A Campus Master Plan

Hyperlinked

A Landscape Architecture and Ecological Restoration Proposal for St. Gabriel’s Campus in Audubon, Pennsylvania

Dedicated to those who connect landscapes.

PUBLISHING INFO

Table of Contents Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 01 Survey & Analysis........................................................................................................................... 03 Case Studies.................................................................................................................................... 39 Design Proposal.............................................................................................................................. 53 Ecological Restoration..................................................................................................................... 99

Introduction St. Gabriel’s Campus is located 24 miles northwest of Philadelphia, in the town of Audubon, Pennsylvania. The campus is surrounded by as much as 3600 acres of naturally managed lands. Owned by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the site is home to two state funded programs for court adjudicated teenage boys.

a massive, historic building of the same name. The landscape around St. Gabe’s Hall includes a large area of mowed lawn, sports fields, and a small raised bed garden.

The South-Facing Lawn

The goal of this project is to improve the experiential aspects of this landscape by restoring and improving the ecological functions it provides. A combination of landscape architecture and Both programs incorporate ecological restoration will offer schooling and a connection with students increased opportunities the outdoors in their efforts to to engage with the natural world; enrich the lives of these troubled opportunities that are absent youths. The Mitchell Program in the lives of many who grew operates on the smaller, northern up in urban environments. This section of the campus and features connection between students and a therapeutic farm. To the south the landscape around them is an of Pawlings Road is the St. imperative of the teachers and Gabe’s Hall Program, housed in programs at this campus.

1

2

Survey & Analysis

3

4

Project Context Situated in Lower Providence Township within Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, St. Gabriel’s campus is surrounded by “garden towns” including Phoenixville, Norristown, King of Prussia, and Wayne with a combined population of about 85,000 peope.

The site location is made easily Regional Susquehanna River

Schuylkill River

accessible by a network of highways, public transit, and trails.

meadows, riparian zones, and wetlands.

02 Miles

St. Gabriel’s Campus

NJ

Wissahickon Creek

French Creek

wli Pa

Schuylkill River Trail

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Radnor Township Phoenixville Major Roads

Counties

70mi

140mi

Valley Forge National Historical Park

d. sR

St. Gabriel’s Campus

King of Prussia

Montgomery Philadelphia Delaware Chester

5

Perkiomen Creek

Norristown

Atlantic Ocean

0

Multi-Use Trail

op Lo n bo du Trail u A

Valley Forge National Historic Park

Schuylkill River

VA

St. Gabe’s Hall

Lower Providence Township

PA MD

Schuylkill River Trail

05 Miles

Perkiomen Creek

Mitchell Program

Audubon Center at Mill Grove

ng

Local

NY

St. Gabriel’s Campus

en m o rki il Pe Tra

The Pottstown Epressway (US 422) defines the south and west borders the site, while the eastern edge is shared with a compact, single family residential neighborhood.

Adjacent to the campus, Valley Forge National Historical Park and the Audubon Center at Mill Grove host a rich, ecological landscape of woodlands,

Delaware River

Site

Little Darby Creek

Schuylkill River

Crum Creek

0

05mi

10mi

Scale 1”=800’

0

800’

1600’

6

Site and Institutional History The Archdiocese of Philadelphia purchased 185 acres of land between the Schuylkill River and Perkiomen Creek presumably from the Wetherhill estate at the tail end of the 19th century. The Wetherhill’s had purchased the land from the Pawling’s.

Both families farmed the land since the 18th century.

Archbishop Ryan commissioned Architects, Wilson Brothers and Company to design the “hall” in the Italianate palace style and it was built in 1898.

Called the Protectory for Boys, the institution was a place where judges and priests from Philadelphia assigned boys who had committed non-violent crimes.

The Christian Brotherhood, started by John Baptist de la Salle in 1682, acted as school 7

Montgomery County Property Map - 1789

Campus

Montgomery County Property Map - 1849

Campus

masters and administrators of the site up until the beginning of the 21st century.

In 1962, the Protectory name was changed to St. Gabriel’s to mark a new approach to treating the boys assigned to the institution.

St. Gabriel’s Hall & Mitchell Program - 1922

The new namesake, St. Gabriel Possenti had been a student of the brothers in Italy as a boy. He overcame his bad habits and entered a religious order. For this he was defined as the Patron Saint for Rebellious Youth.

As is shown in the adjacent figures, agricultural use continued to occupy most of the campus until the mid to late 20th century when the land was converted to lawns.

Interestingly, the inner courtyard space had been a walled-in gravel exercise yard and train tracks led up to the Pawlings Rd. face of the campus.

8

Mitchell Program - 1922

Pawlings Rd and Train Spurs - 1922 Train Tracks

Farm Structures

Water Well Train Tracks

Farm Structures Pawlings Rd.

Pawlings Rd.

9

10

Site Map and Aerial 2019 Aerial with Contours St. Gabe’s Program

Audubon Center at Mill Grove

Well

S.R.T.

The Mitchell Program

Stable Stable

Barn

County Land

Parking

Classroom/ Offices Chicken Coop Chicken Coop

Storage

l rai T p

Barn Parking

G

County Land ym

G

Basketball ms

Ca ria

fete

Soccer

.

in l w Pa

hen

Kitc

n Ave

. d R gs

Parking

Raised Bed Ag.

Parking

Single Family Residential Neighborhood

.

Rd

ities

Util

Statio

lin Paw

Greenhouse

iew lV

Sanctuary Garden.

ym

e ap

Fenced Fenced Pasture Ag.

d. gs R

ces

Offi

roo lass &C

Baseball

Parking Pool

Valley Forge National Historical Park

tacle Obs rse Cou

High Ropes Course

U.S. 422 22 U.S. 4 N.T.S.

11

St. Gabe’s Hall

Baseball

Old Drive/ Path

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Mitchell Program

Entrance Drive

Ch

Cemetery

oo nL

o

ub

d Au

Shed

Stable Stable

Fenced Pasture

N.T.S.

12

Local and Site Zoning The site is located within Lower Providence Township R-2 district with a Public Facility Zoning overlay.

Existing Local and Site Land Use

The codes for this area are geared toward low density, singlefamily detached housing. The public facility overlay addresses Upper Providence Township

Zoning Map Schuylkill Township

k

e

om

rki Pe

ree nC

.

Rd s g

Lower Providence Township Audubon Center at Mill Grove

St. Gabriel’s Campus Open Space Conservation Manufacturing Industrial R-2 Public Facility R-2 Multifamily Residential R-1 Public Facility R-1 Single Family Residential Agriculture Township Boundary

Valley Forge National Historical Park

in

wl Pa

appropriate areas for public and private parks, open space and recreational, municipal and educational uses.

Residential, agricultural, and wooded are the three dominant land uses that surround the campus while institutional, agricultural and recreational are the land uses within the site

property boundary. The map on the right shows two potential land use corridors that could help connect the site to the context and increase landscape performance.

Meadow Corridor Connection

Ecological Corridor Proposal

St. Gabriel’s Campus

iver kill R

Water Wooded Recreation Agriculture Residential Utility Right-of-Way Institutional Commercial Industrial Utility Parking Road

Perkiomen Creek

uyl

Sch

St. Gabriel’s Campus

St. Gabriel’s Campus

22 US 4

ylkill

Schu

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Woodland Corridor Connection

River

Schuylkill River Upper Merion Township N.T.S.

13

Scale 1”=800’

0

1600’

3200’

14

Site Access

Road Access

Trail Access St. Gabriel’s Campus

Car travel offers the easiest access to the campus. Visitors can also arrive at the site by bike or by a combination of bus and walking.

Arterial Local

Oaks, PA

Public Trail Parking

St. Gabriel’s Campus S.R.T. Perkiomen Trail Audubon Trail Valley Forge

S.R.T .

L.

N.T.S.

to Phoenixville, PA

to Norristown, PA

15

St. Gabriel’s Campus

99 SEPTA Bus Route

01

Oaks, PA

a

Local Road Interior Road Crosswalk Main Entrance

N.T.S.

Montgomery Ave. & Station Ave. Bus Stop

Travel Experience

Source: Google

Parking Multi-Use Trail

S.R.T.

Oaks, PA

Oaks, PA

St. Gabriel’s Campus

Mitchell Program

St. Gabe’s Program

22 US 4

Bus Access

Bus Stop

wl Pa

a‘

A.

The closest bus route (99) runs between Norristown and Phoenixville with a stop in Oaks. That stop is about one mile northwest of the St. Gabriel’s Campus. From there, a person could ride on street and trail to the campus.

in

Site Access

P.C.T.

