LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.
Issue link: https://landscapearchitect.epubxp.com/i/457513
86 Landscape Architect and Specifier News (Continued on page 88) Grange HQ (Continued from page 84) slot drains. Materially, the plaza surface consists primarily of precast concrete pavers arranged to create subtle bands of warm and cool grays with light and medium sandblast finishes. A combination of full and half paver modules are arranged randomly, which creates a rich visual affect whether viewed from a distance or up close. The dining terrace, located directly south of the ground-level cafeteria, is an intimately scaled outdoor space with buffered views toward busy High Street. It also has views to the mature landscape of the South Green and the newly developed rain garden. Umbrella tables and chairs encourage people to sit and take a morning break, or have lunch outside. A comfortably wide walk, which is serviceable as a fire lane, draws people along the edge of the rain garden's upper basins, linking to the Wall Street walk corridor and lobby. Preserved trees provide dappled morning shade to the space. Introductions of water-tolerant trees in the adjacent rain garden, such as red maple and swamp white oak, will eventually shade the afternoon sun as well. A highly visual environmental amenity on the Grange campus is the rain garden, which is situated between the dining terrace and Wall Street path. The rain garden works hand-in-hand with the building's green roofs and a below-grade detention piping system. Water is conveyed from roof scuppers through architectural concrete runnels leading to the rain garden. The rain garden slows the erosive forces of stormwater, while enhancing the water quality. A notched weir, constructed of architectural concrete, controls water flow into the lower basin, where it pools to a depth of 14 inches before percolating to the detention pipes below. Aligned with the notches, crafted rectangular stone planks prevent erosion and Above, Left & Right A path cuts through the middle of the south end of the site. It transitions from bluestone and concrete pavers to repurposed brick and poured concrete. Bold arrangements of dwarf bamboo, feather reed grass, black-eyed Susan and Russian sage follow the path in a shifting pattern emphasizing a north-south grain. The path is punctuated with columnar pedestrian lights, and contemporary 'Bancal' ipe benches with steel supports.