Crafting a Year-Round Landscape at Snow Farm (Spring Project)

SNOW FARM

Crafting a Year-Round Landscape

Evan Abramson & Matthew Cranney The Conway School 2018

INDEX 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

PROJECT OVERVIEW CONTEXT & HISTORY EXISTING CONDITIONS DRAINAGE CONTEXT SLOPES & DRAINAGE SOILS & WATER TABLE BUFFERS & RESTRICTIONS CIRCULATION UNIVERSAL ACCESS CHARACTER & VIEWS SOLAR POTENTIAL ENERGY USE ENERGY & UTILITIES SUMMARY ANALYSIS DESIGN ALTERNATIVE 1 DESIGN ALTERNATIVE 2

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

DESIGN ALTERNATIVE 3 FINAL DESIGN CREATING CONNECTIONS DESIGN AREAS TERRACED QUAD DINING OVERLOOK NEW DORM POND PATHWAYS OVERFLOW PARKING REDIRECTING WATER LIVING INFRASTRUCTURE PLANTING DIAGRAM PLANT PALETTE I PLANT PALETTE II MATERIALS & PRECEDENTS PHASING

While craft education has taken place on the site since 1986, Snow Farm has only owned the property since 2016. This document seeks to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by ownership, and to create a framework for managing the site and increasing program capacity to best serve the mission of Snow Farm.

4. Generate Energy On-Site

Ecological: Steward natural resources for generations to come.

Economic: Lower expenditures by harvesting renewable energy on site.

Maintenance: Reduce the time staff spends mowing and making repairs due to water damage.

6000 ft 2 dorm Three-stall maintenance shed

Site 10,000 ft 2 rooftop and freestanding solar arrays

5. Diversify Campus Aesthetics

Reduce mowed areas Craft an inviting and engaging experience for visitors

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5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

What does sustainable mean?

3. Site New Buildings

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

2. Improve Access & Circulation

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

Make site safe and accessible year-round Prevent flooding of parking lots and buildings

Clarify arrival and parking experience Create MAAB-accessible paths between buildings Site 200+ dedicated parking spots

Design Directive: Make Snow Farm a Sustainable, Accessible, Year-Round Landscape

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

1. Address Flooding & Drainage Issues

Snow Farm’s programming consists of immersive workshops ranging from one to five days in length. While attending workshops, students have the opportunity to stay at Snow Farm either in communal dorms or a private cottage. They share meals at the farm’s dining hall.

Snow Farm also runs a month-long summer residential program for high school students.

In addition to their craft education curricula, Snow Farm hosts events such as the April celebration of the Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail, and the annual Seconds Sale Fundraiser held in November. The property is also available for rentals and retreats.

Currently, Snow Farm’s programming runs from April through November with a few winter events. The major limiting factors to year-round programming include seasonal ice dams, snowmelt and flooding, all of which make the campus hazardous for both pedestrians and vehicles. There are also few buildings on site which are accessible by wheelchair. In order to provide more opportunities for craft education, Snow Farm seeks to expand its operations year-round while maintaining a campus that is safe for people of all ages and abilities. Snow Farm takes its role as a landowner seriously, and wishes to maintain the site in an ecologically responsible way.

“Snow Farm’s mission is to provide exceptional studio craft and fine art instruction for people of all ages in an inspiring residential setting. We offer an evolving, expansive community where every experience is intended to awaken and nourish the life -changing power of creativity.”

GOALS

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

Snow Farm is a non-profit, residential craft school located in Williamsburg, Massachusetts.

It is one of only nine immersive craft schools in the United States. Each year, Snow Farm runs more than 150 workshops, taught by a diverse faculty of over 100 instructors. Classes are offered in eleven different disciplines: ceramics; fiber and basketry; flameworking; fused and stained glass; glassblowing; metalsmithing and jewelry; mosaics; painting, drawing and mixed media; paper, books and printmaking; welding; and wood working.

SNOW FARM

Challenges and Opportunities

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Project Overview

During its agricultural period, the site was managed as a diverse farm, with maple sugaring, dairy production, timber management, and fruit orchards.

The physical legacy from this time includes the original farmhouse, barn, outbuildings, a mill pond and springhouse, apple trees, hayfields, and the stone-lined lane. In 1986 craft education began on site, with dorms, cottage, wood/glass shop, and dining hall added in order to support these activities.

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

The current Snow Farm site was originally part of a larger 300-acre parcel that was cleared for agriculture in the 1770s. The farm was owned by the Hyde family until 1894, when it was acquired by the Clary Family. This period of ownership is of historical note because Fanny Clary was a temperance activist and suffragette, and the first woman nominated to a statewide office in Massachusetts. The Clarys passed the farm to their daughter’s family, the Snows. After the farm passed out of the Snow family’s possession in 1956, it was subsequently subdivided to its current 50-acre size.

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

Past Land Use Informs Present-Day Patterns

CONTEXT & HISTORY

Context & History

Haystack Mountain School of Crafts

Snow Farm

Location, Location, Location Snow Farm is one of only four residential craft education programs in the northeastern United States. Just two hours from Boston and three hours from New York, it is well positioned to attract visitors from large metropolitan centers. The school preserves a rural character true to its agricultural origins, creating a tranquil environment for students to focus on their craft pursuits. Yet despite its rural setting, it is only a 20-minute drive from downtown Northampton and is linked to the larger creative community of the Connecticut River Valley and its numerous institutions of higher education. Snow Farm’s rural location makes it a car-dependent site, so parking must be accommodated.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

2 hours

Snow Farm

20 minutes

Amherst

Boston North Bennet Street School

3 hours

Peters Valley School of Craft

Northampton New York

200 miles

Map of the northeast United States showing the distance from Snow Farm to Boston and New York. Three other regional residential craft programs are featured.

5 miles Map of the northern Connecticut River Valley in Massachusetts showing the distance from Snow Farm to Northampton.

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Counterclockwise from top: This photo from 1937 shows the original farm buildings, mill pond, road and fruit orchard. Most of the buildings pictured are still in use today. Farm employee Arthur Wade gathers maple sap with oxen, date unknown. The dorms at Snow Farm were built in the mid-1980s, during the early days of craft education programs on the site. Snow Farm in 1976.

SNOW FARM

Snow Farm’s past has created a rich landscape, with pond, orchards, meadows, forests, and historic New England architecture, that is ecologically diverse and aesthetically pleasing. This master plan will help to integrate future development with the existing landscape, and manage the site’s water resources in a way that is ecologically responsible and suitable for a residential craft program.

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

The old buildings give the site its historic rural character, but the newer buildings are less consistent with this aesthetic. The original farm buildings are also sited near ecologically sensitive areas. Siting buildings there today would be challenging due to wetland regulations. The layout is consistent with the uses of a working farm, which does not always align with the needs of a residential craft program. The large hayfields are a unique habitat and require management in order to prevent forest establishment. The old dam in the mill pond is slowly failing, and as the pond drains the hydrology and plant communities of the southern portion of campus will change.

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Route 9

Trail to Woods Old Farm Road

Hills border the property and campus to the north and northwest, rising to an altitude of approximately 1380 feet. Two hayfields abut the campus to the north and east, and continue to be hayed today, as a barter with a local farmer who is soon to retire. About two-thirds of Snow Farm’s property is covered by mixed deciduous forest, with mature pines along the northern and southern edges of the cleared center of the property, and hemlocks dominating the canopy cover along the perennial stream. The main campus is predominantly open lawn, with some exotic and native specimen trees, as well as fruit trees from the days of the working farm which continue to be productive today.

Parking Hayfields

A Dorms

Streams run through the southern portion of the property, west to east, feeding into and out of an old mill pond, and eventually draining into the Mill River. There are two dams on the pond. One is a man-made dam built when the site was still a working farm, and the other is an abandoned beaver dam. Both dams are leaking. Due to the leaks, the perennial stream south of the pond splits into two branches. An undelineated wetland north of the pond hugs the western boundary of the property, and feeds into the pond via an intermittent stream.

Undelineated Wetland Studios

Dining Hall/ Ceramics Studio

Snow Farm is a 50-acre property located two miles north of the center of Williamsburg, just west of Route 9. Many of the original farm buildings remain, and have been repurposed as art studios and administrative office for the non-profit organization that runs Snow Farm. Snow Farm’s campus consists of twelve buildings clustered together in a relatively flat, central portion of the property, on a ridge about halfway up the hillside and surrounded by a circular one-way driveway.

There are abrupt changes in elevation throughout the campus, between buildings and other constructed landscape features, including a septic leach field south of the dining hall. There are no marked paths between most buildings: visitors walk on the grass, and create “desire paths.” Limited staff parking exists in the southern portion of the campus, and student parking is on the western and northern legs of the driveway. Clary Road is an unpaved private road servicing Snow Farm, and the only way into or out of the property is by vehicle. An unmarked trail leads into the forested hill that occupies the northern portion of the property, running parallel to the old farm road that is presently overgrown with invasive vegetation, including oriental bittersweet and Japanese barberry.

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Pond

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Stream to Mill River

Section B-B1

Clary Road Hyde Hill Road

Left to right: Aerial view of Snow Farm’s campus, bordered by hayfields, forest and pond; the eastern hayfield affords long views of hills to the north; a leak in the man-made dam on the old mill pond has caused the perennial stream to split into two branches.

Section A-A 1 955 ft.

Parking

Dorm

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Dorm

Cottage

Wood Shop

Dining Hall

Septic Field

Welding Barn

Driveway

Stream

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

A1

SNOW FARM

Farmhouse Office

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

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920 ft.

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

Life on the Farm Today

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

Existing Conditions

Buildings Tree Cover Wetland Perennial Stream Intermittent Stream Driveway/Parking 1 ft. Contours Septic Field Propane Tank Property Line

EXISTING CONDITIONS

Legend

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Campus Forest

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Not To Scale

Water, Water, Everywhere

Hayfield 1

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Hayfield

Intermittent stream

Water Movement 10 ft. Contours

LP

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Perennial stream to Mill River

Although a large hayfield slows runoff from the northern hillsides, there is little deep-rooted vegetation present beyond the forest edge to absorb this water or slow its path before it reaches routes and buildings. With few trees in the heart of campus and sparse vegetation, drainage patterns follow the general topography of the site, and runoff from many buildings drains onto other buildings.

