The Agua Fria Transportation center was once an existing vacant dirt lot located off of Cotton Lane just south of Thomas Road, within the City of Goodyear.  The Lloyd team is almost to the finish line for the transportation center for the Agua Fria Union High School District, with partner architects SPS+ Architects. The civil improvements included site development for a new office building/maintenance center, as well as, mass grading, extension for the fire line loop, domestic water line, sewer line, and development of a large parking lot to store all the buses within the district. Offsite roadway improvements on Cotton Lane include a deceleration lane for both southern entrances as well as redevelopment of the existing median to include a left turn bay into the site. 

#lloyd #lloydengineers #civilengineering #AFUHSD #spsplusarchitects #civil #transportation #transportationcenter #engineering #civilimprovements #roadway #parking #grading #utilities #goodyear #arizona #arizonaschools #offsiteimprovements #streetscape #officebuilding #maintenancecenter #aguafria

With staff spanning five states and two countries, the Lloyd team still finds ample time to connect with colleagues through projects, but also as an entire firm during various company retreats. This past weekend the Lloyd team came together in Scottsdale, Arizona, to commemorate another year of success and collaboration. Leading up to the retreat, several staff members found time to break away from their computer desks to meet in the field at various sites across the country. From Los Angeles to Tennessee, and in both rain or shine, our team makes every effort to be in the field to make sure our projects are running smoothly. 

Photographed:
Principal Anthony Stevenson and Zach Plum out on the field for final review;
Colleagues Jake Lettieri and Jane Theobald finding shelter from the rain after touring a project with a client;
Team members Justin Peterson and Valerie Ahyong attending the grand opening/ribbon cutting event at Arizona Desert Elementary in Tolleson, AZ;
And Brett Long touring Patrick Beazley through final punch at St. Anthony's Track & Field Stadium - pictured with the original St. Anthony church bell that survived a 1933 earthquake, and gifted to the school.
Center: Lloyd team during a dinner retreat.

#lloyd #lloydsports #lloydsportsandengineering #engineering #sportsengineering #civilengineering #landscapearchitecture #sportsdesign #sportsplanning #lloydengineers #lloydengineering #sports #retreat #sitevisits #grandopening #punchwalk #clientmeetings 

Our team is wrapping up construction at Arizona Desert Elementary School in Tolleson, Arizona. The project has been a great partnership with Tolleson Elementary School District, Arizona Desert Elementary School Staff, SPS + Architects, Chasse Building Team, and our team at Lloyd! The project is slated for a grand opening event later this week. We look forward to seeing the students and local community utilizing this new sports facility. 

#lloyd #lloydsports #lloydengineers #lloydengineering #lloydsportsandengineering #sports #sportsengineers #sportsengineering #sportsdesign #sportsplanning #syntheticfields #soccer #baseball #softball #U12 #AZDesertElementary #Tolleson #Arizona #Arizonaschools #TollesonElementary #TESD #ArizonaDesertElementary #K12 #Elementary #sportsfacility #landscapearchitecture #civilengineer #SPSplusarchitects #CTB #Chasse #Chassebuildingteam #partnership #collaboration 

Photographed here: SPS+ Architects, Chasse Building Team, Tolleson ESD, Arizona Desert Elementary. Photo credit: Justin Peterson, PE.

For week three of Landscape Architecture Month we would like to highlight team member, Valerie Ahyong, and her unique path into landscape architecture.

As a child I grew up drawing a lot. I also took a lot of art and vocational courses throughout high school, including drafting classes. I really enjoyed hand drafting, and in my sophomore year I competed in my first AIA Alaska Frank Maier High School Design Competition and placed third in State, then first the following two years after. I attended architecture school for two years in southern California. I then took a break and transferred to Arizona State University (ASU) finishing my degree in Business and Marketing, while interning at CMX Sports Engineers as a marketing coordinator. Upon graduation I stayed with CMX providing both marketing and business development support, and assisting with reports for the planning department. The exposure to local design firms through proposals re-peaked my interest in design. I returned ASU for a dual masters, and within my first year, I began to fall in love more with landscape architecture. I have my then professors Ken McCowan and Joe Ewan to thank -- Ken exposed me to bioregional design, while Joe taught me to appreciate the Sonoran Desert and landscape design -- and at that instance I chose to just finish my masters in landscape architecture.

