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New Roundabout at Missouri University of Science and Technology 10-29-24 | News

New Roundabout at Missouri University of Science and Technology

Creative Design Solutions to Achieve High Quality Aesthetic in High Traffic and Highly Regulated Environment
by SWT Design, Inc.

A realignment project of University Drive in Rolla, Missouri was led by St. Louis-based landscape architecture firm SWT Design, Inc. This roundabout features a 150-foot-diameter center paving and turf island, and was designed to alleviate traffic constraints from the connected Highway 63. Photo by Musselman & Hall
An exposed aggregate with a random hexagon pattern and color differentiation surrounds the island. The two-toned concrete aggregate system is composed of 16,000 square feet of Bomanite's Sandscape Texturing. Photo by Musselman & Hall
This aerial view of the roundabout looks east towards historic Rolla Hall, the first academic building on Missouri University of Science and Technology's campus. Thermoplastic decorative crosswalks called Trafficscapes from Ennis-Flint are found along three crosswalks. Photo by Missouri S&T
This conceptual rendering was one of several options produced by SWT Design, Inc. that demonstrated the hexagon pattern to the client. Photo by SWT Design, Inc.

For the past 18 years, residents of Rolla, Missouri have consistently identified transportation, particularly congestion relief, as a top priority. As such, the Move Rolla Transportation Development District (Move Rolla TDD) has undertaken several projects to improve transportation, with one of the most notable being the realignment of University Drive. Missouri University of Science and Technology's (Missouri S&T) 2020 Campus Master Plan also highlighted this realignment as essential for enhancing the arrival experience to the campus.
The reorganization of University Drive, now known as Tim Bradley Way in honor of a Missouri S&T alumnus, addressed long-standing concerns by creating a new arrival district for both Phelps Health and Missouri S&T. The thoroughfare intersects with Missouri Highway 63 through a newly constructed roundabout. Furthermore, the subsequent multimodal transportation network is critical for improving mobility and safety, connecting major activity centers, maximizing economic development opportunities, and providing aesthetic enhancements that establish a sense of place for Rolla's residents and visitors.

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Designed to accommodate large semi-tractor trailers traveling through Highway 63, the roundabout features 16,000 square feet of decorative truck aprons and median islands. The addition of the roundabout helps to alleviate traffic congestion by diverting vehicles from the city's other two interstate exits and creating a new gateway to the Missouri S&T campus.
SWT Design, Inc., a landscape architecture firm from St. Louis, Missouri, was involved in the university's 2020 Campus master plan in which the transformational arrival district concept was further refined. SWT Design, Inc. has had the opportunity to be a consistent resource to the university to help guide design continuity throughout several of the district's projects. The firm also worked to ensure the roundabout would be both welcoming and visually appealing to visitors arriving in Rolla and at the university. The design concept leveraged the large hardscape area to display an intricate pattern. Given state highway restrictions and the desire for non-traditional solutions, the design team considered and eventually dismissed unit paving due to cost, maintenance, and durability concerns. Instead, they explored sandblasting as a method to create a unique and lasting pattern in the concrete.
The chosen design features hexagon shapes scaled to suit the space and the speeds at which they would be viewed. An ombre/gradient effect was incorporated to enhance the two-tone appearance, achieved by modifying the density of sandblasted hexagons from one edge of the roundabout to
the other.
Musselman & Hall Contractors were enlisted to install the decorative concrete median islands, and they utilized Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Systems for their installation. Sandscape texture was installed by Musselman & Hall with brownstone integral color and color hardener. They created a custom, 15-inch, hexagon template that was used to sandblast the color hardener from the surface. This was done in a very specific pattern illustrated by the design team to achieve a two-tone design, further emphasizing the pattern and highlighting the distinct textural detail. Because of the complexity of the design, this process required extreme attention to detail, and the sandblasting process alone took two weeks to complete. With an extremely high level of detail, this installation required diligent and meticulous workmanship. Sandblasting the linear hexagon pattern around the oblong roundabout island was a huge challenge, as each hexagon had to be precise for the design to meet up all the way around and not show misalignment at any point.
Tim Bradley Way stands as a testament to Move Rolla TDD's commitment to improving transportation infrastructure, enhancing economic development, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for both residents and visitors. This project not only alleviates congestion but also serves as an attractive and functional entry point to the city and the university.
The development of the Missouri S&T arrival district is still undergoing implementation and represents more than $240,000,000 invested in the university's front door and arrival experience. The roundabout serves as a gateway to Rolla and to three new university facilities - an Innovation Lab, Welcome Center, and future Bioplex - along with eight acres of redeveloped interstitial campus community spaces, plazas, and green space. The project was awarded the 2022 Gold Award for Best Bomanite
Specialty Project.

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