Sheetflow occurs across the eastern hayfield, creating what appears to be an isolated vegetated wetland near the property line. While isolated vegetated wetlands do not trigger a protection buffer in Williamsburg, they do harbor plant and animal biodiversity, and should be protected whenever possible. It is recommended that a wetland ecologist be consulted before making any hydrological or vegetative changes to the site.

Planting deep-rooted trees and vegetation in the northern hayfield, and in parts of campus presently covered by turf grass, is an affordable,e low maintenance way to slow and infiltrate water before it reaches parking lots, pathways, and buildings. According to the non-profit organization American Forests, one large tree can capture and filter up to 36,500 gallons of water per year, and absorb 36 percent of the rainfall it comes in contact with. Native trees that uptake large quantities of water include oak, willow, poplar, silver maple, and elm.

Snow Farm’s northern parking lot floods seasonally and is inaccessible for nearly a quarter of the year (top). Buildings on Snow Farm’s campus are subject to flooding, and a few of the dorms have had their concrete pilings replaced due to water damage (bottom).

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5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Potential isolated vegetated wetland

Many areas on Snow Farm’s campus are subject to seasonal flooding, ponding, and icing. During periods of snowmelt and intense rainfall, parking areas and paths become muddy and unsafe, and it is not uncommon for cars to get stuck. Similarly, freezing and thawing periods create large contiguous ice sheets, rendering some studios and pathways inaccessible for portions of the year. This is due in large part to the sheer quantities of water draining onto Snow Farm from steep, forested hills to the north and northwest. In many cases, surface water movement, roads, and paths coincide, increasing the speed and intensity of water moving across the slope. This increases not only the erosive force of the water, but also the pollutant load it carries into streams and wetlands downslope of parking lots, driveways, and craft studios where activities such as pottery, glassblowing, and welding happen.

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

Route 9

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SNOW FARM

HP

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

900 ft.

Hayfield

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

Forest

DRAINAGE CONTEXT

Drainage Context

1125 ft.

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Parking

Farmhouse Office

Septic

Welding

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Buildings often flood, particularly in low points in the southern portion of campus. Snow Farm’s administrative offices is in the southernmost building, an original farmhouse dating to the mid-1700s, and has a basement sump pump discharging water directly onto the lawn east of the building, plainly visible to all visitors at Snow Farm.

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Ponding area with no outlet along eastern side of road by dining hall.

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Drainage may be improved by expanding the forest edge, directing water into vegetated bioretention basin, and installing culverts under paved areas that daylight into fields and forest beyond the edges of the campus core.

LP Drainage Problem Area

On the west side of campus, driveway, parking areas, studios, and dorms drain into the pond and streams, carrying a pollutant load into sensitive wetland ecosystems, as little vegetation besides turf grass exists to slow or stop this runoff. Increasing tree canopy and other deep-rooted vegetation, is one strategy to slow, store, and filter this runoff before it enters water bodies.

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Section B-B1

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Driveway drains directly into pond.

Sect ion B-B 1 955 ft.

920 ft.

Parking

Dorm

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Dorm

Cottage

Wood Shop

Dining Hall

Septic Field

Welding Barn

Driveway

Stream

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Dining Hall

1

Dorm L Drains to woodshop.

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

Many slopes on Snow Farm’s campus exceed 10% in many areas, and while most buildings are sited on relatively flat areas, these areas tend to drop steeply just past the foundation. As previously mentioned, many buildings produce runoff that drains onto other buildings. A septic leach field south of the dining hall drains onto the dining hall lower level patio and ceramics kiln shed, as well as the welding barn, with slopes along its sides exceeding 15%. A hayfield to the east slopes away at 5 to 15%, carrying sheet flows off campus to the southeast. This presents an opportunity to work with the natural contours of the property to move water away from buildings and vehicle transit areas toward the east.

However, water moving across campus from west to east collects and pools along the upslope side of the eastern driveway, as there is no outlet for the water. Thus, in late winter and early spring, the driveway often ices over, creating danger for both pedestrians and vehicles.

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

Microtopography, Major Impact

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

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Parking

SNOW FARM

B

SLOPES & DRAINAGE

Slopes & Drainage

HP

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During periods of snowmelt and heavy rainfall, the water table on Snow Farm is approximately 45 cm (30 inches) below grade.

As temperatures warm mid-spring, the water table falls, and water eventually moves downslope southeast across the site. This seasonal high water table contributes significantly to drainage problems on campus. Because the water has nowhere to go, it sits, ponding and freezing, until temperatures rise.

The Woodbridge fine sandy loam on Snow Farm’s campus is over 30% silt. As a silty-sandy soil type with a large surface area, it physically filters pollutants and can support diverse microbiological communities to degrade these pollutants.

Therefore, the soil on Snow Farm’s campus is well suited to process runoff on site with the installation of bioretention systems. Conversely, a lack of water catchment and infiltration areas will contribute to erosion, and thereby carry a higher pollutant load into sensitive wetlands downslope of the campus.

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Designing new structures without basements may be one way to respond to a high water table. All landscaping should also be designed to drain surface water away from buildings. This presents an opportunity for rain gardens in and around both new and existing buildings. Roads and paths should be constructed on well compacted, coarse-textured base material, to help protect them from damage by frost action.

20A Horizon

A Horizon

40-

60-

Summer/Dry Months

Soil Profile

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

40B Horizon

100-

60-

Snowmelt/Rainy Season

80-

Soil Profile Parent Material

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

Woodbridge fine sandy loam

According to the USGS Web Soil Survey, Woodbridge fine sandy loam is highly productive and easily managed for woodland use.

By increasing the tree canopy cover north of campus, a seasonally high water table may be lowered. During later winter/early spring, when the ground has thawed within a few inches of the surface but remains frozen farther down, infiltration of new rainfall or snowmelt is limited. Because vegetation is still dormant during this critical time of the year, flooding and drainage problems at Snow Farm must also be dealt with by grading and appropriate drainage structures as mentioned on the preceding page.

Flooding damage to paths, parking areas and buildings may be minimized during annual times of peak rainfall and snowmelt by creating areas for water to be safely held until it is warm enough to move off-site.

B Horizon

80-

100-

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120-

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Depth (cm)

Depth (cm)

Parent Material

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

0-25 cm 25-50 cm 50-100 cm >200 cm

Soil on Snow Farm is predominantly fine sandy loam. The northernmost 18 acres of woodlands are Charlton-Hollis complex and exposed bedrock on steep hills and ridges. Charlton-Hollis is a black fine sandy loam with stones and boulders 10” – 10’ in diameter covering approximately 15% of the surface. The cleared area of Snow Farm’s campus is all Woodbridge fine sandy loam, a very deep, acidic, moderately well-drained soil with a seasonal high water table and a stony surface layer.

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

Depth to Water Table

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

The Dirt on Soils

SOILS & WATER TABLE

Soils & Water Table

SNOW FARM

Charlton-Hollis complex

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Tree Cover

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10 ft. Contours

Dumpsters and parking in wellhead zone 1.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Tank farm in wetland buffer.

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

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5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

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A 100-foot wetland buffer and a 200-foot perennial stream buffer extend across large portions of the campus, overlapping with parking areas, studios, and the propane tank farm where three large propane tanks are stored above ground and filled weekly by delivery. These buffers have regulatory implications and aim to protect wetland quality. Wetlands perform crucial ecological functions, including water purification, flood storage, and groundwater recharge. They also provide key habitat for many endangered plant and animal species. The Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (WPA) prohibits activities within the regulatory buffer (within 100 feet of a wetland or 200 feet of a perennial stream) which may disturb or endanger sensitive wetland ecosystems, including earth moving, filling, dredging, or tree and debris removal without a permit from the local Conservation Commission. Any aspects of this design that include modification within the buffer zones will require a submission and review process by the Williamsburg Conservation Commission. Enhancing wetlands by planting native wetland species within a buffer zone is usually encouraged, and may help with the permitting process. Establishing a buffer of wetland plants between the pond and the driveway, for example, can help prevent runoff contaminants from entering the pond, and, subsequently, the perennial stream. Wetland and stream buffers will also guide the siting of new buildings, roads and paths.

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

MassDEP recommends that hazardous materials such as paint, chemicals, gasoline, and fertilizers should never be poured down drains in or near a Zone 1. Parking areas should not be established within a Zone 1, and concrete pads under storage areas should slope away from wells. While Snow Farm’s septic leach fields are just outside of their Zone 1s, many of their parking areas are not. There are also several art studios within Zone 1s, where the storage of paint and other chemicals likely occurs, and may leak or be accidentally poured down drains. There are workshops for vehicle maintenance, as well as vehicle storage areas in Zone 1s, where gasoline and other hazardous materials may also leak and infiltrate groundwater systems. In order to protect drinking water at Snow Farm and comply with MassDEP regulations, relocating parking areas outside of wellhead Zone 1s may be necessary. Chemical and hazardous materials storage in studios and workshops may need to be relocated, and disposed of off-site. It is recommended that signs be posted by sinks and drains in art studios and workshops, informing visitors that no paints, glazes, chemicals or solvents should be poured down sinks or disposed of on campus.

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

There are three wells on Snow Farm’s campus, providing drinking water to staff and visitors. According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), as a craft school, Snow Farm is considered a small public water system, and as such, a 100- to 400-foot “Zone 1” protective radius surrounds each of their wellheads. Areas within these radii must be safeguarded by Snow Farm using conservation restrictions in order to protect drinking water quality. The extent of the protective radius depends upon the yield of the well: in 2011, the engineers designing Snow Farm’s septic disposal system allocated a 123-foot buffer to each of the three wellheads.

BUFFERS & RESTRICTIONS

Conserving Resources and Working with Constraints

SNOW FARM

Buffers & Restrictions

Once visitors park and exit their cars, there are no paths to guide them to their destination. Most students register for classes at the dining hall, yet neither the primary parking along the western side of the loop nor the northern lot have paths or signs to guide guests. Many pedestrians use the driveway, which increases conflicts with vehicles. The entrances to the dorms near the north lot are facing away from the lot, creating a formless and unwelcoming arrival experience.

