It's Not You, It's Us

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Skatepark Design Trends

In the past few years we have noticed new skatepark design trends emerging that we are proud to be a part of. We are pleased to see that design trends are ever evolving with the needs and wants of the industry.

New Skatepark Design Trends: GREEN Design, Aesthetic Design and Design Style

Green Design is not a new aspect to Pillar Design Studios. As Landscape Architects protecting the environment and reducing our carbon point print has always been an important issue of ours. We are pleased to see this trend gain speed and be promoted throughout the action sports industry. When we consider green architecture, we go beyond incorporating landscape cut outs into our designs but also include recycled materials and environmentally sound drainage. To ensure we stay up to date on this very important aspect of design, we not only attend continual education classes but also are a part of an environmental coalition.  

Key Elements to Green Design

·        Incorporation of Native Plants

·        Environmental friendly Stormwater Management

·        Minimizing the disturbance of the natural topography of the site

·        Incorporating Recycled Material

ASETHIC Design, no longer does a Skatepark consist of a large slab of concrete with an eight foot fence around it. Instead when designing a  Skatepark consider the natural topography of the site, utilizing what you have available to you and incorporating the Skatepark into its natural surroundings. By incorporating landscaping, skateable artwork, seating areas, etc. the Skatepark becomes an enjoyable space for all the community to enjoy, users and non-users alike.  Your Skatepark should enhance the local environment and give a sense of pride to all.

DESIGN STYLE, we have seen a major change in the last few years in regards to design style. In the past we found that more of the younger skaters would prefer and ask for street skating elements, while the older more experienced skaters ask for designs with transitions, such as bowls. We have noticed a very exciting trend that is moving towards more well rounded parks. This type of skatepark design offers a little something for everyone to enjoy, instead of designing for one specific type of style of skating. Another great aspect to this trend is more and more skaters become versatile skaters, growing with their parks and no longer establishing themselves as a street or transition skateboarders.

We are proud to be a part of this continually changing industry and will continue to grow and adapt to the meet the needs of our clients and of course the end user.


What trends are you seeing in your skate community or at recent visits to skateparks? Please leave a comment and share...

For more information about Pillar Design Studios or how to get a public skatepark email: nicole@pillardesignstudios.com or check out our website: www.pillardesignstudios.com

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT : Input & Support

Why is community involvement so important to getting your skatepark? Getting the community involved from the very beginning is the key to a successful park. From conceptual design to construction; the participation of community members can determine size, style and the overall success of your Skatepark. 

Community Involvement can be broken down into two categories: Input and Support.

Community Input:

When designing a custom skatepark our past experience has shown us that a superior facility requires local users to give their input and ideas during the design phase.  To ensure this happens we have developed tools to aid and assist the users. During our design phase we hold necessary design workshops providing the users a platform to illustrate and communicate their wishes for the Skatepark. We have also developed a Chat Room, located on our website delineated per project, where users can leave comments for the designers as well as upload ideas and designs. This forum has had great success due to the fact that not everyone is able to attend the design workshops and or some are uncomfortable speaking up in front of a large group. It is NEVER our process to mandate elements of the design but instead we work with our clients, the community and the users to create and ensure all wishes are included into the facility. Each and every one of our designs reflects the unique requests of the community and local users, allowing us to create a one of kind, never duplicated Skatepark for all to enjoy.

Community Support:

When considering whether or not a Skatepark is feasible for your community, often funding is an area of concern. By working with local businesses and community members you are able to increase project scopes and or reduce overall budgets. We work with our client during the design phase by giving (actual)  estimated construction materials and costs needed to construct the Skatepark, thus enabling local businesses to offer and or provide in kind donations, such as labor, materials, and equipment at cost or a discounted rate. By working with the local businesses and community members we are able to provide more park for the dollar. It is our objective to provide the best and most practical approach to completing a world class Facility.

So when you begin the process of developing a Skatepark in your hometown, just remember to get your community involved. The more involvement you receive the better your park will become.

For more information about Pillar Design Studios or how to get a public skatepark email: nicole@pillardesignstudios.com or check out our website: www.pillardesignstudios.com

Artisan Skateparks : Our Partner in Build

As we emerge into 2010 with so many new Skatepark Design/Build projects commencing we wanted to thank Artisan Skateparks for their dedication to the Skatepark Industry. Over the last few years Pillar Design Studios and Artisan Skateparks have had the opportunity to work together on numerous parks both public and private. After each and every project we are astonished with their skills and talent to construct a flawless skatepark.  

Artisan Skateparks is a custom Skatepark construction firm. All crew members are active skateboarders with a desire to remain on the leading edge of custom concrete Skatepark construction techniques.  Artisan’s years of experience in building Skateparks has been a much desired asset to our Design/Build team. No matter what phase of construction the project is in, Artisan crew members convey a clear picture to the client and the public while working with our design team to ensure a perfect transition between design and construction.

With over 25 years of combined experience Artisan crew members are not only professionals in their field but also users of the end product. Artisan’s specialty construction experience combined with their ability and desire ensures that they will continue to produce quality custom Skateparks. We look forward to working with this talented group in the New Year. Feel free to check out some of our most recent parks completed with Pillar/Artisan team, such as:

Aviation Skatepark, Kill Devil Hills, NC
Knotts Island Skatepark, Knotts Island, NC
Durham Skatepark, Durham, NC

For more information about Pillar Design Studios or how to get a public skatepark email: nicole@pillardesignstudios.com or check out our website: www.pillardesignstudios.com

How to Hire a Skatepark Design Firm

What you should know before hiring a design firm for your park

Getting a Skatepark in your community can be a long and confusing journey. The question usually asked is where do I begin when looking for a Skatepark Design Firm. Deciding on the right firm to help you through the process is the key to a successful park.

There are numerous companies out there that specialize in Skatepark Design and or Build. Before you make the decision on which company to hire it is imperative to do your research and find out which firm will fit your needs and desires.  

Your first step in this process is to consider what type of park is best for you, such as Above Ground Skatepark, Concrete Skatepark, Temporary or Permanent.  Once this is decided narrow your search for firms that handle that specific type of park.

Now how will the project be carried out, will this be a Design only project or a Design Bid Build project. This depends not only on the funding but also the entity or owner of the Park. The decision on which process to choose should be based on your needs and the funding that is available to the project.

Once you have decided on the type of skatepark and the process you would like to take, you can begin in depth research on the firms that handle the type and process you are looking for. 

Here are a few key questions to ask when researching the Skatepark firms:  

-Are your designers skaterboarders? What is their background and experience

-Who will be my Project Manager? How many projects have they managed and will they be my main point of contact? 

-Are they a full service firm? (All services provided by in house staff? )

-Do you provide a full set of Construction Documents? Sealed, Stamped and will pass the City process.  

-Does the design firm carry Errors & Omission and General Liability insurance which is necessary to protect from Design flaws.
- Will our design be a custom Skatepark design or a recycled design?

Selecting a firm with a spotless reputation will ensure delivery of a quality project on time and within budget. Above all else, do not rush the process!




For more information about Pillar Design Studios or how to get a public skatepark email: nicole@pillardesignstudios.com or check out our website: www.pillardesignstudios.com