2019 Annual WASLA Conference
Greater Tacoma Convention Center, March 22, 2019
4:15 - 5:15 PM
A Redefined Vantage Point for Reconciliation and Restoration
Session Presentation
Description:
The new park on the shore of Commencement Bay gives visitors a distinct perspective of the 1885 expulsion of the Chinese community from Tacoma. J.A. Brennan coordinated with the City of Tacoma and the Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Foundation to develop a design for the park. Art and interpretive elements are interwoven to create a progressive learning environment for telling the story of the reconciliation process in a Chinese garden setting. Landforms, pavilions and Chinese plant material create a series of garden rooms that reinforce the theme of the garden in a sequential manner. The garden rooms help guests step into the vantage point of the people expelled and gives understanding to who were the Sojourners. It allows visitors to view feelings of what it is like to be expelled from home. A restored shoreline, an intertidal grotto, and a restored cobble beach resonate the concept of ecological restoration. For over 20 years, the ongoing project process has been as important as the physical park that is emerging.
Speaker Bios:
Jim Brennan, Principal, Owner, J.A. Brennan Associates
Conveying cultural and historical stories in the land have been an integral part of Jim’s design work. Maximizing design potential in natural systems is another focus of Jim's experience including shoreline habitat restoration, enhancement and mitigation. His career features distinctive projects, such as the Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park, which generate community interest and facilitate communication and involvement with public groups and individuals.
George Lim, Principal Partner, Tangram Design
George builds emotionally compelling and immersive environments which tell a client's story and create a sense of place. With a commitment to evidence-based, sustainable, and human-centered design, George facilitates effective signage and placemaking design solutions. As an expert in community engagement, George delivers creative guidance, inspiration, and leadership which enable people to design experiences that connect people and place in meaningful and authentic ways. George is a board member of the Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation.
Angela Serravo, Principal Partner, Tangram Design
From simple sign panels that direct, inform, or educate to broad and complex signage systems and placemaking environments that elicit greater interaction, Angela works to revitalize, grow, and craft places where people want to live, work, and invest. Creating better experiences and emotional connections to places, Angela develops accessible and user-friendly designs which enhance the environment and encourage safer, more active and social spaces. She strives to create environments that improve the human experience and promote sustainable community design and development.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn about past injustices and how that affects the Chinese community of today
- Learn how design can lead a visitor on a path of discovery exploring place, history, and ecological design, using creative interpretive design in a Chinese scholars style garden
- Learn about the design of shoreline projects to maximize ecological value while balancing human use
- Learn about integrating public involvement and partnering with stakeholders
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