtooth Land Surveying; TMC Inc.

Grove Plaza was built in downtown Boise more than 30 years ago. The plaza’s 1.26 acres surround a 200-ft-dia hub, including four spokes that connect to the city’s key amenities. But the old plaza was crumbling. This renovation removed and replaced original bricks and installed 4,500 engraved bricks and 20 plaques. Notable features include many more trees, an upgraded fountain, lights, shade devices, furniture, a movable stage, sound system and a new public restroom and visitors center.

The team overcame a budget challenge with the cost of the shade sails by substituting custom-fabricated MDT tulip umbrellas. This change, implemented during schematic design, also avoided significant changes to the structural steel package and resulted in a six-figure savings with little loss of shade coverage. A green stormwater system provided enough root space to plant several large trees while allowing for fountain drainage and onsite stormwater management.

The renovation required crews to maintain public access to local businesses and the nearby Grove Center throughout the 14-month build-out. The access plan included a high level of truck-traffic management, not only for crews working on the Grove Plaza job, but also for companies building several other projects nearby. The plaza’s transformation to a thriving public space was completed two weeks ahead of schedule and $225,000 under budget, for $4.8 million.