A Proposal for Bicentennial Hall Park

This project is the culmination of Sage Taber and Morgan Raith's 2016 winter term independent study. As Joint Environmental Studies and Architecture majors they share a passion for landscape architecture and commitment to... [ view full abstract ]

This project is the culmination of Sage Taber and Morgan Raith's 2016 winter term independent study. As Joint Environmental Studies and Architecture majors they share a passion for landscape architecture and commitment to environmentally sensitive solutions. With the guidance of Middlebury College Horticulturist, Tim Parsons and Director of Arts, Pieter Broucke, we created a comprehensive design for "BiHall Park" - a native clay plain forest arboretum and integrated network of stormwater infrastructure. From the start, our design was driven by a desire to solve campus landscape planning issues identified by the Middlebury College Master Plan. Using landscape architectural design, we sought to resolve problems with stormwater runoff, haphazard pedestrian circulation and underutilized green space. We carefully selected an area of the campus which suffers simultaneously from all of these environmental predicaments. The open space outside of Bicentennial Hall, Freeman International Center and Coffrin Hall is undefined, poorly enclosed, and often made impassible due to stormwater accumulation and runoff. Though this site presents many challenges, it also holds incredible capacity for ecological benefits and reaffirmation of Middlebury’s commitment to a holistic approach to sustainability. These are our recommendations for ecological strengthening and overall aesthetic improvement of the space.