Saiki Design | Landscape Architects

Saiki Design worked with Strand Associates, the City of Madison, Dane County and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to develop Community Sensitive Solutions (CSS) for bridge, retaining wall and noise wall aesthetics as well as landscape planting design for Stage I of the multi-stage Verona Road reconstruction project.  

Multiple design concepts were presented to the project stakeholder group at an initial CSS meeting.  The group decided to pursue the “Driftless Area” theme for the corridor which acknowledges the rolling topography and oak savanna landscape characteristic of Southwestern Wisconsin and through which the Verona Road/ USH 151 corridor is a primary transportation route.  

Subsequent CSS meetings focused on the refinement of design details to reflect the character of the “Driftless Area”.  A limestone formliner pattern was developed for use on retaining and noise walls.  Limestone boulders were used in landscape planting beds to carry through the overall design theme and create a visual tie with the structure aesthetics. Low maintenance native landscaping featuring an abundance of ornamental grasses and deep-rooted perennials was utilized in medians and raised planters to further enhance the aesthetics of the Verona Road corridor.   

Saiki Design also worked closely with the Dunn’s Marsh and Allied Drive neighborhood organizations in the vicinity of the project on a number of site specific CSS installations unique to the project including mosaic tile murals on retaining walls and a freestanding light box installation.

Saiki Design worked with Mead & Hunt Engineers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to create two new rest areas along the USH 39/90/94 corridor in Columbia County.  In addition to providing conceptual site planning and design for the overall layout and circulation for each site, Saiki Design was responsible for selecting site furnishings and formulating planting and seeding plans.  Saiki Design also provided construction administration services over a three-year period.  

The design of each rest area is characterized by two parallel plazas set within the context of restored shortgrass prairies and re-created oak savannas.  The prairies define the aesthetic of each rest area, and each is adorned with native flowers, grasses, and trees.  A network of walking paths was created to immerse travelers in an educational and restorative environment unique to Wisconsin’s Central Sands region.  Additionally, the plazas host an array of site amenities to offer respite for travelers of all ages along the transportation corridor.

Rest Areas 11 & 12 are among the most heavily trafficked in the state, and planting design solutions took into consideration the volume of visitor traffic and WisDOT maintenance challenges at every stage of the design process.  The prairie-style rest area structures and landscapes have become a welcome beacon for travelers along the corridor, and a valuable asset to the Department of Transportation’s infrastructure.

Saiki Design aided the Dane County Regional Airport with their terminal expansion and the addition of a new parking structure and exit plaza. Built over several phases,  supporting projects included the re-alignment of International Lane, the main entrance road to the airport and the addition of 250 surface parking stalls.  Additional improvements included a new digital information board, improved pedestrian access and a variety of outdoor seating areas.  

The terminal expansion provided a significant update to the airport’s image with a strong emphasis on regional architecture and native plantings. A 1.5 acre prairie restoration was installed along the entrance and exit drives to the terminal. After several seasons of careful maintenance, the prairie provides a unique and varying landscape for frequent travelers. 

All of the site improvements provide a strong sense of place for those visiting Madison and the surrounding area. The exit plaza was the airport’s first LEED certified building, and demonstrates the connection between the airport’s core values and the built environment and a continued commitment to sustainability on a number of levels.

Saiki Design and Strand Associates developed design and construction documents for a new streetscape in downtown New Glarus.  The streetscape design accentuated the Swiss historic heritage of the Village and enhanced a number of pedestrian-oriented streets in the Village’s charming downtown.  Wider sidewalks, pavers, street trees and theme lighting all contributed to a new look for the downtown.  The design of First Street provided for the street’s ability to be transformed into a festival plaza setting for special events.

The streetscape project was implemented through a TEA-21 enhancement grant and as part of a state highway improvement project.  The design process actively engaged citizen participation to ensure that the reconstruction project was an expression of the Village, its history and the community. 

Saiki Design worked with Strand Associates, The City of Monona, The City of Madison and The Wisconsin Department of Transportation on the final phase of the Monona Drive reconstruction project from Nichols Road to Winnequah Road in Monona. The project entailed the reconstruction of 1 mile of existing urban roadway and included new concrete roadway pavement, sidewalks, raised medians, colored crosswalks, street lighting, utility upgrades, designated on-street bike lanes, site furnishings, limestone veneer walls and landscape plantings to create a cohesive streetscape design that tied into the other two phases of Monona Drive reconstruction.

A primary goal for the project, beyond upgrading the aging infrastructure, was to increase pedestrian and vehicular safety while enhancing the overall aesthetic of the corridor. A unique aspect of this final phase of the Monona Drive reconstruction was re-facing an existing screen wall at an oil disposal site on the Monona Golf Course with limestone veneer to match the other new limestone veneer walls that were also designed as part of the project to designate roadway names. Saiki Design worked closely with Strand Associates to develop the design details for re-facing this wall.

Saiki Design was responsible for preparation of exhibits for stakeholder meetings as well as internal design team meetings and for the design and delivery of the landscape plan and supporting documents package for PS&E.

Saiki Design provided corridor planning assistance and landscape design services for the reconstruction of Menomonee River Parkway and a multi-modal off-road trail extension through the cities of Wauwatosa and Milwaukee.  This popular roadway was experiencing high volumes of commuter vehicles as well as recreational pedestrian and bicycle traffic which resulted in congestion, road rage incidents and numerous pedestrian/vehicular conflict areas.

The reconstruction efforts integrated many traffic calming measures including curb extensions, raised pedestrian crossings and a designated off-road bike path.  These efforts were put in place to slow vehicular traffic, minimize conflict points and restore the parkway to a multi-modal transportation corridor that provides an active recreational corridor for bicyclists and pedestrians.

A series of green infrastructure elements including vegetated swales, rain gardens and bioretention basins were utilized to help reduce sediment loads, provide temporary staging of runoff after rain events, allow for infiltration and provide enhanced aesthetic character along the parkway.  Green infrastructure grants were obtained through the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District to help fund these best management practices and mitigate the harmful effects of run-off that was historically discharged directly into the Menomonee River.  

Saiki Design worked closely with GAI Consultants, Martinsek & Associates and Milwaukee County Parks to garner public support for the project and produced phased construction documents for the overall corridor restoration and planting design.