Introduction
SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN
L
ocated in the heart of downtown Springfield, a city self-proclaimed as the “cultural urban center of the region,” the Springfield Museums’ campus encompasses four cultural centers, each with its own focus: the Museum of Fine Arts, the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, the Springfield Science Museum, and the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum. The grounds are also home to the Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden, an array of life-sized bronze statues modeled after the author’s fanciful characters, serving as a memorial to the late creator in his birthplace. The complex has been evolving since the Smith Museum was built in 1895 and the transformation continues to this day, as the Museums prepare to open a fifth museum, dedicated to highlighting Springfield’s rich cultural history. In developing a landscape master plan, the Springfield Museums’ landscape committee seeks to broaden its vision for the site. This vision imagines the future landscape being a place that is safe and welcoming for all visitors, creating spaces for social and educational interaction, while encouraging public stewardship and raising environmental
awareness in the community. In order to reach this vision, the landscape committee has developed a list of goals and program elements for the master landscape plan:
GOALS • Provide a secure and welcoming environment for all museum visitors. • Create spaces in the landscape to provide for various kinds of educational and social interactions. • Develop a landscape plan that reduces maintenance and uses native vegetation and local materials wherever possible. • Encourage public stewardship by partnering with interested community groups and provide spaces for them to engage with the landscape. • Preserve the existing green quad in order to maintain the benefits of open space in an urban environment.
PROGRAM Outdoor classroom space for: • Groups of school children • Art students • Family groups Eating space for: • Large groups of school children • Museum staff • Visitors (families and individuals)
Educational components including opportunities for: • Engaging the senses • Identifying plants • Observing butterflies and birds • Interacting with nature and various materials • Viewing art, history, and science in the landscape
Special events spaces including: • Multi-use, open space
SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008 Liz Kushner & Theresa Sprague | Conway School of Landscape Design Not for construction. This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.
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T
he Springfield Museums’ campus sits just northeast of the Connecticut River and I-91. Many visitors travel to the Museums by car from I-91. Punctuating the dominating urban fabric are two notable expanses of green space, including the Springfield Cemetery and the first and last national Armory, the Springfield Armory.
ARMORY
A ’
City Context THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS
CEMETERY I-91
CONNECTICUT RIVER
A
The site rests on one of three distinct terraces that lead down to the Connecticut River, each with its own character. The lowest terrace includes downtown Springfield and the highest terrace accommodates the Springfield Armory and has historically been more industrial in nature. A steep grade separates the downtown area from the campus, thus limiting walkability and therefore accessibility between the two areas. Consequently, Museum staff and visitors are less inclined to go downtown in the middle of the day for a lunch break, and few visitors arrive to the museum by foot.
NTS Elevation - Northwest view
A
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NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT T
he campus is situated in a fairly residential area, just south of the historical Mattoon neighborhood and close to a senior citizens’ residence and condominiums. Several parking lots border the Museums’ site, two of which (across Edwards and State Street) are used for Museum parking. The city public library forms the campus quad’s southeastern end and a new courthouse is currently being erected along Eliot Street. Flanking the Museums on two sides are Christ Church Cathedral and St. Michael’s Catholic Cathedral.
AT TOON
ST
MATTOON NEIGHBORHOOD
M
Christ Cathedral operates a soup kitchen daily and people coming to the soup kitchen often linger in Merrick Park (by the library) and adjacent portions of the Museums’ campus on warm days. Another nearby park, Pynchon Park, which would serve as a direct connection between the campus and downtown, is currently closed due to past criminal activity.
CHES TNU
EDWARDS
ST
MUSEUM PARKING
TS T
DWIGH
LEGEND MUSEUMS’ CAMPUS CHURCHES
SENIORS TS T
MUSEUMS’ CAMPUS
EL
IO TS T
NEW COURTHOUSE
ST. MICHAEL’S CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL E AT T S
ST
CHRIST CHURCH CONDOS LIBRARY CATHEDRAL PYNCHON PARK MUSEUM MERRICK PARKING PARK
MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS PARKS RESIDENTIAL AREAS PARKING SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008 Liz Kushner & Theresa Sprague | Conway School of Landscape Design Not for construction. This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.
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HISTORY T
he Springfield Museums’ site, like the City of Springfield itself, has been a dynamic place of growth and innovation. After the formation of the City Library Association in 1857, the first two buildings on the site were constructed — the first Springfield City Library and the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum. Since then the original library building was torn down, a new one built, and three additional museum buildings added to the campus, creating the site that one sees today. The Springfield Museums continue to grow and evolve, with the Museum of Springfield History slated to open in 2009.
