SCUP Excellence in Landscape Architecture, Honor Award

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Quissett Campus, Woods Hole, MA and Stephen Stimson Associates, Falmouth, MA

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Restoration of the Quissett Campus of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution involved locating two new laboratory buildings, shaping the vehicular circulation and parking system and creating a pedestrian campus core. The existing campus consisted of buildings around roads and parking lots with numerous pedestrian/vehicular conflicts.

The design team worked with the owner, permitting consultant and construction manager testing different designs for permitting, construction cost, construction phasing and implications. Permitting was critical and regulations required twice the amount of acreage for conservation as acreage disturbed.

Phasing facilitated construction financing and minimized disruption of ongoing research in existing buildings. The team used cost effective materials for large-scale interventions: meadow, saplings, asphalt, site boulders, concrete walls and pavement. 

Roof and site runoff was directed to an infiltration basin planted with native species. Vegetation choices were influenced by habitat for wildlife and species already present in the surrounding forest. 

Creating a visibly sustainable image for the campus drove decisions on all levels. Interaction among scientists, staff and students was accomplished by creating shared landscape spaces and a new pedestrian system. 

The institution’s mission is study of the environment, so it was important to have visibly sustainable landscapes and use native species to support wildlife with low maintenance. Manicured lawn was needed in a few areas, but other areas were planted in meadow with native tree and shrub species to promote “old field” vegetation and eventual transition to native forest.

The design emphasizes natural process; the runnel is very active in rain, and contains flowing moisture even on dry mornings when rooftop dew makes its way to the basin. Storm water is dealt with visibly instead of hiding it in pipes. 

The design was not donor driven, although donors are now stepping up for naming opportunities. 

“The landscape design was specifically focused on native plantings attractive to wildlife, as an amenity and as a strong parallel to the institution’s mission,” says Ernest G. Charette, Director of Facilities and Services at Woods Hole. 

The jury said, “ . . . this is as sophisticated as nature gets . . . gorgeous composition, great campus fabric . . . a key to maturing the institution . . .”

Project Team: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Stephen Stimson Associates with Ellenzweig