To address world challenges such as global food supply and agricultural sustainability, North Carolina State University invested in the design and construction of the Plant Sciences Building (PSB) on Centennial Campus. This is the main facility for programs and researchers that are part of the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative (PSI). The PSI is based on an interdisciplinary systems approach with the PSB leveraging North Carolina’s and NC State University’s agriculture and biosciences assets, concentrated in a world-class interdisciplinary research complex. CLH provided landscape architecture as part of a multi-faceted design team.
During advanced planning, CLH developed numerous schematic designs and participated in multiple visioning sessions to meet the goals of the College of Agriculture Sciences large outreach component. Since North Carolina is a state where agricultural research is critical to the rural economy, it was important to display the technology and the products of that extensive research to reinforce the message that researchers are never far from the field nor from the farmers that participate and benefit from that research.
Our site design included a south-facing exterior hearth with a covered “porch” which provides space for casual conversation, reflection, and study. The space is adjacent to the interior hearth, allowing functions to flow both physically and visually from inside to outside. The porch overlooks the multifunctional “commons” which includes a hardscape plaza, multi-functional site furnishings, and an open lawn. The space serves larger events as well as small groups and includes five demonstration plots to showcase new crops or emerging technology. The six-foot grade change between the upper hearth area and lower terrace allowed for the use of ramps and steps to create distinct seating and activity spaces. The central ramp provides a universal access path from the southern portion of the site to the main entry on the east. Handrail lighting and strategic step lighting allow for safe pathways in the evening hours.
Stormwater management is incorporated in the site design on the south and east sides of the building. A cast-in-place stormwater feature in the south bioretention area highlights the connection between the building and the landscape, allowing roof drainage to enter the bioretention area in a visible way. The shape of the cast-in-place concrete takes inspiration from the molecular diagram of the chemical structure of chlorophyll.
Overall, the landscape architecture features tie together many elements utilized in the innovative design of the PSB to make it the state-of-the art facility it is today.
Mark Herboth Photography