Springfield Museums Campus Area 1882
SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS’ CAMPUS TIMELINE
Springfield Museums Campus Area 1899
Historical Maps Courtesy of the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum Library
Springfield Museums Campus Area 1910
Springfield Museums Campus Area 1920
Springfield Museums Campus Area 2008
SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008 Liz Kushner & Theresa Sprague | Conway School of Landscape Design Not for construction. This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.
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EXISTING CONDITIONS T
he relatively flat 5.5 acre site has seen many changes throughout its history, including the relocation of the Blake Building, and the removal of two structures, a large apartment building in what is now the North Lawn, and a smaller single-family residence between the Kilroy Building and the law offices. Utility lines and pipes remain buried in areas where buildings have been removed, and site disturbances have resulted in soil compaction throughout the campus. These conditions must be considered when developing any landscape plans.
Maintenance area
North Lawn
Quad Patio
Quad with Seuss Sculptures
Yertle the Turtle Garden
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aCCESS & CIRCULATION T
There is no access to the museum grounds along Chestnut Street, and a park linking the Museums to the downtown area is currently closed, requiring visitors coming from this area to walk several blocks to reach the Museums.
Science Museum
• •
Smith Art Museum
Parking/Main Entrance
C.V.H.M. North Lawn
Design Directions
•
Barrier-Free Parking Entrance
Public Library
Quadrangle
Museum of Fine Arts
Merrick Park Entrance
Locked Gates at Yertle Garden
Improve the driveway along the north side of the Smith Art Museum to create a safe walkway for pedestrians crossing from State Street. Make museum entrances clear to visitors arriving via Chestnut Street. Reconsider current uses of the North Lawn and Yertle the Turtle garden area in order to better utilize these valuable outdoor spaces on the campus.
Chestnut Street
SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008 0
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State Street
Parking
Edwards Street
he Springfield Museums’ campus is surrounded on four sides by roadways. The majority of museum visitors come to the campus by automobile. Parking is located along Edwards Street, in a lot to the northeast of the campus, and in a parking lot off of State Street, to the west. Visitors parking in the State Street lot are required to cross the busy roadway, and must share the narrow access road behind the Smith Art Museum with other vehicles. Museum entrances are located between the Science Museum and the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum (C.V.H.M.), in the southeast area at Merrick Park, and at the barrier-free parking area located between the Science Museum and the Smith Art Museum. The entrance at Chestnut Street in the Yertle Garden area is currently locked, precluding access and interrupting circulation patterns in this area. Poor access and circulation in this space play a large role in the Yertle Garden being under-used. Heavy foot traffic occurs in the area from the Eliot Street parking lots into the campus, and throughout the center quadrangle and Dr. Seuss sculpture area.
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VIEWS O
Smith Art Museum
Blake
North Lawn
Quad Patio
Yertle the Turtle Garden
Museum of Fine Arts
Chestnut Street
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State Street
Public Library
C.V.H.M.
Kilroy
While parts of the campus can be viewed openly from the street, a six-foot wrought-iron fence blocks visitors from directly entering the park along the street. Visitors approaching from Chestnut Street cannot see the main entrance to the park. People using the Yertle garden area and the North Lawn have a sense of being “on display� behind the fence, making these areas uncomfortable for sitting and relaxing. Large shrubs obstruct the views into and out of the Yertle the Turtle garden area, making the space difficult for visitors to locate and creating some security issues.
Science Museum Edwards Street
pen views into and out of the campus occur at the North Lawn and Edwards Street, and from the Yertle the Turtle Garden and Chestnut Street; however, views to the quad area are obstructed by buildings and vegetation. There are no views from the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum (C.V.H.M.), Science Museum and Museum of Fine Arts, as windows in these buildings are blocked for exhibits. Partially obstructed views of the quad patio area are possible from the Smith Museum and public library, and of the North Lawn from the Blake and Kilroy Buildings.
