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Located on the South side of Watson Library, the Prairie Acre Ribbon Classroom (P.A.R.C.) is a testament to the natural landscape and topography of Kansas that is sprawled across what is today the University of Kansas campus. As the guiding force for our design, we draw upon the existing Prairie Acre, the swath of this natural landscape on the KU Lawrence campus, designated in 1932 by KU alumnae and biochemistry professor C.F. Neslon and restored by the Environmental Studies department in 2014.
The students of Paola Sanguinetti’s Architecture 509 Design + Build Studio are developing an outdoor classroom space for the KU Center of Sustainability that complements the Prairie Acre, supports Environmental Studies, and facilitates education and recreational programming related to the natural landmark. It is our mission to create a space that caters to both group and individual study, and achieving accessibility for patrons, students, faculty or visitors to campus. It is also a priority that we are mindful in drawing parallels between the existing landscape and the one that we are developing through the use of flora, fauna, and materiality. We wish to incorporate natural and locally sourced materials into the space, as a means of community investment and enhancing the overall beauty of campus.
Furthermore, this space is in fact the first outdoor classroom at the University of Kansas, which according to various studies has proven to be a beneficial and productive variation on the classroom setting. The students of Paola Sanguinetti’s Architecture 509 Design + Build Studio are working extremely hard to acquire the necessary materials that are needed in making their design concepts a reality. However, we still need your help! Any contribution that you make is much appreciated, and gifts of any size are welcomed.
As a means of showing our gratitude, all donors will be invited to opening of our site on May 12th! For more concerning the Prairie Acre, please visit this link: prairieacre.ku.edu.
Help support the Architecture 509 Design + Build Studio to make this outdoor classroom a reality!
A donation of this size will help us to lay the foundation for the P.A.R.C. Project.
A donation of this size will help us to build the support necessary to make the P.A.R.C. Project a reality!
A donation of this size will help with the integration of Kansas flora and fauna within our site!
A donation of this size will support the purchasing of Little Blue Stem, Rattlesnake Master Grass, Butterfly Milkweed, Pale Purple Coneflower and other plants native of the prairie.
A donation of this size will support the construction process of the P.A.R.C. Project!
A donation of this size is an investment in the 509 Design + Build Studio that will support the Gabion Wall for the P.A.R.C. Project which will serve the KU community for generations to come!