.

Rd s g

Mi

le

Source: Google N.T.S.

N.T.S.

Three trails run near the site: Schuylkill River Trail (S.R.T.), Audubon Loop (A.L.) and the Perkiomen Creek Trail (P.C.T.)

Pawlings Rd. Crossing a-a’ - Existing Existing Crosswalk Experience Sites without clear crossings make intersections dangerous places for pedestrians and can lead to a feeling of disconnection.

While the road is only two lanes, the traffic moves by at a high speed due to the linear nature of the road which encourages speeding. Passersby may not realize they are cutting through a campus which puts students and staff at risk.

Source: Google

16

Land Use History

Site Aesthetic

1971

1937

Over the last century the site has shifted from a dominant agricultural function to a recreational, residential, and passive historical function.

The train line is now a multi-use trail and US 422 runs along the southern and western edge of the campus.

St. Gabriel’s Campus

Source: pennpilot.com

The train spur that came up and stopped along the current Gymnasium and Boiler buildings was also removed.

Agriculture

Agriculture

Nursery

Recreation Parking

Recreation Parking

the Italianate Palace style. The buildings across Pawlings Road used by the Mitchell Program were formerly operated as part of a farm and are in a adapted re-use American farm style.

The historic building, outbuildings and water infrastructure are in

The landscape on this side has an agricultural character while the

landscape to the south adjacent to the St. Gabe’s Hall has an English pastoral character.

The sanctuary garden, which features a pond and water fall and more plantings has a more romantic character.

St. Gabe’s Hall

Pawlings Road Train

1980 Mitchell Program

The extension of US 422 took place in the 1980’s.

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Train

Train Pawlings Road Train

The former campus drive and approach toward St. Gabe’s Hall has been shifted to Pawlings Rd. This has transformed the approach experience so that people enter from the back of the building

Source: pennpilot.com

St. Gabe’s Hall sits prominently in the landscape and acts as a wellknown regional landmark. US 422 which skirts the southern and western edge is known locally as St. Gabe’s Curve.

Source: dvrpc.com

18

Physiographic Region The site exists within the GettysburgNewark Lowland section of the Piedmont Provence in Pennsylvania.

This lowland name is misleading due to areas such as the site that sit atop eroded hills. The section is separated from the rest of the Piedmont sections due to the distinctive rock types found here composed of sandstone, siltstone, and shale.

Interestingly, a confluence of the three sections that form the Piedmont Province is just south of the site where the Valley creek runs into the Schuylkill river at Valley Forge.

Regional Landscape

Pennsylvania Atlantic Ocean

Physiographic Area of study

St. Gabriel’s Campus Gettysburg-Newark Lowland Piedmont Upland Piedmont Lowland Atlantic Coastal Plain

Confluence of three sections St. Gabriel’s Campus

Characteristics of the GettysburgNewark Lowlands are rolling low hills and valleys developed on red sedimentary rock which the site expresses. The climate is humid 19

Source: www.nrc.gov

Schuylkill River

Gettysburg-Newark Lowland Piedmont Upland Piedmont Lowland Valley Forge Park

continental and precipitation averages between 41 to 45 inches. The basic Piedmont Provinces and Development drainage pattern is dendritic though this is not readily apparent at the site due to site grading. Dendritic Gettysburg-Newark Lowland patterns are similar to a tree branch pattern with smaller lines winding and meeting with other lines to Piedmont Upland form larger and larger lines. They Piedmont Lowland criss-cross a landscape and vary with the topography. A dendritic Piedmont Upland stream pattern indicates a consistent topography. Summer and winter mean temperatures range from 75 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Prevailing winds are from the southwest in summer and Characteristic Piedmont Countryside northwest in winter.

The Piedmont Lowland section is composed of broad, moderately dissected, karst valleys separated by broad, low hills. This formation can be seen running from Norristown west toward Coatesville between the Piedmont Upland flat-top hills.

St. Gabriel’s Campus

This gently rolling agricultural land in southern Chester county shows a typical humaninfluenced Piedmont landscape.

20

Site Geology The underlying site geology formed more than 200 million years ago when the continents of North America and Africa separated.

The red sedimentary rocks include sandstone, siltstone, shale, and some conglomerate. Below this rock lies the Stockton Formation of bedrock. The shallower depth to bedrock areas are shown in gray to the right. These affect water table, stormwater infiltration, and the drought tolerance of vegetation.

Site Soils

Site Geology Audubon Center At Mill Grove

US 422

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Site Soils

Other than the compacted urban soils, the site soils here have a texture, pH, and moisture quality that works well for growing plants whether for food, wildlife, landscape performance, or aesthetic experience. These silt loams are listed as prime agricultural soils.

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Red Sedimentary Rocks

St. Gabriel’s Campus

Depth to Lithic Bedrock ~ 20-40”

N.T.S.

Silt-Loam

Red Sedimentary Rocks

St. Gabriel’s Campus 3.1% Lansdale loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes

Montgomery County Geology

12.3% 30.8% 14.5%

Lawrenceville silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes Lawrenceville silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes

St. Gabriel’s Campus

20.4%

Red Sedimentary Rocks

16.9%

Penn silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes Penn-Lansdale complex loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes

Source: www.nrc.gov

21

This example of red sedimentary rocks is typical of what exists on campus.

Source: addressinggettysburg.com

Urban land-Penn complex loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes

22

Site Hydrology The site is split into two subwatersheds naturally by the ridge at Pawlings Road. Artificial hydrology in the form of stormwater infrastructure redirects water into these two watersheds. The northern half drains into the Perkiomen Creek while the southern half drains into the Schuylkill River. Both waterways see significant water level rises during storm events.

The dominance of lawn means that a significant amount of sheet flow runs across the site and into these waterways increasing regional flooding, lower water quality, and soil erosion when added to all the other run off in the regional watershed. Meadow on the south side of the campus could add significant ecologic and aesthetic value to the site and region.

23

Site Surface Hydrology - Existing d.

R s

Perkiomen Creek

Wetland

Lawn (TYP.)

Lawn

ing

Pasture (TYP.)

wl a P

Sheet Flow Culvert Inlet Buried Retention Basin

A small but consistently wet area in the southern part of campus.

Typical lawnscape creates heavy, unfiltered runoff.

Seasonal High Water Table

Pasture land slows and filters water better than mown lawn.

.

Rd Pawlings

Retention Basin

Inlet (TYP.)

Wetland

Well

22 US 4

Perkiomen Creek Watershed Sub-watershed Divide Line

Schuylkill River

Buried basin collects water but provides no habitat performance.

Large grates quickly send water into the local waterways; increasing flashy rivers.

Well infrastructure pulling water from the local aquifer.

24

Site Topography St. Gabe’s hall sits on a broad ridge line which splits the site into two. The north side of the campus slopes west and north toward the Perkiomen Creek.

The south side of the campus slopes south toward the Schuylkill River. The average slopes surrounding the building

Site Topography

structures of St. Gabriel’s campus are 0-2%. the land increases in slope further away from these structures with the steepest slopes located at the western and southern edges of the campus.

US 422

170’

150’ 160’

Audubon Center At Mill Grove

d. sR

ling

US 422

w Pa

160’

300’

Section a-a’ Key Map

600’

0’

s ling

.

Rd

180’

w Pa

Perspective - Existing

600’

b’

a

High

300’

Section b-b’ Key Map

a’

Topographic Analysis

Audubon Center At Mill Grove 175’

Section-Perspective b-b’ - Existing

0’

The lower elevation areas on the southern part of campus

178’ HP

Perkiomen Creek

do contain shallower soils. As stormwater flows down to these areas, water may pool quicker and lead to this area being best managed as wet meadow.

Section-Perspective a-a’ - Existing

b Perspective - Existing

165’ 140’

0’

Valley Forge National Historical Park

165’

15

Valley Forge National Historical Park

160’

Elevation

15

150’

0’

14

0’

13

13

0’ 140’

0’

120’ LP

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Valley Forge National Historical Park

120’

5’ Contours

25

St. Gabriel’s Campus

Buildings

5’ Contours

St. Gabriel’s Campus

Low

26

Section-Perspective c-c’ - Existing

Section-Perspective d-d’ - Existing

0’ 0’

300’

Section c-c’ Key Map

Section-Perspective e-e’ - Existing

300’

600’

600’ 0’

Section d-d’ Key Map

Section-Perspective f-f’

400’

Section e-e’ Key Map e

800’

0’

200’

400’

Section f-f’ Key Map

d c

f

d’

f’

e’ c’

Perspective - Existing

27

Perspective - Existing

Perspective - Existing

Perspective - Existing

28

Local Flora & Fauna St. Gabriel’s campus is surrounded by a wealth of meadows and wooded areas. This local habitat context contains a variety of fauna and flora relationships that sustain a diverse level of life.

