The Dawes Arboretum, founded in 1929, sits on nearly 2,000 acres in Newark, Ohio. The Zand Education Center provides interior and exterior classroom space as well as learning gardens and event gathering spaces to take advantage of the surrounding views.

Located in an old dairy barn, the building and surrounding land was in dire need of an upgrade to support its educational mission. The northern wing of the building was demolished to create a space for learning gardens and to open up the views to the adjacent pond.

The Dawes Arboretum was unsatisfied with their original conceptual design so hired us to redesign the plan, resolve the grade issues, and install the project within six months. Programmatic elements included a vehicular drop off, raised gardens with a garden shed, learning gardens, a formal patio adjacent to the building and a connection to the pond.

This before shot of the existing approach to the Zand Education Center demonstrates it was not the most welcoming.

The new landscape is connected by axial paths with a series of circles to mark either decision points or destinations. The entry road was expanded and regraded to allow for an accessible drop off area, highlighted by permeable brick pavers and a cedar wood pergola. The dilapidated entry ramp was removed and replaced with a generous sidewalk leading all visitors to the front door.

An informal learning garden of raised bed and a garden shed with a green roof immediately greets the visitor. A double wide stone seat wall defines the space and retains the patio.

Each raised bed is irrigated and connected to a below grade drainage system

A formal circular learning garden unifies the various exterior areas. A new shed roof attached to the building provides shaded seating for outdoor instruction and activities opposite the raised beds.

The central raised stone planter is both a visual destination as well as a place to sit and relax. The main paths are concrete while a secondary gravel path allows more access to view and learn about the plants. We designed and provided a few trees and shrubs to create a framework for the Arboretum to fill in the rest.

A new design element that we introduced was the Pergola Overlook. This permeable brick area is defined by a larger cedar wood pergola with swings and encourages visitors to sit, relax and enjoy the surrounding.

This before shot of the Zand Education Center after the wing has been removed, shows a partial brick patio and an existing pergola that they hoped to salvage.

A view from the same location illustrates a dramatic improvement.

Wood from the existing pergola was incorporated into entry arbors leading into the formal patio.

The old patio doubled in size and is now enclosed by another double wide stone seat wall. The existing brick was salvaged and reused with matching brick installed.

The intent is to use this patio for more formal events but it can be enjoyed by anyone when not in use.

The finished installation continues to evolve as one of the great learning destinations at The Dawes Arboretum.

Site plan.