Bryant University is a private institution located in rural northern Rhode Island. Its pastoral setting is 15 minutes from Providence and an hour from Boston. The university is globally known for undergraduate and graduate programs in business, health sciences, leadership, and innovation.

Within this 3,700+ student body, there are student leadership opportunities like the Student Government Association. It was the work of that association and the university's Vision 2030 Strategic Plan that made the Fisher Student Center Patio Improvement Project come to fruition.

The demand for improved outdoor space was in no small part also due to the pandemic and the need to maintain human connection. To help the makeover of the student center patio happen, Traverse Landscape Architects was made the company in charge.

Mission and Vision
One of the most important goals described in the Vision 2030 Strategic Plan was to improve and add more active outdoor spaces. The plan builds on the university's transformative learning experience and commitment to educating the whole person to be real-world ready.
The bold undertaking sets a trajectory for the next decade focused on addressing challenges and becoming increasingly competitive within higher education, while enhancing the student life experience on campus. The Fisher Student Center patio improvement
project was one of the first phases in providing a more inviting, engaging, and inclusive student gathering space on campus by creating an activity node that enables socialization, collaboration, and engagement.

Preliminary Steps
Through collaboration between the University's Student Government Association, Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Planning, Design and Construction, the project was identified as a priority - because the existing outdoor space was outdated, not user-friendly and most importantly, not flexible. Funding was thus secured.

The goal was to create a safe, versatile and engaging space that maximized student opportunities to study, dine, and
socialize outdoors.

The approximate ?,? 1/2 -acre project included the west side of the student center facing the central pond and the east side of the center, which is a major corridor from the student housing neighborhoods.

Collaborating with the Stakeholders
During the early phases of planning, the design team engaged and listened closely to the student government leaders, the Fisher Center Staff, faculty, students, and the community to envision what future outdoor improvements should include.

Many of their ideas were incorporated throughout the design process; achieving significant and mindful improvements that helped meet the initial goal of improving the campus experience.

 

Finalizing the Design
The design team explored three concepts with the students and staff. Since flexibility was important to the stakeholders, that concept guided the direction of the project. Out of the visioning process, a final schematic design package was presented both on social media and printed boards at multiple events at the University.

The process included a fast-paced design, development and construction phase to secure the landscape contractor and the materials, contracting for electrical, structural and gas utility work and getting the work done.

Summer Slammer
This fast-tracked phase of the project, known by the common construction term "Summer Slammer," kicked off on July 5, 2022 and was successfully completed by the second week in August 2022.

The renovation included the demolition of the old patio, which consisted of a reinforced slab and brick planters. Overgrown trees were removed. Bryant University Project Management provided daily oversight and coordination with key landscape, plumbing and electrical contractors.

Traverse visited the project during construction, collaborating with Bryant Project Management and the contractor on field layout and material approvals. This provided a great opportunity for junior landscape architects at Traverse to see construction first hand from the ground up in a fast-paced environment.

One of the keys to meeting the deadlines was daily crew sizes ranging from 8-45 landscape professionals which included heavy equipment operators, truck drivers, stone/brick masons, concrete finishers, laborers, arborists, landscape and irrigation specialists, electricians, and plumbers. The total number of on-site labor hours exceeded 4,000.

Unveiling the Outcome
The new patio space nestles into the bucolic landscape of the campus center's core with stunning views of the central pond at the heart of the campus.

The flexible design features a large patio to support outdoor dining, moveable seating, exposed aggregate concrete pads for food trucks, a large lawn area and convenient outlets and site electrical services to support large outdoor events and future planned projects.
The student experience is reinforced with a granite medallion with the Bryant University logo engraved in its surface in the center of the patio, branded street banners on light poles, and
branded umbrellas.

On an expanded overlook to the pond is a fieldstone fire pit and seatwall situated on locally-sourced pavers.

The natural gas fire pit and festoon lighting work together to create a comfortable, warm, inviting atmosphere that promotes well-being, inclusion, and safety. During the shoulder seasons with cooler New England temperatures, students can warm up next to the fire pit, extending the outdoor experience.
There are also newly planted native trees and planting beds.

Around the corner from the patio on the east side of the building is a more casual space leading from the student housing to where outdoor grills and picnic tables will be installed allowing a lively space for students to meet up, cook and dine together. Night-time activity was considered with a new lighted path leading to a new all-night, walk-up cafe window.

The materials selected for the project were high quality brick pavers, field stone pavers, granite cobble, veneer and caps, heavy gauge powder-coated site furnishings, decorative light poles and bollards. All the materials relate to the existing colonial influences and character in the historic Blackstone Valley region where Bryant University is located.

Although newly constructed, the patio already feels like it has always been there, and will continue to age over time.

Mission Accomplished
Student appreciation was evident on Bryant's school social media posts once classes were back in session for the 2022-2023 academic year - students and staff quickly programmed events in the new space throughout that fall.

Ultimately, the project supports the University's vision - educate and inspire students to discover their passion and become innovative leaders with character. This project allowed the student leaders to create and organize a transformative
project - a process that can be demonstrated to future student leadership.

"Traverse Landscape Architects developed an exciting design that revitalized the patio area to one of our busiest academic and student centers on campus," states the Bryant University Office of Planning, Design and Construction.

TEAM LIST
Landscape Architects:
Traverse Landscape Architects, LLC
-Kris Bradner, Landscape Architect, Principal
-Doris Fang, Landscape Designer
Landscape Contractor: Yardworks, Inc.
Electrical Contractor:
Reilly Electrical Contractors, Inc.
Plumbing Contractor: E.M.Corbeil, Inc.