Hard and soft paving such as lawn, create gaps in these rich Eastern Meadowlark

Eastern Bluebird

Local and Site Existing Habitat Features land cover types which leads to a decline in the species diversity.

A study published in 2012 of the grasslands and meadows at Valley Forge National Historical Park identifies flora and fauna that would most likely occur on the St. Gabriel’s campus if grassland Black Swallowtail

St. Gabriel’s Campus

meadows and other habitat types were incorporated into that landscape. Of note, sixty species of special conservation concern have been documented to exist in the Valley Forge Park grasslands and meadows.

Milk Weed

Audubon Center at Mill Grove

Woodland Meadow

Perkiomen Creek

Riparian

Valley Forge National Historical Park

County Land

Occurs in Grassland Meadows at Valley Forge Park

Broomsedge

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Cedar Waxwing

Short-eared Owl

Eastern-tailed Blue Butterfly

Percent Frequency 41.5%

Percent Frequency 68.2%

Butter-And-Eggs

Meadow Fescue

Scale 1”=800’

29

Percent Frequency 70.4%

0

800’

1600’

Food Web House of Cards The Greater Piedmont’s grasslands and meadows contain nectar bearing forbs which support hundreds of species of moths and

Percent Frequency 2.2%

ver

lkill Ri

Schuy

butterflies. In fact, many insects are specialist species that need a particular plant to support their life cycle. Insects are the richest

source of proteins for small birds and many other small animals.

Thus grasslands and meadows play a crucial role in supporting species diversity.

30

Existing Land Management Practices As shown most of the land is managed using mowing as the primary maintenance practice.

The land cover of lawn means that the mowing practice is relatively frequent in comparison to a mowing practice that would be used to manage meadow.

Local Institutions

The northern side of the campus contains fenced in pasture which is maintained via a grazing management regime.

While financial costs related to the mowing regime are not available for this project, it can be assumed that managing more of

the campus landscape as meadow would reduce fuel costs over time and might be significantly reduced if connected with the mow-bail operations taking place on the adjacent Valley Forge park lands.

Mowed-lawn area Audubon Center

oad sR

Valley Forge N.H. Park

County Land

U.S.. 422

31

St. Gabriel’s Campus Valley Forge N.H. Park

01

Mi

ter

en

nC

le

d Au

Valley Forge N.H. Park

Scale 1”=05mi

For instance the meadows and woodlands foster food web connection between insects and the numerous birds that eat them to survive. The meadows also capture and filter stormwater there by lowering runoff and stream erosion and raising water quality in adjacent streams.

Audubon Center at Mill Grove

o ub

Meadow

g

lin Paw

Two institutions surrounding St. Gabriel’s Campus are engaged in connective landscape practices.

Valley Forge National Historical Park and the Audubon Center work to connect people and wildlife to their park. They also incorporate land management practices that enhance landscape performance and restore ecological services.

Spatial Relationship

Valley Forge National Historic Park

Valley Forge, PA

Source: Google

0

01mi

02mi

Audubon Center at Mill Grove

Audubon, PA

Source: Google

32

Regional Juvenile Detention Centers The typical Juvenile Detention Center landscape in the Delaware Valley consists of a landscape pattern dominated by lawn and scattered trees.

The newest detention center, built in Philadelphia County, has bucked the trend and

Chester County

incorporated a broader range of native plantings which takes a step toward higher landscape performance. In addition to performance, the plantings at the Philadelphia center have a contemporary-romantic landscape aesthetic which dulls

the punitive nature of the site function and engages the senses of those who not only use the center but also the surrounding neighborhood community.

Delaware County

Delaware River

PA

Counties Schuylkill River

Montgomery Philadelphia Delaware Chester

Montgomery

Montgomery County

Bucks County Youth Center Susquehanna River

Philadelphia

Chester

Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center

Delaware

NJ

Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center

Philadelphia County

Chester County Youth Center

DE MD

33

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Survey Summary - S.W.O.T. Analysis The rich landscape context surrounding the St. Gabriel campus is a great landscape poetic and performance strength.

The abundance of land covered by shallow-rooted turf grasses is a landscape performance weakness in that it can lead to high carbon-fuel inputs and low carbon sequestration, sheet flow run-off, landscape ecology gaps, and a diluted aesthetic experience.

Strength

Weakness

Finally, the large scale land cover of turf grass is a threat due to our shared ecological disconnection taking place from the local to global scale.

This adjacent Valley Forge meadow is part of a rich, ecological context

Opportunity

Judicial use limits community connection to the campus

Threat

The large open lawn spaces are a strong opportunity to increase the landscape poetics and landscape performance of the site as well as to connect the resident-students and the site/context.

Existing programs connect resident students to the landscape

35

Extensive turf limits biological uplift and ecological connection

36

Survey Summary - Opportunities & Constraints W oo

US 422

Opportunities

dla

Wetland

nd

Constraints Barrier

Agriculture

Unmanaged Woodland

Courtyard Open Space

Permeable Barrier Invasive Plant Pressure

Lawn Open Space Front Landscaping

Meadow Meadow

Threshold Property Connection Historic Drive

s Pawling

Rd.

Views aged

an Unm

Woodland

Existing Crossing High Agricultural Value Soil

Meadow

Off-Site Woodland Off Site Meadow Mitchell Program Ag. Fields Slopes

e

d Edg

dlan Woo

Property Line

Woodland

Sanctuary garden Pipeline

Opportunities • • • • • • •

Wetland Area Agricultural Soils Courtyard Open Space Lawn Open Space Pawlings Road Landscape Campus Thresholds Campus’ Adjacent Natural Areas • Parking Areas • Views

Constraints • • • • •

Buildings Swimming Pool Invasive plant pressure Gas Pipeline Mitchell Program Ag./Animal space

Mount Joy 37

38

Case Studies

39

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Case Study 01

Later Summer Meadow Views

Land Management

Prescribed Burn at Valley Forge

Valley Forge National Historical Park Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (VFNHP) Landscape Components: • rolling hills; rocky escarpments; flowing, curvilinear paths; high viewpoints

Landscape Aesthetic: • romantic - comfort; relaxation; restoration; calm; exuberance • historic - aged buildings; monuments; war machines • ecological - food-web interactions; plant growth, bird migration; stream flux;

soil building; etc.

Mow and Bail at Valley Forge

Landscape Performance: • • • • • • • • • • • •

41

increased biologic diversity connected food web increased local air filtering increased oxygen creation increased carbon sequestration increased hydro-filter increased hydro-recharge increased soil retention increased soil building lower facility fuel costs expanded tourism programming expanded educational programming

Turf grass roots run shallow and act like hardscape paving which increases water runoff.

42

Case Study 01 Meadow in Autumn Prescribed burns are a method to forage grasses which decreases help the grasses out compete these the overall plant diversity. invasive plants.

Another benefit of mowing and bailing is the removal of thatch Mow and Bail which prevent ground-nesting Mowing and bailing the grasses birds from successfully nesting that make up the meadows History & Ecology coexist at VFNHP is another land management A surprising benefit is that technique used at the park. although the removal of Prescribed Burns As of 2020, the business decomposing vegetation decreases VFNHP is surrounded by performing this operation does soil nutrients, native grassland suburban towns, commercial the mowing, bailing, and removal plants prefer less fertile soil. This centers, and corporate parks.

Many of these landscapes focus on at no cost to the park in exchange lower soil fertility can help these for the right to sell the bailed plants out-compete some invasive aesthetics, and often incorporate material to mushroom farmers. plants that thrive on more fertile known aggressive non-native The operator also seeds the soils. species.

These highly competitive plants meadows as part of the contract. such as Callery Pear and Japanese This helps lower some of the costs Source: Valley Forge Park Alliance Silver Grass apply heavy invasive of managing the meadows. The draw back is that the meadows pressure on the grasslands contain a higher percentage of and meadows within the park.

43

Characteristic Meadow at Valley Forge - An Ecological Battlefield with Romantic Character

A battle against invasive species pressure continues to be fought on these lands.

