Throop Plaza
Washington University
Throop Plaza defines the corner
A raingarden collects storm water run-off
The monolithic bench accommodates individuals and groups
spaces for circulation and respite
intersecting lines and planes
Throop Plaza has transformed an under-utilized circulation space into a signature multi-function campus landscape.
Collaborators
Washington University
Mackey Mitchell Architects
Cole Engineering Services
G & W Engineering
Randy Burkett Lighting Design
Tarlton Corporation
Project Facts
Size:
0.5 acres
Completion:
2014
700 SF of rain garden
55 foot-long custom bench
Throop Plaza is a landscape court for the Knight Center and new Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. Approximately a half acre in size, Throop Plaza is a multifunctional landscape meant to serve as a visually appealing space for people to pass through, congregate in, drive by and view from above.
The plaza is defined geometrically by a series of paths laid out to provide clear and focused direction to surrounding destinations. The area carved by these paths includes a tree grove, rain garden, native flowering hillside and an evergreen backdrop.
The raingarden and native flowering hillside along Throop Drive buffer the plaza from the street and visually reinforce the University’s commitment to sustainability. The tree grove is a sheltered gathering space that employs a mix of deciduous hardwood trees to create a mosaic of color and texture throughout the seasons. The evergreen hillside screens the garage and provides an all season backdrop that anchors the plaza.
The Details
Juncus Shadow Play
Bench Detail
Winter's Blanket