Projects
“STO’s projects are characterized by our exacting standards and meticulous engineering design, backed by our extensive experience and proven expertise.”
Extensive knowledge in a wide range of project categories
STO Design Group’s design specialty is in aquatic features; our project types diverse and numerous. Water features serve as project signature statements and are wide-ranging in purpose - from iconic, spectacular, aesthetic, multi-functional, revenue generating to entertaining. It is imperative these highly visible elements fulfill the intent of sustaining as project assets; appealing in appearance and reliable in operation.
STO Design Group’s extensive experience, throughout the U.S. and internationally, in many project types has provided us the necessary background to finesse designs for specific roles and settings. The considerations regarding water features are varied, often complex and optimum solutions emerge by drawing on our involvement over several decades in multiple industries, to incorporate the essential design elements into particular projects.
Our design practice embraces new, ‘cutting edge’ projects as well as the renovation of dilapidated, aged aquatic facilities to create attractive, revitalized and valuable aquatic elements.
The range of STO’s water feature project types is evident from brief descriptions of those we most frequently design.
Four Seasons Resort, Maui, Hawaii
Corporate & International
Corporate headquarters’ water features contribute in many ways to defining the caliber and scale of an organization.
International projects must take into account local design and construction practices and the best utilization of local resources. To this end, our plans are highly illustrative to communicate design intent.
Pools
In the hospitality industry, hotel pool areas are typically elegant spaces for leisure and recreation. Casino resorts use water features to make striking, memorable impressions while their pool areas are increasingly important for widely advertised “pool parties” and other pool deck functions which are significant project recognition identifiers and revenue generators.
Public pools and educational institutions’ pools, whether exterior or interior natatoriums, often serve for swimming and diving competitions, sports events (water polo, volleyball) and general fitness training and must conform to precise requirements of depth, length, markings, timing systems, scoreboards, etc.
Pools, swim lagoons and beach clubs in residential community centers - in addition to being prime amenities - have an immensely important marketing value.
In every instance, for swimmable water bodies, all the requirements of state and local public health departments and applicable building codes - with which STO is familiar - must be met. STO is also completely familiar with all mandatory ADA access requirements for pools.
Nike Headquarters
Complex Water Features
Elevated (raised on structure) features are increasingly typical in hospitality and residential project settings, if not the norm in the gaming industry; posing technical challenges which require the highest degree of detailing and deployment of well proven solutions. Provisions to impound water in basins and prevent leakage - as well as rendering any minor leakage harmless by drainage gallery systems - are vital in safeguarding a building’s structural integrity.
Water theaters have specialty components and sophisticated controls systems, together with actors who require the highest swimming water quality and perfect water clarity.
To provide the intended entertainment value of animated water displays and specialty water F/X, these features have devices which must be both reliable, durable and readily accessible for service.
Wave pools require integrating wave generation equipment in large structures with all the recirculation and water quality systems of conventional pools.
Waterpark pools must be designed for very high bather loads, necessitating the appropriate scale of water quality treatment. Theme park water feature rides must similarly be designed to sustain good water quality and to minimize maintenance downtime.
Fountains and Lakes
Fountain types range from those of architectural and aesthetic splendor to ones with novelty value - and often must incorporate a project’s expressed preference for uniqueness.
STO also specializes in the design of natural - but manmade - lakes and lagoons, which requires a thorough understanding of Limnology; (the study of the biological, chemical and physical features of bodies of fresh water.)
Lakes in residential open spaces, parks and golf courses provide an aquatic ambience. In addition to water quality systems which include circulation, aeration, water exchange, balanced ecosystems and control of nutrient inflows; all lakes require Water Safety features which are of paramount importance.
Lakes can serve multiple functions apart from having high aesthetic and ambience values, ranging from providing community recreation opportunities (e.g. boating/fishing/sailing lessons) to important hydrological purposes such as storm water detention, retention, irrigation water storage and even wetlands replacement.
These multiple types and their diversity define our practice of Water Feature design.
