The premium Optima Kierland development in Scottsdale, Arizona, posed a unique irrigation challenge. Its 16-acre hillside landscape spans multiple levels across five residential buildings, each with its own microclimate. Sun exposure, elevation above the garage, and rooftop conditions made designing consistent irrigation especially difficult. 

The project uses structural soils and planters atop a two‑level parking garage, yielding rapid drainage rates (up to 1½" per hour) and highly variable sun and wind conditions. To address this complexity, the system leveraged the Hunter ACC2 Controller with its “Cycle and Soak” feature to split each station’s run time into several shorter cycles. This allows the soil to absorb water efficiently, reducing oversaturation and runoff. As a result, the run time for the roof’s north planters was reduced from 45 to just 24 minutes. 

Controllers and decoder stations were grouped strategically to manage the 170 valves across five buildings while accommodating varied sun exposures and microclimates. Remote management through Hunter’s Centralus™ Irrigation Management Platform replaced a radio remote system, simplifying access despite vehicle traffic and garage constraints. 

This project shows how complex architectural landscapes demand more than basic irrigation. Precision controls, intentional valve placement, and advanced programming let designers and managers water each micro-zone responsibly to sustain the landscape while optimizing efficiency.