MTW Group

Landscape Architecture and Planning

About Us

From the Mind’s Eye

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As the oldest landscape architecture firm in Sacramento, MTWgroup has unique insight, knowledge and experience. For decades, the firm has worked with hundreds of clients on thousands of projects, offering the small-firm advantages of strong internal communications and team efforts with personal, complete involvement from start to finish by experienced professional staff.

MTWgroup teams with various architects, engineers, owners, agencies, and community members to produce beautiful, highly functional projects. As a result, MTWgroup has excellent vision when it comes to landscape architecture. Each project is designed with near-sighted precision and intimate detail, arms-length practicality and versatility, far-sighted goals and manageability, and peripheral balance and relativity. The existing landscape of each community is valued and appreciated, and each principal is committed to “helping clients, communities and individuals create humane spaces with expertise, understanding and sensitivity.”

…to the Public Eye

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MTWgroup has produced decades of highly-functional, aesthetically pleasing projects within budget and within guidelines. In fact, the firm has provided leadership in the development of guidelines, has a thorough understanding of maintenance issues, and has consistently provided unique and creative solutions for hundreds of facilities throughout the region.

Though its emphasis is on public agency, institutional, commercial, and recreation projects, the firm has completed many types of successful large and small-scale projects, such as the following:

  • military facility
  • street, highway
  • airport
  • power plant
  • park
  • parking lot
  • library
  • school
  • manufacturing plant
  • courtroom facility
  • commercial building
  • model home
  • public agency
  • office building
  • postal facility
  • laboratory
  • apartment building
  • restaurant
  • shopping centre
  • church
  • hospital
  • industrial park
  • medical facility
  • museum
  • corporation yard
  • historic preservation
  • correctional facility
  • parking structure

Principals of Design

photo: Peter D. Larimer
Peter D. Larimer
ASLA, LEED® AP
President/Secretary
photo: Bryan H. Walker
Bryan H. Walker
ASLA, LEED Green Assoc.
VP/Treasurer

Peter Larimer, a principal since 2009, has been with the firm since 2003 and offers leadership in all phases of design and construction administration. In addition, Mr. Larimer is responsible for updating and maintaining the firms AutoCAD standards; CHPS, LEED, and AB1881 standards; and construction details.

Bryan Walker, a principal since 2011, has been with the firm since 2005. He has proven project management skills from file set-up through all stages of design and construction.

Services

Phases of Design

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MTWgroup offers excellent service in the following areas:

  • Consultation
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Master Planning
  • Schematic Design and Graphic Presentation
  • Grading and Paving Layout
  • Complete Sprinkler Irrigation Design
  • Cost Projections
  • Contract Documents
  • Bidding Support
  • Construction Administration

The firm can provide design direction for grading, paving, pedestrian circulation, aesthetics and graphic presentation during the early stages of master planning and schematic design; they have extensive knowledge of plant and sprinkler irrigation materials, comprehensive AutoCAD standards, quality controls, and specifications that support the production of quality contract documents which lead to fewer change orders; and they have extensive field experience which leads to excellent construction administration services and, ultimately, highly-successful products.

From Enduring Concepts

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MTWgroup works with clients applying for CHPS and/or LEED® certification, offering design possibilities such as the use of reclaimed water and native/drought-tolerant plant materials to minimize potable water needs; roof gardens to minimize water runoff into drainage structures; pervious pavement to return watershed to the earth; bio-swales to filter runoff for use in water features; local, recycled landscape materials to reduce waste, etc. In addition, the firm is well-versed in the application of new standards relating to AB 1881 and other government regulations relating to water use and conservation.

…to Living Landscapes

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MTWgroup is involved in numerous community and developmental projects each year, serving a large client base of both private and public entities. MTWgroup’s extensive experience and professional knowledge of plant material, sprinkler systems, grading, drainage, hardscape, cost estimating, time schedules, and maintenance issues have resulted in successful products and client satisfaction. The firm has produced decades of highly-functional, aesthetically pleasing landscape and irrigation design projects, within budget and within guidelines. These services have included providing unique solutions and quality contract documents for new projects; leadership in the development of design standards; and successful design services for modernization projects focusing on sprinkler irrigation restoration, cosmetic landscape enhancements, assistance with paving layout, and resolution of drainage issues.

