LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS ROLE:

The landscape architect collaborated closely with the architect, university staff, general contractor, and local user groups from design conception through implementation. This collaboration led to a powerful connection between the landscape and building establishing an ecological friendly environment. The landscape architect designed unifying site elements such as plazas, walkways, stream bed for on-site drainage, water feature for aquatic plants, and Texas fauna sculpture trail; selected paving materials, designed seat walls, stone block retaining walls, native plant species, geological trail, waterfall, creek, and pedestrian amenities; prepared all construction documentation including hardscape details, drip-irrigation system, fountain pumps, water features, grading plans, and plant material layout; developed availability list and secured sources of native plant species and native grasses; oversaw all aspects of construction and provided post-construction maintenance guidelines and standards.

 

PROJECTS PROGRAM:

The program's objective was to create a landscape, like the architecture, that fostered regional environmental awareness. Educating the public about living in harmony with nature and preserving natural resources was of primary concern to the university. The architecture accomplishes this by using natural stone, wood railings and trim, recycled vinyl flooring, computer oriented solar hot water system, and natural light for the main foyer lighting. Ultimately the collaboration of the landscape architect and architect focused on how a study of the environment can be accomplished on a specific site in an urban environment on the property of a state college.

 

By responding to the context of the geographical location in the Blackland Prairie, the site became an investigation of the forms of the natural landscape and their relationship to the organizational scheme of the architecture. This study gave rise to a vocabulary that became the basis for design guidelines. The guidelines address scale, spaces for large groups of people, circulation, drainage, and planting.

 

Straight lines derived from the building geometry suggest cartographic mapping. Curving walls and paths suggest topographic character of the regional landscape. Irregular layered stone edges and walls suggest stone outcroppings of the region. The main entry plaza framed by a mesquite grove is oriented to the southwest towards the center of caI11pUs. A circular water feature for aquatic plants reflects the circular stair towers. Two separate seating areas adjacent to the building respond to the interior auditorium classrooms. A dry streambed to the east carries on-site rainwater to a prairie grass meadow where filtration occurs prior to dispensing into the city drainage area. Agarito, narrowleaf yucca, red yucca, native plum, ferns, and cedar elm reinforce the native plant palate. Preserved blackjack oak and post oak suggest the landscape of the past. A four-foot tall curving retaining wall enhanced with a native plum thicket separates circulation along the southern portion of the site.

 

ODELA to the north of the building is host to the Elm Fork Education Center. The presence of a waterfall suggests the native creeks of the area. Along a stone path fern, wax myrtle, reed grass, and dogwood rise out of layered stone outcroppings. The flagstone path provides areas for viewing geologic time periods. One example is from the Quaternary through the Permian periods. Rock samples from each geologic time period are on display. A shallow pond connects a pavilion and archeological dig area. Salvia greggi, butterfly bush, sage, beautyberry, and oxford daisy attract hummingbirds and butterflies to the space. Trumpet vine along the north fence provides additional attraction for hummingbirds. Native grasses abound in this environment. Buffalograss was used as the primary vegetative cover while indian ricegrass, big and little bluestem, switchgrass, Mexican feathergrass undulate along the northern edge of the site. Walkways through the site are constructed from a combination of sandblasted concrete, decomposed granite, and flagstone, which lead visitors through a Texas fauna trial. Bronze life-sized sculptures depict eighteen animals indigenous to the region.

 

SIGNIFICANCE:

The project is an outstanding example of how the collaboration of design professionals, local user groups, and university staff worked together to create a site that speaks of the environment. Each year more than 27,000 parents, teachers, and students from over 40 areas schools conduct field trips to ESSA T and ODELA. This regional environmental education center offers hands-on exploration for children pre-school through eighth grade, college students, organic societies, native plant clubs, environmental advocates and many others. Through site planning and design, the project is a lesson in the accommodation of the natural and built landscapes without compromising the quality of environment.