SGA led the consultant team for the Feasibility Study and Preliminary Engineering of this long-span bridge and trail project in Cupertino, California. The firm’s elegant suspension bridge concept echoed the flowing forms of the pathway and surrounding landscape, while subtly referencing the catenary curves of nearby power lines.

A central design challenge involved the bridge’s proximity above private backyards, which prompted initial opposition from neighboring residents. SGA addressed these concerns through a carefully integrated, low-profile bridge and landscape strategy that balanced user experience with community sensitivity:

1. The slender deck minimized elevation gain, allowing approach pathways to remain shorter and further from adjacent homes.

2. The plan geometry combined a straight, efficient freeway crossing for structural and economic efficiency with gentle curves at each end to shift the pathway alignment away from residential areas.

3. Undulating retaining walls on both sides formed a landscaped buffer that softened the transition between public and private spaces while creating a dynamic visual rhythm along the path.

4. The planting design preserved scenic views while restricting access and sightlines to adjacent private areas, promoting a park-like atmosphere and reinforcing natural pedestrian flow to discourage loitering.

A notable innovation in SGA’s concept was the use of the undulating retaining walls not only as landscape features but also as backspan anchorage structures for the suspension system. While the City ultimately chose to pursue a cable-stayed bridge alternative, the alignment and pathway layout developed by SGA remained integral to the final design.