Legend

3

Parking Areas

Loading Areas 5

Pedestrian Circulation Vehicular Circulation

10 ft. Contours

With the exception of the woodshop, all of the studios are located on the southern part of campus, while the dorms are located in the northern part. The dining hall serves as the nexus connecting these two zones, and the lawn on the septic field and the patio to the north of the dining hall are the main social congregation areas. Walking from the workshops to the dining hall requires walking up the driveway or crossing the septic field. Walking from the dining hall to the dorms involves crossing a formless lawn. These main pedestrian routes across campus lack form, and there are many opportunities to create defined travel routes and congregation areas.

Left to right: Both sets of stairs along the dining hall are tripping hazards, and particularly unsafe during winter months. Paths on campus lack defined surfaces, and are subject to freezing. Desire paths, such as this one along the west side of the dining hall, contribute to erosion and quickly become muddy during wet months. View from the northern parking area: no clear paths or signs to guide visitors. Upon arrival, new guests reach a sign that tells them they are going the wrong way.

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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

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5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

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CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

Farmhouse Office

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The unpaved paths in the center of campus are desire paths formed by habitual foot traffic. These desire paths coincide with natural drainage patterns, as they are the most direct way to move down the slope. Heavy traffic in these areas exacerbates erosion by killing vegetation and compacting the soil. Soil compaction impedes water infiltration, and less vegetation increases water velocity. Therefore, more water traveling at faster speeds increases the rate of erosion. This combined process creates gullies which funnel water in larger volumes and at faster rates, amplifying the drainage problems across the site in a compounding manner. A lack of reliable surfacing and varying slopes makes it more difficult for people with mobility challenges to navigate campus. In addition, the stairs that exist along both sides of the dining hall are unsafe and inaccessible during winter months.

SNOW FARM

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The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

Vehicular circulation on Snow Farm follows a clockwise loop around the campus. For new guests, turning left around the farmhouse at the entrance can be disorienting, with many initially driving straight up the driveway in the wrong direction. Vehicle traffic also includes the delivery of supplies to workshops and the dining hall, weekly dumpster pickups, and the weekly delivery of propane to the tank farm. While all of these uses need to be maintained, the current vehicular circulation system can be improved to better orient guests and students and to improve their arrival experience, making wayfinding easier for parking and registration.

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

Clarifying Arrival and Improving Flows

CIRCULATION

Circulation

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MAAB Walkway Criteria: • 48” width • Less than 5% slope • Cross slope may not exceed 2% • Stable and firm surface • Design minimizes pooling and flow across walkways • Grating spaces are no larger than ½” in the direction of the flow of travel

E Woodshop

L

Cottage 1

Dining Hall/ Ceramics Studio

Septic

Legend

Slope > 8.3%

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Slope 5 - 8.3% Slope < 5%

Parking Areas

Yellow line is propane Blue line is septic

Yellow line is propane Blue line is septic

Vehicle Traffic Pedestrian Paths Steep Band of Slope

MAAB Ramp Criteria: • Any accessible route with a slope greater than 5% is considered a ramp • Ramps must be 48” wide between handrails • Handrails shall be provided on both sides of a ramp with round grips at two heights: one between 18”-20” and the other between 34”-38” • Ramps and landings with drop-offs must have edge protection (curbs, walls, railings, or bumpers) and curbs must be 2” tall • For a length greater than 30’ or for any turn of direction there must be a landing that is at least 60” long • Turning landings must be 60” x 60” Four bands of slope across the campus core exceed 5% and are impediments to access. They are the slope along the base of the septic field, the slope along the sides of the dining hall, the slope separating the woodshop and cottage from L and E dorms, and the slope separating L and E dorm from I and F dorms. The only routes that meet MAAB criteria are most sections of the driveway, and none of the building entrances are MAAB-compliant. Visitors with mobility challenges are forced to share the road with vehicles, and are directed away from the core of campus.

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Existing ramp access to dining hall, which is not MAAB compliant.

all Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

ield Septic Field

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Existing ramp access to Dorm F, which is not MAAB compliant.

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Existing ramp access to drawing studio, which is not MAAB compliant.

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

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CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

Dorms

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SNOW FARM

F

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

In keeping with Snow Farm’s mission of creating an inclusive community, all buildings should be accessible to people of diverse physical abilities. Many in the Snow Farm community are seniors, and are facing increased mobility challenges. A human-centered design approach takes into account the range of human abilities, and will improve all people’s experience on site. Some criteria that can be used when assessing the accessibility of a path or building are those set forth by the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (MAAB). The MAAB criteria are based on the ADA criteria, but in some cases exceed them. These criteria for walkways and ramps have the additional benefit of reducing the risk of erosion on site.

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

A Campus for Everybody

UNIVERSAL ACCESS

Universal Access

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If you choose straight, you will soon encounter a pair of signs declaring One Way: Do Not Enter/Kitchen Delivery Only. You are supposed to go left, passing the parked vehicles, and continuing between the back of the farmhouse and a series of old farm buildings (studios). You continue turning, passing machinery and equipment and a small building with a sign that says ‘gallery,’ and begin to go slightly uphill. You pass a pile of scrap metal outside a barn on your right, a vegetated pond on your left, and view three large propane tanks in the distance. After reaching the parking area, you step out of your car in front of the propane tanks, and have no idea where to go. There are no signs, information kiosks or paths. Oftentimes, instructors will wait at the base of Snow Farm’s campus for this reason. Otherwise, new students would likely get lost.

At times confusing, and always beautiful, Snow Farm is a place where many welcoming and aesthetically pleasing outdoor spaces exist, but few are readily apparent to the first-time visitor. Obscured entryways to buildings as well as the outdoor storage of materials and equipment contribute to a general impression of disorder. As there are few, if any, clear delineations between work spaces, social spaces, and resting places, privacy can be difficult to find on campus. Beyond the dining hall patio, there are few benches or chairs for outdoor seating, although there are many areas which would be lovely to sit in.

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Views at Snow Farm: 1: Looking north from the dining hall toward the dorms and quad. 2: Hills extend into the distance behind the old mill pond. 3: A path to the drawing studio leads across the base of the septic leach field. 4: Scrap metal and an outdoor studio greet visitors as they pass the welding barn looking for parking. 5: Upon arrival at Snow Farm, the driveway splits, and it is unclear where to go.

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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

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5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

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SNOW FARM

The many beautiful and welcoming spaces on Snow Farm’s campus could be configured to draw the eye to both near and distant views. Through a combination of vegetation, constructed paths, and a reconfiguring of the circulation patterns on campus, the charming qualities of Snow Farm’s historic landscape and its dramatic setting can be better appreciated, moving students toward further inspiration in their craft.

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CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

Pedestrian access is constrained to and from many buildings, due to a combination of abrupt changes in topography, a lack of clear pathways, and a lack of wheelchair-accessible landings. This, in combination with a lack of delineation between zones of use, may dissuade physically limited individuals from visiting or taking classes.

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The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

For a first-time visitor, the experience of arriving at Snow Farm can be both confusing and invigorating. As you enter the property, a shady, wooded glen surrounds you, guiding your vehicle gently downhill along an old dirt road. If your windows are open, you will hear the rush of water as you pass over a deep stream bed. A red brick and wood farmhouse is the first building you see, followed by a series of signs and a two-way convex mirror on a tree, with signs pointing left. As you go left around the farmhouse, a vista opens across a gently sloping hayfield with forested hills in the distance. Here the driveway suddenly splits: there is a tree and some bushes in the middle, with cars parked behind them. Now you can go straight, or you can go left.

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

Inviting, Tranquil, Constrained, Unkempt & Confusing

CHARACTER & VIEWS

Character & Views

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Dining Hall

Future Harvest Because Snow Farm's fields, cleared for agriculture, remain largely free of tall trees and because the land slopes to the south, the site is very sunny.

Snow Farm has great potential for on-site solar electric generation; passive solar design is also an opportunity for any future buildings. And while this insolation is a boon to energy production, these large unshaded expanses can be uncomfortable for visitors in the hot summer months. Trees and shade structures can be installed to provide areas of comfort for outdoor work and social activity.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

When siting solar panels, consideration must be made for orientation, angle, and hours of sunlight. A southern exposure will provide the most hours of sun and the best angle of light for the higher efficiencies of conversion. Six hours of direct sunlight year-round is the standard criteria for the siting of solar arrays. The shade patterns of the winter solstice reveal the areas that receive the necessary six hours minimum throughout the year. Fifteen acres of the site receive an average of eleven or more hours of sunlight in the summer, and approximately ten acres receive six or more hours of sunlight in the winter. The northern and eastern hayfields and the south-facing roof of the dining hall get the most consistent yearround sun, and are therefore the best suited for solar arrays.

East Hayfield

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

North Hayfield

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

East Hayfield

Dining Hall

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Dining Hall

North Hayfield

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

East Hayfield

SNOW FARM

North Hayfield

SOLAR POTENTIAL

Solar Potential

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Flameworking Studio Farmhouse-Textile Farmhouse-Office Metals Studio

PercentPercent of ofElectricity Use Electricity Use 2% 5%

2%

12%

22%

2%

15% 5% 35%

Sustainable Generation

Average KWH Consumption 2010-2012 14000

Electric Electricity

12000

KWH

10000 8000 6000

Propane

4000 2000

Propane

0

Month Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Snow Farmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy system is a major overhead cost, and the maintenance of the system is critical to core functions of the campus. The two major strategies for improving the sustainability of the system are investing in efficiency, and investing in on-site generation. Efficiency can be improved through the weatherization of buildings and the gradual upgrading to more efficient equipment.

Peak electricity demands could be met by a 10,000 ft2 of solar photovoltaic array. An additional 250,000 ft2 of solar panel would be required to offset the BTUs expended burning propane. On-site generation of power requires greater upfront investment of capital, but will reduce overhead costs. On-site systems require increased maintenance responsibility for the owner-operator. Given the solar exposure of the site, photovoltaic cells are one of the best ways to generate on-site power, but future investigation into biogas generation using composting toilets could be a way to offset some of the propane uses on campus. Reducing the number of deliveries of propane is another way of reducing the carbon footprint of the energy consumed on site and reduces wear and tear on the roads. On-site generation of power is one of the best ways that Snow Farm can mitigate climate change, but it can also look at purchasing its grid-tied energy from renewable sources. While biogas options are currently limited on the market, there is the potential for biofuels to replace fossil fuels as a source of propane, which would allow Snow Farm to continue to use its existing energy infrastructure, while closing the carbon cycle.

