Eckerd College
St. Petersburg, Florida

ASG recently completed the campus master plan at Eckerd College. A major element of the master plan was the development of landscape architectural design guidelines for the campus.

After this master plan, ASG was selected to provide architectural and landscape architectural services for a now completed library, and for the new residence halls scheduled to open in Fall 2007. In accordance with the Ayers Saint Gross master plan the site is located on the south portion of the college campus adjacent to the new library. This placement responds to the existing residence halls adjacent for the short term while creating view corridors to the surrounding bay. This site was chosen to help frame an emerging campus green.

A goal of the residence hall project is to develop one prototype residence hall and associated landscape in the heart of the campus. The College’s plan is to replace their existing housing with this prototype as funding allows.

The grading of the site is critical to the development of the project and to the future of the college landscape. The campus is predominantly built on fill which is below the 100 year flood plane. Due to this, the ground is often saturated with water and unpleasant to walk on. The master plan sites the finished floor of all new buildings above this level. The future residence hall complexes will, along with the library, establish a higher ground plane for these buildings and the areas in between. A pedestrian zone will be created that connects the buildings at the higher elevation. Additionally, each new residential complex creates a series of courtyards intended for both organized and informal gatherings.

The master plan landscape design guidelines were intended to weave the site into the native surroundings to establish a sustainable environment. Various areas of the campus were classified by landscape typology, including mangrove, woods, pine grove and old growth forest. The master plan also includes stormwater management, plant material, soil, and estuary protection recommendations. The residence hall landscape implements these recommendations on many levels. The buildings and surrounding sites are raised. The courtyards have open space in the center surrounded by low grasses and shrubs to provide habitat. The slopes of the site are likewise planted with native material form the design guidelines of the master plan. Impervious surfaces are limited. Soils are mixed to allow swift drainage.

Landscape design guidelines for site furniture, campus drives, site furniture and site lighting were also established and are being implemented as a part of the residence hall project.

Completion: 2007
Size: 4 Acres
Cost: $400,000