Types of Projects (Domestic and International)
Hotels
Corporate Headquarters
Residential
Theme Parks
Destination Resort Hotels
Business and Commercial Parks
Golf Courses
Schools
Casino Resorts
Public and Community Parks
Wetlands and Environmental
Project List
Destination Resort Hotels
FONTAINEBLEAU RESORT
GAYLORD NATIONAL HARBOR
REYNOLDS PLANTATION
WESTLAKE HOTEL & SPA
RITZ CARLTON, PALM BEACH
HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO
SHERATON BAL HARBOUR
DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE
DISNEY’S GRAND CALIFORNIAN
HOLLYWOOD RENAISANCCE
BACARA RESORT & SPA
ST. REGIS AT MONARCH BEACH
HYATT LAKE TAHOE
UNIVERSITY CIRCLE
MARRIOTT’S DESERT SPRINGS
WESTIN at MISSION HILLS
CALISTOGA RANCH
MARRIOTT’S DESERT RIDGE
ST. JULIEN HOTEL
VAIL’S FRONT DOOR
OPRYLAND
HILTON GRAND VACATIONS
FOUR SEASONS RESORT WAILEA
HILTON GRAND VACATIONS
KONA FOUR SEASONS
THE LUCAYAN
RITZ CARLTON AT LAKE LAS VEGAS
Resort Hotel Upgrades & Renovations
FONTAINEBLEAU RESORTS
MONTAGE HOTEL
DISNEYLAND HOTEL
RITZ CARLTON PALM BEACH
CAESARS PALACE POOLS
CAESARS ATLANTIC CITY
MGM GRAND
EXCALIBUR
GOLDEN NUGGET
FLAMINGO HILTON
HARRAH’S ATLANTIC CITY
THE PHOENICIAN
CAMELBACK INN
SHERATON BAL HARBOUR
SHERATON HARBOR ISLAND
HYATT REGENCY AT GAINEY RANCH
HYATT ISLANDIA
HOLLYWOOD & HIGHLAND
DISNEY’S PARADISE PIER HOTEL
HYATT GRAND CHAMPION
HOLIDAY INN AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
PHOENICIAN CENTER FOR WELL BEING
Elevated Pools, Spas & Water Features
PARIS CASINO
MGM GRAND MANSION
CAESAR'S PALACE
LAS VEGAS HILTON POOL
WATERGARDEN
HOLLYWOOD & HYLAND
BEAU RIVAGE
Water & Light Shows Choreographed to Music
PALLADIUM CHURCH FOUNTAIN
LE RÊVE - Aqua Theater
MARGARITAVILLE
SPRING PARK WATER SHOW
OPRYLAND DELTA WATER SHOW
MGM GRAND - Lion Entry
ISLE OF CAPRI
SPRING PARK
WINDSOR CASINO
LOTTE WORLD SKYPARK
Animated & Interactive Water F/X
VICTORIA GARDEN
BAY MEADOWS LINEAR PARK
LEGOLAND
DOWNTOWN DISNEY
DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE - Geothermal Geyser
MCA - Island of Adventure
PLC CENTER
MARRIOTT CAMELBACK INN
PLAYER’S ISLAND
PARIS CASINO
CAESAR’S PALACE
HILTON GRAND VACATION
OPRYLAND
SYDNEY HARBOR CASINO
KEPCO - World Expo
Public Lake Renovations
GOLDEN GATE PARK
EARVIN MAGIC JOHNSON PARK
EAST L.A. CIVIC CENTER LAKE
ALONDRA REGIONAL PARK
CERRITOS REGIONAL PARK
Public Water Features
PORT OF LOS ANGELES
CHINO HILL GOVERNMENT CENTER
GEORGETOWN WATERFRONT PARK
RIVERWALK
MWD DIAMOND VALLEY EAST LAKE
ROWENA RESERVOIR
CITY OF SANTA FE SPRINGS
SAN DIEGO BALL PARK
CIVIC POND at CHILDRENS’ PARK
PLAZA OF THE SUN FOUNTAINS
SANTA ANA ZOO POND
INLAND EMPIRE UTILITIES HQ
OLD MORMON FORT
Public Swim Lagoons
MWD DIAMOND VALLEY EAST LAGOON
SANTA FE RESERVOIR DAM
LOS VAQUEROS SWIM LAGOON STUDY
CONTRA LOMA SWIM LAGOON
Golf Course Water Features
LE RÊVE G.C.
THE QUARRY
MISSION HILLS NORTH G. C.
