Raymond G. Perelman, Drexel dignitaries, and Andropogon smile for the camera to celebrate the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Raymond G. Perelman Plaza at Drexel University. More images of the future campus center can be found on our blog. The new plaza is part of the implementation of the award-winning Drexel University Master Plan, see more here.

Andropogon has received two awards from the Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects for our work at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The center earned an Honor Award in the General Design category and also won the popular People's Choice Award as chosen by the attendees of the PA-DE ASLA Annual Meeting. We want to thank the Kroc Center and all the members of the design team: including MGA Partners, PZS Architects, Duffield Associates, and CVM.

Andropogon is pleased to announce that our work on the Landscape Integration Plan for the St. Elizabeths West Campus in Washington, DC, has received a Merit Award for Analysis & Planning from the Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. We'd like to thank our collaborators who contributed to the plan, including Perkins+Will, Heritage Landscapes, William H. Gordon Associates, Greenhorne & O'Mara, GeoConcepts Engineering Inc., Craul Land Scientists, Continental Conservation, and Morris Arboretum. The plan laid the groundwork for the ongoing development of St. Elizabeths West Campus, including the construction of the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters with site design by Andropogon. 

Congratulations to the Stroud Water Research Center and the entire design team for achieving LEED™ Platinum on the recently completed Moorhead Environmental Complex. The complex has been designed to utilize and treat water in a way that more closely mimics nature in order to protect the White Clay Creek and to teach the community about freshwater conservation. The design team included m2 architecture, Andropogon, Meliora Design, Bruce Brooks & Assoc., Think Green, Natural Systems International, David Nelson & Assoc., Ann Rothmann Structural Engineering, Brooks+Wright, Consilience, and Nason Construction.

Andropogon's work at Venice Island was highlighted on Hidden City Philadelphia, a news site dedicated to revealing Philadelphia's lesser known treasures. The full story explores the depths of the project, from the underground tank, to the above ground pumping station, theater, and Andropogon's landscape design.

Building on an award-winning campus master plan, Andropogon will work with Drexel University to transform the center of campus into a new hub for the community to be called Perelman Plaza, in honor of Raymond G. Perelman. The former 32nd street corridor between Chestnut and Market Streets will become the primary outdoor social and event space for the university, inspiring connection, collaboration, and community. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer.

The New England Wild Flower Society has selected Andropogon Associates to develop a comprehensive master plan for Garden in the Woods, its renowned native plant botanic garden in Framingham, Massachusetts. The master plan will chart a future for the 45-acre property that will realize the full potential of the beautiful site, strengthen the garden displays, improve visitor services, and meet the challenges of a changing climate. Follow the link for the full press release.

The Campus Center at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey has achieved LEED™ Gold. The design team, headed by KSS Architects, surpassed the college's goal of achieving LEED™ Silver, incorporating water efficient landscaping throughout the site. Congratulations to the college and the entire team!

It's official! The Kohler Environmental Center has achieved LEED™ Platinum. Congratulations to Choate Rosemary Hall and the entire design team, headed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects. The center is a visionary academic and residential facility in Wallingford, Connecticut, which allows students and faculty to live and learn in a sustainable environment. Andropogon is proud to have served as landscape architect for this project.

The design team of FXFowle Architects, Frederic Schwartz Architects, and Andropogon Associates has won the international design competition for envisioning a new school campus for the Al Jamea Tus Saifiyah Project in Nairobi, Kenya. The winning design was based on the ten principles of the One Planet Living sustainability model. The landscape incorporated Fatemi design principals to create a restorative and productive landscape that is integral to the educational mission, while promoting biodiversity, improved microclimate, and water conservation.

The Center for Sustainable Landscapes on the campus of the Phipps Conservatory was highlighted in Architectural Record for its goal of obtaining LEED Platinum, Sustainable Sites certification, and Living Building Challenge status. Andropogon collaborated with The Design Alliance Architects on this progressive project.

Duke Farms has received a Community Award from the NJ Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council for the LEED Improvements, Reuse and Renovation Project at the historic estate in Hillsborough, New Jersey. The award is given to a non-profit organization that has had a "profound impact on expanding the horizons of green building." Andropogon, with VITETTA, developed the ecological and experiential aspects for the site from the initial site analysis amd capital improvement strategies, through phased project implementation. 

Choate Rosemary Hall celebrates the opening of the Kohler Environmental Center for the 2012-2013 academic year. In collaboration with Robert A.M. Stern Architects, Andropogon's design for this ecologically sensitive site includes an approach through a wooded wetland ravine and a central courtyard that links the center's key spaces for living, teaching, and research. The facility is designed to achieve LEED™ Platinum and net-zero energy use on an annual basis.

The Horticultural Center at the Morris Arboretum has just received The American Architectural Award for new and cutting-edge design. Andropogon, in collaboration with Overland Partners l Architects, designed the LEED™ Platinum facility with innovative energy and water management technologies, including photovoltaic panels, green roofs, native planted swales and rain gardens, and on-site collection systems.

Andropogon is pleased to announce the launch of their new Integrative Research Division, which builds on our 37-year commitment to sustainable landscape design. We have always integrated the best, most recent scientific knowledge into our landscape design work and this new complementary division will enable us to rigorously review our past and present landscape interventions to improve future ecological design. To shepherd us into this new and exciting venture, we have chosen landscape architect Emily McCoy, RLA, ASLA, as Director of Integrative Research. More about Emily at Androblogon…

Andropogon Associates is pleased to announce certification as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) by the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. (NMSDC). As a minority company serving the interests of our national and international client base, Andropogon is committed to diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace. Our multi-cultural staff, comprised of owners, managers and staff are key to the success of our global practice.

The Pennsylvania chapter of the AIA has awarded MGA with a Design Excellence Award for the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in North Philadelphia.  You can see more about our role on the project here, and learn more about the building at MGA's site and at PlanPhilly.

In their new roles Tom, Manisha and Liz will continue to provide leadership regarding the firm’s operational and strategic initiatives to realize Andropogon’s mission “to weave together the landscape of man and nature for the benefit of both”.  Sustainability is a fundamental building block in the firm’s heritage, values and commitment to improving our cities and landscapes. It is this belief that motivates Tom, Manisha and Liz to work together and champion a goal of melding beautiful design with environmentally sensitive solutions.

Shoemaker Green at the University of Pennsylvania is nearing completion!  The trees are in the ground, the paving is well under way, and we are eagerly anticipating a great summer and a big opening day on September 20th!  Check out a new time lapse video of the construction up to this point, and be sure to keep checking back as we will be updating the video through the rest of the construction period.   See more about the project here.

Colin Franklin, principal emeritus, has been elevated to the ASLA Council of Fellows. Colin's fellowship recognizes his life-long contribution to landscape architecture and to society. Colin has worked for more than four decades pioneering the design and development of sustainable places world-wide. He has led the way in creating genuine synergy between science, engineering, and design. He has deeply influenced the profession-by giving form to ecological design ideas that were rarely considered in traditional landscape architecture. More at Androblogon...