An Elevated Oasis

There’s a secret garden in the middle of campus. But rather than growing in the ground, it’s in the sky.  

The John W. Olver Design Building is host to students, faculty, and staff from three separate disciplines, and if you know where to look, it’s host to its own mini ecosystem, too. In the center of the building—invisible from the street—is a rooftop garden where members of the three departments can congregate.  

Lauren Stimson ’06MLA, ’06MRP and her eponymous firm designed the garden. Because roofs can only support limited weight, Stimson researched alpine summit ecosystems for native plants that could naturally thrive in shallow soils. She found inspiration close to home.  

“The landscape experience of the rooftop garden is meant to evoke the feeling of climbing to the summit of Mount Holyoke,” she says.  

While the goal of the space is to provide a sanctuary from the stress of working and studying, rooftop gardens also make buildings more sustainable. Assistant Professor Rob Williams notes that they help capture rainwater and slow the flow into stormwater systems. But that’s not all.  

“I believe it was nominated as one of the most romantic places on campus,” he says. Stop by with a date and see for yourself!