Burlingame Community Center and Washington Park Playground

In collaboration with Group 4 Architecture, RHAA completed the Burlingame Community Center as the second phase of development within historic Washington Park. This followed the completion of the first phase, which included a new playground, sports court, and picnic areas. The Center is strategically positioned to complete the design concept, acting as the endpoint of a series of park amenities connected by the winding ‘Charm Bracelet’ pathway, which begins at the historic train station.

The Center embraces the two main entries, one facing the park and the other addressing the street. The flow of paving, materials, and transparency enhances the inside-outside relationship. Outdoor rooms of textured concrete paving and defined with curving pre-cast concrete seatwalls and grass-patterned decorative fencing help define and connect activity spaces for a kids’ room, a teens’ zone and the community event hall. 

The site design creates a sustainable, biologically diverse , and colorful landscape while preserving specimen trees of conifers and eucalyptus trees within the park setting. A green roof and bioretention basins provide stormwater treatment and opportunities to educate the park users on water quality. The planting design uses site-appropriate plants tolerant of the local conditions, and relies on a diverse and colorful palette that creates a healthy ecosystem for birds, insects and butterflies. 

Awards:

2023 CPRS Award of Excellence in Design

2023 AIA San Mateo County Chapter and Sustainable San Mateo County Green Building Award

2022 Peninsula Clean Energy All-Electric Leader Award