Max Lenail Memorial Bridge
San Diego, CA
The Max Lenail Memorial Bridge provides safe passageway and a rest point for year-round hikers, runners, and cyclists visiting San Diego’s Mission Trails Regional Park.
At 130 feet long and crossing over the San Diego River, the bridge’s design responds to its location among chaparral and riparian woodlands. Two arched glulam beams support the bridge as it spans the river, hovering well above the 100-year flood level. The eight-foot-wide bridge deck flares out to twelve feet at its center, creating a moment for pause and encouraging visitors to appreciate the scenic setting. The park’s dark sky is preserved and native biology is respected through a design that minimizes artificial illumination.
Bridge materials were selected to blend into the park’s landscape and offer resilience against environmental factors and daily use. Integral colored concrete, stone accents, and wood elements for decking, panels, and beams visually link this structure to its natural surroundings.
The Max Lenail Memorial Bridge is designed and named in honor of Max Lenail, a student who passed away while trying to cross the trail during a flash flood.
This project is a collaboration between Safdie Rabines Architects and KPFF Structural Engineers.
- Client: KPFF
- Completion: In-progress
- Size: 130' Length