Capabilities

From Consistent Quality

As a result of the firm's wealth of experience in a small business environment, MTWgroup has the ability to communicate directly and easily with clients, owners, design consultants, and public agencies to quickly and successfully process information and meet deadlines with unique solutions and quality work. The firm achieves peak efficiency as each principal provides project management services from design/draft through plotting/reproduction of contract documents and continuing through construction administration.

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…to New Technology

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MTWgroup is on the cutting-edge of its industry and is able to provide its clients with technical drawings (English or Metric), complete and ready for bid. Drawings can be provided in electronic format and/or via in-house printers and plotters. The firm keeps pace with technology, staying compatible with clients through updating office and AutoCAD software, upgrading computer systems regularly for speed and efficiency, and purchasing production equipment to meet industry standards.

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Possibilities of Design

  • Functional, aesthetic design solutions
  • Coordination with public agencies
  • Graphic presentations for community workshops
  • Collaboration with developers
  • LEED recommendations
  • AB 1881 compliance
  • Complete irrigation design
  • Central controller programming
  • Licenses in California and Nevada

Portfolio

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    PG&E Customer Service Center

    Commercial Buildings

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    COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

    PG&E Customer Service Center

    The PG&E Sacramento Service Center landscape was outdated and water-consuming, with a decaying stand of trees. MTWgroup proposed to remove all landscape and irrigation and to replace it with drought-tolerant landscape using high-efficiency irrigation, saving over 60 percent water consumption. MTWgroup worked with the client from the investigative stage of procuring preliminary water studies, through the design phase and city approvals, and ultimately through construction to final acceptance, all while staying within the client’s budget for the project.

    Client: PG&E
    Location: Sacramento, CA

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    Parker-Whitney Elementary School

    K-12 Education

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    K-12 EDUCATION

    Parker-Whitney Elementary School

    The Parker Whitney elementary school playfield was originally built on undulating lava cap which retained subsurface water, thus not allowing the playfield to drain properly. MTWgroup designed a plan to scrape the usable soil off the field for reuse, grind the lava cap to be uniformly sloped to a new subterranean drainage system, and then replace the soil. MTWgroup also successfully redesigned the layout of the playfield to achieve a measurable running path around the perimeter while shrinking the lawn area to reduce maintenance and yet maintain the same amount of playable field.

    Client: Rocklin Unified School District
    Location: Rocklin, CA

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    COSUMNES RIVER COLLEGE FOUNTAIN COURTYARD

    Higher Education

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    HIGHER EDUCATION

    Cosumnes River College Fountain Courtyard

    The CRC Fountain Courtyard provides a central focal point and social gathering space at the main entrance to the campus. MTWgroup designed approximately 52,000 square feet of landscape area and courtyard paving with a reflection pool, access ramp, and stairs; and provided contract documents for paving, pool, ramp, walls, stairs, fountain equipment, and landscaping and irrigation. MTWgroup also provided assistance to the other members of the design team for such issues as lighting, grading and drainage, and selection of colors and finishes.

    Client: Los Rios Community College District
    Location: Sacramento, CA

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    Tower Bridge Gateway

    Streetscape

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    STREETSCAPE

    Tower Bridge Gateway

    The SR275 Modification Project is intended to stimulate the growth of the Triangle Specific and Washington Street Plans by the conversion of approximately 2.5 miles of state highway to a city street with at-grade intersections. The design process included public workshops, stakeholder meetings, conceptual planning, PS&E, and on-site observations for new construction, phased construction and site adaptations for additions. For the East Phase, MTWgroup provided landscape and sprinkler irrigation drawings and paving design for the new geometric layout provided by the Client. MTWgroup was also the landscape architect for the West Phase.

    Client: City of West Sacramento
    Location: West Sacramento, CA

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    UCDMC Medical Library and Education Center

    Healthcare

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    HEALTHCARE

    UCDMC Medical Library and Education Center

    The new UCDMC Medical Library and Education Center was designed within the context of a master plan to connect to an existing facility. Hardscaping, seat walls, custom benches in a large outdoor plaza, and strong accent plantings at entryways create a unique and organic flow of space from the front courtyard through two connecting entries and out through a rear entrance courtyard. MTWgroup provided complete landscape and irrigation design, incorporating the LAR’s rough paving details and coordinating with the structural engineer.