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EXISTING VEGETATION E
xisting vegetation at the Springfield Museums consists of a variety of trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and herbacious perennials. Many of these plants grow very well on the site, including trees that provide much needed shade in the landscape, such as the mature sycamore trees on the quadrangle, and oak trees at the gates of the Yertle the Turtle Garden area. However, some of the vegetation currently on site is either poisonous, considered to be an aggressive species, or is blocking views. Below is a list of existing trees, shrubs and groundcovers, with notes about possible issues that should be considered in deciding whether or not the plant should remain in the landscape. Common Name White Pine Red Oak Honey Locust Sycamore American Elm Eastern Redbud Florida Dogwood Arborvitae Red Maple Witch Hazel Copper Beech Yew Azalea Butterfly Bush Inkberry Holly Privet Barberry Japanese Holly Mock Orange English Ivy Pachysandra Euonymous Lily of the Valley Sweet Fern
Cc T
Cc Blake
A
F
L A
U R
C K
D
QA A P
D
D
Dd O I
Aa
O
D
N
F
J
A
M
E
Cc
T
Public Library
Bb
C.V.H.M
Botanical Name Pinus strobus* Quercus coccinea Gleditsia triacanthos Platanus occidentalis Ulmus americana Cercis canadensis (alba) Cornus florida Thuja occidentalis Acer rubrum Hamamelis virginiana Fagus sylvatica Taxus media** Rhododendron albiflorum Buddleia spp. Ilex glabra Ligustrum spp. Berberis thunbergii*** Ilex crenata Philadlphus Hedera helix*** Pachysandra terminalis*** Euonymous spp.*** Convallaria majalis** Comptonia peregrina
Smith Art Museum
Kilroy
Location Plant Type A Tree B Tree C Tree D Tree E Tree F Tree G Tree H Tree I Tree J Tree K Tree L Shrub M Shrub N Shrub O Shrub P Shrub Q Shrub R Shrub S Shrub Aa Groundcover Bb Groundcover Cc Groundcover Dd Groundcover Ee Groundcover
Science Museum
S Bb
Museum of Fine Arts
B
* Obstructs views ** Poisonous plant *** Aggressive species SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008 0
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SUN & SHADE T
he quadrangle green, the most active outside area on the campus, receives dappled light throughout the year. Meanwhile, the sunniest portions of the campus are the North Lawn, the quad patio, and the parking lot, which receive full sun throughout the year. Mortared granite forms the quad patio and black asphalt spans the parking lot, both of which are materials that, when placed in the sun, give off a lot of heat. Thus, these areas are uncomfortably warm on hot days. The Yertle the Turtle Sculpture Garden, also mostly covered in granite walkways, sits in full sun in the summer months and partial sun for the rest of the year, creating a similarly unpleasant resting area when the sun is out.
Quadrangle Green Parking Lot
North Lawn
Quad Patio Yertle
March and September (Equinox) 9:00 AM
March and September (Equinox) 12:00 PM
March and September (Equinox) 3:00 PM
May and July (Summer Solstice) 9:00 AM
May and July (Summer Solstice) 12:00 PM
May and July (Summer Solstice) 3:00 PM
November and January (Winter Solstice) 9:00 AM
November and January (Winter Solstice) 12:00 PM
November and January (Winter Solstice) 3:00 PM
Design Directions
• Consider adding vegetation to provide natural cooling effects through shade and evapotranspiration in hot areas. • Note the success of the dappled shade in the quadrangle and repeat elsewhere, as appropriate.
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IMPERVIOUS SURFACES R
ooftops, walkways, patios, roads, and parking lots make up roughly 70% of the campus and surrounding area, all of which are impermeable to stormwater, prohibiting groundwater recharge and increasing polluted run-off (from car fluids and other chemicals) into nearby waterways, in this case, the Connecticut River. This number does not include areas of compacted turf which can be almost equally impermeable and can contribute to water pollution when the lawn is maintained through extensive fertilizer use.
Parking Lot
Just looking at the South Edwards parking lot and calculating the amount of run-off during a rain storm with a rainfall intensity of 2 inches per hour, the asphalt surface produces .78 cubic feet of water per second. As a point of comparison, if the surface were vegetated, the run-off rate becomes one-third of the asphalt rate, reduced to .25 cubic feet per second. Though the above scenario is hypothetical, the numbers illustrate how reintroducing vegetation to urban sites can help mitigate the harmful effects of impervious surfaces (Nathan & Strom, p. 159).
LEGEND ROADWAYS AND PARKING LOTS = 94,855 sq ft
ASPHALT
VS.
VEGETATION
BUILDINGS = 11,5411 sq ft
WALKWAYS AND PATIOS = 38,246 sq ft
= a total of 248,512 sq ft (5.7 acres)
3:1 SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008 Liz Kushner & Theresa Sprague | Conway School of Landscape Design
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DRAINAGE T
he site is relatively flat, with minor grading changes to direct stormwater movement into storm drains. Storm drains line the quad (A), shunting water, a valuable resource, off-site and eventually into the Connecticut River. Mortared granite and asphalt walkways prevent water from permeating and infiltrating the soil, causing water to sheet off of the paths and pool around portions of the lawn, particularly in corners (B). The lawn itself is fairly compacted, due to regular use, and thus does not infiltrate stormwater effectively. During storm events, water also pours off roofs, creating puddles around buildings’ bases, most notably around the Kilroy Building (C), which can lead to structural damage. In some paved areas, particularly in the maintenance parking area (D) and the pathway behind the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum (C.V.H.M.) (E), water is also pooling, which could be a safety hazard, particularly during the winter.
