The Merriweather District in downtown Columbia is a regional hub for culture and commerce with offices, shops, restaurants, apartments, structured parking and parkland. This holistic development is a place for businesses to thrive, a place to enjoy food, music, books and art, and a place to call home. Being surrounded by the Merriweather Post Pavilion and Symphony Woods, this new amenity-rich and walkable district builds on the energy of this flourishing area.

The dynamic transformation of downtown Columbia includes a modern paving design. Unilock Umbriano pavers were chosen for the walking surfaces throughout the plaza surrounding the corporate offices and the District’s Color Burst Park. Umbriano was the paver of choice for this project because of its built-in stain resistance and its wear-resistant surface that delivers bold and brilliant color. Not only is this product an easily maintainable paving solution, but it also provides the durability and strength required for this high-traffic space.

At Color Burst Park, the paving design is enhanced by vibrant seating and umbrellas for relaxation, a splash fountain and climbing structure for play, a wooden pergola for added shade, and lush greenery that brings extra life into the outdoor space. In the plaza surrounding the offices, the paving is complemented by modern benches for office tenants to take a break outside and a majestic kinetic sculpture that sprinkles magic over the Merriweather District when the wind moves.

Crescent Merriweather is all about being bold, from the design elements and art pieces to the music and food shared together in this area. This has created a sense of community that fosters creativity and imagination, demonstrated by the ‘Love is Love’ chalk art made on the paved surface by a local. This project is an excellent example of the impact that landscape architecture has on building community in the spaces that designers create.