Providence College, Campus Transformation

the story

The Campus Transformation plan for Providence College reveals a comprehensive framework for future campus development and campus-related decisions. The plan aspires to utilize the existing campus facilities to their full potential, while adding new facilities that relate to a greater overall concept of campus development. It envisions space reserved for possible future changes and that the campus functions as a unified campus setting, no longer divided by a municipal street. The comprehensive plan has reimagined vehicular and pedestrian circulation system and enhanced open-space framework aligning campus facilities and open space with the high caliber of academics and unique culture.

at-a-glance

TYPE:

Campus Master Plan and Implementation

SERVICES:

Architecture

Landscape Architecture

Programming & Planning

LOCATION:

Providence, RI

STATUS:

Plan Completion 2015; Implementation Completion est. 2021

SIZE:

Campus 100 acres; Transformation 31 acres

A busy city street had long bisected the campus and created a real partition between upper and lower, east and west. Acquiring the street offered the college a once-in-a-generation opportunity to merge the campus into a cohesive whole and enhance overall function and beauty throughout.

Comprehensive analysis and campus community dialogue led to a clear understanding of the entirety of the existing campus, with an extensive subjective and technical evaluation of opportunities and constraints. Inclusive community dialogues between administration, faculty, staff and students, provided planners a broad point-of-view that directly informed the plan.

The plan, when fully realized, will unify the campus with improved circulation for pedestrians and vehicles, enhance the open space network, and align new facilities with PC’s exceptional academics and unique culture.

The street closing interrupted ingrained historical patterns and requires a phased implementation approach.

The first phase of implementation focused on removing the city street that had long bisected the campus and enhancing the arrival and surrounding green space. A new campus gateway features a traffic roundabout, guard house and bus shelter, creating a welcoming entrance at the terminus of the street, as it comes to the campus edge, providing a transit stop, circulation organizer, and security presence. The second phase of implementation continues where Phase 1 left off. The remaining section of the city street was removed, transforming the closed street into a unified campus landscape. A new serpentine walk replaces the street and utilizes rolling topography to improve the experience of moving through campus.

“The S/L/A/M Collaborative took a busy city street and made it into a pedestrian heaven with green space, garden-like grounds, improved campus accessibility, and a dramatic overlook of downtown Providence. The project has woven the two sections together to make one beautiful campus.”

John M. Sweeney

Senior Vice President for Finance and Business/Chief Financial Officer at Providence College

<p>The granite cladding of the new guard house, bus shelter and adjacent site walls establish a bold gateway presence. The architecture includes natural copper roofing, heavy timber beams and precast concrete panels. </p>

The granite cladding of the new guard house, bus shelter and adjacent site walls establish a bold gateway presence. The architecture includes natural copper roofing, heavy timber beams and precast concrete panels.

<p>The landscape includes creative infrastructure that reduces pollution caused by storm water runoff from roadways and other impervious surfaces. </p>

The landscape includes creative infrastructure that reduces pollution caused by storm water runoff from roadways and other impervious surfaces.

<p>Reuse of granite curbs salvaged from the demolished street interspersed with flowering plants create functional and aesthetic landscape features.</p>

Reuse of granite curbs salvaged from the demolished street interspersed with flowering plants create functional and aesthetic landscape features.

<p>The Capital View Overlook, located at a major pedestrian crossing, offers vistas of the Rhode Island State House creating a dynamic place where the campus community crosses paths and a chance to rest, view a softball game, or gather for informal activities.</p>

The Capital View Overlook, located at a major pedestrian crossing, offers vistas of the Rhode Island State House creating a dynamic place where the campus community crosses paths and a chance to rest, view a softball game, or gather for informal activities.

<p>The new pedestrian—Eaton Street Gateway—at the south end, offers distinctive ornamental granite walls and columns with decorative lighting and signage framing the new pathway, where the street once cut through, proudly signifying arrival to campus.</p>

The new pedestrian—Eaton Street Gateway—at the south end, offers distinctive ornamental granite walls and columns with decorative lighting and signage framing the new pathway, where the street once cut through, proudly signifying arrival to campus.

Providence College Awarded an ASLA CT Award

Awarded an American Society of Landscape Architects
Merit Award

Recognized by American School and University

2015: Campus Transformation Plan
2017: Huxley Avenue Phase 1
2018: Huxley Avenue Phase 2

Providence College

the story

at-a-glance

Project Contacts