Students and University Collaborate

By Marc Barnes, King's English LLC

Red clay pavers included in the Artist's Backyard complement the red brick buildings on the North Carolina State University campus. The pavers, made from shale and water, are green, durable and recyclable.

The Artist's Backyard, a joint project between North Carolina State University's departments of Landscape Architecture and University Housing, added a plaza and rain garden between two residence halls at the school. The project used StormPave???(R)???AE???? permeable pavers from Pine Hall Brick and recycled materials from a building demolition.

Before the project, surging stormwater would carry leaves, mulch and other debris across a concrete sidewalk. Mature oak trees within the existing space were protected during the installation, and a sidewalk and stairwell that were not ADA-compliant were also updated.

Andrew Fox, an assistant professor at the university's College of Design, won a $20,000 teaching grant through the NC Provost's office to fund the rain garden as a design/build exercise for his students.

The university continues to benefit from the low impact development techniques that slow, capture and clean stormwater on site. Cisterns, permeable pavers and a series of runnels direct stormwater into the rain gardens for filtration and erosion prevention.

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At North Carolina State University, Pine Hall Brick donated StormPave???(R)???AE???? pavers.
Photos Courtesy of King's English LLC

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