After graduation, I landed a job with JJR|Floor,(now Smithgroup). I had wonderful opportunities to work on projects across the country and overseas. My very first project through design was the Madison Improvement Club in Phoenix. Others included Sky Harbor T3 Renovations, CAC Phase 1, and Mountain View Health Center. I eventually returned to Floor, working on ASU Health Innovations, ASU Wexford, and Pima Dynamite Trailhead. After having my second child, I wanted to work closer to home and an opportunity to work for the City of Mesa became available. As a City Landscape Architect I managed a handful of bond park projects, and designed projects such as the view park renovation at Falcon Field Airport and the IDEA museum courtyard renovations project. Working in public sector definitely gave me a different perspective and opportunity to work with the general public, councilmembers, and various City departments. I eventually made a switch back to private development and landed here at Lloyd.

​​My path into the profession was definitely not a typical journey for most Landscape Architects. My involvement with ASLA National and the Arizona chapter over the past 15 years have given me life-long friendships and opportunities; being a working mom of two has given me challenges and major life decisions in my career; and I will always be forever grateful for all of the opportunities, projects, and life-long connections I've made along the way. - Valerie Ahyong, PLA

#thisislandscapearchitecture #LAM #LAM2023 #WLAM2023 #landscapearchitecture #sportsengineering #sportsengineers #lloyd #lloydsports #lloydsportsandengineering #lloydengineers #landscapearchitecturemonth #projecthighlights #AZASLA #WxLA #floorassociates #smithgroup #cityofmesa #publicworks #parks #commercial #healthcare #highered #landscapedesign #sonorandesert #aridregion #details #AIA #architecture #ketchikan #kayhi 

Happy Landscape Architecture Month!
To kick off the month, we will be highlighting some of our Landscape Architecture staff throughout the month of April. Learn more about Senior Associate, Brett Long, and his journey to finding the landscape architecture profession!

When I was 13; my dad who grew up on a farm and wanted me to gain an appreciation for physical labor, got me a summer job landscaping where we lived in South Lake Tahoe.  Initially, it was really hard work for a 90 lb. kid and I hated it.  But I kept at it and continued landscaping jobs among others through college.  In high school I was lucky to have a drafting class and had some art in my background from my father who was also an art teacher. 

I grew up appreciating outdoor spaces with my childhood split between Bermuda and Lake Tahoe.  When it was time to decide about college my background in landscaping seemed to come together and I relished the idea of being the guy pointing with plans in his hands rather than at the backend of a shovel.  I was fortunate to get a track and field scholarship to Cal Poly Pomona where there was an excellent Landscape Architecture program. 

After college my adventures of landscape architecture really took off and continues amaze me.  From living and designing resorts in the islands of the Caribbean, Mexico, and Hawaii to shore zone restoration in Lake Tahoe I have had a varied experience.  The past 15 years my work has been focused on recreation and athletics and our current work at Lloyd Consulting Group is always dynamic and expanding.  We are fortunate to be involved in many complex and high profile projects that satisfy our design craving and connect us to the sports world.  -- BRETT LONG, PLA, QSD

#LAM #thisislandscapearchitecture #landscapearchitect #landscapearchitecture #landscapedesign #landscape #lloyd #lloydsports #lloydsportsandengineering #lloydengineers #sportsdesign #iamalandscapearchitect #WLAM #WLAM2023 #iworkhere #green #biodiversity #publicspaces #designprocess #design #calpolypomona #calpolypomonaalumni #calpoly #resortdesign #recreationdesign #athletics 

Lloyd provided general civil engineering and sports design for this award winning spring training facility, located on 140-acres of SRPMIC land. The facility, shared by the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies, is centered around an 11,000-seat open-air stadium complete with vending and retail areas, restrooms, private suites, and concourses. The project includes 13 baseball fields with premium turf, rootzone, and drainage systems and are designed for professional competition. Each team occupies its own training grounds with state-of-the-art clubhouse buildings, practice areas, and secured parking. The site landscaping and baseball fields are irrigated from a large onsite lake. 