44

Case Study 02

Land Composition

Mill Grove House above meadow/shrubland

Natural boulders and native plantings

Audubon Center at Mill Grove Audubon, Pennsylvania

Landscape Components: • rolling hills; rocky escarpments; flowing, curvilinear paths; high viewpoints

Landscape Aesthetic: • romantic - comfort; relaxation; restoration; calm; exuberance • historic - aged buildings; aged infrastructure • ecological - food-web interactions; plant growth, bird migration; stream flux;

soil building; etc.

Woodland edge and meadow trail

Native Garden

Landscape Performance: • • • • • • • • • • • •

45

increased biologic diversity connected food web increased local air filtering increased oxygen creation increased carbon sequestration increased hydro-filter increased hydro-recharge increased soil retention increased soil building lower facility fuel costs expanded tourism programming expanded educational programming

46

Case Study 02 Grasshopper Sparrow

Insects provide birds with high-protein content.

Mixed-Natural Use The John James Audubon center at Mill Grove includes woodlands, meadows, shrublands, wetlands and designed gardens. By including these different landscape types, the site engages....

By mixing these different types the site engages visitors and provides a variety of habitats for wildlife.

More than 175 species of birds frequent the site. By enhancing the St. Gabriel Campus with a 47

permeable paving in the parking mixed-natural land composition it stalls. Capturing stormwater is likely that many of these species where it begins is key to lowering would spread to the campus. runoff volume. High runoff volume leads to flashy streams Gardens and rivers which causes erosion, The gardens adjacent to entrance sedimentation, and lower base flow areas and buildings incorporate between rain events. native plants. This provides a Source: johnjames.audubon.org/ sense of order and comfort as well as interest and delight.

Walking Trails The site has numerous walking trails that weave through the varied landscape. The trails were designed to pass through the meadows infrequently to reduce disturbance to wildlife.

Permeable Paving The parking area incorporates

The Site Core

Entrance Garden & Parking

Permeable paving captures stormwater

48

Case Study 03

Woodchip walk in spring

Land Forming

River Birch Floodplain Grove

The Ernesta Ballard Healing Garden at Temple Ambler Ambler, Pennsylvania

Landscape Components: • flowing, curvilinear paths; high viewpoint; stormwater creek & floodplain; labyrinth

Landscape Tone & Aesthetic: • romantic - comfort; relaxation; restoration; calm; exuberance • classical - ordered core • ecological - food-web interactions; plant growth, bird migration; stream flux;

soil building; etc.

An intentional depression in the land to capture stormwater

Stone Weir

Footbridge

Landscape Performance: • • • • • • • • • • • •

49

increased biologic diversity connected food web increased local air filtering increased oxygen creation increased carbon sequestration increased hydro-filter increased hydro-recharge increased soil retention increased soil building lower facility fuel costs expanded tourism programming expanded educational programming

Natural stone weir to slow water

Crossing over the stormwater creek

50

Case Study 03 Landscape Performance The healing garden has high levels of landscape performance in addition to the gardens romantic and classical experiential qualities.

The use of native plants that flower throughout the growing season and provide fruit and nuts during the dormant season connect the site to the food-web.

A matrix of warm season grasses tap deep into the soil to create porosity for water penetration as well as to store carbon.

Healing Map

Stormwater Design

Wooded Low

a‘

of storm water that will enter Rose Valley creek. The water that infiltrates into the soil is released into the stream at a much slower rate as it percolates up from the aquifer. This creates a more consistent base flow.

Landscape Aesthetic The healing garden incorporates six elements of garden design to render a pleasant experience for the visitor. They are threshold, path, edge, space, foci, and detail.

Edge

Threshold

a Section a-a’

Vertical and horizontal stone block marks the threshold between lawn and garden.

Detail

Path Space

Buildings

Edge

A low seating wall marks the edge of the central space.

Flood Plain Basin

N.T.S.

Path

Space

A gently sloped path winds through to the central space.

A wide central space with low seat walls

Foci

Culvert Flow

Woodland Walk - Late Summer In addition, the form of the land is designed to take stormwater from upslope buildings and impermeable surfaces, slow it down, filter it, and permeate it into the soil. This lowers the volume 51

De-silting Basin Birch Floodplain Basin

Stone Weir Meadow

52

Design Proposal

53

54

Design Proposal Introduction Design Goals & Objectives Stakeholder Goals The primary goal of this proposal and Site Programming is to grow landscape connections

Restoration Strategies

The restoration strategy is to Think Big, Start Small. This The stakeholders said on more within the campus landscape strategy was chosen in order to than one occasion that whatever is as well as to grow landscape work with existing budgets and connections between the campus proposed must be for the benefit to maximize student engagement of the students. That charge landscape and the site context. over the course of decades. By is the foundation on which the This will increase therapeutic growing the landscape through programming is built. and environmental educational time many generations of students opportunities for the students, learn and be connected to the promote biodiversity, and increase The proposed design program campus. incorporates existing campus landscape performance. programming while providing The case studies provide a glimpse opportunities for new experiences of restoration management and The objectives to reach that goal for the students primarily through how these natural areas look and are as follows: passive recreation and outdoor • Concentrate active recreation feel. learning space.

• Transform land cover types • Expand natural programming

The seasonal water table has sprung to the west of the existing wetland in the southern lawn.

55

56

Conceptual Diagram The Elegant Egg As a place of therapeutic rebirth and protection the elegance and simplicity of the egg provides a poetic form to organize the campus while also relating to the curvature of US422 which is a strong organizational and visual contextual element.

This concept arranges the core activities in and adjacent to the center of campus while weaving a natural protective shell around them.

57

Perkiomen Creek

gs Pawlin

Woodland

US 422

Meadow

Rd.

St. Gabriel’s Campus US 422

Single Family Residential

Meadow

Meadow

.T.

A.L

Protective Natural Shell Yolk of Activity

Spatial Concept Perspective

Rd. Pawlings Woodland S.R.T. Meadow Active

Focal Point

Natural Lands

Gateway

Woodland

Vehicular Path

Collector

Parking

Crossing

Arterial

Managed Views 58

Concept Exploration These three design iterations show a progressive development from a loose diagrammatic organization of space to a tighter organization of shaped space designed around the idea of the elegant egg concept. They each incorporate similar proposed elements such as topographic changes, vegetation, hydrological paths and program elements in subtly different ways.

Concept Iteration I - Clock

Concept Iteration II - Protect

Concept Iteration II Diagram - Protect

Concept Iteration I Diagram - Clock

Pawlings Rd.

Program Space

Program Space

Agriculture/Orchard

Agriculture/Orchard

Wetland Meadow

Wetland Meadow

Grassland Meadow

Grassland Meadow

Flower/Pollinator Meadow Linear Mounds Savannah Bioswale Road

Woodland Linear Mounds Savannah Bioswale Path Road

Pawlings Rd.

US 422 US 422

Iteration II shapes space using nature as an insulating shield.

Concept Iteration III - Flow

Concept Iteration III Diagram - Flow Program Space Agriculture/Orchard Wetland Meadow Grassland Meadow

Pawlings Rd.

Woodland Linear Mounds Savannah Bioswale Path Road

Pawlings Rd. Pawlings Rd. US 422

Iteration I shapes space around 12 programmatic areas.

59

US 422

Iteration III shapes space through the use of flowing lines.

US 422

60

Master Plan Existing Layout This existing layout shows the utilitarian drive, studentbuilt sanctuary garden, lawn courtyard, typical lawn, scattered basketball courts, high ropes, pool, raised bed student run agriculture, and the Mitchell program farm.

Proposed Master Plan This layout shows some of the textural character of the proposed interventions such as the ripple fields meadow and wetland areas. The inner courtyard becomes a natural refuge but retains lawn for celebration programming and outdoor class activities.

Audubon Loop Trail

Farm Entry & Exit Drive Schuylkill River Trail

Sanctuary Garden Audubon Loop Trail

Courtyard Lawn

Raised Bed Agriculture

Pool

US 422

Basketball Courts (TYP.)

Lawn (TYP.)

