Shaping the future of campus life with open spaces that connect, inspire, and endure.

The student experience is anchored by a few pivotal moments, and further shaped by everyday routines that fill the space between. Walking well-worn paths from class to class, tailgating in the shadow of a football stadium, or studying in the quad on the first warm day of spring—the memories vary from student to student, but the backdrop remains constant: the campus landscape.

 

Landscapes provide places to gather, celebrate, learn, and relax; they offer order and hierarchy; and they create common threads that unite generations of students, faculty, and staff. Successful campus environments require a delicate balance of vision and pragmatism—their design must be inspirational, yet grounded in the realities of long-term maintenance, sustainability, and operational viability. 

Our work has shaped the identity of more than 40 colleges and universities nationwide, encompassing nearly 200 campus open space projects. These include transformational developments in student life at UC San Diego, MIT, Creighton University, and the University of Houston. At institutions like Boston College and Rice University, outdoor spaces are integral to academic programming. In every case, the campus landscape serves not just as a backdrop, but as a defining element of the student experience.

UC San Diego Pepper Canyon West

SAN DIEGO | Completed earlier this year, Pepper Canyon West is at the forefront of a growing trend that brings amenitized student housing together with retail and academic programming to create a mixed-use living experience firmly rooted in campus life.

Creighton University Central Quadrangle

OMAHA | The Central Quadrangle is a direct response to student calls for more green space, establishing a new campus heart that unifies academic and residential life while providing a vibrant setting for campus events.

Graduate Junction at MIT

Cambridge | MIT's newest housing option for graduate students weaves together public and private spaces to create a vibrant community with student-focused amenities and multi-modal connections. Managing Principal Drew Stangel spoke about the project alongside collaborators from MIT, American Campus Communities, and Kieran Timberlake at the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2025, held in Boston in early June. 

Campus Open Space in the News