Health Science Education Complex and West Gateway
The proposed addition of a new Health Science Education Complex, (HSEC) to the west end of the main campus will have a significant impact on the landscape and the way the campus is used. In addition, the proposed “South Campus” village to be located across route 30 immediately to the south, will create an all new residential, recreation, and retail destination that will be physically linked to the HSEC. One of the goals of the Landscape Framework Plan is to incorporate the HSEC into the West Park and for its buildings to have a strong eastward orientation that will embrace that space so that the structures will become the western “bookends” of the main campus. To meet the intent of the master plan, the HSEC and the new Route 30 campus gateway intersection will become an integral part of the main campus. To achieve this goal, the West Park landscape is pulled west across the proposed new routing of University Drive and up to the east facing facades of the HSEC buildings that com- plete the extension of West Park. This orientation, combined with a strong pedestrian linkage, joins the HSEC facility with the West Park as well as the University Green and east campus beyond. Lawns and planting for the west end of campus including the HSEC site are intended to reduce the dominance of formal mown turf and to incorporate significant areas of prairie grass and wildflower plantings as well as native trees and shrubs. This ap- proach will tie the site into the natural surroundings to the north and complete the proposed east-west landscape gradient in the main campus from traditional to more indigenous in character. The West Gateway presents a grand image for the university; it creates a gracious arrival experience, and unifies the new south campus with the main. The HSEC south building anchors the key northwest corner; a new school of business building is worked into the mature tree landscape to the northeast and two new south campus mixed-use buildings flank the southern extension of University Drive. UNK columns of heroic size are stationed at all corners and UNK walls flank the columns to the north. Special paving, lighting, and planting accent the intersection square creating a place that welcomes the pedestrian and celebrates the university character and lifestyle. Medians have been widened and planted and street trees have been extended to the ends of campus on both sides of the Route 30. Together, they serve to scale down the highway, slowing traffic and creat- ing a pedestrian refuge out of not only the median but also the entire UNK gateway intersection. The southwest corner of the HSEC site is enhanced with a new set of curving stone UNK identity walls. Backed by evergreen trees and illuminated at night, they demarcate the southwest corner of the main campus and introduce the University to passers by.
Existing - Health Science Education Complex Site
1
1
West Gateway Facing East
Proposed - Health Science Education Complex Site
13
Chroma Design Inc.
University of Nebraska - Kearney Campus Landscape Master Plan
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter maker