Construction Begins on Senior Class Gift of 1997

With construction of the senior class gift of 1997 begun, peace at Penn State is close at hand. In fall 1996, seniors voted to create the "Peace Garden" but, with the renovation and redesign of the HUB-Robeson Center, construction on the garden did not get fully under way until last week. The target date for completion is August 15.

A design team of three landscape architecture professors and one landscape contracting professor worked with students in their classes and with Judy Larkin, project manager in the Office of Physical Plant. The goal was to design a garden that would complement the existing linear nature of the surroundings while bringing a color theme of white and the design of a "bosque" or European urban garden, according to Larkin.

Located adjacent to McAllister Building and across the alleyway from the HUB-Robeson Center, the Peace Garden will have 28 London Plane trees, a series of straight Pennsylvania blue flagstone walkways, teak benches, and limestone boulders for sitting on arranged in diagonal design patterns. Boxwood hedges and winter berry holly -- like that seen in front of Old Main -- will be planted, serving as a linear connection of the HUB-Robeson Center and Old Main.

About $122,000 dollars was raised for the senior project, in part from members of the senior class of 1997. Stay tuned for periodic updates on the Peace Garden’s progress.