Landscape Architect Articles

LASN June 2016 Hardscapes: Lynchburg College "??AE Drysdale Student Center 06-14-16 | Department

Lynchburg College – Drysdale Student Center
Landscape Architecture by Timmons Group

Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Va., expanded the Drysdale Student Center to 72,000 square feet over the course of 2 years starting in 2012. Timmons Group provided surveying, civil engineering and landscape architecture services for the multi-terraced brick plaza. Campus standards were used throughout the project for the bricks as well as site amenities, including Madrax bicycle racks. The uppermost tier includes the campus seal, created by PaverArt, set into the paving.

Drysdale Student Center (formerly Burton Hall) was originally built in 1968 when only 1,000 students attended Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Va. With enrollment on the rise (now a total of 2,500 students) the building no longer fit the needs of the college. This $12 million expansion project extended the student center to 72,000 square feet. The building houses a welcome center, fitness center, meeting rooms, multicultural center, commons space, veterans' lounge, dance and aerobics space, a game room and food vendors.

Timmons Group provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, and surveying services for the project. The site's steep topography – over 80 feet – provided opportunities for the design team to create a unique gathering space on multiple levels. At the top of the site, Spanish steps lead to a beautifully landscaped courtyard with several different fountains. A new loop road was designed and built to enhance access to the site, and a large retaining wall was incorporated as a climbing wall.

The biggest challenge in this project was the grade change and meeting ADA accessibility requirements. To address the grade change, a grand Spanish style staircase was constructed. ADA access is provided through the building's interior elevator. One of the area's three water features, a sculptural recirculating bowl, is at the base of this set of stairs.

The project was completed with a collaborative approach from all team members. Dominion 7 Architects out of Lynchburg, Va., quarterbacked the project, setting milestone design reviews along the way. Constructed in 24 months, the college announced the grand opening concurrent with the beginning of the fall 2014 semester.

Undoubtedly, the largest challenge of this project was the grade change across the site. The new student center stretched to three stories with access imperative at all levels. Utilizing a grand staircase, two and a half levels were addressed, with ADA access through the building's elevator.

The brick pavers were sand set on a rigid base, and held tight by mortar-set brick banding and edge treatments. Drainage for stormwater runoff comes from pedestrian style trench grates in the plaza (Ironsmith). This splash jet water feature is choreographed to work in rhythm as students walk by. Water from this feature drains to fountain trench drains (Hendrick Screen Company). In addition to this and the fountain on the steps, the lowest plaza has tiered fountains over black granite. The fountain components were provided by Roman Fountains.

Various terraces in the main plaza made up the remaining grade. Away from the plaza, a 30-ft. tall retaining wall made up grade on a slope near the parking lot expansion, creating an opportunity for the college's first outdoor climbing wall.

The site walls and paving were constructed using the campus standard Cambridge colored brick for Lynchburg College. Matching the building brick on vertical walls and seating areas was also a prerequisite, achieved with architectural sand faced brick in a "Golden Suede' color.

Set aside from the main plaza, a 30' tall retaining wall was added to make up some of the grade change. It was made into a 50' wide climbing wall open two days a week for student use.

All pavers were sand set on a rigid base, held tight by mortar set brick banding and edge treatments. Draining to pedestrian style trench grates (Ironsmith) in the plaza, stormwater is easily conveyed to the storm system, flowing through a series of biofiltration areas and into one of the campus ponds, where it is held until it flows into the local watershed. Three water features, with fountain components by Roman Fountains, were designed and installed in the plaza. At the lower plaza, tiered fountains circulate water from jets and cascade down black granite tiles to the lower pool. The middle plaza is defined by a series of choreographed splash jets at ground level. As the middle plaza approaches the grand staircase to the upper level, a sculptural fountain constructed from cast stone spits water into a large recirculating bowl.

As an added feature, PaverArt LLC executed the installation of the specially designed college seal made of concrete pavers, accentuating the middle plaza and establishing a sense of pride and identity for the space.

On top of all improvements within the plaza, the college had the foresight to add a unique element to an otherwise obtrusive retaining wall near the main entrance to the campus. The 30-ft. tall retaining wall was constructed with modular block and doubles as a climbing wall with all of the bells and whistles.

Team
Survey, Civil Engineer, and Landscape Architect: Timmons Group
Architect: Dominion 7 Architects
Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing: Simmons, Rockecharlie & Prince
General Contractor: Jamerson-Lewis Construction
Landscape Contractor: Carroll's Landscaping
Hardscape Contractor: PDC Hardscapes
Fountain Contractor: Augusta Aquatics

Materials
Fountain Components: Roman Fountains
Trench Grates: Ironsmith, Olympian with custom radius
Bike Racks: Madrax, "U" Rack (Lynchburg College Standard)
College Logo in Pavement: PaverArt LLC, laser cut concrete pavers
Fountain Trench Drain: Hendrick Screen Company

As seen in LASN magazine, Hardscapes, June 2016.