Weill Lawn and Commons provide outdoor performance venues at Green Music Center, a world-class performing arts complex. The landscape architects prepared overall master planning and landscape architectural design. A simple, dramatic grading plan unifies project elements, directs circulation, and buffers concert venues from adjacent roadway traffic. Weill Lawn is the first acoustically protected outdoor venue on the West Coast for symphony orchestra and other highly polished musical performances. The lawn complements architect William Rawn’s design for the 1,600-seat Joan and Sanford I. Weill Concert Hall, which opened in September 2012 and is generally considered one of the world’s most acoustically superb concert venues. When the pavilion’s back wall is opened, Weill Lawn expands its interior capacity with a series of lawn terraces that accommodate up to 5,000 visitors in chairs or 1,600 seated at tables. Weill Commons provides a larger, informal amphitheater for 10,000 along with an open-air pavilion for major gatherings.
Work attributed to SWA/Balsley principal John Wong and his team with SWA Group.
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Campus
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Campus Fuchu, Japan. Landscape International, Ltd. Kume Sekkei, Architects. NBBJ Architecture. SWA provided master planning and landscape architecture for the Foreign Studies Campus of Tokyo University on the site of a former military base on the outskirts of Tokyo. This campus serves Japanese and foreign students pursuing a...
University of Chicago Booth School of Business
This project regenerates a spectacular, historic cliff-side waterfront site by activating it with new purpose. Working carefully to interweave layers of preservation and natural beauty, the building and landscape work together to leave a light footprint. Today, a distinctive global campus honors the history of its earlier occupation while providing inspiration...
SUNY Albany Uptown Campus
With great respect for Edward Durrell Stone’s 1960s modernist campus, this new master plan redefines the campus’ first impression image and reclaims quads as new venues for an enhanced campus lifestyle. The entry drive encounters a new Collin’s Circle, now raised to the level of the entrance plaza. The earthen plinth engages the plaza entry at the new Ad...
Columbia University Landscape Master Plan
As part of a larger development framework plan by Beyer Blinder Belle Architects, Thomas Balsley Associates was commissioned to prepare a landscape master plan for this important historical campus.
The work began with extensive historical research into the original McKim Mead & White plan and Olmsted writings as well as an assessment of current camp...