O p e n A i r M u s e u m Springfield Museums, Springfield, MAElizabeth Cooper Abrah Jordan Dresdale Conway School of Landscape Design june 2010

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Open

air

museum

The Springf eld

Mus

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O p e n A i r M u s e u m Springfield Museums, Springfield, MAElizabeth Cooper Abrah Jordan Dresdale Conway School of Landscape Design june 2010

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The Conway School of Landscape Design is the only

institution of its kind in North America. Its focus is

sustainable landscape planning and design. Each

year, through its accredited, ten-month graduate

program just eighteen to nineteen students from

diverse backgrounds are immersed in a range of

applied landscape studies, ranging in scale from

residences to regions. Graduates go on to play

significant professional roles in various aspects

of landscape planning and

design. www.csld.edu

INDEX

INTRODUCTION ................................1

CONTEXT regional.....................................2 neighborhood..........................3

EXISTING CONDITIONS..................4

SITE SECTION...................................5

CITY-WIDE ANALYSES................6-7

SITE ANALYSES access & circulation.............8 impervious surfaces.............9 views...........................................10 vegetation.................................11 utilities......................................12 sun/shade.................................13 summary analysis..................14

IDEAL CONCEPT.............................15

DESIGN ALTERNATIVE 1...........16-17

DESIGN ALTERNATIVE 2.........18-19

DESIGN ALTERNATIVE 3........20-21

FINAL DESIGN.................................22 planting guide.......................23 design details..................24-26 garden details................27-28 design precedents...............29

FOR THE FUTURE..........................30

O p e n A i r M u s e u m Springfield Museums, Springfield, MAElizabeth Cooper Abrah Jordan Dresdale Conway School of Landscape Design june 2010

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int

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Art installations are integrated into the landscape. Makethematicconnectionsamongalltheexistingmuseums Includesensorygardenswithinterpretivesigns,waterfeatures,andchildren-orientedinstallations Offereducationalopportunitiesforbothfacilitatedandself-guidedlearning

Performances, community festivals, and other special events happen regularly Siteathree-seasonopen-airpavilionforperformances,weddings,andotherspecial

eventsthatisintegratedwithinstallationsandgardens Siteamulti-useoutdoorclassroom

Environmentally sustainable practices are demonstrated on site. Reduceimpervioussurfacestoallowmorestormwatertoinfiltrateonsite Capturewaterforuseinwaterfeaturesandforirrigation Addvegetationtothecampuswithnativeplants,climbingvines,andgreenroofs Provideoutdoorrecyclingstations

The Open Air Museum is an integral part of Springfields revitalization CelebrateSpringfieldscultureandnaturalfeatures Makecohesiveconnectionswithotheropenspacesandculturallandmarks Improvecirculationandincreaseuseof property

In2008,twostudentsfromtheConwaySchoolof LandscapeDesign,LizKushnerandTheresaSprague,developedtheSpringfieldMuseumsLandscapeMasterPlan.Thisplanincludedtheideaof aSixthMuseum,anoutdoormuseumthatwouldextendeducationalopportunitiesthroughoutthegrounds.Withthatmasterplanasablueprintforfurtherdesign,theMuseumsstaff havedevelopedgoalstorealizetheconceptof anopenairmuseum.Ideally,thisnewplanwillprovideinteractiveeducationalexperiences,encouragecommunityparticipation,andsupporttheCityof Springfieldsrevitalization.

The Springfeld Museums

Overall Goal: An open air museum on the Springfield Museums campus that educates visitors and strengthens the community of Springfield.

The Springfield Museums includetheGeorgeWalterVincentSmithArtMuseum,theSpringfieldScienceMuseum,theDAmourMuseumof FineArt,theConnecticutValleyHistoricalMuseum,thenewlyopenedLymanandMerrieWoodMuseumof SpringfieldHistory,andtheDr.SuessMemorialSculptureGarden.TheMuseumshavelongbeenaculturalandeducationalresourceforthecity.Sincethe1895openingof theSmithMuseum,Springfieldsfirstartmuseum,theMuseumscomplexhasevolved,butremainedrootedinitsoriginalmission:toprovideexhibitionsandprogramsthatengagediverseaudiencesof allages.

PROJECT GOALS & PROGRAM

O p e n A i r M u s e u m Springfield Museums, Springfield, MAElizabeth Cooper Abrah Jordan Dresdale Conway School of Landscape Design june 2010

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Connecticut River

City of Springfeld

re

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Museums Campus

Mem

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Brid

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Springfield Armory

Springfield

Cemetery

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The Springfeld museumsTheMuseumscampusislocatedinwesternMassachusettsontheedgeof theSpringfieldsdowntownbusinessdistrictandwithin1/2milefromtheConnecticutRiver.