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

Drawing Studio

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Snow Farm depends on electricity and propane to power the equipment necessary for making crafts, in addition to keeping the lights on, preparing food, and controlling the indoor climate. Kilns, welders, torches, refrigeration, and space heating are all energy-intensive devices. There are nine different electrical meters on campus: the drawing studio, welding shop, flameworking shop, metal shop, wood shop, dining hall, one for the cottage and dorms, and two meters attached to the farmhouse, one for the office and one for the textile equipment. On average, Snow Farm uses 93,927 kWh of electricity annually. July is the time of peak use averaging 12,116 kWh. This corresponds with the Teenage Summer Residency program. The dining hall is the largest draw of electricity due to the use of kitchen equipment and kilns in the first story studio. Gradually upgrading for more efficient appliances is one strategy to reduce the electrical load for the dining hall. The cottage and dorms are the next largest consumers of energy. These structures are uninsulated and in the colder months, space heaters are used to heat the living quarters. In preparation for more cold weather programming, the creation of an insulated dorm is one of the best strategies to reduce electricity use.

Only a small portion of the energy used at Snow Farm is electricity. Most of the energy used on campus comes from propane. In 2017, Snow Farm consumed 13,850 gallons of propane. This is the equivalent to 3,707,238 kWh. That means 98% of the energy consumed on campus comes from propane. There are five different propane accounts on campus: the cottage, the flameworking shop, the metal shop, the dining hall, and a large tank farm that services the dorms, woodshop, outdoor kiln, and welding shop. Propane is less expensive per kWh compared to electricity purchased from the grid but may have a larger carbon footprint, depending on how the electricity is produced. Snow Farm receives weekly deliveries of propane during its operational season, and the tank farm is a new infrastructure investment with a large underground footprint.

Welding Barn

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

Woodshop

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

How Energy is Used

Dining Hall

ENERGY USE

Dorms

SNOW FARM

Energy Use

Legend

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Electric Overhead Septic Line

Propane Line

Propane Tank Well Utility pole

Dorms

E

The propane system includes four free standing tanks, and one large tank farm. Separate tanks serve the metals studio, flame shop, cottage, and dining hall. The tank farm is connected by buried lines to the welding barn, wood shop, outdoor ceramics kiln, and each of the dorms.

Propane tanks and buried lines are a potential pollution source.

Cottage

L

The electricity system includes above ground and underground wiring. Four utility poles are in the eastern hayfield. Overhead lines detract from the views of the hayfield, and where near trees, are at greater risk of storm damage. Underground conduits connect the dining hall to the wood shop and the septic pump system. An underground conduit connects the cottage to all of the dorms. The exact location of this underground conduit is unknown.

Woodshop Dining Hall/ Ceramics Studio

Yellow line is propane Blue line is septic

Metals Studio

Percentage of of Propane Percentage PropaneUse Use

Septic Leach Field Farmhouse Office

Tank Farm Cottage Flameworking Metalsmithing Dining Hall

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

New Tank Farm

Cottage

Flame Working

Metal Smithing

Dining Hall

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Welding Barn

Flameworking

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

Septic Leach Field

Buried septic, propane, water, and electric lines are potential hazards when changing grade. The records of the locations of these lines are imprecise, outdated or non-existent, so construction should proceed with caution in areas close to buried lines.

SNOW FARM

Ceramics Kiln Shed

Yellow line is propane Blue line is septic

Utility systems on Snow Farm include water, septic, electric, and propane. The water system includes three wellheads and buried water lines. The southern well serves the farmhouse, metals studio, flameworking shop, and welding barn. The central well serves the dining hall, woodshop, cottage, and L and E dorms. The northern well serves I and F dorms. As previously mentioned, each of these wells has a protective buffer zone of 123 feet that restricts the siting of parking spaces and other potential sources of groundwater contaminants.

The septic system includes tanks and two leach fields. The larger systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leach field is located between the dining hall and the welding barn. This field serves the dorms, cottage and dining hall. The second septic field is east of the farmhouse and serves the farmhouse and flame shop.

Immediately south of the current leach field, an abandoned former leach field is the cause of the plateau and accompanying steep banks in that area.

F

I

Underground and Overhead

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

Electric Line

Energy & Utilities

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

Water Line

ENERGY & UTILITIES

Legend

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Unintuitive circulation patterns contribute to a confusing arrival experience.

Circulation flows can be improved, for both vehicles and pedestrians, by delineating paths and gathering spaces, working with the natural contours of the property, and creating wayfinding through the use of vegetation.

Abrupt changes in topography create ponding and erosion along the driveway and paths, in parking areas, and at the base of several buildings.

Water can be captured, stored, and redirected away from buildings, roads, and paths. Water that reaches the campus core can be managed effectively outside of activity and circulation spaces through regrading and increased vegetation. Regrading can also simultaneously improve pedestrian access.

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

Regrading water away from high use areas can reduce flooding and drainage issues, while increasing tree cover and other vegetation will increase absorption of water.

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

Challenges to year-round use include steep slopes and an abundance of water.

SUMMARY ANALYSIS

Summary Analysis

Wetland and perennial stream buffers, wellhead protection zones, and steep slopes restrict where buildings and parking areas can be sited.

Areas east of the driveway and north of the existing parking lot are outside of wetland buffers, either downslope or outside of wellhead protection areas, and not in overly steep areas, but remain close to existing structures. These areas may be suitable locations for the future siting of buildings and parking.

Enormous solar capacity exists.

Legend Slopes >15% Drainage Circulation Conflict Maximum Solar Exposure Wetland/Stream Buffer Wellhead Protection Zone Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Vegetation, paths, and walls can be used to guide the eye, enhance the experience of outdoor areas, and delineate space. New buildings should be sited close to existing buildings to enhance connectivity and minimize impact on undeveloped areas.

SNOW FARM

Without a defined campus core, the site lacks harmony between zones of use.

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

There is a high potential for Snow Farm to generate their own electricity. The sunny areas of the eastern hayfield are not constrained by slopes or legal restrictions, and may be suitable for the siting of solar panels.

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Advantages

Registration parking

MAAB paths cross dry stream Path

Bioretention basin

• • • • • • • •

New dorm

Outdoor classroom with solar array

Disadvantages • • • •

Parking is far from registration at the dining hall Parking along driveway on steep slope: grading will be required Materials required for large northern parking lot may be expensive Solar array may detract from existing views of the meadow

Freestanding solar array

Welding shed

Driveway redirected N-S

The dining hall with outdoor classroom and solar array is seen in distance from the perspective of the walking path winding through the bioretention basin at the base of the septic mound.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

Water moves through campus as a landscape feature, rather than as a flooding nuisance The new dorm is sited close to the dining hall MAAB-compliant paths connect dorms in the campus Solar energy is captured in the meadow, on the dining hall and the woodshop Increased tree cover provides shady refuge, lowers water table Paths and sitting areas connect wetlands, engineered water features and forested hillside to campus Wetlands are protected by forested buffer and driveway removal Circulation and arrival experience are more clear

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Bioretention swales in parking lot

Drainage swale

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

Maintenance shed

Walking on Water celebrates the abundance of water on site. Water from uphill is funneled into a pair of vegetated bioretention swales running through the northern parking lot. These vegetated swales feed into a dry stream bed that runs through the campus, collecting runoff from the dorms, meandering southwest and eventually overflowing into the pond. A system of boardwalks crosses over the dry stream, providing accessible connections to the existing dorms. A new dorm is sited to the east of the dining hall parallel to the contours of the site, outside of the wetland buffers. To the southeast of the new dorm is a large freestanding 10,000 ft2 solar array, highlighting Snow Farm’s commitment to ecological stewardship.

A bioretention basin is located to the west of the septic mound, collecting runoff and preventing the flooding of the welding shop. A path system connects reforested wetland areas to the upslope portions of the property, coaxing students to explore all that Snow Farm has to offer. Vehicular circulation follows a north-south orientation, with two spur roads allowing access to the welding barn and the woodshop.

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

Three design alternatives explore different ways in which the clients’ goals might be addressed.

DESIGN ALTERNATIVE 1

Design Alternative 1

Trail to forest

SNOW FARM

WALKING ON WATER

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• • • • • • • • •

Path

Path

Disadvantages New dorm with terrace and solar array

• • • • • •

Parking areas in the wellhead protection zone The driveway is still close to the wetland Parking area along the driveway is on a steep slope; extensive grading would be required The stairs along the terraces are not MAAB-compliant The solar parking array may not be congruent with the site’s aesthetic A portion of the septic field south of dining hall is converted to meadow; this may limit its recreational use

Registration kiosk Reinforced turf staff-only portion of loop Welding shed

Driveway redirected N-S

A new dorm with rooftop solar array, deck and fire pit greets visitors upon arrival.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Bioretention basin with path

Social spaces are created along stone terraces, the pond shoreline and at a firepit Registration is relocated to a kiosk near the campus entry Drainage problems are addressed by capturing water at its source and directing it off campus safely The new dorm is sited close to the dining hall Solar energy is captured on parking area and the new dorm Increased tree cover provides shady refuge, and may lower the water table Paths connect the wetlands, engineered water features and forested mountain to campus The wetlands are protected by a forested buffer The arrival experience is clarified by two-way north-south pattern and removing the cross-traffic left turn

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

Maintenance shed

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

Advantages

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

Dry Stream

Bioretention swales in parking lot

Terraces

Solar parking

SNOW FARM

Trail to forest

Stone Sanctuary takes the challenges created by the slopes of the site and turns them into assets. Surface flow coming from the north is intercepted and diverted to the eastern hayfield along a vegetated stream bed.

