Environmental Sensitivity and Sustainability
Situated on the former Williams Air Force Base, the existing conditions consisted of acres of asphalt, extensive concrete sidewalks and expanses of river rock covered ground. These materials were re-used for new outdoor spaces and parking areas. Harvested concrete paving was transformed into campus seating elements and retaining walls throughout the project. Existing river rock was used in gabions to construct both freestanding and retaining walls to create another layer of enclosure to the courtyards.
The project increased biomass, permeability and urban wildlife for the campus. Drought tolerant native plants were woven together with judicious hardscape to create comfortable, cooler spaces throughout to encourage social interaction and human comfort. The landscape nourished by storm water also provides habitat for desert fauna that visit the site. A state of the art drip irrigation system was used to allow many of the zones to eventually be turned off completely of water.