Untitled Document
University of Wisconsin Professional Development Course: Siting Wireless Communications Antennas & Towers

Mitigation & Simulation of Proposed Cell Towers
General Design Principles:
by: Curt Westergard, Landscape Architect, Digital Design & Imaging Service, Inc.
 
Standard square layouts for cell facilities can be made less visible by trimming off & softening hard corners.
 

For semi urban areas work with in the extablished pattern of the built landscape.
 
Layout access roads and building pads based on the distribution patterns of wetlands and natural vegetation. Grading costs are cheaper and the sight lines shorter.
 
Earth berms planted with local native grasses provides inexpensive camouflage
 
General Design Principles: p. 1 of 4
 
 
 
 
The abrupt vertical edge in a flat landscape can be softened by mounding plants of different size near the tower base.
 
Women's fashion, like architecture, uses horizontal stripes to make something tall look slightly smaller.
 
Bring down the apparent height of tall structures by adding horizontal banding.
 
The military camouflage technique of filling in a structure's shadow area with vegetation is useful for cell-facilities viewed in hilly areas.
 
General Design Principles: p. 2 of 4
 
 
 
 
 
Match & co-locate on existing tall vertical structures. Work with the general clutter of billboards
 
Stobe lights on towers are difficult to blend in with the sky. V-shaped blinds can shield nearby home owners while allowing full visibility by pilots
 
Compliment a building's fenestration pattern---even if it means adding a fake antenna. Paint on any covered up shadow lines
 
Mimic the style of fencing that the site's neighbors have and the facility will better match the neighborhood context
 
General Design Principles: p. 3 of 4
 
 
 
 
Soft rounded forms can be structurally strong and more pleasing to the eye
 
Use existing structures such as extensions of mast lighting in a stadium.
 
Compliment surrounding businesses and attractions themes.
Humor has a role in the landscape
 
by: Curt Westergard, S. Prehl & P. Plewka. Copyright: Digital Design & Imaging Service, Inc.
General Design Principles: p. 4 of 4