The Penn State Chapter of the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), along with the Schreyer Honors College (SHC), the Office of the Physical Plant (OPP), and Housing and Residence Life, recently did their part to make life better at Penn State – the design and creation of the Schreyer Honors College Native Species Garden. Located on the east side of Atherton Hall, the garden will be a calming space and retreat from the bustle and hectic atmosphere of Penn State student life. When complete, the garden will feature a wooden arbor and benches that will serve as a gathering spot for students. The lawn at the center of the space will remain to allow for recreation, while the native plants flanking the arbor will soften the brickwork, add seasonal interest to the space and encourage bird activity. The plants include winterberry holly, inkberry holly, summersweet clethra, Virginia sweetspire and two matching redbud trees.

DBIA, consisting of AE, architecture, landscape architecture, and civil engineering students, played a vital role in design development, advising on the logistics of the project, planning the work and constructing the arbor - a project they've already completed with utmost efficiency in only one day. DBIA is led by president Mike Lockwood (AE), vice president and incoming president Jamie Knise (AE), and secretary, Randi Friesema (LArch). Additional support came from S:PACE president Luke Klock (AE), SEA president Pat Hopple (AE), graduate student Pete Dahl (AE), 5th year senior Todd Scales (AE), and professors Dr. David Riley and Dr. Michael Horman (AE faculty).

"Instead of employing one entity to design a building (e.g., an architect), and then another to construct it (e.g., a contractor), design-build promotes one entity to design and construct the facility," said Dr. Horman. "If done right, this has tremendous benefits in terms of simplifying many projects, and providing much better facilities as a consequence."

Horman explained that many complex projects like the Pentagon renovation are delivered using design-build, and the process is also used to address the complexities of environmentally friendly/sustainable commercial buildings.

"Our student group promotes cross-disciplinary experiences and community between the various disciplines of building projects. We've found this is fantastic for the future careers of students who must interact closely with these other disciplines, especially in design-build environments," said Horman.

The arbor and plantings were completed in late April by students from the DBIA and the SHC. Benches and a decorative gravel terrace will be installed by OPP over the summer. The garden will be officially dedicated in the fall of 2005.