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Adding Some Green

A Mizzou landscape design class competes to dress up a corner of the Ag Building

After months of construction work on the new University Bookstore building that tore out water lines, trees, sidewalks and landscaping, the southwest corner of the University of Missouri Agriculture Building was looking more than a little bare.

Some landscape design work was obviously needed. But instead of bringing in Mizzou Campus Facilities, the opportunity was turned into a learning experience for nine juniors and seniors studying the subject. As a Capstone experience, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources' landscape design students competed to win the contract to embellish the busy corner of Hitt and Rollins.

"The students were excited about the opportunity because they could contribute to campus and create a portfolio item, said Mary Ann Gowdy, assistant teaching professor in Plant Sciences. A scholarship for the winner was funded by Tom Payne, vice chancellor and CAFNR dean, and Pete Millier, director of MU Landscape Services.

The students approached the project just as any design landscaping company wanting the contract would. They surveyed the location to get a feel for how the area is used, evaluated design characteristics of the Ag Building and nearby structures and interviewed clients to determine their likes, dislikes and expectations. They also consulted with MU Campus Facilities to understand campus requirements. Of course, they created an accompanying budget for their project.

Each student presented their designs to a three-person evaluation panel of John Glenn, a Mizzou landscape architect, Kristen Smarr, CAFNR director of communications, and Gowdy. In addition to the design itself, students were evaluated on their presentation skills, quality of materials, feasibility of design, budget and meeting client requirements.

Winning the competition was Justus Lacewell, a senior from Eminence, Mo. studying plant sciences. The design has been given to MU Landscape Services for implementation.

"The designs ranged from simple to elaborate," Gowdy said. "Most of the designs had trees and bushes and many incorporated a patio or benches. Rollins and Hitt has become a major gateway to campus and the students want the area to be aesthetically inviting and a pleasant, green place to gather."

Lacewell's design features a large terraced area that transitions the building, virtually sitting on a small hill, to street level. The terrace also gives students a place to sit. A walkway connects the street side sidewalk with Conservation Hall at the School of Natural Resources.

"I wanted a low cost and attractive solution that effectively handles the traffic flow out of Conservation Hall at peak periods of class break," Lacewell said.

"Two features that stick out on my design are the elevated wrap-around patio that connects the diagonal sidewalk from Conservation Hall and the three terraces that I feel attractively handle the harsh grade on the southern side of the building," he said.

Posted Oct. 22, 2009.
Story: Randy Mertens

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