CYPRESS GOLF COURSE
ROYAL KUNIA II GOLF COURSE
KAPOLEI GOLF COURSE
COTO DE CAZA GOLF COURSE
RANCAMAYA GOLF COURSE
WESTLAKE GOLF COURSE
WAIAWA GOLF COURSE
CHESTER WASHINGTON G. C.
EL DORADO HILLS G. C.
RANCHO CUCAMONGA G. C.
Theme Parks
DOWNTOWN DISNEY
LEGOLAND
HUNTINGTON GARDEN
MCA ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE
SPLENDID CHINA MUSEUM THEME PARK
OPRYLAND
THE MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT MUSEUM
WARNER BROTHERS MOVIE WORLD
DISNEYLAND
Casino & Resort Hotels
LAS VEGAS STRIP
WYNN LAS VEGAS
ENCORE at WYNN LAS VEGAS
ECHELON
CITYCENTER BLOCK B - Vdara Condo Hotel
CITYCENTER BLOCK C - The Harmon, Mandarin Oriental, and Veer Towers
FONTAINEBLEAU CASINO RESORT
COSMOPOLITAN RESORT & CASINO
MANDALAY BAY
CAESARS PALACE
MGM GRAND
BELLAGIO SPA TOWER
PARIS CASINO
FLAMINGO HILTON
SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
LAS VEGAS HILTON
PLANET HOLLYWOOD TOWERS
FIESTA CASINO
RED ROCK STATION CASINO
SUNSET STATION CASINO
INDIAN CASINOS
VIEJAS CASINO
PALA CASINO
BARONA
PECHANGA
FANTASY SPRINGS
REVEL
CASINO ARIZONA
PEPPERMILL CASINO
THUNDER VALLEY CASINO
FOXWOODS
WINDSOR CASINO
BEAU RIVAGE
ISLE OF CAPRI
HARRAH’S
International Projects
SYDNEY HARBOR CASINO
JERUDONG PARK
WINDSOR CASINO
RITZ CARLTON BEIJING
FINANCE STREET FOUNTAINS BEIJING
MARRIOTT QUITO
OUTRIGGER HOTEL
DISNEY HONG KONG
RAMADA RENAISSANCE
HARD ROCK CAFE BALI
BALI BEACH HOTEL
GKBI TOWER
UBUD HOTEL
SURDIMAN SQUARE
KEPCO PAVILION
LOTTE WORLD SKY PLAZA
PLAZA RAKYAT
CITY OF DREAMS
CAESAR’S PARK CANCUN
PALMAS DEL MAR
THE PEARL
VILLAGIO RETAIL, SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PORTO ARABIA
VILLA JUFFALI
S. JUFFALI’s RESIDENCE
CAESARS at CIUDAD REAL
TAIPEI SPORTS PARK
Corporate Headquarters
DREAMWORKS HEADQUARTERS
WATERGARDEN
NOVELL HEADQUARTERS
VISA HEADQUARTERS
DOLE HEADQUARTERS
EXPERIAN HEADQUARTERS
MWD HEADQUARTERS
BAY MEADOWS
BOEING HEADQUARTERS
Schools
COLLEGE PARK
CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY QUAD FOUNTAIN
SOKA UNIVERSITY
UNIV. of CALIFORNIA IRVINE
ORANGE HIGH SCHOOL
Business & Commercial Parks
BRIDGE STREET TOWN CENTRE
INTERLOCKEN
PLC CENTER
DOWNTOWN DISNEY
HOWARD HUGHES CENTER
THE RIVER
PLAYA VISTA
Residential Projects
GALILEO LUXURY VILLAS
TRUMP INTERNATIONAL TOWER
ONE QUEENSRIDGE PLACE
THE LODGE at RANCHO MIRAGE
SAGGIO HILLS RESORT
SUMMIT PARK
PLANNING AREA 8, 9A & 18
BIG CANYON COUNTRY CLUB
WATERFRONT PEARL
BELLEVUE TOWERS
DC RANCH
THE CALIFORNIAN AT TOWN CENTER
WESTIN DESERT WILLOW
CINCO RANCH
LAKE VAN NESS
OTAY RANCH
PALMILLA
KUKIO
THE ISLANDS AT MAUNA LANI
LELY RESORT