East End Central Landscape

Washington University in St. Louis

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Project Details
Size
26 acres
Year
2020
Location
St. Louis, MO
Collaborators

Michael Vergason Landscape Architects
Alexandria, VA

KieranTimberlake
Philadelphia, PA

Honors

2020 Honor Award for Excellence in Planning, Society for College & University Planning

2023 Regional & Urban Design Award, AIA National

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Project Summary

Tisch Park and East End Central Landscape is the largest capital investment in the recent history of the Danforth Campus of Washington University in St. Louis.

The project is a transformation of the main public face of the University from Bookings Hall, the iconic hilltop building (west), to Skinker Boulevard (east), Forest Park Parkway (north) and Forsyth Boulevard (south). 

The East End Central Landscape includes two new engineering buildings, a new building for the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, a new public entrance and expansion of the Kemper Art Museum, an outdoor sculpture garden, a Welcome Center and a Multipurpose Student Hub. The project also  removes all surface parking lots on the eastern portion of the campus, replacing them with a  large underground parking garage and limits vehicular access to three drop-off plazas at the campus perimeter. 

The substantially improved central landscape, now called Tisch Park, ties the east end of the campus together with a large park, more open area for formal and informal gatherings, a replanting of the campus’ signature tree allée, a new sculpture garden, and provides a new network of clear and accessible pedestrian walks and bicycle paths. 

Arbolope Studio has served as the St. Louis design partner, collaborating with Michael Vergason Landscape Architects and KieranTimberlake.

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Documentation
Abrolope studio transformations washington university east campus in saint louis missouri with new planting beds to connect interior and exterior
Active planting edges connect the indoors and outdoors of transparent facades while also encouraging lingering and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Aerial view of planting bed by a finely paved walkway at washington university st louis
The project creates a diverse range of outdoor space typologies, from finely paved plazas and passageways, to ornamental plantings.
Drone overhead photography by Arbolope studio of the east end campus transformation at washington university in saint louis missouri
The pedestrian dominant zone allows for improvement of north-south connection while a central green creates a lively campus quad, becoming the heart of the East campus.
Hillman planting landscape at washington university st louis
Pedestrian walkways and bikeways on washington university east campus in saint louis missouri.
Pedestrian walkways and bikeways surrounded by native plantings on washington university east campus in saint louis missouri.
Aerial view of Washington University campus pathways and between green spaces in St. Louis
Native plantings on washington university east campus in saint louis missouri.
Interior Courtyard by Arbolope studio for the east end campus transformation at washington university in saint louis missouri
Wayfinding icons on walkways and bike paths at washington university in saint louis missouri
Campus walkway washington university in saint louis missouri

East End Central Landscape

Washington University in St. Louis

Location

St. Louis, MO

Size

26 acres

Services

Landscape Architecture
Local Support & Peer Review
Construction Administration

Completion

2020

Collaborators

Michael Vergason Landscape Architects
Alexandria, VA

KieranTimberlake
Philadelphia, PA

Honors & Awards

2020 Honor Award for Excellence in Planning, Society for College & University Planning

2023 Regional & Urban Design Award, AIA National

Tisch Park and East End Central Landscape is the largest capital investment in the recent history of the Danforth Campus of Washington University in St. Louis.

The project is a transformation of the main public face of the University from Bookings Hall, the iconic hilltop building (west), to Skinker Boulevard (east), Forest Park Parkway (north) and Forsyth Boulevard (south). 

The East End Central Landscape includes two new engineering buildings, a new building for the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, a new public entrance and expansion of the Kemper Art Museum, an outdoor sculpture garden, a Welcome Center and a Multipurpose Student Hub. The project also  removes all surface parking lots on the eastern portion of the campus, replacing them with a  large underground parking garage and limits vehicular access to three drop-off plazas at the campus perimeter. 

The substantially improved central landscape, now called Tisch Park, ties the east end of the campus together with a large park, more open area for formal and informal gatherings, a replanting of the campus’ signature tree allée, a new sculpture garden, and provides a new network of clear and accessible pedestrian walks and bicycle paths. 

Arbolope Studio has served as the St. Louis design partner, collaborating with Michael Vergason Landscape Architects and KieranTimberlake.

Abrolope studio transformations washington university east campus in saint louis missouri with new planting beds to connect interior and exterior Aerial view of planting bed by a finely paved walkway at washington university st louis Drone overhead photography by Arbolope studio of the east end campus transformation at washington university in saint louis missouri
Active planting edges connect the indoors and outdoors of transparent facades while also encouraging lingering and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The project creates a diverse range of outdoor space typologies, from finely paved plazas and passageways, to ornamental plantings.
The pedestrian dominant zone allows for improvement of north-south connection while a central green creates a lively campus quad, becoming the heart of the East campus.
Hillman planting landscape at washington university st louis
Pedestrian walkways and bikeways on washington university east campus in saint louis missouri.
Pedestrian walkways and bikeways surrounded by native plantings on washington university east campus in saint louis missouri.
Aerial view of Washington University campus pathways and between green spaces in St. Louis
Native plantings on washington university east campus in saint louis missouri.
Interior Courtyard by Arbolope studio for the east end campus transformation at washington university in saint louis missouri
Wayfinding icons on walkways and bike paths at washington university in saint louis missouri
Campus walkway washington university in saint louis missouri