BB
D
E
Maintenance Lot
A C.V.H.M.
LEGEND
Quad
C
PROBLEM SPOTS
Stormwater Lines
Kilroy
Design directions
• Recognize stormwater as a valuable resource and find ways to capture and/or infiltrate the water on site. • Develop alternative stormwater management practices to reduce maintenance costs, decrease run-off, protect existing structures, prevent puddling, and provide educational opportunities for the Museums. SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008 0
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SECURITY Science Smith
EDWARDS
Library
Blake C.V.H.M.
Museum of Fine Art
Yertle M.O.S.H.
Christ Church Cathedral
Merrick Park
Kilroy
A
ccording to Museums’ staff and security, hotspots for illicit activity include the alley between Christ Church Cathedral and the Museum of Fine Arts, Merrick Park, and the Yertle the Turtle Sculpture Garden. Neither the alley nor Merrick Park are part of the Museums’ property, but they influence its character and perceived and actual safety. Merrick Park is used most often on warm days by a homeless population that frequents the soup kitchen at Christ Church Cathedral. Cultural stigmas against this population contribute to a perceived lack of safety. The park also borders the public library, where there have been reports of harassment and violent crimes. The Yertle the Turtle Sculpture Garden contains several dense white pines that block visibility from the area to the rest of the quad and create well-hidden areas within the space itself. The area is infamous to Museum security and staff as a hotspot for drug and alcohol use, drug deals, and illicit sexual activity. 0
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Quad Patio
Quad
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40
Design Directions
• Encourage long views across the campus, thus allowing for enhanced visibility from other parts of the campus and by security cameras. • Consider choosing plants that are open rather than dense and that allow for child play but discourage hiding places for undesired activities. • Recognize the larger contextual issues influencing the space and consider future recommendations for collaboration with rehabilitation programs. SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008 80 FT
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SECURITY CAMERA VIEWS S
ecurity cameras are strategically located throughout the Museums’ campus. These cameras operate 24 hours a day, and are considered by museum directors and security staff to be vital to safety and security on the Museums’ grounds. Views to the quadrangle area are obscured in spring, summer and fall by several large sycamore trees in the quad. Views to the Yertle the Turtle garden area are obscured by several pruned white pines near the entrance to the garden. Other security camera views are clear. Views from the security cameras must remain unobstructed. Any landscape solutions for the Museums’ campus must consider the security department’s needs for clear views throughout the area. The planting of large trees and bushy shrubs should be avoided, as they block camera views, can provide hiding spaces and encourage undesirable behavior.
Sycamore Trees
White Pines
Yertle the Turtle Garden Entrance
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SUMMARY ANALYSIS KEY POINTS • The primary pedestrian route moves from the parking lot, past the welcome center, and to the quad. • The quad is the heart of the campus, where most of the activity occurs.
MAINTENANCE LOT PARKING LOT
WELCOME CENTER
• The parking lot, the quad patio, and the North Lawn are the sunniest portions of the campus. • After a rain storm, puddling is particularly apparent on asphalt patches in the maintenance lot and behind the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum (CVHM). • There are blocked views and limited accessibility in the Yertle area and by Merrick Park.
NORTH LAWN
YERTLE
PROBLEM AREAS:
MERRICK PARK
ALLEY
LEGEND:
SUNNY SPOTS:
CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL
MFA
• The alley between Christ Church Cathedral and the MFA is deemed unsafe by Museums’ staff and security.
PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION:
QUAD PATIO
QUAD
CVHM
Design Directions • Take advantage of under-utilized open sunny spaces to fulfill program elements that benefit from such conditions. • Preserve the integrity of the existing green quad space because it is a well-loved, well-used, and functional space. • Find ways to accommodate pedestrians in vehicular areas,
such as the Parking Lot and the Maintenance Lot • Consider ways to increase stormwater infiltration to decrease pooling and make use of a valuable on-site resource. • Open views to increase accessibility and safety.
PUDDLING: SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008
QUADRANGLE GREEN: 0
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DESIGN CONCEPTS At an initial meeting to discuss a master landscape plan, several members of the landscape committee collectively acknowledged that the museum grounds lacked a cohesive identity. In an effort to address this concern, the Conway student team developed three alternatives, each emphasizing a different identity: a public park, a campus, and a 6th museum. The Grounds as a Campus
The Grounds as a Public Park
H
istorically, parks emerged as open green space that provided sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of city living. The Museums already offer such a space in Springfield and could further their image as a public park, catering not only to visiting patrons of the various museums but also to nearby residents and working persons. Boston Public Gardens
W
hen referring to the Museums’ grounds, many staff members are inclined to identify the space as a “campus” because the grounds contain a quadrangle green, abutted on all sides by buildings devoted to different subject matters. The quadrangle is a defining characteristic of many college campuses. In fact, one of the Museums’ earliest presidents referred to the collection of museums as “The People’s College.” Therefore, “campus” could serve as an appropriate identity for the site.
