Integrated
Technology
Center
Courtyard
In partnership with RDG Planning & Design and the City of La Crosse, Wisconsin, Western Technical College has made significant campus improvements over the last two decades.
This project replaces an under-utilized and outdated pedestrian corridor with a courtyard that integrates functional and beautiful pathways for students, faculty, staff and other community members, connecting them to their campus destinations. The courtyard connects people to nature by embracing an indigenous ecotype of the region, the tamarack bog, a part of the Driftless biome of southwest Wisconsin. The new outdoor area and walkway combine a unique blend of native plants, indigenous materials and open spaces to create a "campus sponge" and a living laboratory that teaches students about their local natural environment.
The design includes a series of stormwater best management practices, including permeable pavement, soil quality restoration, rain gardens and native plantings to remove over 640 pounds of sediment a year, resulting in a 25% reduction in runoff for the 10-year storm and over 1,600,000 gallons of water infiltrated per year.
The Integrated Technology Courtyard is one instrument within the campus-wide orchestration of improvements that meet the goals of the Stormwater Management Campus Master Plan. Improving upon an underutilized and outdated pedestrian corridor, the new courtyard connects people to nature by embracing an indigenous ecotype of the region, the tamarack bog, a part of the Driftless Area biome of southwest Wisconsin.
The new outdoor area and walkway combine a unique blend of native plants, indigenous materials and open spaces to create a “campus sponge” and a living laboratory that teaches students about their local natural environment. The design includes a series of stormwater management best practices including permeable pavement, soil quality restoration, rain gardens and native plantings to remove sediment.
Using endemic materials that integrate hints of the surrounding landscape and considering sustainability as the predominant factor in the design created spaces that allow users to engage in the landscape and benefit from it. The project puts the building and site technologies in the hands of students and educators alike, uncovering the physical infrastructure for use within the academic curriculum. This LEED Platinum Certified project and self-sustaining living laboratory demonstrate the holistic approach and commitment to sustainable design at Western Technical College.