The Lakeshore Foundation

Lakeshore enables people with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions to lead healthy active and independent lifestyles through physical activity, sport, recreation, advocacy, policy and research. Their facility is also a training site for the US Olympic & Paralympic teams.  Dirtworks worked to develop the Campus Commons, Woodland Trail and Woodland Walk. 

The Campus Commons is welcoming, inclusive, spacious and flexible.  Offering a variety of seating venues set amongst sweeping displays of native landscape and multiple water features to modulate microclimates, the area accommodates varying levels of activity, interest, privacy and socialization. This multi-purpose green space accommodates a variety of passive uses.  Created by reconfiguring the current vehicular circulation and parking, the park offers a distinctive, welcoming and relaxing natural setting in the heart of the campus. 

We studied the existing tree health selectively removed unhealthy pines and preserve the hardwood oaks, magnolias and maples. The Woodland Walk’s bridge is built through an existing pine grove; this asked us to understand the existing woodland ecosystem and the disturbance to the biome, all while managing stormwater and erosion. The Contemplative Garden has a pergola to allow for moments of pause, while a natural water feature creates calming sounds for visitors. A gently sloping, sinuous pathway connects the spaces, culminating in a lookout to the larger landscape beyond.  

Location
Birmingham, AL

Completion
2020

Size
2 acres

Client
The Lakeshore Foundation

Collaborators
Nimrod Long Landscape Architects