Boston, MA
The Grounds as a 6th Museum
A
lternatively, the contents of the Museums could spill out onto the grounds, making the landscape itself a sixth museum. The space could become a place for hands-on learning, sensory experiences, and safe exploration.
Carter School Sensory Garden Boston, MA
Jackson Square New Orleans, LA
University of Edinburgh Edinburgh, Scotland
Montshire Museum Norwich, VT Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, IL
UC Berkeley Master Landscape Plan Berkeley, CA
Bryant Park New York, NY
Thompson Primary School Norfolk, UK
SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008 Liz Kushner & Theresa Sprague | Conway School of Landscape Design
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DESIGN ALTERNATIVE 1: THE PUBLIC PARK T
his design connects the Springfield Museums with surrounding public parks to create an open, welcoming, and safe outdoor space for Springfield residents and out-of-town visitors. It turns the site’s focus out towards the community by opening the gates to Chestnut Street and including amenities that have been shown to draw users to park sites, including a water feature and informal gardens in the Yertle the Turtle area and a café serving light fare in the quad plaza. This alternative capitalizes on the site’s main strength – its expanse of open green space in an urban area – by leaving the landscape open and uncluttered, providing a tranquil retreat from city life. Gardens designed to attract birds and butterflies create an edge around the North Lawn and welcome users into the space during special events. When not used for special events, the lawn provides space for picnicking, games, and relaxation. A simple, open-air pavilion tucked into the western corner of the North Lawn provides outdoor classroom space for small school groups and other visitors.
Quad Plaza Cafe Open green space in North Lawn
Butterfly Garden Edge
Yertle water feature and gardens
Open-Air Pavilion Open gates at Chestnut Street
Sketch of proposed Yertle water feature and garden
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DESIGN ALTERNATIVE 2: THE CAMPUS T
his design draws inspiration from the success of the existing quadrangle green, providing spaces for impromptu interactions and casual encounters, important elements in traditional campus design. The campus landscape treatment extends past Edwards Street, incorporating the new Museum of Springfield History (M.O.S.H.) by using similar choices in materials and plants. The South Edwards parking lot accommodates pedestrians as well as automobiles, with wider pathways and plants creating a welcoming and colorful entrance. Inspired by the existing canopy trees on the quad, the creation of the Lorax Arboretum in the North Lawn defines this space and allows for a naturalistic outdoor classroom area. The quad patio is transformed into an outdoor garden plaza, offering space for art students and other visitors to observe and be part of the quadrangle’s active environment. Finally, some displaced parking moves to the former Yertle the Turtle garden, taking advantage of vehicular traffic on Chestnut Street. The Yertle sculpture is moved to the quad green.
South Edwards Parking Lot
The M.O.S.H. Connection
Outdoor Garden Plaza
The Lorax Arboretum New parking area
Model of proposed Outward Garden Plaza
Section of proposed Outward Garden Plaza and quad
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DESIGN ALTERNATIVE 3: THE 6TH MUSEUM T
his design imagines the landscape as an extension of the Museums by encouraging their contents to spill out onto the site and fostering safe outdoor exploration. Organized as a sensory experience, a textured path leads visitors through the sight-focused North Lawn, where gardens and exhibits mix color, texture, height, and pattern, and into a mixed herb/perennial garden, which provides opportunities to experience a variety of different scents. The sensory path moves into the Yertle the Turtle area, a space devoted to tactile experiences. An area dedicated to younger visitors, materials and exhibits in this space offer opportunities to experience a range of textures from rough to smooth and soft to hard, and includes spaces for demonstrations and outdoor classes, free-play, and exploration. Continuing across the open green quadrangle space, the path leads into a sound garden, where visitors have the opportunity to create and experience a variety of sounds. Finally, the path leads visitors to the fountain area, which culminates in experiences for virtually all of the senses. Clear columns of water provide a visual and auditory experience, as well as recreation opportunities and cooling effects.
Sound Garden Solar Panels
Scent-focused Herb/Perennial Gardens
Sensory Path
Fountain Site-focused North Lawn Garden
Touch-focused Yertle the Turtle Children’s Garden Solar Panel Parking
SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008
Sensory Gardens
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FINAL PLAN: The Museum Park T
he final design is a composite of the Public Park, Campus, and 6th Museum alternatives.
