Frontier Nursing University Wins ASLA Kentucky Award!
The Kentucky Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has honored RossTarrant Architects with a Merit Award for the design of a new campus for Frontier Nursing University (FNU). Recognized for its beauty, environmental sustainability and functionality, this new university campus was designed to foster a sense of community, reflect FNU’s unique identity and connect students, faculty and staff to the natural environment.
When originally purchased, this 217-acre property in Versailles, Kentucky featured abandoned buildings, an eroded stream, crumbling driveways and dirt paths that all had to be completely redesigned to support one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit universities for advanced nursing and midwifery education.
Dilapidated, historic buildings were brought back to life and transformed into state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, clinical practice, administrative offices, and housing for faculty, students and visitors. A brand-new building was contextually designed to provide dining and wellness spaces.
A variety of outdoor environments were created to promote physical activity and foster a connection to nature. Plazas, pavilions and firepits were developed to encourage social gathering. Outdoor classrooms were designed to provide dynamic learning environments. Serene walking trails for physical activity and secluded spaces for quiet reflection were thoughtfully stitched into the new campus fabric. Every outdoor space was sited to capitalize on the property’s extraordinary natural features including picturesque views over its babbling brook and swaying, native grasslands, and the cool shade provided by its lush canopy of mature trees.
In addition to using environmentally sustainable, low maintenance, durable materials to renovate and construct new buildings, site ecology was a specific focus of this campus transformation. Environmentally friendly practices including stormwater management, stream restoration, native plantings and the preservation of natural features minimize the ecological footprint of the campus while enabling students to learn about sustainable practices and environmental stewardship.
As a result, this modern, vibrant, and environmentally friendly campus embraces the natural landscape and supports a holistic educational experience. This new university environment was specifically designed to nurture a community that will enable Frontier Nursing University to prepare “innovative, ethical, compassionate, and entrepreneurial leaders” who will bring midwifery and nurse practitioner services to underserved populations for many decades to come.
Learn more about this project in our Portfolio.
