Architecture: Designing & Building a Nature Playscape

Kate Jaycox ‘25

Mentors and Faculty: Jessica Allen, Laurel Campaign Director; Mary Ann Pellerano, Laurel Facilities Director; Kathy Jankowski, Landscape Architect at Knight & Stolar Inc.; Heather Havre, Director of the Primary School, Grades 3-5 at the Butler Campus

Summary: For my project, I knew I wanted to do something architectural.

It was brought to my attention that the 3rd-5th Grades had their playground removed and were looking for a new one that would fit the outdoor Butler aesthetic. My project was born! My first phase consisted of researching the impacts of play on kids. I read Last Child In The Woods by Richard Louv and Play by Stuart Brown. Both texts taught me about the benefit of outdoor play to kids' cognitive growth from preschool through adolescence. In my second phase, I interviewed and toured nature playscapes around the area. I interviewed over 15 people in and out of Laurel through the process. For phase three, I facilitated an idea session with the third-grade class at Butler about what they wanted to see in the playscape. They were engaged and excited about the project and offered a lot of ideas. I also started touring the site. I am currently in phase four and I have created a scale model of the site. I am working alongside a company to create elements and determine the cost to prep the ground. We hope to break ground this summer!

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Architecture: Designing & Building a Nature Playscape

Lyman Campus | Laurel School

Butler Campus | Laurel School