Civil engineering services included grading and drainage, infrastructure, and roadway design, in addition to sports engineering which included design of the professional playing fields. This project is the first LEED Gold-certified sports venue of its kind in the United States.

In 2018, the Lloyd team was hired to assist the AZ Diamondbacks with renovations for both Salt River Fields and Chase Field concurrently, providing design and construction administration services for the conversion of natural grass to synthetic turf at two of the fields at the training complex. 

#lloyd #lloydsports #lloydengineers #lloydengineering #lloydsportsandengineering #sportsengineering #sportsdesign #fielddesign #sportsfields #grading #drainage #synthetictuf #sports #mlb #springtraining #cactusleague #saltriver #talkingstick #saltriverattalkingstick #azdiamondbacks #arizona #arizonadiamondbacks #coloradorockies #AZ #scottsdale #turfconversion #chasefield #arizonadiamondbacks #LEEDGold #LEED

Lloyd provided sports and civil engineering and design for the field renovation at the historic Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona. Services included site civil for five practice fields, one agility field, and two infield only practice fields at this Spring Training Complex for the Oakland A’s and the City of Mesa. The facility reopened to a successful Spring Training season in February of 2015. Working in collaboration with Gensler, the fields were refreshed with premium natural grass and high performance root zone. 

#lloyd #lloydsports #lloydengineers #lloydengineering #lloydsportsandengineering #cityofmesa #mesa #mesaaz #mesaarizona #arizona #gensler #springtraining #oakland #oaklandAs #oaklandathletics #springtrainingfacility #sports #sportsfields #sportsengineering #sportsengineers #fieldesign #sportsdesign #sportsdesigners #sportsplanninganddesign #cactusleague #springtraining #baseball #mlb #arizona #training #sportsfielddesign #springtrainingcomplex #fieldrenovation

A site visit last month by team member Jane Theobald to the Window Rock High School in northern Arizona, lead to a surprising find of talent displayed in the halls of the high school.
 
Lloyd is currently on the design team with SPS+ Architects to design a new football stadium for the school. The design team has been asked to brainstorm ideas for student contributions to the project from the Construction and Welding elective classes. While project sites are typically the responsibility of the hired contractor, and in this case, Core Construction, students will have an opportunity to engage and contribute their talent to help create this unique facility. As seen here, the amazing work from the welding students show an exemplary level of creativity and skillset!
 
#Lloyd #LloydSports #LloydSportsandEngineering #SPSPlusArchitects #LloydEngineering #NFHS #HighSchools #ArizonaHighSchools #RuralSchools #WindowRock #WRHS #WindowRockHighSchool #Vocational #HighSchool #NorthernArizona #StudentTalent #Welding #Electives #Construction #Scouts 

Did you know that Lloyd Sports, formerly as CMX Sports Engineers, was the lead sports engineer for the Arizona Cardinal's roll out field back in 2006? The Lloyd team led the design efforts for the innovative retractable natural grass field system for the stadium. Partnered with NY Architect, Peter Eisenman and HOK-SVE Architects, the stadium has been host to many football games, bowl games, concerts and events, and more. The stadium will once again host the upcoming 2023 Super Bowl. Fun fact: the tray weighs more than 12 million pounds. 

#lloyd #lloydsports #lloydengineers #lloydsportsandengineering #AZCardinals #SuperBowl #AZCardinalsFC #Arizona #ArizonaCardinals #Glendale #RolloutField #NFL #Sports #Arizona

From all of us at Lloyd Sports + Engineering, wishing you and yours a wonderful start to 2023! Happy New Year!