    Client: UC Davis Health Services
    Location: Sacramento, CA

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    NATOMAS TRAILS MODEL HOMES

    Model Homes

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    Model Homes

    NATOMAS TRAILS MODEL HOMES

    MTWgroup designed landscape and sprinkler irrigation, custom water features, custom patio design, arbors, custom barbeque islands, outdoor fireplaces and spas for several model homes at Natomas Trails. These designs naturally focus on the view overlooking the lake while drawing the user to other areas of the landscape as well. Each design is unique in reference to the site conditions and model home variations, three of which were on challenging narrow sites.

    Client: K. Hovnanian Forecast Homes, Inc.
    Location: Sacramento, CA

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    Crocker Art Museum

    Museum

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    MUSEUM

    Crocker Art Museum

    The Crocker Art Museum involved one city block of new construction and historical preservation. The landscape architecture goal was to coordinate the scale of new landscape to blend with the existing mature trees, unique shrubs and other plants around the historical building, and to create a smooth connection with functional pathways for users. MTWgroup met this goal and provided a landscape design that incorporates the historical elements of the existing museum site into the design of the new museum site oriented to create a large open plaza for outdoor exhibits and public meetings.

    Client: Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects
    Location: Sacramento, CA

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    West Sacramento City Center Projects

    Civic

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    CIVIC

    West Sacramento City Center

    The new Arthur F. Turner Library and LRCCD West Sacramento Campus are two of four projects designed as part of West Sacramento’s new city center. All share one parking lot at city hall, with fluid paving connections and continuity in plant material throughout. MTWgroup coordinated with two other landscape architecture firms working on the community center and the transit station; attended coordination meetings with the city; participated in design charrettes; and prepared schematic designs and contract documents for paving, layout, lighting, planting, and sprinkler irrigation.

    Client: DLR Group (LRCCD West Sacramento Campus)
    Client: ANOVA Nexus Architects (Arthur F. Turner Library)
    Location: West Sacramento, CA

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    Wheeler Ranch Parks

    Park & Recreation

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    Park & Recreation

    Wheeler Ranch Parks

    Wheeler Ranch is a housing development in Olivehurst, California, for which MTWgroup designed three neighborhood parks. MTWgroup provided all the plans and details for the park projects, including grading, drainage, paving, planting, sprinkler irrigation, and play areas.

    Wheeler Ranch Park Site ‘D’ Amenities: Central irrigation system, stamped concrete paving, gazebo, benches, picnic tables, trash receptacles, free-standing barbeques, a drinking fountain, tot lot and playground structures with surfacing, and a park sign.

    Client: Olivehurst Public Utility District
    Location: Oliverhust, CA

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    Antelope Community Park

    Master Planning

    MTWgroup participated in the design of the Antelope Community Park Master Plan and its redesign due to an adjacent development change from housing to high school. Originally, MTWgroup was involved in the preparation of site and program analysis with respect to community expectations and local regulations. They built a park site model for presentation during a public meeting; led workshop groups; and prepared both a preliminary and final Master Plan which was approved by the community. In the redesign, some park facilities such as the swimming pool and tennis courts were relocated to better serve as joint-use school facilities. Access for emergency vehicles was provided via cul-de-sac which also serves as an entrance to a large parking lot used for both ball field activities and overflow parking for high school events.

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    Master Planning

    Antelope Community Park

    Park Amenities:
    • Community center complex

    • Swimming pool complex

    • Lighted ball field complex

    • Lighted basketball and tennis courts

    • Overhead shade trellises and structures

    • Play areas, passive turf and picnic areas, trails

    • Water features

    • Parking lots

    • Pedestrian/maintenance bridge; d.g. trails

    • Automated sprinkler irrigation system

    • Preserved oak trees; natural topography, plants

    • Amphitheater to seat several hundred people


    Client: Sunrise Recreation and Park District Location: Antelople, CA

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    Vista Del Lago High School

    Central Controller Programming

    MTWgroup is reprogramming seven existing automatic controllers from RainMaster OASIS to AIM software in three stages at Vista Del Lago High School. The first stage is gathering existing information for OASIS. This includes performing a “learn flow” for each control valve; recording live ET data for each controller from the newly installed District weather station; preparing a flow zone map; and verifying control valve locations. The second stage is transferring all data from OASIS to AIM. This involves transferring GPM and ET data for each of the 255 control valves; transferring station names and current programs for each controller; establishing run times, cycle times, soak times and water days; entering flow zone map data; and checking water window and total GPM usage. The third stage is training district personnel to maintain, manage, and operate the system.

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    Central Controller Programming

    Vista Del Lago High School

    Client: Folsom Cordova Unified School District
    Location: Sacramento County, CA