ANAHEIM, CA—Lifescapes International has been chosen to design the landscape environment for the $245-million development of Westin Anaheim Resort, a four-diamond resort by local developer Wincome Group. The project will include a luxurious rooftop deck where guests can enjoy Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure park views and nightly fireworks shows.

“We were entrusted by Wincome Group to create a unique, garden-inspired setting, which will raise the bar and exceed expectations for the community,” Dan Trust, EVP and COO of Lifescapes International, tells GlobeSt.com. He adds that his firm's design for the property incorporates a mix of entertainment-driven features, while also creating a warm and inviting environment that encourages repeat stays.

The firm has been involved for landscape design for several large-scale international projects. As we reported in August in a retail-oriented story, Lifescapes' president Julie Brinkerhoff-Jacobs told us that larger shopping centers are seeing the value in a variety of food retailers in attracting and keeping customers around longer and that the company had recently designed the landscaping at the Point in El Segundo, CA, a 115,000-square-foot lifestyle shopping center featuring more than 30 shops and restaurants.

“This is a monumental project for the City of Anaheim, which drew a record 23 million visitors last year,” says Trust in a prepared statement. “The city is investing substantially in its resort corridor, and we are pleased to bring our seasoned experience in creating iconic destinations to this new project.”

Trust goes on to explain that his firm “will create a design that is both luxurious and functional, delivering an inviting environment that guests will enjoy for years to come.”

The Westin Anaheim Resort is located just south of the Disneyland Resort and west of the Anaheim Convention Center, which recently underwent a $190 million expansion project. The resort will offer more than 600 rooms situated within a 630,000-square-foot environment, featuring landscaping and social-gathering spaces. “We are building on the developer's vision, which is to create a haven of luxury and a hub of excitement for tourists and staycationers alike,” says Al Amador, senior principal/project designer for Lifescapes and the lead designer on this project, in the statement.

Leveraging the resort's close proximity to Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure, Lifescapes will design a rooftop deck where guests can enjoy park views and nightly fireworks shows, according to Amador. The new deck will feature banquette seating nestled around fire pits, with portable shade structures and furniture that can accommodate public gatherings as well as private parties, weddings or corporate events.

“Urban rooftop decks have emerged as one of the hottest design trends of this decade,” says Amador. “On the roof, we plan to integrate a long, linear raised water feature with floating planters.”

Lifescapes will also design the resort's new pool area. Amador says the main pool will focus on luxury, offering private cabanas, while the secondary pool will focus on family fun, complete with an overhead structure for shade and a nearby restaurant with seating areas overlooking the pool.

In addition, the firm will design a unique motor court for the new resort, featuring specialty paving in a custom design with ample lanes for traffic. The motor court will feature an on-grade fountain with a stunning water feature which, according to Amador, can be turned off to allow cars to park or drive over it when needed.

Trust goes on to explain that his firm “will create a design that is both luxurious and functional, delivering an inviting environment that guests will enjoy for years to come.”

Instant Insights /

Lifescapes is Tapped for $245M Resort Landscaping

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