NAU Pedway

3 Moment Plaza After 4

NAU Pedway

NAU sits at the base of the San Francisco Peaks with a 7000-foot elevation and four-season climate, surrounded by the largest contiguous pine forest in the world. The campus developed incrementally, resulting in some loss of connectivity and cohesion. The boundaries between city and university are blurred, making the campus footprint difficult to discern. Campus plans highlight the need for social spaces that are inviting, create a sense of well-being and encourage people to return.

The North-South Pedway was the first project to be implemented from the 2015 Landscape Master Plan, with the objectives of creating a recognizable campus threshold, improving connectivity, prioritizing the pedestrian experience, and creating memorable social spaces. The Pedway is the primary North-South route through campus, providing circulation and organization. Students note that it provides an easy, enjoyable way to move through campus on foot, bike or skateboard. The Science Plaza and adjacent seating areas have become gathering destinations for socializing and studying.

Simple and bold landscaping enriches users’ experience of the Pedway, with careful selection of native plants and adapted four-season species to create an impactful sense of place. The interdisciplinary team collaborated to mitigate monsoon flooding with solutions that conceal their utilitarian nature allowing social spaces and landscaping to take center stage. Sustainable materials are used that reduce the carbon footprint, including locally grown plants and bamboo benches as an alternative to rainforest wood.

The design of the Pedway and its linking of open spaces and academic buildings facilitates the bond between place and community. Students enjoy being at the Pedway, creating friendships, and building community. Landscape is a powerful medium to create bonds between people and place and when asked about their perspective on the Pedway, students comment it gives them a feeling of being part of the NAU community.

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