An overhead view from the top floor of the eighth story parking garage of the finished Phase 1 landscape renovation project. Almost all of the plant material was replaced and turf expanded during the landscape renovation with most of the original trees remaining.

The project is the campus of the World Headquarters of Phillips 66. The 14 acre campus includes 15 and 13 story buildings with an eight story parking garage. All aspects of the campus landscape are visible from every level. This was a phase I renovation of the landscaped area outlined in blue. The original landscape installation occurred in 2016 when the campus opened. Mismanagement of the landscape and irrigation since the original development caused the owners to choose a new landscape management company and a new landscape maintenance contract was awarded in fall of 2019. Along with the new landscape maintenance contract, a landscape and irrigation renovation of the area outlined began in Spring, 2020. This project took three months to install and another two months of grow-in. Design was prepared by landscape contractor and modified as needed in the field to meet the requirements of the existing trees, terrain and turf that was deemed suitable from the original install to remain. Phase I accounts for about 1/3 of the total campus landscaped area and the entire 14 acre campus landscape was in need of renovation. The owner was pleased with the outcome of phase I and has since approved work for phase II.

A before picture of the condition of the turf inherited by the current contractor prior to the new landscape renovation. Most of the existing Tifway 419 Bermuda turf was kept and underwent an intense weed removal and fertilization rehabilitation as part of the project. The turf that had been previously cut at 3+" was gradually lowered to 1.5".

A before picture of the condition of some of the plantings inherited by the current contractor. Almost all of the previous existing plantings that had been poorly managed and extremely overwatered were removed to make way for the new renovated landscape.

An in-progress photo of some of the installation. Proper spacing was a critical part of the wavy design elements that separated the different plant selections. Any planting mistakes were easily seen from the Phillips 66' 15th story corporate executive eyes looking down on the project daily. Two requests the owner had in the new renovation re-work was to add more turf areas and keep a sustainable landscape environment. Some of the new turf areas are shown along with some of the existing trees that remained. The new turf areas were separated from the plantings by installing steel edging. Pine straw bales were used during the installation for erosion control from the rolling terrain around the many existing drains.

Another request from the owner was to change some under performing landscaped areas close to the building entry into new cobble areas that had to match the original install special blend chosen by the building architect that was also used in several fountain areas. This special blend was no longer available from any local suppliers, so the contractor had to improvise by sourcing each of the five different color cobbles separately. The size of the white cobble, which accounted for the majority of the blend used could only be found in bags making the install cumbersome and more costly.

The perimeter area of the project between the security fence and sidewalks surrounding the campus were also renovated. Crews are planting Nearly Wild Rose, Berkely Sedge and Sandy Leaf Fig Ivy. Safety was a huge concern while working at the Phillips 66 campus. All crewmembers had to undergo a 30 minute special safety training by onsite engineers before being allowed to work onsite. All crews had to check in daily with security to secure work badges and sign in and out with engineering and turn in daily worksheets. While this was not a hard hat job since the site was not new construction, all other proper PPE was in place at all times. Safety vests, safety glasses and approved gloves were worn at all times. Landscape employees were also identified by their company safety vests. Yellow vests worn indicate the landscape company newer employees that were still undergoing company training. Another issue that confronted the landscape crews was the use of lighting detection equipment by onsite management. The crews were sent home several times by management during the renovation when lighting was detected in the coverage area.

Part of the landscape renovation project was to address and evaluate the existing 35 zone irrigation system in place covering phase I that was supplied by a HVAC water recovery cistern. Some of the zones had to be modified to accommodate the renovation changes. Aside from the 12 zones covering the existing turf areas, another 13 drip zones covered the rest of the planting. Once the drip zone piping was identified, hundreds of existing leaks or cuts had to repaired as well as the many repair casualties that occurred during the renovation planting. All the drip zone kits had to be cleaned or replaced as well. The existing system's pump also was not working correctly and had to be addressed with the owner before the planting was completed to ensure the renovated planting's survival.

An additional 1,250 yards of Tifway 419 Bermuda sod was installed, both outside along the perimeter of the security fencing as well as inside the fenced area. Once the courtyard planting was installed, there was little to no access to get to the new turf areas. Two fence panels had to be removed from the perimeter security fence for access. To remove the fence panels, onsite security guards had to be secured to monitor the fence breach the entire work time until the fence was re-secured. Mulch was also blown in at the same time on the finished planting areas, while the fence panels were down for ease of access and efficiency.

A portion of the finished planting 30 days after completion. The majority of the grasses, perennials and groundcovers planted were 1 - gallon size. A total of 8,500 1-gal plants and 725 3-gal plants were installed during the landscape renovation project.

The same view as photo 10 finished planting 60 days after completion at the end of the growing in period. Perennials Dallas Red Lantana, Rudbeckia Goldsturm, and RedTurks Cap are highlighted in the photo along with Pink Muhly Grass. Nelson Plant Food's ColorStar 19-13-6 fertilizer was used on all the blooming perennials and Andersons 12-6-6 + minors fertilizer was used on the all the grasses and ornamentals to expedite growth. Granular AquaGro was also added to the soil upon tilling to aide in uniform soil moisture. No additional soil was needed nor added to the renovation project. Even though the previous plantings had failed primarily from overwatering, the existing soil fertility was found to be excellent.

A photo depicting a portion of the finished planting 60 days after completion at the end of the growing in period. Rudbeckia Goldsturm, Pam's Pink Turks Cap and Lindheimer Muhly Grass are highlighted here.

Blooming late fall white Lindheimer Muhly Grass and Pink Muhly Grass contrast in this photo at the end of the grow-in period. Dwarf Yaupon and Red Turks Cap are seen in the forefront of the grasses.

Variegated Dianella in the forefront is seen with contrasting white and pink grasses in the background behind Tifway 419 Bermuda over-seeded with a 3-way perennial Ryegrass.

Very little annual color was incorporated in the landscape renovation design as there is a tremendous amount of blooming perennials. The blooming perennials included in the renovation are Dallas Red Lantana, Rudbeckia Goldsturm, Red Turks Cap, Pam's Pink Turks Cap, Bat Faced Cuphea, Pink Skullcap, Tickweed Coreopsis and Blue Plumbago along with some existing blooming trees, white Natchez Crape Myrtle and Montrose Purple Vitex. Five blooming grasses, Pink Muhly Grass, Lindheimer Muhly Grass, Adagio Grass, Little Kitten Grass and Blonde Ambition Gamma Grass also were incorporated in the renovation.

Renovated turf, Tifway 419 Bermuda over-seeded with a 3-way perennial ryegrass. The photo shows the turf condition of the landscape renovation project at the end of the grow-in period, illustrating the turn-around to the turf inherited by the contractor as seen in photo 03.

The Phillips 66 World Headquarters achieved LEED Platinum status when their campus was built. They also believe in maintaining a sustainable landscape environment. The current landscape contractor recognized that the campus' existing landscape had several dozen Milkweed plants, Asclepias curassavica and also the management's commitment to maintaining them to support the Monarch Butterfly population. The genus Asclepias is the sole source of food for the Monarch caterpillar. Approximately 300 additional Milkweed along with other nectar rich pollinator and structure plants needed by the Monarch were included in the new landscape renovation project at select locations. Due to the building management's commitment to the Monarch Butterfly, the current landscape contractor had Phillips 66 World Headquarters certified and registered by MONARCH WATCH as an official Monarch Waystation #28872.