Key Facts
- 2002 CT AIA Design Award.
- 2000 Merit Award from the CT Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
- National model for urban renewal.
Project Details
To support the unique learning environment of this regional Montessori Magnet School, To Design designed a “learning courtyard.” The site program was such that all of the courtyard elements were required to reflect educational messages, while providing learning opportunities through contact with nature. Included in the courtyard are constructed wetlands, igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, planters for student gardens, and an amphitheater. A birch grove was incorporated to announce seasonal changes while bringing children in contact with the sights, sounds, and textures of nature. A variety of other trees and shrubs reflect the diversity of the natural world.