The Evergreen Valley College, established in 1975, wanted to create a new central campus open space focused on outdoor learning and social gatherings, along with a more pedestrian-friendly campus interior. For the east entrance, BFS Landscape Architects designed a pedestrian plaza as well as separated bus and car drop-off areas. The plaza features paving patterns, tree planters, benches, and lighting that lead visitors from the parking and drop-off areas toward the center of campus. Stormwater is managed through a series of infiltration planters at the plaza and bioretention areas in the parking lots.
The redesign of the central landscape includes the rehabilitation of a memorial plaza with new trees and site furniture. Adjacent to the student center, the activity plaza with lawn parterres forms a continuous open space that can seat up to 3,000 for campus convocations. An amphitheater centered on an existing oak tree anchors the north end of the triangular space. A walkway winds gracefully through an existing grove of trees to connect the newly constructed South Campus development as part of required State DSA access.
