Bristol County Agricultural High School’s Center for Science and Environment (CSE) has received the Grand Prize Award from Learning by Design Magazine as part of the Spring 2024 Educational Facilities Design Awards Showcase. Our landscape architects worked as part of a multidisciplinary team led by HMFH Architects to design a comprehensive set of improvements to the school's campus, creating new activated spaces for learning in a unique environment that combines a school and working farm.
According to Learning by Design, “The Center for Science and the Environment embodies a commitment to sustainability and hands-on learning. Incorporating green roofs, outdoor learning spaces, and composting toilets, the design reflects the school's focus on agriculture and the environment.”
Our landscape architects contributed to the renovation of the Dighton, MA campus, utilizing environmental and agricultural education as inspiration for the landscape design. Many of the features are intended to serve as learning tools, including the choice of plant materials informed by the school’s Plant ID curriculum, as well as sustainable design elements such as vegetated swales with native plantings for stormwater infiltration, and meadows for lower water and maintenance inputs.
The campus landscape promotes outdoor interaction and education with new plazas, lawn amphitheater, and hands-on growing areas, all connected with an accessible pedestrian spine through the North and South Campuses.
The project previously received the 2023 regional Best Project Award for the K-12 Education category by Engineering News Record-New England.