Lani Gillooly  C

Title: The Sculpture Meadow: A Place for People and Art

Location: Stockbridge Road, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 

The newly designed building adjacent to parking lot 62 appears out of place. Currently, the parking that overwhelms the site leads to chaotic pedestrian circulation. This gives no sense of arrival to any of the surrounding buildings. The new sculpture meadow creates a unique sense of place; it stands out as something new and unexpected. The fifteen-foot grade change allows for experimentation with the land; hence the creation of exaggerated landforms. Two art buildings in close proximity help create the perfect setting for a sculpture park. There is a sharp contrast to the cut lawn, the meadow grass, and the wetland grasses. Depressions in the land accommodate storm water. Plinths were located throughout the site for display of students' artwork.