HNP Tours Auburn Campus Projects

​With trees and flowers in full bloom, early April proved to be an excellent time to tour Auburn University, “The Loveliest Village On The Plains.”  The HNP team and a couple guests set out to see first-hand many of the sustainable landscape architecture designs the team has created on campus for more than twenty years.

​Some highlights include:
The Garden of Memory, completed in late 2016, remains one of the more recognized places on campus.  With the tranquility of the lush greenery and reflecting pool, the garden provides a serene space for reflection and remembrance.

Samford Park and Toomer’s Corner experienced drastic changes after the iconic oak trees were poisoned in 2011 necessitating replacement.  HNP was integral in the selection of new trees, overseeing soil and sod replacement, and the design of a more spacious, corner plaza to welcome people to Auburn’s campus as well as host the rolling of the Toomer’s Oaks. Ultimately, a more pedestrian-friendly redesign of Samford Park was developed featuring an allée of acorn-grown descendants of the original Auburn Oaks.

The pedestrianization of Thach Pedway, Roosevelt Pedway, Mell Street Classroom and Corridor, as well as the Tiger Carroll Ginn Concourse was a result of Auburn’s Board of Trustees’ vision to remove automobiles from the campus core. With a master plan that converted existing streets to pedestrian concourses, HNP provided designs that featured inviting site furnishings, ambient lighting, and rich landscaping. The project was completed in five phases over a seven-year period.

At the new Graduate Business Building, the amphitheater and green space had tremendous appeal on this sunny day where students could be seen at moveable table sets between the two business buildings. HNP assisted with site design for the new Graduate Business building and the adjacent Lowder Building to create a network of interconnected walkways between the two facilities and integrated special event space.

Through the collaboration of the SGA and National Pan-Hellenic Council, Legacy Plaza was developed to honor the history, legacy, and cultural impact of Black Greek organizations on campus. HNP worked with University representatives on the design and corresponding site improvements to create a monument feature, event space, and pedestrian thoroughfare.  HNP provided the plans for the hardscape, granite monument detail, grading and drainage, landscaping, irrigation, and lighting.

The Rane Culinary Science Center blends a unique learning environment with a luxury boutique hotel and culinary teaching restaurant. The HNP-designed rooftop garden is managed by horticultural students and supplies the restaurant with fresh vegetables and flowers.  Associate Professor of Horticulture, Daniel Wells, shared with the team the value of the design elements, from the substrate to the recycled runoff, that creates healthy, reliable garden space.  The diverse climate on the roof presents varied growing areas based on sunlight, wind, and temperature.  On the northwest corner of the rooftop sits the Mediterranean garden where wind and lower humidity allow unique offerings such as lamb’s ear and lavender to flourish. The rooftop garden creates a picturesque setting overlooking campus, while the ground-level courtyard allows for special events and activities for students.

​Aubie the Mascot, Frank Thomas, and Coaches Dye, Hare, and Jordan have all earned a permanent place on Auburn’s campus.  HNP has been a part of these statue installations by providing services such as: site selection, design drawings, detailing for the sculpture plinths, design of adjacent landscape/hardscape, construction plans, and construction observation.

​It has been an honor for HNP to be an integral part of the landscape architecture projects on Auburn's campus for many years. Our collaboration with the University has not only allowed us to contribute to the beauty and functionality of the campus but also to promote environmental stewardship and sustainability.  Together with Auburn University and our partners, we look forward to the opportunity for new projects that will further enhance the campus experience while advancing our shared goals of sustainability, beauty, and environmental responsibility.