A large northern parking lot provides overflow parking, with bioretention swales improving water quality before diverting the flow east, away from the wetland and structures of campus. Simple stone terraces inspired by the site’s existing stone walls create intimate gathering spaces for each dorm, and manage runoff between buildings. A large parking lot running along the eastern portion of the driveway provides primary parking that is closer to the dining hall and a new dorm. This parking lot and the new dorm create opportunities for the installation of photovoltaic arrays. The siting of the new dorm takes advantage of the hayfield’s slope to create a walkout gathering space with a firepit. This gathering space is connected by a path to the dry stream bed, drawing guests out into the landscape. The existing circular road footprint is maintained, but traffic bears to the right upon entrance, with the western section of the loop converted to reinforced turf and used only by staff and service vehicles.

DESIGN ALTERNATIVE 2

Design Alternative 2

STONE SANCTUARY

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Solar array Dry stream New parking

Advantages • • • • • • •

Terraces and paths create a campus heart between dorms and the dining hall Drainage problems are addressed by capturing water and directing it off campus safely Two new dorms are sited close to the dining hall and other dorms MAAB-compliant paths connect the dorms to campus Solar energy is captured in the meadow north of the parking lot Increased tree cover provides shady refuge and may lower the water table Circulation and arrival experience are clarified by two way north-south pattern and removal of crosstraffic left turn • Wetland protected by removing driveway on west side of campus

New dorm

New dorm

New parking and maintenance shed

• Parking may be the first view upon arrival • The parking lot is downhill from much of campus • MAAB-compliant paths take an indirect route between dorms; people may form desire paths by making shorter connections • The septic field south of the dining hall is planted with meadow grass, and is no longer accessible for recreational use

Driveway redirected N-S

MAAB-compliant paths connect dorms at the top of campus, creating a new center.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Welding shed

Disadvantages

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

Bioretention basin

SNOW FARM

MAAB paths

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

Allée

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

Heart Above creates a residential heart of campus by connecting dorms to an expanded outdoor seating area north of the dining hall via accessible paths. One new dorm is situated to the northeast of F dorm, expanding the quad. The orientation of the dorm is optimized for solar exposure. A 10,000 ft2 solar array is located north of the northern parking lot in an accessible area with full sun exposure. An additional parking lot sits on contour on a reforested slope east of the septic field close to workshops on the southern part of campus. A second new dorm is located uphill from this parking lot, featuring a patio with views of the meadow to the northeast crossed by a vegetated dry stream with check dams that moves water away from the campus. The roadbed to the east of the pond has been removed, reconnecting the existing depression to the pond’s drainage basin, and alleviating the drainage and contaminant issues around the welding shed. Vehicular circulation follows the north-south orientation of the country lane, with an access road coming off the northern parking lot to allow for material deliveries to the wood shop and the propane tank farm.

DESIGN ALTERNATIVE 3

Design Alternative 3

HEART ABOVE

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Throughout the site, water is diverted away from built areas and potential sources of contaminants. Wherever water is diverted, it is slowed and filtered by vegetation, and allowed to infiltrate. Tree cover has been increased on the site, particularly along the wetland to the west, and the slope to the north. Trees are large evapotransporative pumps, and increase the site's capacity to hold water after precipitation and melt events.

E G F

Vehicular circulation has been addressed by breaking the existing loop into a two way north-south road with access spurs for staff and deliveries. Parking capacity has been increased with the addition of two lots.

H

A new dorm and maintenance shed are sited with care towards preserving views, minimizing site disturbance, and enhancing the new circulation flow along a two-way drive running along the east of the campus.

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

Trail to Forest

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

This design celebrates the many ecological and cultural assets of Snow Farm, by creating an outdoor environment that is as diverse as its students and guests. By harnessing the site’s abundance of water, its historic agricultural legacy, and its unique topography, new spaces for work, socializing, and contemplation are created. Trails and paths wind through the campus core, connecting visitors to meadows, forest, and vegetated water features. By combining features that worked best from the preceding alternatives, this final design addresses all of Snow Farm’s goals for the project.

FINAL DESIGN

Final Design

A 10,000 ft2 free-standing solar array and a rooftop array make Snow Farm net-positive electricity producers, offsetting some of the energy consumed by the propane system.

J

K L

Wet Meadow

M N A O

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Contour Intervals = 10’

B

A new 6000 ft2 dorm with an east facing deck, firepit and trail leading to dry stream

C

The new 30-spot primary parking area is located close to dining hall, new dorm, and registration, with an MAAB-accessible bridge leading to the new dorm

D

A dry rocky stream bed moves water off campus from the top of the hill

E

A 10,000 ft2 free-standing photovoltaic array with vehicle access from the top of the driveway

F

The new maintenance shed and dumpster area

G

A reinforced turf parking lot accommodates over 170 vehicles and features six bioretention swales on contour

H

An expanded forest edge slows and filters surface runoff and enhances the nearby wetland

I

Stone terraces in the quad with MAAB-compliant paths connect dorms to dining hall and parking

J

The dining hall features a 1,000 ft2 rooftop solar array

K

A new terrace on the west side of the dining hall connects to an expanded outdoor patio on the north side of the building, with views of a dwarf fruit tree orchard below and the mill pond beyond

L

An MAAB-compliant path provides universal access to the pond

M

A bioretention basin at the base of the septic leach field filters runoff from campus and redirects overflow away from the welding shed

N

A forest path winds along the west side of the pond, connecting back to campus through a forested wetland at the north, and a bioretention basin at the south

O

Reinforced turf driveways to the west of the entrance and the north parking lot prevent vehicles from entering the western portion of campus, while still providing access for deliveries

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

B

Improved arrival experience with two-way traffic redirected north-south

SNOW FARM

C

I

A

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

D

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Existing hillside and meadow views are preserved, and the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic agricultural aesthetic is enhanced, through the reuse of stone walls and the planting of new fruit trees. Reforested wetland edges and bioretention cells take what is presently lawn and create a more dynamic and diverse ecology, addressing flooding problems while also reducing the amount of mowing required.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

CREATING CONNECTIONS

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018 5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Paths wind through the heart of campus, bisecting stone terraces to connect residential dorms with the dining hall and studios downslope. Towards the west, trails connect to the wetlands and woodlands beyond. Aesthetics and wayfinding are improved through the use of meadows, wildflower edges, and rain gardens, which assist with rainwater catchment in and around buildings. A pair of stone terraces running along contour carve out private areas close to dorms, while also assisting with surface runoff.

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

A Sense of Place

SNOW FARM

Creating Connections

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page 21 2

DINING OVERLOOK page 22

3

NEW DORM

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

TERRACED QUAD

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

1

DESIGN AREAS

Design Areas

page 23 4

POND PATHWAYS page 24

OVERFLOW PARKING

SNOW FARM Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

page 25

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

5

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B

Expanded Patio

The dining hall patio is expanded north, east and west, to include the area that is currently a loading zone used as parking. Surface is permeable.

A D

C

C

MAAB-Compliant Path

D

Swales and Rain Garden

E B

Paths connecting the patio to dorms, woodshop and dining hall are four feet wide, with a slope of five percent or less.

Each dorm has an upslope swale to divert rainwater around the building, and a rain garden to collect roof runoff.

Vegetated Swale

The swale collects runoff shedding east from the dorms and west from the road.

25 ft

Defining a Central Space A series of three stone terraces define the area between dorms as the residential core of campus. Paths winding between stone walls provide MAAB-access to the cottage and dorms. In addition to bringing definition to the quad, these terraces help to slow and infiltrate water as it flows across the site. Swales and rain gardens to the north of each dorm and the woodshop reduce the risk of flooding around buildings. Large shade trees are dispersed across the terraces, creating a savannah effect, with sunny patches for lounging, as well as shade covered benches to provide refuge from the summer heat. These large trees slow the rate it takes for rainfall to reach the ground, and serve as evapotranspirative pumps after rain events, helping to reduce ponding issues in this high traffic area. The dorms are connected by an accessible path that arcs across the slope at a 5% grade. The existing patio area outside the dining hall is expanded, creating a large gathering area to accommodate the crowds that come for Snow Farmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s community events.

SNOW FARM

Section C-C 1

Dwarf Fruit Tree Grove

Path

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Woodshop

Quad

Terrace

L Dorm

Terrace

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Stone terraces with paths running through them, as seen from the expanded patio north of the dining hall.

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

C

0

1

Terraced Quad

Two-and-a-half foot high stone retaining walls terrace the landscape, creating yards for each dorm with an accompanying sitting area.

Reclaimed stone farm walls and stones found on site can be used.

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

Stone Terraces

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

E

A

TERRACED QUAD

C

I Dorm

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Dining Hall Terrace

B

Outdoor Work Space

E

C

At the base of the dining hall terrace, an outdoor work space with benches is created to the north of the kiln shed. A low stone retaining wall replaces the existing slope of the leach field, claiming more space for vehicle access to the lower level of the dining hall, and for work around the kiln.

B C 0

Eighteen dwarf fruit trees are planted on a south-facing slope, maintaining views from the terrace to the pond below.

25 ft

D1

D

MAAB-Accessible Path

E

Rooftop PV Array

Expanded Outdoor Spaces for Work and Rest The area west of the dining hall is reconfigured to create more outdoor space for dining and socializing. The existing deck is replaced with a stone terrace shaded by a pergola and supported with a stone retaining wall on the south side. This expands the usable footprint of the adjacent patio on the north side of the dining hall, and addresses drainage problems which presently occur at the base of the ceramics kiln shed. The terrace provides a vantage to see the mill pond to the west, as well as work occurring below in the kilns. At the base of the retaining wall, an outdoor work space with benches is carved out for people in the ceramics studio below. Stairs connect the terrace to the kiln shed. Expanding to the west of the terrace is a grove of dwarf fruit trees with a berry understory. These trees provide forage, blooms, and are an homage to the site’s history as an orchard. They also stabilize the sloped area, addressing existing erosion issues. Gracefully curving from the terrace to the pond is a wheelchair-accessible path, providing connection to sitting areas by the pond, as well as workshops on the south side of campus.

Dwarf Fruit Tree Grove

This path winds past fruit trees, connecting the patio to the pond, and creating an accessible ramp landing for the woodshop at the top of the slope.

1000 ft2 of solar panels with full southern exposure on the roof of the dining hall.

SNOW FARM

Section D-D 1

Quad

Path

Expanded Patio

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Dining Hall Terrace Outdoor Work Space

Ceramics Kiln Shed

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

A

The existing outdoor patio is expanded to the west, with a shady 20’ x 25’ area under a vegetated pergola, supported by a stone retaining wall, with views of the kiln, fruit tree grove, and pond below.