By blending elements from the three alternatives, the new Museum Park maintains the strength of the landscape’s existing open green space, while providing shady spaces for strolling, relaxing and meeting with friends. The subject matters of the different museums are apparent throughout the landscape; gardens provide changing colors and patterns throughout the seasons, reminiscent of picturesque landscape paintings, while use of native vegetation celebrates the natural history of the area. Educational opportunities provided by a kiosk at the Welcome Center entrance, plant identification tags, and chances to view birds and butterflies attracted to vegetation in the Yertle the Turtle Butterfly Garden and rain garden tie in closely with science exhibits. Other features of the Museum Park Plan include Sycamore trees to shade the hot South Edwards parking lot, and vegetation planted by the building for a more welcoming entrance experience. Changes in street paving between the new Museum of Springfield History (M.O.S.H.) and the central campus create a connection between the two areas and provide a visual cue for drivers and pedestrians. Gardens and a path using granite recycled from the Yertle the Turtle area create an edge around the North Lawn and invite users into the space for walking, picnicking, playing, and relaxing. An open-air pavilion tucked into the west corner of the North Lawn provides eating and classroom space for groups of school children, as well as for clubs that meet regularly at the Museums. The Yertle the Turtle Garden area comes alive with spaces for children to play and explore, and raised bed planters on the quad patio hold trees that provide enclosure and much needed shade in this hot, under-used space. A Fringetree allee lines the pedestrian walkway behind the Smith Art Museum providing safe passage for visitors parked in the State Street parking lot. Finally, a new maintenance area to the east of the heating plant creates ample room for storage.
Sycamore trees and vegetation in South Edwards parking lot and Welcome Center
Heating Plant
New maintenance area Fringetree allee from State Street Parking
Changes in paving connecting M.O.S.H. and central campus
Kiosk
Path and gardens in the North Lawn
Raised-bed planters on quad patio
Open-air pavilion
Yertle the Turtle Butterfly and Children’s Garden
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DETAIL: NORTH LAWN I
nspired by Dr. Seuss’s cartoon arborist, the Lorax, the Lorax Arboretum now encompasses the North Lawn and becomes a space for quiet contemplation and celebration of the natural world. A bordering garden edge with a shadowing pathway activates the North Lawn with wildlife and pedestrian movement, leaving the lawn open for both casual gatherings and programmed events. A stone seating wall, tucked into the north corner offers a resting spot along the path. Nestled behind the Kilroy Building sits an open-air pavilion, providing outdoor classroom space for school children and special interest clubs. Just beside the pavilion, a mature copper beech tree shades a memorial bench seating area and fern garden. Rain gardens by the Kilroy Building capture stormwater and offer educational opportunities.
Stone seating wall Garden Edge
North Lawn Cockspur Hawthorne Granite walkway
Uncompacted native soils
6� minimum Soil Depth Detail of Stone Seating Wall by Blake Building
Lorax statue
Amur Maple
Lorax Arboretum
Sketch of proposed walkway and butterfly garden
Moisture-tolerant plant material
Eunice Edwards Rose Garden
Copper Beech Sycamore
Rain Garden Detail
Memorial garden
Perforated under-drain in gravel base
Soil Filter Mix: 50% sand 20% composted leaves 30% topsoil
Open-air pavilion
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Rain gardens
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SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008 Liz Kushner & Theresa Sprague | Conway School of Landscape Design Not for construction. This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.
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DETAIL: QUAD PATIO
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aised bed planters on the quad patio create spaces for seating and hold trees and other vegetation that enclose a future cafe and provide much needed shade in this hot, sunny area.
1’ Amur Maples 2’
Mulch 6”
Drain Pipe
Soil mix
White Fringetrees and Serviceberries
Gravel Base Cafe Tables Raised Planter Beds
Section of proposed cafe
A Sketch of proposed raised beds and cafe
Seuss Sculptures
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Raised-bed planters enclose quad patio
SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008 Liz Kushner & Theresa Sprague | Conway School of Landscape Design
Not for construction. This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.
80 FT
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DETAIL: YERTLE THE TURTLE CHILDREN’S GARDEN T
Sketch of rock garden area
he new Yertle the Turtle Children’s Garden offers areas for sensory experiences and hands-on exploration. The Yertle statue bathes in a misting fountain, a perfect spot for children and adults to cool off on a warm day. Large skipping stone lily pads afford the opportunity for children to exercise gross motor skills, while a grassy patch welcomes more passive recreation. Meanwhile, in the northern corner, a bird and butterfly garden bids wildlife and children to intermingle and a curved wooden bench sits facing the garden on the southern end. While granite walkways remain, much of the area has been softened by vegetation and a playable mulch around the lily pads and rock garden. Two trellises protect the space from Chestnut Street traffic but can be taken down when connections to Pynchon Park become more feasible.
