SWA/Balsley collaborated with DIG Architects and Montclair State University to reimagine the campus student center, adjacent quad, and connections to the surrounding campus. Through site analysis and project stakeholder meetings, key pedestrian and vehicular circulation routes were identified for resident students, daily commuters, and University staff. The study also identified existing utility corridors, views, key vegetation, and access to parking and buildings. SWA/Balsley’s new plan for the student center area will make it a vibrant destination and a hub for student life. The proposal includes eliminating vehicular and pedestrian conflicts by closing roads, consolidating service functions, and clarifying north-south pedestrian circulation; enlarging and leveling the sunken quad and layering in transverse pathways to encourage free movement and activation of the lawn; introducing generous outdoor lounge areas abutting the revamped student center; and creating a welcoming new rideshare and shuttle arrival area and interstitial plaza spaces that stitch together disparate outdoor spaces into a cohesive and dynamic new landscape.
Medgar Evers College
This new quad provides a unifying pedestrian connection between Bedford and Franklin Avenues and between existing and new campus buildings, finally providing the campus with a cohesive identity and sense of place. With the dramatic transformation of a parking lot into more campus green space comes the opportunity to integrate a series of sustainability strateg...
Stanford West Apartments
SWA placed a special emphasis on maintaining the riparian corridor with native planting, using consideration when dealing with the archaeologically sensitive areas of the site, as well as existing recreation trails and landscape amenities such as parks and play areas. The internal street grid and architectural and landscape elements are designed to recall the ...
Universidad de Monterrey Campus Master Plan
The project focuses on improving the sustainability of the 247-acre campus, designing a shift from a vehicular orientation to one that encourages pedestrian, bicycle, and transit use. Site design strategies employ indigenous plant materials and natural water retention and filtration for low-maintenance landscaping. Phase 1 includes site design for one of Latin...
UC Davis West Village
UC Davis West Village is a new 225-acre development in Davis, California, that responds to a substantial growth in the number of students, faculty and staff living on the University’s campus. The city of Davis is a unique and cherished community, and great care was taken throughout the design and planning process to pay homage to its history and culture. The n...