The design for the Confluence Park in Santa Clarita, California, features sloped roofs, reminiscent of the iconic landforms in the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park. The park is a recipient of multiple awards for its overall design and sustainability features.
Among some of its accolades include, American Institute of Architects Orange Country (AIA OC) Design Award – Citation, Best Interiors; Gold Nugget Grand Award: Best Community Amenity; Gold Nugget Grand Award: Best Design for Energy; The San Fernando Valley Business Journal (SFVBJ) Commercial Real Estate Honoree – Sustainable; and LA Business Journal (LABJ) Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Awards: Gold Award, Sustainability.
The 25,827-m2 (278,000-sf) park, designed by AO Architects, serves as the central hub of a residential network, named FivePoint Valencia, consisting of approximately 4,000 homes. This interconnected community incorporates pedestrian trails and electric vehicle pathways.
The AO design team faced the challenge of developing west-facing buildings, strategically orienting the three concrete walls and sloped roofs to optimize solar orientation for the integrated photovoltaic (PV) panels. The team successfully achieved cost-effective solutions while maintaining a distinct architectural identity unique to the residential community.
The central park spans 2.6 ha (6.4 acres) and features an advanced triple-pool complex. It includes a junior Olympic competition pool, an adult swimming facility, and a family-friendly pool and spa area. Poolside cabanas surround the pools, and the deck is divided into two main sections by a covered pool bar/BBQ area and showers. Adjacent to the pools, a separate restroom building is seamlessly integrated into the hillside. Further, there is a 344-m2 (3,700-sf) community building that can accommodate resident functions and seasonal events. To promote sustainability, the pools are naturally heated using geothermal technology from subsurface sources, and PV panels are strategically incorporated throughout the park to save energy.
Situated north of the pool area, there is a community garden along with a distinctive dual-purpose building. This structure houses a modern seed library and features a steel design that mimics the shape of the library building, forming an espalier. Within this space, residents can enjoy an open-air event area for community workshops, as well as raised garden planters for cultivating organic produce.
Other project collaborators were landscape designer, BrightView Design Group; structural engineer, KPFF; mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineer, NV5; interior designer, FF&E: RDC; and lighting designer, Illuminate.