Audubon Loop Trail

Solar Field

The Farm

Pollinator Meadow US 422

Connection Avenue Audubon Loop Trail

Schuylkill River Trail

Solar Arcade

Woodland Walk

Courtyard Refuge

The Approach Entrance Drive

Permaculture Garden

Home Basketball Court Courts

Allee Overlook

Meadow View

Track & Field Meadow Walk

High Ropes Course

High Ropes Course

Ripple Fields Mountain View Schuylkill River Trail

Schuylkill River Trail

Wetland US 422

0’

61

300’

600’

0’

300’

600’

62

Site Section Narrative Existing Site Section - a-a’ Section a-a’ Key Map a

Upland Woodland 75’ Perkiomen Riparian Creek Woodland

270’

County Land Meadow 140’

Property Line

Open Lawn

200’

Open Space Lawn 426’

Gym 24’

95’

55’

Open Lawn Courtyard 440’

Offices

Drive & Parking

Open Lawn

60’

90’

800’

US 422

Property Line

Pawlings Rd. 0’

The riparian and upland woodland contain typical Piedmont plants such as Plantanus occidentalis, Lindera benzoin, Cercis canadensis, Quercus prinus, Prunus serotina, and Acer rubrum.

a’

150’

300’

Solidago spp., and invasive edge shrubs such as Elaeagnus umbellata.

The open space lawns continue from here across the site.

The meadow on county land contains Schizachyrium scoparium, 63

64

Site Section Narrative Proposed - Site Section a-a’ Section a-a’ Key Map a

Upland Woodland 75’ Perkiomen Riparian Creek Woodland

270’

County Land Meadow 140’

Property Line

Solar Field Meadow

Pollinator Meadow Gardens

200’

426’

Community Welcome Garden

25’ 25’ 70’ 24’

Audubon Loop Trail Pawlings Solar Rd. Solar Arcade Arcade

Gym

55’

Celebration Space 270’

Rain Garden 170’

US 422 Offices

Meadow Drive & Parking

60’

90’

Allée Walk & Garden

90’

Track & Field 275’

Wet Meadow

Meadow Ripples

175’

260’

0’

The riparian and upland woodland contain typical Piedmont plants such as Plantanus occidentalis, Lindera benzoin, Cercis canadensis, Quercus prinus, Prunus serotina, and Acer rubrum.

such as Elaeagnus umbellata.

solar arcade and tree allee provide a strong presence for people traveling across the campus.

The solar field meadow contains warm season grasses and pollinator plants and would help to A community welcome garden lift the Mitchell program facilities invites neighbors and regional off the grid. visitors to stop and rest as The meadow on county land well as to learn about campus contains Schizachyrium scoparium, The pollinator meadows spill programming.

Solidago spp., and edge shrubs down to Pawlings Rd. where a 65

150’

The celebration courtyard space to the front of the Hall in a garden creates a relaxed, formal space for setting. celebrating the successes of the student-residents.

An allee walk provides a sundappled space to walk and view The rain gardens within capture the southern meadows and and filter stormwater before it Valley Forge in the distance. This enters the regional system. connects with the track & field space which can handle large The Meadow Drive brings people active recreation events.

a’

Property Line 300’

Once down into the ripple fields, a person can enjoy long walks immersed in nature while viewing the many connections between flora and fauna taking place in this part of the campus.

66

Program Proposed Program Diagram

Existing Program Diagram p

o Lo n bo . du s Rd u A ling w Pa

Sports Recreation Lawn

il Tra

Co

Fenced Animal Pasture Fenced Vegetable Garden

a yL unt

y unt

Greenhouse

nd

La

nd

on ub d Au Rd. s ling w Pa

il Tra p o

Sports Recreation Lawn Permaculture Welcome Gardens Basketball Courts Patio Mountain View Seating Area Major Trails

Lo

y unt Co nd La

Raised-Bed Agriculture

Co

Minor Trails

Memorial Garden Basketball Courts Sanctuary Garden Obstacle Course US 422 S.R.T.

Ropes Course Batting Cage Soccer Net Pool Gravel Path Site Boundary

US 422 S.R.T.

This sports recreation space dominates the existing program. This proposal looks to trade some of this sports recreation space for other programmatic uses.

67

68

Circulation - The Approach

Pa wl ing sR d.

Major Path

il Tra n o dub Au Loop

Co

n

c ne

.

Rd

tio

. ve A n

Minor Path

iew el V

Proposed - Entrance Drive

Vehicular

The use of natural paving stones and permeable pavers and asphalt helps the site connect with the contextual landscape and increases landscape performance. Key Map

ap

The new entrance drive provides a grander approach experience and is a compromise between the historic drive that led from the south of campus up to the building and the existing entrance which is located at the back of St. Gabe’s Hall.

Ch

The goal for the proposed circulation is to provide a diverse path network that connects both sides of the campus and a rerouting of the vehicular route.

The paths range in width from 4’ to 12’ and are formed by gravel, paving, concrete, asphalt, an permeable asphalt surfacing.

Proposed Circulation Diagram

The Approach

Path and Paving Materials 2 U.S. 42

69

Gravel Fines

Flagstone

Permeable Pavers

Permeable Asphalt

Schuylkill River Trail

70

Circulation - Connection Ave. “People should feel like they are driving through a campus.”

Tree Gap Crossing - West Campus

Tree Gap Crossing - East Campus

Tree Gap Crossing - West Campus

Tree Gap Crossing - East Campus

Pawlings Road looking West - Proposed

Here, interventions such as changing pavement material and color and creating crosswalk islands will increase traffic calming and pedestrian safety.

Placing vertical elements such as trees close to the edge of the street will also increase safety , extend the life of paving due to temperature reductions, and help to establish a connected campus feeling.

71

Pavement Change

Tree Island

72

Topography & Hydrology The proposed changes to topography are concerned with providing visual interest, mitigating sound from US 422, providing a diverse experience of movement, increasing hydrological performance, and creating a range of habitat micro-climates.

Site Inspiration

73

Perspective View Plan

The Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) mural on the Mitchell Program side speaks to the transformation the boys go through on their journey.

The gentle slopes that form the southern part of campus Conceptual Cut & Fill provide an opportunity to create poetic space that relates to the striping of the monarch butterfly caterpillar and the dramatic curve of US 422.

Using these topographic berms to slow and capture stormwater and mitigate sounds from the highway will increases the landscapes performance.

Context Connection

U.S. 422 forms a dramatic curve which the region has dubbed, “The St. Gabe’s Curve”.

Ripple Fields

a a‘

Sub-Watershed Catchment Area

Curved, earthen ripples echo out from US 422’s “St. Gabe’s Curve.”

Section a-a’ - Existing

Hydrologic Network Gentle turf covered slopes.

gs Pawlin

Rd.

Section a-a’ - Proposed 6’

St. Gabe’s Hall

Cut

Fill

7.5 acres

The higher berms provide noise mitigation from US 422.

US 422

US 422

74

Topography & Hydrology

Poetics & Performance

Landscape Performance

Ripple Fields - Turf

6”

The berms deflect sound waves from the highway traffic and capture water between them during rain events.

Ripple Fields - Meadow Stormwater Ripple Fields - Stormwater Check Dam

Berms take volume out of the storm event and infiltrates it into the ground The higher berms mitigate sound and create visully striking features in the landscape

Meadow grasses create a soft interplay of light and texture

Context Precedent

Hydrological Precedent

The ripple fields make a contextual connection at the regional scale

Varied hydrology creates subtle vegetation patterns

Three Sizes 6’

Ripple Fields Meadow Stormwater

3’ 0’

3’ 0’ 6’ 0’

75

76

Key Map

Topography & Hydrology

Berms and Wetland Area Here the land is graded back into the slope to widen the wetland area.

The berms sit on existing grade.

Conceptual Grading

145’ 150’

150

’

145’

145’ 145’

d.

R s

0’

14

g

lin w a P

0’

155’ ’ 150

14

145’

160

’

150’

LP

LP 134.89’

’ 135

9’ 34.8

1

’

155’

135

’ 5.5 + 14

145’

0’

13

140’

140’

5’

’ 135

’ 135

’

130

12

5’

12

130

2 US 42

130

’

0’

400’

’

800’ 0’

77

90’

180’

78

Vegetation North American plant communities that have evolved with North American fauna help to keep the food web connected and performing at full capacity.

This section shows how the plant communities proposed interface with each other on the ground.

Deer Herbivory Plant protection methods must be used in order to maximize survival rates for the plantings from deer herbivory. These include tree tubes, deer-fencing, and small deer exclosures.

Proposed Landform & Plant Communities Woodland Meadow s ling

Wet Meadow

.