Birch Grove
Grassy Patch
Bird & Butterfly Garden
Yertle Statue
“Lily Pads”
Curved Wooden Bench
Play Mulch Rock Garden
Perennial Beds and Oak Trees
Trellis
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Trellis 10
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SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008 Liz Kushner & Theresa Sprague | Conway School of Landscape Design Not for construction. This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.
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DETAIL: YERTLE PLANTS C
hosen for their color, fragrance, and suitability to the climate, the plants recommended for this area are bird, butterfly, and child-friendly. A no-mow grass mix, comprising a blend of six low-growing fine fescue turf grasses, offers a reduction in lawn maintenance and can be used for the grassy patch. Serviceberries partially shade hot areas, still keeping the area sunny for vegetation needs and recreational uses. By the MFA’s northern corner, a Birch Grove’s natural architecture affords children with opportunities for play in all seasons.
Plants for Birds & BuTterflies: Botanical Name Achillea spp. Ascelepias tuberosa Baptisia spp. Campanulas spp. Coreopsis spp. Echinacea pupurea Echinops ritro Gaillardia spp. Hemerocallis spp. Heuchera spp. Liatris Spicata Monarda spp. Penstemon spp. Phlox spp. Rudbeckia fulgida Salvia spp. Sedums spp.
Common Name Yarrow Butterfly Weed False Indigo Bellflower Tickseed Purple Coneflower Globe Thistle Blanket Flower Daylilly Coral Bells Liatris Bee-balm Penstemon Garden Phlox Black-eyed susan Salvia Sedum
Birch Grove
Eastern Redbuds
No-mow grass Bird & Butterfly Garden
Serviceberry
Perennial Beds Trellis
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Sketch of proposed bird and butterfly garden Not for construction. This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.
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SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008 Liz Kushner & Theresa Sprague | Conway School of Landscape Design
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DETAIL: YERTLE MATERIALS M
aterials in the Yertle the Turtle Children’s Garden foster imaginitive play by encouraging visitors to explore in a safe environment. No-mow grasses surround the Yertle the Turtle pond, providing a soft area for sitting and playing around the pond’s misting fountains. Play mulch surrounds stepping stone “lily pads” where children can skip and jump from pad to pad. A circular bench at the southwestern corner of the garden provides a comfortably shaded spot to sit and watch the action around the pond, and a planted trellis creates a living wall that encloses the space and screens the window well running along the Museum of Fine Arts.
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Play Mulch Living-Wall Trellis
No-Mow Grasses Lily Pad Stepping Stones
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Living-Wall Trellis Not for construction. This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.
Yertle Pond
Circular Bench
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Circular Bench
SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008 Liz Kushner & Theresa Sprague | Conway School of Landscape Design
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PlantING Guide
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egetation planted consistently throughout the Museum Park lends a sense of cohesiveness to the site. The following plants are recommended based on their low maintenance requirements, their ability to attract birds and butterflies to the park, and their aesthetic value.
Groundcovers and Perennials: Botanical Name Ajuga reptens Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Linum spp. Vaccinium angustifolium Hosta spp. Hemerocallis spp. Baptisia spp. Phlox spp. Rudebeckia fulgida
Common Name Bugleweed Bearberry Flax Lowbush Blueberry Hosta Daylily False Indigo Garden Phlox Black-eyed Susan
Botanical Name Echinacea purpurea Gaillardia spp. Achillea spp. Heuchara spp. Campanula spp. Lobelia spp. Asclepias tuberosa Salvia spp. Monarda spp.
Common Name Purple Coneflower Blanket flower Yarrow Coral bells Bellflower Cardinal flower Butterfly weed Salvia Bee-Balm
Bearberry
Amur Maple
Serviceberry
Cockspurn Hawthorn
Ornamental Grasses
Trees & ShRubs: Botanical Name Amelanchier spp. Calicarpa dichotoma Cercis canadensis Cornus sericea. Crataegus crusgalli Kolkwitzia amabilis Acer ginnala Chionanthus virginicus Betula populifolia Platanus occidentalis
Common Name Serviceberry Purple Beautyberry Eastern Redbud Redosier Dogwood Cockspur Hawthorn Beauty Bush Amur Maple White Fringetree Gray Birch American Sycamore
Type Tree Shrub Tree Shrub Tree Shrub Tree Tree Tree Tree
Notes Zone 3-7 Bright purple berries Adaptable tree Great winter interest Thornless Hawthorn Attracts birds and butterflies Fine plant for raised planters Fragrant white flowers-May Hardy tree for urban soils Beautiful bark
Size 20’ H&W 3-4’ H 25-35’ H&W 9-10’ H&W 20-30’ H&W 6-10’ H&W 15-18’ H&W 20’ H&W 40’ H 20’W 75-100’ H&W
Beauty Bush
Ornamental grasses: Botanical Name Andropogon virginicus Carex pennsylvanica Miscanthus sinensis condensatus ‘Cabaret’ Miscanthus sinensis condensatus ‘Morning Light’ Panicum virgatum Panicum virgatum ‘Hanse Herms’
Common Name Broom-sedge Pennsylvania Sedge ‘Cabaret’ Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’ Miscanthus Switch Grass Red Switch Grass
Notes Outstanding fall color (orange) Good for a dry site For screening For screening Outstanding fall color (golden-yellow) Outstanding fall color (burgundy)
Hosta
Daylilies
SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008 Liz Kushner & Theresa Sprague | Conway School of Landscape Design Not for construction. This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.
