2020 has certainly been a year like none other in our lifetimes, as people around the world have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. At HNP, we have implemented guidelines, such as social distancing and increased cleaning, to keep our employees and customers safe, both in our office and during site visits and meetings. We put the health and safety of our people first and have implemented a Covid19 response plan to strategically address our ability to practice social distancing, while continuing to collaborate and provide the top-quality design services our customer deserve. We continually monitor state and local guidelines and are adapting our efforts and responses accordingly.
 
After the reorganization of Holcombe Norton Partners, Inc. to HNP Landscape Architecture in 2019, we entered 2020 welcoming new partners, excited for Tommy Holcombe as he entered into partial retirement, and optimistic for what the year would hold. We quickly realized this would be a year like none other as we, along with most of our country, found ourselves adapting to remote work environments as we faced the Covid19 global pandemic. We made the decision to return to our office mid-May, implementing social distancing practices and guidelines, along with frequent cleaning of common areas, to ensure the safety of our employees, clients, and families. We continue to monitor state and local guidelines and are adapting our efforts and responses accordingly. The safety of our people is our number one priority.​

HNP has built a strong design portfolio of institutional work for 30+ years and this year has been no different.  Two projects of note for 2020 can be found at opposite sides of the state - Hewson Hall (The University of Alabama) and Ranes Culinary Science Center (Auburn University).   Both projects are currently under construction and will be completed in 2021.
 
Hewson Hall, the new home of the Culverhouse College of Business, will be located on the western edge of campus adjacent to Mary Hewell Alston Hall.  Across from the new facility,  a small pocket park and parking lot is being created on the old Friedman Hall dormitory site to be used by the College of Business and adjacent fraternities for parking and events.  Also included in this project is an enclosed courtyard at the rear of the new building that will be used for private events. Chris provided site landscape/ irrigation design, including hardscape design for the enclosed courtyard.
 
The Ranes Culinary Science Center is a first of its kind project for Auburn University that will combine a major academic component with revenue generating elements.  It will serve as home to the College of Human Sciences’ Hospitality Management, Culinary Science, Event Management  and Hotel and Restaurant Management programs and will blend a learning environment with a luxury boutique hotel and upscale restaurant.  Also included will be a food court that will provide several more dining venues for students and the public, a brewery and wine tasting venue.  Atop the boutique hotel will be a roof garden that includes the hotel pool and a vegetable garden that will supply produce for  the restaurant.  The compact site will have a striking urban feel with several outdoor dining spaces.  A courtyard between the hotel and food court will serve as outdoor entertaining and space for campus-wide events. A private hotel entrance will include an upscale parking/ arrival court with a European flavor. HNP was involved with providing hardscape design, landscape design and irrigation design for this project.

The Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University has earned a  LEED Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council and a 2020 Merit Award from The American Institute of Architects. Congratulations to Auburn University and all the consultants who worked diligently to make this great project a reality.  
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As we celebrate 40 years of exceptional landscape architecture service across Birmingham and the Southeast, Holcombe Norton Partners is pleased to announce the elevation of Chris Pugh and Sean Hufnagel to full partners and a new name, HNP Landscape Architecture.

​We thank you for trusting us to deliver quality and creative solutions for the past four decades.  Your HNP team will continue to provide the same personal service and trusted experience you have come to expect.

Toomer's Corner at Samford Park was added to the Landscape Performance Series curated by the Landscape Architecture Foundation. This park, the iconic gateway to Auburn University from downtown Auburn, underwent an extensive renovation after a rival football fan intentionally poisoned the live oaks flanking the plaza.  

Excavation during the project removed 1,778 tons of soil contaminated with the herbicide tebuthiuron.  Testing before the work began showed a concentration of 68 ppb.  Testing following the completion of the work could no longer detect the poison. The project utilized permeable paving for stormwater storage and infiltration.  Modular structural soil cells support the plaza and provide extended root zones for the replacement trees.
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Researchers from Auburn University's Master of Landscape Architecture program completed the performance testing required as part of the Landscape Performance Series report. The Landscape Performance Series was created to help designers and advocates evaluate the effectiveness performative landscapes and promote sustainable design solutions.