Washington University in St. Louis
Michael Vergason Landscape Architects
Alexandria, VA
KieranTimberlake
Philadelphia, PA
Landscape Architecture
Local Support & Peer Review
Construction Administration
2020 Honor Award for Excellence in Planning
Society for College & University Planning
The East End Central Landscape Project is the largest capital investment in the recent history of the Danforth Campus of Washington University in St. Louis.
The project is a transformation of the main public face of the University from Bookings Hall, the iconic hilltop building (west), to Skinker Boulevard (east), Forest Park Parkway (north) and Forsyth Boulevard (south).
The East End Central Landscape includes two new engineering buildings, a new building for the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, a new public entrance and expansion of the Kemper Art Museum, an outdoor sculpture garden, a Welcome Center and a Multipurpose Student Hub. The project also removes all surface parking lots on the eastern portion of the campus, replacing them with a large underground parking garage and limits vehicular access to three drop-off plazas at the campus perimeter.
The substantially improved Central Green Landscape regrades the east end topography, improving circulation and accessibility, provides more open area for formal and informal gatherings, replants the campus’ signature tree allée and provides a new network of clear pedestrian and bicycle paths.
Arbolope Studio has served as the local partner for Michael Versgason Landscape Architects.