Landscape plan calls for new walkways

Summer construction on the $2 million project will change the space on Liacouras Walk near Wachman Hall.

by Steve Bohnel 31 March 2015

Starting this summer, construction on one of the two main walkways on Main Campus will mark the beginning of a major landscaping plan throughout the university.

At a March 11 meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the allocation of up to $2 million for a landscape project involving Liacouras Walk and Wachman Plaza. University Architect Margaret Carney said the money will be drawn from the Plant Development Fund, an annually replenished pool of money allocated to address infrastructure projects.

James Templeton, Temples director of architectural services, said the fund is mostly used for exterior projects, but also occasionally for interior improvements, like ceiling repairs, window replacements and lobby refurbishments.

Concerning the current project involving Liacouras Walk and Wachman Plaza, Carney said this plan is the pilot project of a major landscaping plan that the university is unveiling in a few weeks.

Its definitely, for one, about beautification, Carney said of the current project. We definitely want to make it a better experience to walk on the paths around campus its also about giving people better clues as to where theyre supposed to go, so landscapes around building entrances we want to use it to give people more clarity for where theyre going.

Carney added that one of the key aspects of the plan is replacing the walkways with pervious pavement, which would improve drainage from rain. Templeton said another issue is a lack of unity throughout the major walkways on Main Campus. The inconsistencies range from 10 to 15 different paving standards and 25 different types of light fixtures, he said.

This is the first attempt to try to unify everything, and make standards for the rest of the university, Templeton said.

In order to combat this issue along with general collaboration on the project Temple has partnered with LRSLAstudio, a landscape architectural firm located at 230 S. Broad St.

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Landscape plan calls for new walkways