Rd

w Pa

Deer Exclosure

Wetland Rain Garden

Tree Tube

Linear Earth Band Proposed Deer-Fence

and

yL unt

Co

Site Boundary

Mesic Woodland

Upland Meadow

Rain Garden

Wet Meadow

Wetland

Quercus alba - white oak Quercus rubra - red oak Carya ovata - shagbark hickory Amelanchier laevis - smooth serviceberry Ostrya virginiana - hop-hornbeam Uvularia sessifolia - wild-oats Dryopteris spp. - wood ferns

Andropogon gerardii - turkey foot Andropogon virginicus - broomsedge Panicum virgatum - switch grass Sorghastrum nutans - Indian grass Echinacea purpurea - coneflower Monarda fistulosa - wild bergamot Chamaecrista fasciculata - partridge pea

Andropogon gerardii - turkey foot Andropogon virginicus - broomsedge Panicum virgatum - switch grass Ratibida pinnata - gray-headed coneflower Symphotrichum ericoides - white heath aster Asclepias tuberosa - butterfly weed Baptisia australis - blue false indigo

Quercus coccinea - scarlet oak Quercus phellos - willow oak Panicum virgatum - switch grass Ratibida pinnata - gray-headed coneflower Schizacyrium scoparium little bluestem Rosa virginiana - Virginia rose

Quercus palustris - pin oak Magnolia virginiana - sweet bay magnolia Betula nigra - river birch Scirpus spp. - bulrushes Cephalanthus occidentalis - buttonbush Asclepsis incarnata - swamp milkweed

79

US 422

80

St. Gabriel’s Campus - 2050 Axon Aerial - Existing

Axon Aerial - Proposed

Perkiomen Creek

John Audubon Center at Mill Grove

Oaks, PA

Lawn

Schuylkill River Trail

Pawlings Rd.

Perkiomen Creek

Entry & Exit Drive Lawn

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Lawn

Pool Lawn

Permaculture Garden

Lawn Baseball Backstop (Typ.)

Greenhouse

Audubon Loop Trail

Lawn

Basketball Court (Typ.)

Solar Fields Pollinator Meadow

Lawn

High Ropes Course

Pawlings Rd.

Allee Garden

Woodland Walk

Meadow Walk

US 422

Wetland

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Entrance Drive

Track & Field

Pool Mountain Views

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Courtyard Refuge

Basketball Courts

Audubon Loop Trail

Schuylkill River Trail

Ripple Fields

High Ropes Course

US 422

Wetland Schuylkill River Trail

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Valley Forge National Historical Park

81

John Audubon Center at Mill Grove

Oaks, PA

Valley Forge National Historical Park

82

Site Design Detail Area - Courtyard The interior courtyard on the St. Gabe’s Hall side of campus provides a semi-private sanctuary space for the residents and staff.

As was mentioned earlier, the space had been walled in and the ground plane was made of gravel.

Later in the 20th century the walls were removed, lawn and trees

were planted, and recreational amenities were installed.

Student-Residents uses the space for basketball, football, and other active recreation. The southern end of the space is adjacent to offices and basement level classrooms. The western edge

Survey & Analysis of the space is adjacent to the cafeteria, kitchen, and utilities building. The northern edge is adjacent to the gymnasiums and flex space. And the eastern edge is adjacent to the sanctuary garden and staff/admin/overflow parking area.

Courtyard - Existing - 335’x435’

The Existing courtyard looking north.

The Existing courtyard looking south.

Topography The overall courtyard is sloped at or close to 1% from the southern edge to the northern edge.

Greater slopes are located on the eastern edge where the basketball court meets the lawn. Indeed, the slopes are most evident along the eastern edge as the ground runs south to north along a stepped retaining wall.

Existing Topography - Relatively Flat Focus Area Major Contour Minor Contour

+LP

+LP

160’

165’

+HP

0’

80’

Existing Hydrology - Flows South to North

Hydrology An 8’-12’ asphalt walk runs along the courtyard building edges.

Centered within this are metal grate inlets that take stormwater.

This runs south to north toward the north-west corner. Sheet flow also runs toward the north-east corner between the gym and the retaining wall.

Focus Area Inlets Sheet Flow Culvert

0’

83

40’

40’

80’

84

Soils Because of the consistent recreational use within the courtyard and adjacent drive lanes and parking areas the soils in this part of the site are considered urban and compacted.

Vegetation Lawn grasses and associated species make up most of the vegetation in this part of the site.

There are twenty existing trees.

Some of these trees such as the London Plane are well established and provide ample shade during the growing season.

Existing Soils - Urban and Compacted Focus Area Urban Soils

0’

Basketball Court Batting Backstop Swings Playing Area Pedestrian Circulation Access

0’

Focus Area Deciduous Evergreen Shrubs Lawn

40’

Focus Area

80’

Existing Vegetation -Sparse

0’

85

40’

Program & Circulation The dominant form of courtyard programming is recreation. The space contains four basketball courts and a batting cage backstop. Access to the courtyard exists at all four corners as well as through doors along the interior building facades.

Existing Program & Circulation - Recreation

80’

Opportunities • Open lawn • Area adjacent to cafeteria • Parking lot Constraints • Adjacent Building Use • Building Entrances/Exits • Sanctuary Garden

40’

80’

Opportunities & Constraints Focus Area Opportunity Constraint Cafeteria

Lawn

Sanctuary Garden Parking Lot

0’

40’

80’

86

Sun-Shade Study - Existing Models of the courtyard show that the extent of shade during the growing season. While most of the courtyard sits in full sun there exists areas of shade throughout the year caused by the profile of the building.

The southern end of the courtyard maintains the most shade. The depth of the shade is greatest in the morning hours between 8am and 10am in the latter part of the summer. The shade lines extends up to 130’ during the peak shade events in September.

Plan View

June - 9am

August - 9am

September - 9am

August - 9am - Shade Depth ~90’

3/21 - 9am

June - Noon

August - Noon

September - Noon

Sept. - 9am - Shade Depth ~130’

6/21 - 9am

June - 3pm

August - 3pm

September - 3pm

August - 9am - Rain Garden Shade 9/21 - 9am

Existing trees provide further pools of shade within the courtyard.

87

88

Site Detail - Goals & Objectives Goals • Improve adjacent connections for students • Increase landscape performance • Maximize visitor experience

Objectives • • • • •

Create ceremonial lawn space Weave rain gardens throughout Incorporate patio and seating Build path to connect to Sanctuary Garden Use plant communities to enhance habitat

Site Observations & Inspiration Wide Open Space - Existing

The existing open space of the courtyard provides a wonderful opportunity to enrich the existing features and connect them to the adjacent building uses.

The basketball court area adjacent to the cafeteria would be a great space to create an outdoor patio garden for dining and relaxation.

A portion of the lawn at the high point would be a great place to create a verdant green rain garden.

Existing

Granite Patio

Existing

Verdant Rain Garden

Existing

Trail & Bridge

The parking would be a good place for paths and bridges to connect to adjacent site uses.

89

90

Courtyard Master Plan - Concept The overall idea for this space is again to match the interior spaces and their uses to the adjacent building uses and landscape context.

Paths circulate against the building edges and cut through the center of the space while a smaller path connects this space with the Sanctuary Garden.

Rain gardens capture water during storm events.

Courtyard - Existing/Proposed Sections Existing

Gym 2 Flex Space Gym 1 Utilities

Sanctuary Garden a‘

Basketball Court

Designed Meadow

Cafeteria

Lawn

Parking

Basketball Court

Lawn

Basketball Parking Court 0

60’

120’

Proposed

Kitchen Patio Seating Cafeteria

Basketball Court Designed Meadow

a‘

Offices

a

Main Entrance Offices

Cafeteria

Parking 0

91

a

80’

Patio

Rain Garden

Strolling Paths 0

Bioswale 60’

Parking

120’

160’

92

Courtyard - Existing

Courtyard Master Plan - Proposed

Open Space The existing courtyard shown here is programmed for recreation.

The Refuge The courtyard master plan provides a vibrant and protected place to relax, eat, play, learn and celebrate resident-student successes.

Rain Garden

Flex Space

Gym

Basketball Court (Typ.)

Outdoor Classroom

Patio Garden The Rain Garden

Offices & Classrooms

Rain Garden

Offices & Classrooms

0’

93

Rain Garden & Meadow Walk

Sanctuary Garden

Celebration Lawn

Kitchen

Furnace

Gym

Cafeteria

In addition the experiential qualities of the space, the linked rain gardens increase and diverse plant communities increase landscape performance and connect this area to the rest of the campus and context.

Rain Garden

120’

240’

94

Garden Patio - Planting Plan & Detail Key Map

Goals

Trees & Shrubs

• Create an outcrop garden • Enclose space with plantings • Use native plants and seasonal color Boulder (Typ.)

Outcrop Inspiration

Dm (1)

Ag (Typ.) Fg

Table (Typ.)

Kitchen

Flagstone (Typ.)