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

A

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

D

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

Dining Overlook

DINING OVERLOOK

D

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A

E

C

E1

A New Dorm

A new 6,000 ft2 dorm evokes the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rural history, and provides sweeping views of the meadow.

B Dry Stream Bed

Upstream runoff from the north parking lot is directed into a dry stream bed that flows into a wet meadow.

D

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

E

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

The new dorm is sited just to the east of an expanded two-way road. The dorm is oriented to run lengthwise with the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existing contours to better mold to the landscape and reduce excavation. The dorm provides a pleasing view of the meadow, and quick access to both the new parking area along the road, and to the services of the dining hall. On the east side of the dorm is a tiered deck that opens out into a cleared lawn sheltered by three shade trees to the south.

Anchoring this space is a firepit with benches. Two paths leave the clearing: one connects to the road, and the other connects to the dry stream bed crossing the meadow to the north. The western entrance of the dorm has a small bridge that crosses a drainage swale running parallel with the road. This bridge aligns with a path leading to the campus quad.

NEW DORM

Four-Season Housing

B

New Dorm

C Deck and Fire Pit

East of the new dorm is a regraded area that serves as an outdoor social hub, including a deck and fire pit.

D Vegetated Swale with Bridge

Swales intercept and treats parking lot runoff, while directing it away from the new dorm. A bridge crosses the swale, creating a dramatic entryway.

E New Parking

The existing driveway is expanded to two lanes, and an additional 40+ parking spots are added.

Parking

Swale

New Dorm

Deck with Pergola

SNOW FARM

Section E-E 1

Firepit Meadow

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

25 ft

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

0

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Wetland plants and subsurface amendments improve the capacity of this depression to store stormwater, while also treating pollutants and adding habitat and visual interest to the landscape. The basin is crossed by a boardwalk.

A

D

B

B Meadow

The western half of the leach field is planted with mixed short rooted meadow grasses. This reduces maintenance requirements, adds visual interest and increases pollinator habitat.

C MAAB Path

C

This path connects the dining hall area to the welding area and provides access to the pond.

D Shoreline

E

A cleared area by the pond shore is maintained, allowing intimate access to the pond and creating a view from the dining terrace.

E Trail

Scenic trail encircles pond, passing historic dam and views of campus.

0

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018 5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

A Bioretention Basin

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

A large bioretention basin to the west of the septic leach field detains water that presently floods the welding area. Planted with wetland-tolerant species, including trees, this basin treats stormwater pollutants, reduces flooding, and increases habitat. A path bisecting the basin connects the welding studio to the outdoor kiln and dining hall, and provides an opportunity to observe wetland species up close. By removing the existing roadbed, the basinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overflow is reconnected to the stream, reducing the contaminant load and reducing the flooding risk to the welding area. An additional path is sited along the western edge of the pond, providing pedestrian access to one of Snow Farmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most tranquil spots.

POND PATHWAYS

Path Between Water

SNOW FARM

Pond Pathways

25 ft

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F

360 ft.

Serving Many Functions The new north parking lot provides over 170 overflow parking spots for Snow Farm’s large events. The lot is composed of a permeable reinforced turf grass surface on top of 1’ of 3/4” aggregate, and drains slowly downhill at a constant slope of 3%, eventually flowing into a culvert that drains out of the southeast corner of the parking lot, crossing under the dirt driveway and into a vegetated swale in the eastern hayfield. Vegetated bioretention swales cross the parking lot east to west every 60 feet, running on contour. These swales intercept water coming off the hillside, preventing it from passing over the parking area and flooding campus. They also catch, store, and filter polluted runoff before it enters wetlands to the southwest.

These swales are planted with native wetland-tolerant plants and poplar trees, a species known for their quick growth and phytoremediative qualities. These trees also shade vehicles from the sun, creating a park-like effect when the lot is not being used. Critical to the function of the parking lot is the 12" of subsurface aggregate that supports the turf, and increases the capacity to detain water after a storm event.

360 ft.

Trail to Woods

Bioretention Swales

B

Reinforced Turf

C

Access to Tank Farm and Wood Shop

D

New Maintenance Shed

B

Culvert

C

0

Bioswale Parking Bay Drive Ais Drive Aisle Parking Bay Bio 10’ft.)

(10 (18 ft.)

(24 ft.)

(24 ft.)

(18 ft.)

(1

A

A

D

Parking Bay Parking Bay 18’ft.)

(18 (18 ft.)

50 ft

F1

The 10’ wide basins intercept and treat parking lot runoff with vegetation and a rock surface, and provide shade for vehicles.

The surfacing of the parking lot is turf grass planted on 1 to 2” of topsoil on top of 1’ of 3/4” crushed rock aggregate. This permeable surface helps to infiltrate water and store it below grade, as well as providing a more inviting surface when not in use as parking.

The southernmost drive aisle in the parking lot provides access to the northwest portion of campus for deliveries, using a turf grass surface to indicate to visitors that it is not the dirt lane driveway.

The maintenance shed is accessible from both the expanded two-lane dirt road and the parking lot, and includes an area for outdoor repairs and the hauling of dumpsters. The road will be reinforced with 1’ of 3/4” crushed aggregate below a 4” surface of 3/8” minus trap rock gravel.

Section F-F 1

965 ft.

955 ft.

Bioswale (10 ft.)

Parking Bay (18 ft.)

Drive Aisle (24 ft.)

Parking Bay (18 ft.)

Bioswale (10 ft.)

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360 ft.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Parking Bay (18 ft.)

Drive Aisle (24 ft.)

Parking Bay (18 ft.)

Bioswale (10 ft.)

Parking Bay (18 ft.)

Drive Aisle (24 ft.)

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

Bioswale Parking Bay Drive Aisle Drive Aisle Parking Bay Bioswale 10’ft.)

18’ft.)

24’ft.)

(10 (18 (24 (24 ft.)

(18 ft.)

(10 ft.)

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Parking Bay Parking Bay 18’ft.)

(18 (18 ft.)

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

Bioswale Parking Bay Drive Aisle Drive Aisle Parking Bay Bioswale 10’ft.)

18’ft.)

24’ft.)

(10 (18 (24 (24 ft.)

(18 ft.)

(10 ft.)

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

Parking Bay Parking Bay 18’ft.)

(18 (18 ft.)

SNOW FARM

Drive Aisle g Bay Bioswale (24 ft.) ft.)

(10 ft.)

OVERFLOW PARKING

Overflow Parking

Parking Bay (18 ft.)

Bioswale (10 ft.)

Parking Bay (18 ft.)

Drive Aisle (24 ft.)

Parking Bay (18 ft.)

Bioswale (10 ft.)

Parking Bay (18 ft.)

Drive Aisle (24 ft.)

Parking Bay (18 ft.)

Bioswale (10 ft.)

B

Rain gardens capture roof run-off in the campus core, and terraces provide an opportunity to slow and infiltrate water.

At the base of the terraces are swales that move water away from the core of campus. Subsurface drainage replaces the existing swale that drains the main quad north of the dining hall and daylights into a fruit tree grove and sheet flows to a catch basin west of the septic leach field.

C

All paths and roads on site are permeable. Reinforced turf is utilized for the western access roads and northern overflow parking lot, and the primary road is maintained as gravel. The patio south of the dining hall is expanded with flagstone and drains to the bioretention basin and the culvert that collects water from the south and east side of the leach field.

D E

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

Water is intercepted as high as possible on the developed section of the site. Swales along the upslope edge of the northern parking lot divert clean water away from contaminated areas, into the western wetland and eastern meadow.

Precipitation that falls directly on the parking lot is detained and pollutants are remediated with a series of swales containing hydrophilic plants and their associated microbial communities. After passing through these layers of filtering vegetation, water flows out of the parking lot through a culvert into a system of vegetated swales that parallel the two-lane road.

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

Designing for Drainage

REDIRECTING WATER

Redirecting Water

A

A Expanded Upland Forest

Water from upslope is slowed and spread with the addition of more tree cover. A swale north of the parking lot diverts surface flow into the adjoining western wetland and eastern meadow.

F

B Overflow Parking

Reinforced turf includes subsurface aggregate which detains a greater amount of water than existing soil. Bioretention swales collect surface runoff, allowing for particulate pollution to be filtered and remediated through biological processes. Overflow runoff is directed to a culvert in the southeast corner.

G

Wet Meadow

G

Upslope runoff and overflow from the northern parking lot is collected by a dry stream bed which directs water away from the solar array and towards a wet meadow in the southeast portion of the property.

E Roadside Swales

Runoff from the road and primary parking lot are collected by roadside swales. The upslope swale is connected to the downslope swale by culverts. The eastern roadside swale receives runoff from the dorm terraces. Water from the roadside swales is directed around the new dorm and fire pit, dispersing into sheetflow through the wet meadow.

F Terraces

Terraces reduce the slope around the dorms, allowing water to slow and infiltrate. Each dorm has a raingarden to collect roof runoff. At the base of each terrace is a vegetated swale that directs water away from the buildings towards the forested wetland or the swale on the eastern side of the road. Subsurface aggregate allows water to pass beneath the woodshop loading area and the path connecting the woodshop to the dining hall.

Legend

G Bioretention Basin

Surface Flow Subsurface Flow

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Contour Intervals = 10â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Runoff from the quad and the slope west of the dining hall is collected in a vegetated bioretention basin. This basin serves as an extension of wetland habitat for the adjoining pond, and filters runoff before it enters into the stream system. Its overflow is connected to the stream, preventing water from running over the loading area of the welding shop and acquiring new pollutant loads.

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

D Dry Stream Bed

SNOW FARM

The wetland on the western border of the property is reforested, creating more evapotranspiration and increasing the wetlands storage capacity. Tree cover outside the wetland slows surface runoff.

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

C Forested Wetland

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2

Inlet swale anchored with stones slows and spreads water as it enters system, reducing scouring and helping to settle sediments.

5

3

4

6” above grade overflow inlet pipe allows for overflow during heavy rain events, and allows for water to drop particulate and infiltrate in average rain storms.