TheMuseumsaresituatedonthemiddleof threeterracesthatascendfromtheConnecticutRiver.Thecentraldowntownbusinessdistrictislocatedontheterracebelow;anopengreenspacearoundtheNationalArmoryHistoricSiteontheterraceabove.AsteepgradeseparatestheMuseumsfromdowntownandtheriver,givingtheMuseumsafeelingof separationfromthedenseurbancore.

ItsproximitytodowntownmakesthecampusaneasilyaccessibleresourceforSpringfieldresidents.Interstate91passingjustsouthof thecampusallowseasyaccessforvisitorswhodrivetotheMuseumsfromadistance.

A A

O p e n A i r M u s e u m Springfield Museums, Springfield, MAElizabeth Cooper Abrah Jordan Dresdale Conway School of Landscape Design june 2010

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Ne

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NeighborhoodChurches - soup kitchenLibrary Merrick ParkPynchon Plaza - potential linkCourthouse - State St. Corridor ProjectPeople of SpringfieldMattoon St.

Museum & Library Parking

MerrickPark

Pync

hon

park

Christ Church Cathedral

St. Michaels Cathedral

Federal CourtBuilding

Springfield Museums campus

Muse

um

Park

ing

SpringfieldArmory historic Site

Mattoon HistoricNeighborhood

Dwight St.

Chestnut St.

Stat

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Spring St.

Edwa

rds

St.

Mat

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St.

Eliot St.

Byers St.

TheMuseumsneighborhoodisadiversemixof usescommercial,residential,historicalwhichaddtotherichnessof thearea.jJusttothenorthisthehistoricMattoonNeighborhood,thesubjectof citizen-guidedwalkingtours.kPynchonPark,closedfor20years,ispartof theredevelopmentdesignprojectFromtheQuadtotheRiverthatseekstorestoreconnectionsbetweentheMuseumsanddowntownSpringfield.lSt.MichaelsCathedralandChristChurchCathedralflanktheMuseumsonoppositesides.ChristChurchoperatesacommunitysoupkitchen.Peoplewhocometo

thesoupkitchenoftenlingeratMerrickParkandontheadjacentareaof theMuseumscampus.mTheSpringfieldArmoryisasizeablegreenspaceandhistoricalsitewithina5-minutewalkfrom

theMuseums.nTheFederalCourthouse,onthecornerof StateandElliotStreetsanddesignedbyarchitectMosheSafdie,isaprizedbuildingfortheStateStreetCorridorRevitalizationProject.oThecitypubliclibraryabutsthesoutheasternendof theMuseumsQuad,facingfronttoStateStreet.MerrickParkisacityparkthatsharesacornerwiththelibraryandtheMuseumscampus,itscenterpiecethefamousPuritanstatue,awell-regardedworkof mastersculptorAugustusSaint-Gaudens.Soup-kitchengoerscongregatehere.TheMuseumsandthecityarecurrentlydiscussingthepossibilityof collaboratingonnewvisionsforthepark.

j

Libr

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Mattoon Neighborhoodj

Merrick Park and Springfield Libraryo

Federal Courthouse - State Streetn

Springfield Armorym

Christ Church Cathedrall

Pynchon Parkk

O p e n A i r M u s e u m Springfield Museums, Springfield, MAElizabeth Cooper Abrah Jordan Dresdale Conway School of Landscape Design june 2010

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ThegrassycentralQuadandtheDr.SuessMemorialSculptureGardenaremainfocalpointsthatdrawvisitorstothe5.5-acrecampus.TheMuseumscampushasrecentlybeenclassifiedasaNationalHeritageParkandisopentothepublicduringtheday,withgatesclosingatdusk.SpringfieldresidentsareadmittedtotheMuseumsfreeof charge.Non-residentvisitorsmaypurchaseanadmissionticketattheVisitorCenterintheMuseumof Sciencebuilding.

ThemainentrywaytotheMuseumsbycarisonEdwardsStreet,whereparkingisavailableattheVisitorCenterandontheoppositesideof EdwardsStreet.AgatewayfromMerrick

main entry to the Museums is from Edwards Street, through a parking lot that extends right up to the Visitor Center.

The campus is enclosed by iron fences; gates are locked at dusk each day.

The Yertle Garden, sited between the Fine Arts Museum and the Kilroy Administration Building, boasts a Yertle the Turtle sculpture, but is not frequently visited.

Four of the five museums are centered on a grassy Quad. The central and northeastern parts of the Quad are shaded by large trees. School groups and families can often be