Bischoff, Owen honored for garden design at Westfield hospital

The state Department of Public Health’s Western Massachusetts Hospital in Westfield honored associate professor of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning Annaliese Bischoff and alumnus Owen White on Sept. 21 at the grand opening of its therapeutic garden.

 

In 2009, Bischoff incorporated the project to design a garden for the hospital into a graduate Landscape Architecture studio. Staff at the hospital were delighted with the 13 designs the students suggested, but wanted one design to consolidate the best of so many ideas, she said.

 

Owen White, one of the original graduate students in the class, selected the challenge for his master’s project, which he successfully completed this year. Staff at the hospital adopted White's design for the installation. Graceful curvilinear paths to accommodate wheelchairs, plants to stimulate the five senses, two water features and a gazebo are some of the garden features delighting staff, patients and visitors, according to Bischoff.