DTJ DESIGN in conjunction with Slalom Consulting worked together to improve student life at the Campus Clark Atlanta University (CAU). What began as a volunteer effort for the 2022 Martin Luther King Holiday, evolved into three much-needed improvement projects. University President Dr. George French had previously convened a student, faculty, and staff committee to assess where and how to make meaningful improvements for students on campus. A range of options were considered, but three were deemed most feasible, two interior spaces and a central outdoor greenspace.

 
CAU's student body is 75 percent women and 25 percent men. The goal of the two interior projects, located in the lower level of the men's dormitory, is to provide dedicated common space. The outdoor project is less than an acre, adjacent to the Student Bookstore/Fitness/Dining Center. It is an open lawn with trees around the perimeter. President French and the committee have the vision to transform the space into a Student Memorial Park that is centered on the theme of Mind, Body, Soul: a place for celebrations and exercise, relaxation and wellness, and respite and reflection. The current space is essentially a hilltop with slopes falling away on all sides and will require some earthwork to fully utilize.
The week before MLK Day, five DTJ designers met on site with representatives of CAU and Slalom to walk the property and learn more about three spaces, including primary circulation routes, how underutilized spaces were currently used, how students use the spaces at different times of day, and how the new spaces fit into the overall campus context. Could we link the park with the adjacent Student Center dining terrace? Could the space accommodate both loud and quiet contemplative activities? Is it possible to create pop-up projects before longer-term implementation? And what is the budget for improvements?
On the MLK Day of Service, the DTJ Team of Architects and Landscape Architects joined focus groups comprised of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and members of the Slalom team. Valuable information and insight were gained for each project, guiding DTJ's design approach. For the park, creative brainstorming generated many ideas including outside programming with music, a solar outdoor classroom, a labyrinth, a Greek plot area, places for hammocks, a prayer wall, sports court, exercise/yoga/meditation space, and even a crop garden. The most compelling part of the park may be the Fallen Panther Memorial Garden - a permanent memorial to mourn and celebrate the lives of Clark Atlanta students, classmates, and faculty who have passed on.

DTJ is now developing conceptual plan diagrams and illustrative exhibits in collaboration with the University design committee to hone the detailed uses of the spaces and create specific designs for each project. We hope to expand our relationship with CAU, Slalom, and the broader market to effect positive change through our work and lives.