Fg

Fg

Dm (10)

Fg Va

Ep (1) Ss (23)

Key

Botanical Name

Trees Ps Pinus Strobus Bl Betula lenta Ag Amelanchier grandiflora Shrubs Vn Viburnum nudum Fg Fothergilla gardenii Ca Clethra alnifolia Ra Rhus aromatica Va Vaccinium angustifolium Jh Juniperus horizontalis Grass & Herbaceous Ss Schizachyrium scoparium Rm Rudbeckia maxima Ey Eryngium yuccifolium Ls Liatris spicata Ep Echinacea purpurea Dm Dryopteris marginalis Ha Huechera americana eu Cp Carex pennsylvanica

95

Common Name

Ht.

Qty.

Eastern white pine sweet birch serviceberry

80' 50' 15-20'

1 1 10

possumhaw viburnum dwarf fothergilla summersweet Gro-Low sumac low bush blueberry creeping juniper

5-12' 3-4' 3-4' 2' 2' 6-18"

2 7 3 3 9 12

little bluestem great coneflower rattlesnake master blazing star purple coneflower marginal fern American alumroot Pennsylvania sedge

2-4' 6-8' 4-5' 3' 3' 12-18" 12" 6"-12"

46 1 17 4 17 36 4 5

Cafeteria

Plant Schedule Ss (23) Ep (1)

Ep (1) Fg Fg Fg Ca Ra Ra Ca Ca Ra Va Va Va Ep (1) Ep (1) Rm (1)

Betula lenta

Amelanchiar grandiflora

Viburnum nudum

Fothergilla gardenii

Clethra alnifolia

Vn

Cp (5) Ha (1)

Ls (1) Ep (3)

Pinus strobus

Dm (3)

Grasses & Herbaceous

Ps Ls (3)

Ep (1) Jh (Typ.) Ep (1)

Va

Va

Va Va

Ha (3)

Va

Va

Dm (15)

Schizachyrium scoparium

Ag (Typ.)

Va

Dm (7)

Va

Ep (5)

Rhus aromatica

Vaccinium angustifolium Juniperus horizontalis

Echinacea purpurea

Dryopteris marginalis

Ey (3)

Ep (7)

Rudbeckia maxima

Eryngium yuccifolium

Liatris spicata

Paving and Furnishings

Ey (6) Ey (1)

Ey (6)

Vn

Ag (Typ.) 0’

20’

40’

Huechera americana

Carex pennsylvanica 96

Construction Planting Details

97

98

Ecological Restoration Project 99

100

Restoration Project Overview The scope of the landscape restoration includes the entire 52 acre campus in order to increase the landscape performance and provide a rich ecological education for the student-residents. The approach here is to think big and start small by restoring native plant communities on targeted areas of the site.

Key Map - Target Areas

Goals & Objectives • • • •

Existing Vegetative Communities Woodland

Wetland

Reduce and control invasive plant species populations Improve the quality of the local food-web Improve the quality of the local hydrology Restore and diversify native plant communities

Focus Areas • North Campus Woodland • South Campus Wetland

101

The lawn community dominates the campus landscape. There exists subdominant woodland edge, meadow-pasture, wooded upland, xeric, xeric woodland garden, agricultural garden, and marsh-wetland.

102

Woodland - Existing Wooded-Upland Community (0.25 acres) • • • • • •

Baseline Inventory Northwest View toward Oaks, PA

degraded wooded-upland community surrounds an old storage structure surrounded by 10’ mowed paths access to the storage structure is limited to facility workers vegetated by natural process

Storage Structure

Mown Path maackii

Table-1 shows that variety of species identified in this area. A majority of the species here are exotic and invasive.

103

104

Wetland - Existing Marsh-Wetland Community (0.05 acres)

Baseline Inventory Northwest View toward Oaks, PA

• a man-made depression that has silted in and retains water

Vegetative Mix

Mown Edge Table-1 shows that variety of species identified in this area. A majority of the species here are exotic and invasive.

105

106

Native Species Selection and Planting - Woodland Ecological Reference Site - Valley Forge National Historical Park • similar underlying geology • similar soil types Additional Reference - The Terrestrial Plant Communities of Pennsylvania • soils here slightly acidic • a south-facing slope, • Dry Oak-Mixed Hardwood Forest and the Red Oak-Mixed Hardwood

forest plant communities.

Planting Notes • new plantings can be planted into the wooded up land during the following spring • high probability of deer herbivory • necessary to use tree tubes for new trees and deer enclosures for new native shrubs and herbaceous plants.

107

Planting Notes Continued • herbaceous plants should be on average 12” - 18” height • shrubs should be on average 18”- 24” height • Tubex tree shelters with wooden stakes should be used on all container seedling trees until the caliper of the tree breaks the Tubex. [Approximately 3-5 years for fast growth species and 5-7 for slower growth species].

• continue to plant trees over time in order to diversify the compositional structure

Native Species Selection and Planting - Wetland • The Palustrine Plant Communities of Pennsylvania serves as a reference • this area is upland depression and contains Typhus latifolia (cat-tail) • chosen to use the Marsh Basin and Basin Wetland plant community

108

Woodland Invasive Species Removal

Management Plans

Year 1 • establish the baseline inventory for the site • use flagging tape to mark invasive trees • cut with a handsaw or chainsaw depending on the diameter of the trunk • paint stumps with a high concentrate herbicide • woody debris should be left on site to • decompose and maintain the energy cycle

Woodland An ongoing connection with the site will need to be maintained do to: • a constant influx of invasive seeds via birds and other wildlife • the persistence of invasive seeds in the soil seed bank.

• tree tubes and deer protection fencing will need to be monitored due to wildlife disturbance and the aggressive nature of invasive vines.

Next • cut the invasive shrubs and vines that dominate the under story along the mowed trails and interior • use loppers, a handsaw, or a chainsaw • depending on size of the shrub and girth of the vine.

Additional Removal Notes • limit disturbance to surrounding native species, vines and shrubs • cut down at the base and paint with a high concentrate herbicide during the fall.

• invasive herbaceous species should be selectively spot sprayed through a foliar application of a glyphosate using a backsprayer.

Operations • cut and paint new stems • spot spraying invasive herbaceous Wetland An ongoing connection with the site will need to be maintained do to: • a constant influx of invasive seeds via birds and other wildlife • the persistence of invasive seeds in the soil seed bank.

Operations Soil monitoring should take place to see if nutrient loads and silting is occurring.

• use a water-safe herbicide such as Rodeo will help to maintain the ecology of this area.

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Monitoring Plans Seed-bank Monitoring Goals • to study how long invasive seeds persist • to see if the new plantings are establishing a new community in the area.

Operations • wooded-upland, 135’ transects will be established from south to north. (see figure 1 below for locations) • marsh wetland, 50’ transects will be established from east to west.

• three evenly spaced points will be marked along the transect • using a hand shovel to cut into the soil, an approximately 4” core will be extracted with a spatula.

• core should be sliced on the vertical access into three equal parts.

• slices should then be placed into three separate aluminum baking pans.

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Operations continued • label the pans as surface, middle layer, bottom layer respectively.

Plant Species Monitoring Goals • to study how the diversity has changed and whether or not it is increasing or decreasing.

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place the seeds in the greenhouse, water as needed to keep moist and allow them to germinate. Once seedlings emerge, they should be identified, counted and recorded.

Operations • transect will be used in both restoration sites and each will cross different condition types. See figure 1 for locations.

Phases Year 1: Baseline Inventory Soil Samples taken in Early March and June . This phase should occur before the removal restoration project takes place in the fall.

• wooded-upland, a transect will include the southern woodland edge, the interior lower slope, the interior center, the interior upland slope, and the northern wooded edge.

Year 2-5: Soil samples taken Early March and June using the same method and locations as was established in year 1. At least five years of data should be collected. The same transects should be used each time.

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marsh wetland, a transect will include the eastern grass-marsh edge, the upper interior slope, the lower interior slope or center, and the upper interior western slope, and the grass- marsh western edge.

Operations continued • a 5’x5’ quadrat should be placed in each of the points established along the transect.

• plants within the quadrat will be identified.

• species and number of stems of each should be counted and recorded.

Phases Year 1: Baseline Inventory - Establish the transects and create the baseline before restoration is started. This process should occur twice in the first summer, once in June and once in August.

Year 2-5: Using the same method as year one, the transects should be monitored two times per summer, once in June and once in August.

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Monitoring Plans Wildlife Monitoring Goals • to study how the diversity has changed and whether or not it is increasing or decreasing.