30” of bioretention soil mix . The Washington Department of Ecology recommends 60% aggregate and 40% compost. Site soil can be amended with sand until an infiltration rate of 1-12 inches per hour is achieved).

5

8” gravel jacket for drainage with perforated pipe underdrain.

Geotextile separates gravel from site soil, preventing migration of sediment into drainage plane. Geotextiles can also be used for this purpose.

6

6” of pea gravel to separate bioretention soil from gravel, preventing organic matter from clogging aggregate.

Raingarden

Dry Stone Retaining Wall A

Decreased slope of terrace increases opportunities for infiltration of water, but must be at least 2% for positive drainage.

B

Full course length cap stone protects wall from rain and freeze-thaw impacts.

C

For safety reasons, terraces should not exceed 2.5’ in height without a guard rail. Batter of terrace should be 2” for every 1’ of height.

D

Longer courses of tie stones anchor the wall into the slope.

E

Gravel aggregate provides enhanced drainage behind the wall and creates a firm foundation at the base.

A B C

D E F

F Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

4-6” perforated drain pipe removes excess water from behind thew wall and relieves hydrostatic pressure.

2

1 3

4

5

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

4

6

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

3

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

1 1

SNOW FARM

2

Hardy hydrophilic and drought-tolerant vegetation slows and filters stormwater. Plants degrade organic pollutants through direct uptake and via supporting rhizomatic microbial communities. Some plants sequester inorganic pollutants.

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

This design utilizes a combination of engineered soil aggregates and vegetation to address drainage issues. Integrating vegetation into stormwater management installations greatly improves their efficacy.

Larger bioretention cells can feature a diversity of grasses, rushes, sedges, and shrubs in the herbaceous understory, in addition to trees, one of nature’s most efficient ways of cycling water. Smaller raingardens can be populated with sun-loving, hardy hydrophilic species.

LIVING INFRASTRUCTURE

Living Infrastructure

Bioretention Basin

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FOREST EDGE

Along the northern and western edges of the campus core, the existing treeline is brought closer to paths and buildings, reforesting sensitive wetland areas with native trees selected for their ability to uptake large quantities of water.

PERENNIAL GARDEN

Native flowers like lead plant and blue wild indigo alternate with perennial edibles, attracting pollinators and fixing nitrogen.

ORCHARD

Dwarf fruit trees on a gentle slope with a berry understory provide accessible food and seasonal blooms along pedestrian paths.

ORNAMENTAL SCREEN

Tall grasses, shade-tolerant sedges, and native flowers form patterns of color and texture, creating a sense of arrival for guests as well as a privacy screen to separate the cottage from the quad.

This theme of dense, layered structure is repeated along the borders of an MAABaccessible entryway to the dining hall patio.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

This area is seeded with a robust mix of water-tolerant native grasses and wildflowers like spotted Joe-Pye weed, blue vervain, New England aster and woolgrass. These plants provide color, habitat, biodiversity, and slow water, benefiting perennial streams downslope.

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

WET MEADOW

WETLAND

The old mill pond's gradual transition to a native wetland community is supported with the planting of aquatic wetland species, including the aromatic white water lily, little floatingheart and wild celery. These provide habitat and forage for a multitude of species, including waterfowl, reptiles, and amphibians.

Knotty pondweed, northern arrowhead and arrow arum oxygenate and clean the water, further enabling biodiversity to flourish.

WETLAND EDGE

With paths and trails connecting from the campus core, the old mill pond and wetlands become a destination on the property once again. Large sitting rocks and paths weave between lush sedges, swamp milkweed, cardinal flower and marsh blazing star growing along the shore, creating ample wildlife habitat as well as adding color, texture, and form.

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Native trees and understory plants guide visitors along paths and across stone terraces throughout the heart of campus, providing shade, wildlife habitat, seasonal color, and interest.

Large expanses of lawn and hayfield are converted into a mix of native wildflowers and grasses. Species such as wild bergamot and oxeye sunflower provide a biodiverse habitat for wildlife and pollinators, with successions of color throughout the year. Meadow needs much less upkeep than lawn, only requiring mowing once a year.

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

QUAD

DRY MEADOW

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

These planting areas are crucial to the overall health of the site. Wetland-tolerant species such as black poplar, indigo bush, and lurid sedge slow and absorb water, filter and remediate pollutants in runoff, and allow clean water to be infiltrated and released downslope.

SNOW FARM

BIORETENTION

PLANTING DIAGRAM

Planting Diagram

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White birch American sycamore Common beech Rosebay rhododendron Red osier dogwood Mountain laurel Common spicebush White wood aster Ostrich fern Cinnamon fern Maidenhair fern

50-70' 75-100' 50-60' 10-15’ 6-10’ 5-15’ 6-12’ 1-2.5’ 4’ 2-3' 2.5’

PS S S, PS PS, FS S, PS, FS PS S, PS PS, FS PS, FS PS, FS PS, FS

M, W M, W M M W M M M M, W M, W M

Seasonal Seasonal, Wildlife Seasonal, Wildlife Hedge, Seasonal Hedge, Stabilization Hedge, Wildlife, Pollinators Hedge, Pollinators Groundcover, Pollinators Massing Massing Massing

Schizachyrium scoparium Festuca rubra Sorghastrum nutans Elymus canadensis Chamaecrista fasciculata Desmodium canadense Rudbeckia hirta Penstemon digitalis Verbena hastata Asclepias syriaca Symphyotrichum laeve

Purple lovegrass Sand lovegrass Pink muhlygrass Indian woodoats Bottlebrush grass Columbine Wild indigo Tall bellflower Appalachian false goat’s beard Tan-petaled sunflower Tufted hair grass Palm sedge Solomon’s seal

2’ 4’ 2-3’ 5’ 3’ 2-3’ 2-3’ 3-6’ 3-6’ 3-5’ 2-3’ 2-3’ 3-5’

S S S, PS S, PS PS, S S, PS S, PS S, PS PS S, PS PS S, PS PS, FS

D, M D, M D, M M, W D, M M D, M M M M M M, W M, W

Massing, Seasonal Massing, Seasonal Massing, Seasonal Massing Massing Massing, Wildlife Massing, Pollinators Massing, Pollinators Massing Massing, Wildlife Massing, Wildlife Massing Massing, Seasonal

French sorrel Sea kale Miner’s lettuce Wild strawberry Junebearing strawberry Jerusalem artichoke Blue wild indigo Bunchberry Yarrow Lead plant Red bearberry

1.5-2’ 2.5-3’ .75’ .25-.75’ .25-.5’ 7’ 3-4’ .25-.75’ 2-3’ 2-3’ .5-1’

S S S, PS S, PS S S, PS S, PS PS S S S, PS, FS

M M M M M M D, M M D, M D, M D, M

Edible Edible Edible, Seasonal Edible, Groundcover Edible, Seasonal Edible, Pollinators Pollinators, Seasonal Groundcover, Pollinators Pollinators, Seasonal Pollinators, Fixes Nitrogen Wildlife, Pollinators

ORNAMENTAL SCREEN Eragrostis spectabilis Eragrostis trichodes Muhlenbergia capillaris Chasmanthium latifolium Elymus hystrix Aquilegia canadensis Baptisia tinctoria Campanula americana Astilbe biternata Helianthus decapetalus Deschampsia cespitosa Carex muskingumensis Polygonatum biflorum

Function

Little bluestem Creeping red fescue Indian grass Canada wild rye Partridge pea Showy tick trefoil Blackeyed Susan Beard tongue Blue vervain Common milkweed Smooth blue aster

2-4’ .25’ 3-5’ 2-5’ 1-3’ 2-5’ 2-3’ 3-5’ 2-6’ 2-3’ 2-4’

S PS S S S S S S S S S

D, M M D, M D, M D, M D, M M D, M M, W D, M D, M

Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife, Seasonal

Dulichium arundinaceum Iris versicolor Lobelia cardinalis Lobelia siphilitica Asclepias incarnata Symphyotrichum puniceum Liatris spicata Eutrochium maculatum Eupatorium perfoliatum Chelone glabra Gentiana clausa Carex vulpinoidea Salix discolor

Three-way sedge Blue flag iris Cardinal flower Great blue lobelia Swamp milkweed Swamp aster Marsh blazing star Spotted Joe-Pye weed Boneset White turtlehead Bottle gentian Fox sedge Pussy willow

1-2’ 2-2.5’ 2-4’ 2-3’ 4-5’ 6-8’ 2-4’ 4-5’ 4-6’ 2-3’ 1-2’ 1-3’ 6-15’

PS S, PS S, PS S, PS S S S S S, PS PS PS S, PS S, PS

W M, W M, W M, W M, W M, W M M, W M, W M, W M W M, W

Wildlife Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife, Seasonal Pollinators, Seasonal Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife Wildlife Wildlife, Seasonal

White water lily Yellow water lily Knotty pondweed Little floatingheart Wild celery Pickerelweed Northern arrowhead Arrow arum Three-square bulrush Soft-stem bulrush

0-1’ 0-1’ 1-3’ 1-3’ 0.5’ 1-3’ 1-4’ 1.5-2’ 4-8’ 4-8’

S, PS, FS S S, PS S, PS S, PS S, PS S S, PS, FS S, PS S

AQ AQ AQ AQ AQ W W W W W

Aromatic, Wildlife Wildlife Wildlife, Oxygenator Wildlife Wildlife Wildlife, Pollinators Wildlife, Water Quality Wildlife, Water Quality Erosion Control Erosion Control

Black poplar Black cottonwood Indigo bush Fringed sedge Mountain holly Blue flag iris Lurid sedge

40-50' 90-160' 4-12’ 3-4’ 5-10’ 1-3’ 2-3’

S S S, PS S, PS S, PS, FS S, PS S, PS

M M M, W W W W W

Pollutant Uptake, Shade Pollutant Uptake, Shade Accumulates Lead Wildlife, Pollutant Uptake Wildlife Wildlife, Pollutant Uptake Wildlife, Pollutant Uptake

WETLAND Nymphaea odorata Nymphaea mexicana Potamogeton nodosus Nymphoides cordata Vallisneria americana Pontederia cordata Sagittaria latifolia Peltandra virginica Schoenoplectus pungens Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani

BIORETENTION CELLS

DRY MEADOW Monarda fistulosa Vernonia noveboracensis Zizia aurea Aster lateriflorus Echinacea purpurea Heliopsis helianthoides

Soil

WETLAND EDGE

PERENNIAL GARDEN Rumex acetosa Crambe maritima Claytonia perfoliata Fragaria virginiana Fragaria × ananassa Helianthus tuberosus Baptisia australis Cornus canadensis Achillea millefolium Amorpha canescens Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Height Light

Wild bergamot New York ironweed Golden Alexanders Starved/Calico aster Purple coneflower Oxeye sunflower

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

2-4’ 4-6’ 1.5-3’ 2-3’ 2-5’ 3-6’

S, PS S S, PS S S, PS S

D, M M, W M M D, M D, M

Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife, Pollinators Wildlife, Pollinators

Populus nigra var.

