Located at a significant juncture in the campus landscape—one on side, the edge of a steep hillside; on the other, campus buildings and a historic quadrangle—this project called for us to protect the integrity of the natural ecology while linking it with the more formal campus elements. In addition to moderating a 50-foot difference in the site’s topography, we were challenged by integrating diverse contexts, which we addressed at three points: creating a new heart for the College of Human Ecology, integrating the formal and informal landscape, and creating better connections at both the college and the campus levels. In our sustainable, LEED Silver-certified design, native plants complement the contextual palette, and are acclimated to the setting, reducing maintenance needs. Porous paving and reinforced turf bolster the permeability of the site, controlling water run-off to maintain the softscape even under utilitarian stress.
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