The landscape design for the Ph. 1 parcel of Collin College’s 75-acre campus in Farmersville, TX emphasized utilizing grading to improve soil and drainage, planting and seeding strategies to highlight the native and adaptive plant palette, and stitching in amenities to enhance and shape the student, visitor, faculty and community experience. DELINEATOR worked in collaboration with The Beck Group on planning for the 75- acre campus and the landscape design of the 15 acre Phase 1 plan, which completed construction in 2021.
DELINEATOR begins each project in analysis, studying relevant site context and information which in this case was looking closely at the land over time, its soil and slopes. The soil had eroded in drainage areas significantly once the land was not used for agriculture. The native seed mix seen shown in the first image will begin to bloom as it goes through its second cycle in 2022 and will reduce maintenance for the campus while stabilizing and restoring the slopes’ soil.
DELINEATOR studied cost-value impact strategies for incorporating the Ph. 1 site’s future campus edge connections. Other proposed amenities could be partially permeable surfaces that become paved pathways in the full Master Plan, such as a looping soft pathway to contribute to campus wellness.
The native seeded prairie surrounds the Ph. 1 building evoking a sense of place in the North Texas Landscape. The library opens up to the landscape on the south edge where the experience at night was designed to complement the architecture and create a welcoming beacon toward the developing city and community.
Sunken gardens adjacent to the building will utilize collected rainwater.
DELINEATOR created pockets for gathering in shade, a critical design feature in North Texas. On the back of the new Ph. 1 building a grove of October Glory Red Maple trees and Inland Sea Oats will provide shade, texture and movement welcoming students and faculty.
An allee of ‘October Glory’ Red Maples will line the entry path, blooming red in the fall and creating a memorable experience for the students, faculty and visitors.
DELINEATOR aims to design parking areas with an emphasis on the pedestrian experience from door to door, which contributes to student and faculty’s overall happiness (proven through survey results).
The Learning Landscape was envisioned as a future outdoor space that will connect to the surrounding campus and take advantage of topography to create a comfortable and unique experience that provides respite from strong wind and sun of the site’s location.
Tagging trees in winter allowed the team to judge the integrity of the trunks’ forms that were critical in the allee and grove. Muskogee, Oklahoma December 2020