Beyond serving as a greenspace where students can step into nature and relax, the ramble has another more practical purpose: it will create a bioswale, or a natural stormwater runoff system, while also integrating native and adaptive plants into the campus design. Over the next 20 years the 220 new trees on the site—which was previously a parking lot—will sequester over 46 tons of CO2 and prevent 65,000 gallons of stormwater runoff annually.
“We’ve tried to deliberately design features like a bamboo garden and a meditation pavilion into our projects,” Kanzler said, noting that research has shown that experiences with plants, landscapes and nature can improve mood, reduce stress, support the ability to focus and bolster social connections. “Being able to see nature from your home or workspace makes your experience that much better. We’ve brought the…
