STLCC Forest Park Center for Nursing and Advanced Health Sciences

Challenge

• Transform the campus and landscape from a fortress-like environment to an open and welcoming space.
• Manage 98% of stormwater on the project site in order to earn the LEED credit for stormwater management.
• Reduce reliance on maintenance and irrigation by using native plants.
• Encourage the use of outdoor walkways as an alternative to interior passageways between buildings.
• Enhance pedestrian and vehicular access to the new building and the larger campus.
• Redesign the existing topography to make the campus landscape fully accessible; for example, removing stairs and steep walkways and adjusting path lengths and building entries.

• 3 large bioretention basins cover a total of approximately 44,430 sf. The basins feature plants such as eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), Ozark witch hazel (Hammemalis vernalis), lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata), and orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida).
• 30 plant species native to the St. Louis region including honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis), butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), and blue mistflower (Conoclinum coelestinum) cover approximately 17,000 sf (7.8%) of the site. The plantings were laid out using a method called “Designed Plant Community” which organizes plants according to their composition on-site during construction. Plants are categorized as Structural, Dynamic, Field, and Ephemeral, and are arranged in layers. This planting strategy was developed in collaboration with the Horticultural program at St. Louis Community College.
• Ten 10-ft-high perforated light walls illuminate the cross-campus walkway. These sculptural features were relocated from a former plaza in downtown St. Louis.
• Much of the original campus landscape was designed by landscape architect Dan Kiley. Key features designed by Kiley include large brick and concrete plazas with a large fountain and sculptural benches located in the plazas and arcades. The landscape architect for the redesign took design cues from the original plan, including using cypress trees and other lush foliage to preserve the spirit of Kiley’s design.

Construction of the three rain gardens cost approximately $9.96 per sf over a total of 1.02 acres (44,431 sf), as compared to a conventionally planted landscape bed, which would have cost about $9.68 per sf. The rain garden construction increased the project budget by approximately $12,440; however, it captures and stores stormwater, encourages groundwater recharge, offers improved aesthetics, and requires less maintenance.

• Although the landscape architecture team built and fostered positive relationships with the general contractor through phone calls, email, site visits, and regularly scheduled meetings, some elements of project construction did not occur as planned. The landscape contractor stockpiled soil on-site during construction, which resulted in the presence of wind-pollinated invasive plants. Writing clearer instructions into contract documents (through notes or details specifying how soil should be handled) could mitigate this issue for future projects.
• Following project completion, the plants began exhibiting visible nutrient deficiencies. The landscape architect took soil samples and discovered the mix lacked nitrogen. This appears to be linked to the construction administration phase and maintenance period following completion.
• The landscape architect worked with the St. Louis Community College School of Horticulture to lay out the plantings as a “Designed Plant Community” and orchestrate installation on-site while maintaining the overall design intent. This helped the landscape contractor to understand the layout of the desired naturalistic planting plan based on the critical plantings’ locations (especially trees, shrubs, and edges) versus the more traditional approach of mixes that fill in remaining space (which would be more familiar to the contractor).
• Following project completion, the landscape architecture team observed that many patients who come to the campus for treatment (e.g. dental cleanings) have mobility challenges. There are limited parking spaces (accessible or otherwise) available at the front of the building. More parking spaces near the entrance to the building would better accommodate patients with mobility issues.
• Some of the courses offered at St. Louis Community College require students to be on campus between five and eight hours a day. More outdoor space and varied spaces (small, medium, large spaces) would accommodate these students and encourage them to increase their time spent outdoors.

Bench: Landscape Forms/Escofet
Moveable Cafe Table and Chairs: Landscape Forms
Bicycle Racks: Landscape Forms
Trash Receptacles: Landscape Forms
Security and Lighted Bollards: Landscape Forms
Detectable Warning Panel: Masons Supply Company
Detectable Warning Unit Pavers: Tectura Designs
Concrete Pavers: Tectura Designs
Curbs and Edge Restraints: Tectura Designs
Sand Setting-Bed Materials: Tectura Designs
Chemical Surface Retarder for Exposed Aggregate Appearance: Dayton Superior Corporation
Quick Couplers: Rain Bird
Trees and Shrubs: Pea Ridge Forest Tree Farm & Nursery; Anna Nursery; Waldbart & Sons Nursery; Hoette Farms & Nursery; Jost Greenhouses

Project Team

Landscape Architect: DTLS
Lab Architect: HOK
Building Architect: KAI Enterprises
Structural Engineer: Larson Engineering
MEP Engineering: KAI
LS Code Consulting: Code Consultants, Inc.
Civil (Tower): CDI
Surveying/Civil: Glasper Professional Services
General Contractor: Tarlton Corporation
Commissioning: Zodiac Commissioning
LEED Consulting: Lucy Williams
Sculpture: Gateway Foundation
Sculpture Lighting Designer: RBLDI
Sculpture Structural Engineer: Ted Pruess
Sculpture Installer: ACME Erectors

Role of the Landscape Architect

The landscape architect was involved in all planning and design phases of the project including: development of a needs assessment and identifying key issues; master planning; schematic design through documentation; construction administration; and LEED services and coordination.