Operations • restoration monitoring points will be set in different habitat locations to monitor for breeding birds, insects and amphibians. See figure 1 for locations.

Additional Notes • wide variety of birds have been observed in both the John Audubon Center property as well as the Pawlings Farm at Valley Forge Park property • birds have been noted on E-Bird.

• caterpillars and other insects provide a rich source of nutrients for adult birds to feed their young.

• amphibians are good biological indicators and if present in the marsh wetland may indicate good water quality.

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Phases Year 1: Baseline Inventory - Establish the monitoring points and create the baseline before restoration is started by looking for nesting areas on the ground, in shrubs, and in the trees. Spend two hours from 6:30am to 8:30am at a monitoring point weekly during May and June. Note any birds that are seen or heard, any amphibians seen or heard, and any insects seen. If a nest, scat, or other wildlife indicators are seen, note them.

Year 2-5: Using the same method as year one, the monitoring points should be used again as stations when looking and listening for wildlife. Any evidence of wildlife should be noted.

Transects and Monitoring Points - Wooded-Upland

Transects and Monitoring Points - Marsh-Wetland

Wildlife Monitoring Point Seed Bank Transect Plant Species Transect

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Monitoring Data Sheets

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Monitoring Data Sheets

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Restoration References How does nature exposure make people healthier?: Evidence for the role of impulsivity and expanded space perception https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6104990/ Cornell Labs https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/ Ebird ebird.org Lands for Life 2nd Edition. Natural Lands. 2014 Terrestrial and Palustrine Communities of Pennsylvania 2nd Edition. PA DCNR. 2012

The northern woodland edge and trail needs management and restoration.

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Afterword The design proposals in this report demonstrate how to achieve an enhanced level of both community connectivity and ecological services.

The courtyard improvements will create a network of programmatic spaces within a beautiful landscape.

Perkiomen Creek

And the student-residents will gain The campus-to-context connection deeper connections to the natural will be strengthened by a sweeping world during their stay at St. conversion of lawn to natural Gabriel’s Campus. lands.

John Audubon Center at Mill Grove

Oaks, PA

Permaculture Garden

Solar Fields Pollinator Meadow

Basketball Courts

Audubon Loop Trail Pawlings Rd.

The Mitchell Program and St. Gabe’s Hall relationship will be linked by the interventions on Connection Ave. The entry experience will be heightened by forming a visual connection between the drive and the clock tower.

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Courtyard Refuge

Allee Garden

Woodland Walk

Track & Field

Pool Mountain Views

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Entrance Drive

Meadow Walk

Ripple Fields

High Ropes Course

US 422

Wetland Schuylkill River Trail

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Valley Forge National Historical Park

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Image Sources • All photos taken and graphics composed by Zachary Cross unless otherwise noted.

Table of Contents • Aerials - Google Earth

Survey & Analysis •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

1798 Map - Untangling the History of the Pawling/Wetherill House at Walnut Hill Estate, Pawling Road, Lower Providence Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Thomas Clinton McGimsey. University of Pennsylvania. 1992 1849 Map - Library of Congress 1922 Aerial Photgraphs - Digital Library Company Historic Aerials - Penn Pilot Street View Photos - Google Street View Typical Piedmont Landscape - weekendswiththebirds.blogspot.com Typical Site Geology - addressinggettysburg.com Typical Site Soil - sciencesource.com eastern meadowlark - allaboutbirds.org eastern bluebird - indianaaudubon.org cedar waxwing - allaboutbirds.org short eared owl - allaboutbirds.org swallowtail - thoughtco.com eastern-tailed blue butterfly - butterfliesathome.com asclepias syriacas - everwilde.com andropogon virginicus - greentecnursery.com schedonorus pratensis - wildseed.co.uk linaria vulgaris - first-nature.com Chester County J.D.C. - cra-architects.com/project/chester-county-youth-center; Google Images Montco J.D.C. - pp-js.org; Google Images Delco J.D.C. - delcotimes.com - Pete Bannan; Google Images Bucksco J.D.C. - Google Images Philaco J.D.C - kmdarchitects.com

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Case Studies • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Prescribed Burn - twitter.com/valleyforgenhp Bails - facebook.com/FriendsofVFPark VF Meadow 01 - reverberations.net VF Meadow 02 - facebook.com/LandscapesStructuresVAFO Triumphal Arch - assets.simpleviewinc.com Meadow Roots - ecolandscaping.org Late Summer Meadow View - newsinteractive.post-gazette.com Audubon Map - johnjames.audubon.org Steep Slope - John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove Site and Natural Resources Plan. Wallace, Roberts, and Todd, LLC; Biohabitats, Inc. 2009 Steep Slope 02; Woodland Edge Trail - Photos by Jessica Marie Entrance Photo - Photo by Kate DeForest Native Plantings - https://res.cloudinary.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1479417485/clients/vfcvb/MTK_2569_44c28c45-96c4-4c07-bc31-e52122d18306.jpg Grasshopper Sparrow - inhf.org/webres/file/blog/grasshopper-sparrow.jpg Temple Healing Garden Illustrative Map - Temple University, Department of Landscape Architecture & Horticulture

Design Proposals • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Aerial and Axon Photos - Google Earth Buitenschot Park - landezine.com/index.php/2016/07/buitenschot-park-by-hns-landscape-architects Buitenschot Park - schiphol.nl/en/schiphol-as-a-neighbour/page/landscape-design-plan-to-combat-noise-nuisance Precedent Hydrology - Photo by Mark Gallagher Rain Garden - Google Image Patio - matthew-cunningham.com/portfolio/hemlock-house/ Outcrop - ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000N4j5NXqO1uc/s/860/860/holt-1227-037ca.jpg Amelanchier - plantsmap.com Betula - gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/betula/lenta Clethra- www.whiteflowerfarm.com/mas_assets/cache/image/3/f/3/4/16180.Jpg Fothergilla - mgnv.org/2019/04/19/shrub-fothergilla-gardenii-dwarf-fothergilla-2/ Rhus aromatica - houzz.com.au/photos/rhus-aromatica-gro-low-garden-minneapolis-phvw-vp~42567910 Juniper - upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Gerry%27s_Nose_NFLD_Juniperus_horizontalis_02.JPG Pinus - wglt.org/sites/wglt/files/styles/x_large/public/201708/14882305009_63b272127d_o.jpg

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Acknowledgements • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Blueberry - gardenia.net/plant/vaccinium-angustifolium-lowbush-blueberry Juniper - gardenia.net/plant/juniperus-horizontalis-blue-chip Little Bluestem - whiteflowerfarm.com/mas_assets/cache/image/6/2/0/3/25091.Jpg Eryngium - selectseeds.com/native-species-and-cultivars/species/rattlesnake_master_seeds.aspx Rudbeckia max - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudbeckia_maxima Liatris - amazon.com/30-Seeds-Liatris-Spicata-Blazing/dp/B00VM8UYPU Viburnum - curenursery.com/plants/viburnum-nudum Echinacea - fosterfarmbotanicals.com/products/echinacea-herb-echinacea-purpurea Dryopteris - northcreeknurseries.com/plantName/Dryopteris-marginalisCarex - tnnursery.net/pennsylvania-sedge-for-sale Heuchera -laurensgardenservice.com/product/coral-bells-qt/ Boulder - pinterest.com/pin/441493569692961873 Table - parknpool.com/picnic-tables/plastic-and-plastisol-coated.php Planting Details - University of Georgia

Ecological Restoration Project • Aerials and Axon Photos - Google Earth

Thank you to my wonderful capstone studio cohort - Liz Krohn, Jacob Zurilla, Mike Isaacman, and Katie Bartling - for their support, inspiration, and humour.

Thank you to my capstone studio professors - Pauline Hurley-Kurtz, Mark Gallagher, Lucinda Bartley, Mike Coll, and Carter van Dyke for their support and knowledge which has elevated the quality of this project.

Thank you to Denise and Mike Leiden for connecting me with the administration at St. Gabe’s Hall.

Thank you to all of my LA+Hort Temple professors who have challenged and taught me during my time at Temple Ambler.

And thank you to my wife, Kate, my daughters - Avery, Violet and soon to be born Charolette, as well as my loving parents and the rest of my family for consistent support during the many hours of work dedicated towards crafting this project.

Thank you to my stakeholders for connecting me with the St. Gabriel’s campus - Dr. Black, Anita Godshall, Beth Hollowbush, and May you all form good connections Robert Todd. with the landscapes of our lives.

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