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Design in Context W
ith careful design, the Museums have the opportunity to make connections out into the community, thus affecting change on a greater scale. This Museum Park design not only affects the site itself, but also the surrounding neighborhood. • The landscape master plan envisions spaces that are inviting for visitors from the city of Springfield, as well as out of town. Walking paths welcome people from the neighborhood into the park for regular exercise; misting fountains and play spaces in the Yertle the Turtle Garden invite children and parents to play together, and a future cafe on the quad patio provides opportunities for museum visitors and local business people to enjoy socializing over a light lunch. • Entrance transitions through enhanced street plantings and enriched pavement act as cues to visitors that they are entering someplace special. Moving vegetation from inside to outside the park delineates the Museum campus as a distinct place. • Recognizing revitalization efforts underway in the City of Springfield, the landscape master plan envisions future connections to the downtown area through Pynchon and Merrick Parks by reopening gateways and extending out to these areas. • Museum Park becomes a place for residents and out-of-town visitors to relax, play, socialize, enjoy the arts and experience nature. All of these elements increase human physical, social and psychological well-being, which in turn benefits the Springfield Museums and the city as a whole.
legend: Enhanced Entrances
Community Connections SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008 Liz Kushner & Theresa Sprague | Conway School of Landscape Design Not for construction. This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.
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INDEX OF SHEETS Introduction...............................................................................1 CITY CONTEXT..................................................................................2 Neighborhood CoNtext..............................................................3 History...........................................................................................4 EXISTING CONDITIONS.....................................................................5 access & circulation...................................................................6 views.............................................................................................7 existing vegetation......................................................................8 sun & shade..................................................................................9 impervious surfaces....................................................................10 drainage.....................................................................................11 security.......................................................................................12 security camera views..............................................................13 summary analysis .....................................................................14 Design Concepts........................................................................15 Design Alternatives...............................................................16-18 Final Plan....................................................................................19 Final Plan Design Details.......................................................20-23 Acknowledgements..................................................................24
SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN | Springfield, MA | June 2008 Liz Kushner & Theresa Sprague | Conway School of Landscape Design
SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS
Landscape Master Plan Springfield, MA | June 2008
Liz Kushner & Theresa Sprague | Conway School of Landscape Design
T
he Conway School of Landscape Design is the only institution of its kind in North America. Its focus is sustainable landscape planning and design. Each year through its accredited, ten-month graduate program just 18-19 graduate students from diverse backgrounds are immersed in a range of applied landscape studies, ranging in scale from residences to regions. Graduates go on to play significant professional roles in various aspects of landscape planning and design with an eye to sustainability. The Class of 2008: Kevin Adams, Sarah Bray, Jesse Froehlich, Douglas Guey-Lee, Elizabeth Hammen, Pamela Hurtado, Liz Kushner, Adrian Laine, Michael Lance, Amy Livingston, Kathleen McCormick, Katja Patchowsky, Seth Pearsoll, Catherine Pedemonti, Theresa Sprague, Tom Sullivan, Dillon Sussman, Joseph Weidle, and Andrew Weir CONWAY SCHOOL OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN 332 SOUTH DEERFIELD ROAD | CONWAY, MA 01341-0179
Acknowledgements We would like to the thank the members of the Springfield Museums’ Landscape Committee for their energy, enthusiasm and positive collaboration: Diana Abbasy, Jean Beebe, Lois Bombardier, Joe Carvalho, Mary O. Dowd, Fred Filios, Malcolm Fisher, Patricia Hambley, Laura Hartman, Heather Haskell, Guy McLain, Katie Merrill, Sara Orr, Emily Del Padre, Roger Plasse, Leo Riendeau, Ellen-Rose Savulis, David Stier, Ann Sturtevant, & Brewster Sturtevant. A special thanks to Ken Byrne, Kim Erslev, Paul Hellmund, Jono Neiger and our fellow students for their support and guidance.