Populus trichocarpa x Amorpha fruticosa Carex crinita Ilex mucronata Iris versicolor Carex lurida

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

DRY MEADOW

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Function

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

Soil

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

Betula papyrifera Platanus occidentalis Fagus sylvatica Rhododendron maximum Cornus sericea Kalmia latifolia Lindera benzoin Eurybia divaricata Matteuccia struthiopteris Osmundastrum cinnamomeum Adiantum pedatum

Height Light

PLANT PALETTE I

QUAD

SNOW FARM

Plant Palette I

Codes: S=Sun, PS=Part shade, FS=Full shade D=Dry, M=Medium, W=Wet, AQ=Aquatic

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Soil

Function

Sandbar willow Silky willow Burreed Woolgrass Bearded sedge Serviceberry Creeping red fescue Groundsel tree Golden Alexanders Wild bergamot Staghorn sumac Silky dogwood Grey dogwood

4-15’ 6-12’ 2-3’ 4-5’ 2-4’ 18’ .25’ 6-10’ 1.5-3’ 2-4’ 12-20’ 6-9’ 12-15’

S, PS S, PS, FS S, PS S, PS S, PS PS PS S, PS S, PS S, PS S S, PS S, PS, FS

W W W W W M, W M D, M, W M D, M D M, W D, M

Erosion Control Pollinators, Erosion Control Wildlife, Pollutant Uptake Wildlife, Pollutant Uptake Wildlife, Pollutant Uptake Wildlife, Erosion Control Wildlife, Erosion Control Erosion Control Wildlife, Erosion Control Erosion Control, Pollinators Wildlife, Erosion Control Wildlife, Erosion Control Wildlife, Erosion Control

Spotted Joe-Pye weed Creeping red fescue Little bluestem Fox sedge Big bluestem Blue vervain New England aster Green bulrush Flat-top goldentop Soft rush Woolgrass

4-5’ .25’ 2-4’ 1-3’ 4-6’ 2-6’ 3-6’ 4-5’ 3-6’ .5-1’ 4-5’

S PS S S, PS, FS S S S S S S S, PS

M, W M D, M W D, M M, W M W W W W

Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife Wildlife, Seasonal Wildlife Wildlife Pollinators Pollinators Wildlife, Pollutant Uptake Wildlife, Pollinators Wildlife Wildlife, Pollutant Uptake

Bur Oak Black willow American elm Silver maple Eastern cottonwood American hazelnut

60-80' 30-60' 75-100' 75-100' 50-80' 10-16'

S S, PS S, PS S, PS, FS S S, PS

D, M M, W W M M, W M

Water Uptake Water Uptake Water Uptake Water Uptake Water Uptake Massing

This landscape plan proposes vegetation as an integral part of the solution to drainage, circulation, and placemaking challenges at Snow Farm. Plants have been selected based on numerous ecological principles, including:

Design Landscapes to Provide Ecosystem Services

Ecological processes are harnessed to absorb water, filter contaminants, stabilize slope, cycle nutrients, and outcompete invasives. The old mill pond is restored as a diverse native wetland, creating habitat for countless wildlife species as well as a space for human enjoyment.

Disturb for the Better

As native wildflower meadows replace hayfields and turf, species richness increases while maintenance requirements decrease.

Match Plants to Microclimate

Planting patterns morph and repeat across the landscape, familiar yet distinct in each unique microclimate. As growing conditions transform, so do aesthetics.

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

Salix exigua Salix sericea Sparganium americanum Scirpius cyperinus Carex comosa Amelanchier canadensis Festuca rubra Baccharis halimifolia Zizia aurea Monarda fistulosa Rhus typhina Cornus amomum Cornus racemosa

Height Light

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

BIORETENTION CELLS

PLANT PALETTE II

Plant Palette II

Codes: S=Sun, PS=Part shade, FS=Full shade D=Dry, M=Medium, W=Wet, AQ=Aquatic

Cornus sericea Red osier dogwood

Muhlenbergia capillaris Pink muhlygrass

Amorpha canescens Lead plant

Monarda fistulosa Wild bergamot

Matteuccia struthiopteris Ostrich fern

Quercus macrocarpa Bur oak

Amorpha fruticosa Indigo bush

Iris versicolor Blue flag iris

Caulophyllum thalictroides Blue cohosh

Quercus macrocarpa Salix nigra Ulmus americana Acer saccharinum Populus deltoides Corylus americana

FRUIT ORCHARD Malus (variable) Prunus persica Prunus domestica Pyrus pyrifolia Prunus avium Prunus persica var. nectarina Sambucus canadensis Vaccinium corymbosum Vaccinium angustifolium Amelanchier lamarckii Ribes nigrum

Dwarf Apple Dwarf Peach Dwarf Plum Dwarf Asian Pear Dwarf Cherry Dwarf Nectarine Common elderberry Highbush blueberry Lowbush blueberry Juneberry Black currant

10-12' 10-12' 10-12' 10-12' 10-12' 10-12' 6-8’ 12’ 2.5’ 15-25’ 3-4’

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

S S S S S S S S, PS S, PS S, PS S, PS

M M M M M M M, W M M M M

Edible, Seasonal Edible, Seasonal Edible, Seasonal Edible, Seasonal Edible, Seasonal Edible, Seasonal Edible, Wildlife Edible, Wildlife, Seasonal Edible, Wildlife Edible, Wildlife Edible, Wildlife

SNOW FARM

FOREST EDGE

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Eutrochium maculatum Festuca rubra Schizachyrium scoparium Carex vulpinoidea Andropogon gerardii Verbena hastata Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Scirpus atrovirens Euthamia graminifolia Juncus effusus Scirpus cyperinus

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

WET MEADOW

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Structural pavers create space for vegetation, increase permeability, and are move visually interesting than asphalt.

Mowed paths through meadows allow for seasonal changes to be appreciated, with the benefit of less maintenance than regular mowing.

Flagstone Patio

Firepits encourage outdoor socialization, bringing the warmth of the hearth into the landscape.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

White wood aster and ostrich fern provide rich texture and warmth alongside this flagstone path, a locally abundant, permeable material.

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

Stone Terraces

Dry stack retaining walls slow surface runoff and carve spaces in the campus core.

Pergola

SNOW FARM

Firepit

Meadows

Elevated boardwalks with curbing for accessibility are a beautiful way to move through wet areas, such as the bioretention basin.

Vine-covered pergolas provide shady refuge above a stone terrace.

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

Grass Pavers

Crushed stone is an attractive, permeable pavement that can be sourced locally and be made universally accessible.

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

These materials represent some options that are locally available, durable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing.

Permeability is an important consideration for any paving surface, due to the drainage conditions on site. Using local materials increases a site's connection to place and contributes to the local economy. Stone in particular is encouraged due to its preexistence on site, its prominence in vernacular style, and its permeability. Materials that are locally sourced and long-lasting have a lowered embodied energy over the course of their use. Sequestering carbon by increasing biomass, and using locally sourced wood as a building material is another way the site can positively effect environmental conditions. Minimizing the use of concrete, plastic and steel to only necessary treatments is another way of reducing the embodied energy of the design.

Elevated Paths

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

Crushed Stone Paths

Materials for a Changing Planet

MATERIALS & PRECEDENTS

Materials & Precedents

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PHASE 1

This is a small-scale and experimental phase, and directly address accessibility problems caused by poor drainage in the existing parking lot.

• Install a bioretention swale north of the existing parking lot that diverts water east and west • Monitor the northern parking lot to see if drainage conditions improve

The Conway School of Landscape Design, Spring 2018

Snow Farm enjoys many opportunities and faces many challenges in accomplishing its landscape goals. Implementing design installations in phases is a strategic way to meet these goals while taking into account the restrictions of time, budget, and day-to-day operations. Phasing provides an opportunity to build institutional knowledge over time, and to monitor and reassess installed designs in order to inform future work. While some of the design solutions suggested are large, intensive, and expensive, others are relatively small and affordable. This phasing plan also orders the projects in a reinforcing way. There is little benefit to installing a design that will have to be removed later to accommodate another solution.

EVAN ABRAMSON & MATTHEW CRANNEY

A Long-Term Commitment to the Land

PHASING

Phasing

This phase involves intensive earthwork and the expansion of new utility lines. It will have the greatest impact on site drainage and energy production.

• Create terraces around the dorms, cottage and dining hall • Add parking east of the road • Construct MAAB-accessible paths connecting the dorms, dining hall and studios • Install a bioretention basin west of the leach field, and remove the existing roadbed • Install a freestanding photovoltaic array in the hayfield, and bury electrical lines

PHASE 4

This phase adds buildings to the site, and will require the most additional design work, as well as the highest budget.

• Build the new dorm, deck, and pergola • Install swales around the new dorm • Regrade the meadow east of the new dorm, create firepit, and plant shade trees • Build the maintenance shed

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

PHASE 3

SNOW FARM

This phase directly addresses the circulation and arrival issues on campus. It also uses less intensive strategies to deal with water on site, such as passive revegetation. Renewable energy generation is introduced in a smaller-scale installation.

• Redirect primary traffic to the northern parking lot • Establish a new tree line on the western edge of campus • Widen the primary road to two-lane traffic; prevent public access to the western loop • Expand the northern parking lot, and clear for the future maintenance shed and dumpster pad • Install a photovoltaic array on the dining hall roof

CRAFTING A YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPE

PHASE 2

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