Thistledown Entryway

Thistledown Property Owner's Association engaged Mills Group to develop a concept design and layout of walled entryway features into Thistledown Estates. The project design goals were initially two-fold: to stop or severely inhibit the possibility of destruction to any entry features due to large-scale trucks swinging wide when entering the neighborhood, and to update the style and layout of the current entry to enhance the sense of ownership of those living within as well as create a lasting impression on passersby.

In addition to the new walled entryway features, other design elements were integrated into the final schematic design package. Some of these items included enhanced landscape plantings and large-scale boulders, updated lighting fixtures, entry signage, graphic design/branding, new car parking area, migrated placement of existing gazebo structure, potential gate options & bollards, and a new sidewalk location for pedestrian queueing.

Mills Group spent extra time in the design process to work hand-in-hand with the Thistledown HOA and their local Fire Station to coordinate a site visit where testing of needed swing radii for their fire trucks was calibrated and designed for. The addition of this information together with our aerial (drone) video and imagery were truly essential in proving that our design solved for the specific problem at hand while also planning for emergency usage allowances. Our final design solution integrated a multi-prong defense of "landscape hardening" (large-scale boulders lining the entry), security cameras, and mid-lane bollards that work together to effectively inhibit or stop unwanted vehicular traffic altogether.

The scope of work included site analysis, existing conditions documentation, concept design through rendered imagery, vehicular traffic studies, and cost opinion of materials and construction. The project is set to begin installation/construction in the Fall of 2021 with an expected finish date of Spring 2022.