The upcoming ISSUE Issue of Landscape Architect and Specifier News saw many firms submit their projects for feature consideration. This project was not chosen for a Feature in the issue, but we at LandscapeArchitect.com thought the project deserved to be showcased online . . .

 

The Georgia Institute of Technology is a well-established, Learn, Serve, and Sustain institute of higher learning in Atlanta, Georgia. GIT retained LEUNG planning + design and Southern Civil Engineers to design a new Tech Trolley drop-off area. The site selected for this as a Transit Hub project is located in the heart of the Georgia Tech's central campus, adjacent to the Student Center and at the crossroad of several pedestrian corridors traversing through this part of campus. The site is also one of the oldest areas on campus with a number of mature specimen trees of over sixty inches in diameter. One of the major challenges of the site design is to be able to accommodate the various modes of transportation. This includes vehicular traffic, the Tech Trolley up to coach buses, pedestrian and bicycle users, and provide access to the various buildings that encircle the site.
As this is a long-established area on campus, a web of underground utilities traverses the site; careful planning and design considerations were taken to resolve utility conflicts as well as ensuring the preservation of all the mature specimen trees. SCE and LEUNG team work together and closely coordinated the site plan to reduce grading and earthworks, and thus minimizing impact to the existing trees. The team also coordinated the design efforts with multiple GIT facilities and transportation departments to provide an accessible, safe and sustainable design solution.