Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Paving Patterns Enliven Campus Hub

  • 09/01/17
Amherst

Easy maintenance and an intricate, modern pattern were two of the benefits Unilock pavers extended to the lively campus hub developed at Amherst College.

The vision for this 20-acre district near the core of the Amherst College campus was developed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, in collaboration with Beyer Blinder Belle, Payette Architects and Kyu Sung Woo Architects. At the heart of this project is the Amherst College Greenway, a new landscape typology that will serve as a 21st-century complement to the historic Freshman Quad.

Located amidst the rolling hills of western Massachusetts, the campus landscape is an expression of its remarkable context. This strong landscape identity plays a major role in the rituals of campus life — walking to and from class, braving the extremes of the New England climate and gathering with friends on the quad — and does more to color the everyday experience of students, faculty, staff and visitors than any other aspect of the college.

Woven into the generous campus landscape fabric is a network of smaller, intimate gathering spaces designed for the social needs of contemporary undergraduate life. Within this context lies the central courtyard of the new college residences. Mediating significant site grade changes and programmatic challenges, this lively outdoor space focuses on fostering diversity and community engagement, while connecting the past and future of the college.

To achieve the desired paving pattern Unilock supplied two colors of the City Park Paver, Winter Marvel and Midnight Sky using the Umbriano finish. This finish resembles natural granite with the proprietary ColorFusion Technology and the built-in EasyClean Stain Resistance helps to ensure the space is easier to maintain. This unique patterning creates an intricate, modern and stimulating pixelated pattern in the lively hub of residential campus life.

www.unilock.com

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • University of Arizona Approves New Residence Hall

    The Arizona Board of Regents recently approved plans for a new residence hall at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., according to a news release. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2028 and have the capacity for more than 1,200 students, enforcing a new university expectation that all first-year students live on campus.

  • Massachusetts K–12 District Selects Architect for New Junior High

    Swansea Public Schools in Swansea, Mass., recently announced that it has selected Finegold Alexander Architects to design a new junior high school for the district, according to a news release. The firm will create the Feasibility Study and Schematic Design for Joseph Case Junior High School after a lengthy selection process by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).