FRED St worked with Toowoomba Regional Council to deliver a fully researched, analysed and robust masterplan for the entry statements associated with the interchanges of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing. With the Toowoomba Range being a natural barrier in QLD, this second crossing is an opportunity to position Toowoomba as ‘the gateway’ to the region’s west and east. The Masterplan ensures the delivery of entry statements which are of appropriate size and scale, is placed to gain the longest and most impactful view for motorists, and has elements truly representative of the Masterplans’ theme and design intent. Flora is the them used to articulate is our unified connection to living in and on this land.

FRED St was engaged by Brisbane City Council to provide the Urban Design and Landscape Masterplan for the signature linear riverside parkway and urban boulevard which forms part of the iconic Kingsford Smith Drive Upgrade Project. Our scope of works included the provision of full landscape concept designs for all of the riverside parkland spaces along KSD, including the heritage listed Cameron Rocks Reserve, and an exciting new destinational riverside events space at Bretts Wharf. We were also responsible for the design and integration of a number of smaller parkland nodal points along the 2.4km riverside walkway component to provide respite and interest for pedestrians and cyclists travelling along the new riverside boulevard promenade. FRED St was awarded the 2016 Qld AILA Award of excellence and received a commendation in the 2016 Australian Urban Design Awards.

Working in a collaborative team with Arup, FRED St worked on developing the Urban Design and Landscape Masterplan for the Metro bid. Always pushing the ability of landscape to transform the streestscape environment into the fully integrated public spaces that they are. This bid place a major emphasis on urban outcomes with the delivery of the Adelaide St Vision. FRED St continues to support Arup within the Design Development phase, working through the intricate complexities posed by inserting new infrastructure within a highly urbanised environment.

FRED St provided the landscape and urban design treatments for an extensive run of noise barriers along Gympie Rd. Initially conducting the TMR Landscape Assessment to advise the appropriate level and character of the treatment, FRED St integrated the aestheic into the wider Gympie Rd corridor. Constrained spaces required a high quality landscape response to mitigate the large insertions into the residents view. This needed to be balanced with views lines to commercial properties and the Bus Stop infrastructure. The planting palette was developed to fully utilise the robust native species available to the sub-tropics with the inclusion of the Hoop Pine, added to many landmark plantings along Gympie Rd.

(whilst employed at RPS) Airport Link’s green wall and purple curtain wall have become landmarks in Brisbane’s road network. The curtain wall’s design demonstrates a gateway that is responsive to the engineering adjacent to it and the importance of scale. Dual use is key to our philosophy. Tessa Leggo delivered the curtain wall, developed as a JV with Taylor Cullity Leathlean (TCL). Tessa also integrated the curtain wall’s aesthetic into the public park that was completed as a part of the works. The scope of works for Southern Connection was extensive and included the design of signature portal entries, noise walls and ventilation facilities, along with the creation of new land bridges for park space and the integration of existing and new public realm into the design. High levels of coordination between urban design and the engineering teams are the hallmarks of this project.

(whilst employed at RPS) Cairns Bruce Highway Upgrade required a noise barrier and the created highpoint of the overpass guided the ‘Wave’. We delivered a linear gateway feature that addressed noise mitigation concerns, highlighted views to Cairns city foreshore, addressed time/effect difficulties for public art in a driving context and provided an entrance feature that can be viewed from all possible angles with no loss of effect. The ability to understand and articulate the needs of urban design in this setting is invaluable for infrastructure urban design. Tessa also designed the urban design treatments to the pedestrian overpass bridge, having to accommodate several governing bodies safety standards and aesthetic desires.

Working within the framework of Brisbane City Council standard guidelines, FRED St delivered a design outcome that improved the local streetscape function whilst maintaining a cohesive neighbourhood aesthetic. Robust, natice species were specifyied to the verges with protection given to the existing street trees which were also supplemented where possible. The path the landscape improvements are allowing greater amenity and function enable a more active lifestyle.