The landscape design at the Scripps Forum is a hybrid landscape of plants that are either native or naturalized in San Diego, and are tolerant of the unique conditions of an oceanfront site, such as salt-laden wind and soils. Once the plants have established their root systems, shed leaves that grew in more benign settings and have grown new foliage, they survive with little water, and take the shape of ocean winds.
 

Sustainability is social as much as it is ecological. At the Center, this meant working with Judith Munk to create a site design that advantaged universality in access. All visitors, regardless of modalities, approach and experience the site in the same sequence via a broad, gently sloping concrete walk that leads down into a protected courtyard and exposed oceanfront terraces. The same concrete of the terraces flows in and out of the architecture.