Boston, MA – While private developments are just starting to come back with the recovering economy, academic-sector work has been blossoming at Copley Wolff Design Group, Landscape Architects and Planners (Boston, MA). Project collaboration with several local architects including Finegold Alexander + Associates (Boston, MA), Arrowstreet (Somerville, MA) and JCJ Architecture (Hartford, CT) have resulted in elementary, secondary and higher-education campus work and range from smaller perimeter enhancements to whole site plans and campus makeovers.
The University of Connecticut, Storrs campus enlisted Copley Wolff Design Group to plan and design the refurbishment of three of the prominent Storrs Campus’ courtyards as part of an overall campus Key objectives for all three spaces were the addressing of current accessibility issues, increasing and easing pedestrian circulation, the incorporation of new and existing art elements and general aesthetic.
The redesign plan for the school’s quad adjacent to the Pharmacy Building includes the incorporation of a therapeutic medicinal garden. The Benton Quad, fronting on the school’s art museum, contains a historic sundial which was highlighted in the new plan. Service access and pedestrian circulation improvements highlight the new Business School quad redesign.
Working with Arrowstreet, CWDG is designing the site for the new Kipp Academy Charter School (Lynn, MA). The school is situated above downtown Lynn adjacent to High Rock Park, a highly visible landmark within the city limits. The new academy will consist of a high school wing, middle school wing, cafeteria, gymnasium, and administrative offices. Programming for the site includes an outdoor learning amphitheater, spill out cafeteria space, and an athletic field.
The building and site features will take advantage of the views off the site toward Boston’s skyline and Nahant Bay. Green techniques such as bioswales and cisterns will be used to mitigate high runoff volumes generated due to the site’s consistently shallow bedrock. The school is scheduled for late Fall 2011.
Copley Wolff Design Group, working with Finegold Alexander + Associates, has assisted in the schematic
design for the renovation and expansion for Methuen High School (Methuen, MA). Improvements will include a new bus drop-off area with bollard lighting for enhanced safety and way finding, concrete sea walls will help define the space while allowing area for students waiting for the bus to sit, and a main
pedestrian exterior corridor constructed from concrete unit pavers, sized to match the interior lobby
flooring. Adjacent to the walk is an undulating integrally colored concrete seat wall, which encases a bed
of native perennials and shrubs along the building face. The seat wall will include lighting that will help
to illuminate the path along with ambient light from the building.
An outdoor dining terrace will be located adjacent to the interior cafeteria, overlooking the grove of new
and existing canopy trees and native understory shrubs. Keeping the environment in mind, the dining
terrace will be paved with porous concrete pavers with a high albedo finish. An outdoor display/work
space will be provided adjacent to the Art classrooms. A ten foot river rock path will informally delineate
the space while providing an area for students to show off some of their work. A concrete pad will be
added for the introduction of a kiln. A Tot Lot will be added adjacent to the existing academic wing.
Other projects in the works include two with JCJ Architecture (Hartford, CT). Norton High School (Norton, MA) will receive athletic track enhancements and site design corresponding to the new school addition. CWDG is also working on a substantial grading plan for Marblehead’s new Glover Elementary School (Marblehead, MA) as the new building will be built primarily on ledge.
