This innovative adaptive reuse project transforms campus near downtown Raleigh into a vibrant, sustainable oasis. With native plantings that enhance the natural beauty and harmony of the surroundings, the landscape perfectly complements the historic buildings.

Native grasses, perennials, trees, and shrubs beautifully surround the historic Bow Truss building. Despite no irrigation system, these plants are thriving, thanks to dedicated hand watering after installation.

The Double Gable building has been transformed from its industrial past, featuring a former loading dock along the front and truck scales along the side. Now, with gabion walls, outdoor seating, and native plantings, this area has become a beautiful and functional space.

Originally constructed by Peden Steel in the 1950s, this building later housed Waste Industries, as a recycling facility before undergoing its recent transformation. The site now beautifully blends history with modern innovation.

The space now showcases repurposed concrete and steel, artfully integrated throughout the site as trellises, hardscaping, seating, and arbors.

The back of the Double Gable building is a a brownfield site and remediation was a significant undertaking. This area was used for applying lead paint in the past. Extensive excavation, installing an indicator layer for safety, and adding back at least 18 inches of approved soil has revitalized the space, making it safe and usable into the future.

Native plants now flourish in an area once considered unusable, bringing new life and beauty. Concrete barriers have been creatively repurposed into outdoor seating, while the slide has become a beloved highlight and popular gathering spot for the young and old.

The courtyard at the heart of the Double Gable building showcases repurposed concrete blocks cut and installed from the site itself. Soil was carefully brought in by carts since heavy equipment couldn't be used in this interior space.

Native Virginia Creeper, understory trees, and ground covers soften the industrial architecture of the courtyard. An outdoor fireplace, crafted primarily from recycled concrete found on-site, adds a cozy touch to this space.

An aerial view of the Double Gable building reveals the transformation of the former front loading dock into a vibrant area featuring a red arbor and wooden deck. This perspective also highlights the open interior courtyard nestled in the center of the building.

The former loading dock has been transformed into a seating area beneath a repurposed steel arbor. The gabion wall is softened with coral honeysuckle, while Virginia Creeper adds a touch of greenery, climbing the industrial I-beams and up the retaining wall across the parking lot.

The Bow Truss building, constructed in the late 1800s and relocated to this site in the 1950s, was soon joined by the Double Gable building. Today, asters and other prolific bloomers have transformed the site, attracting pollinators and reviving the once stark landscape.

The interior courtyard is gently softened by Virginia Creeper, ferns, low-growing grasses, and understory trees. The hardscaping features repurposed concrete and loose gravel, creating a harmonious blend of natural and industrial elements.

Planting native trees, shrubs, and perennials during the summer heat posed a challenge on this non-irrigated site, requiring hand watering to establish the landscape. This photo, taken two years later, showcases the successful transformation. Now, the only hand watering required is for the 50+ planters scattered across the site.

During construction, the site’s revitalization and reconstruction was a carefully orchestrated process involving seamless coordination between contractors. Our team managed site preparation, some aspects of construction, and plantings, with a dedicated horticulturist on staff at the site for both installation and ongoing maintenance of the unique plant palette.

In winter, the landscape remains captivating as ornamental grasses enter dormancy. Over 50 planters across the site, filled with native plantings, continue to add interest and vitality throughout the season.

In the fall, Muhly grass, Rudbeckia, and Asters put on a stunning display. Repurposed concrete barriers have been transformed into a functional seating area, offering visitors a perfect spot to enjoy the vibrant native plantings in this unique urban setting.