 View of Lane Plaza from the west side of Helmick Commons. Photo courtesy of Farshid Assassi/Assassi Productions. |
Drake’s Lane Plaza has received an Honor Award from the Iowa chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. The Herbert Lewis Kruse Blunck firm designed the project, which created a cobblestone courtyard that forms the entrance to Meredith Hall.
Each year the Iowa chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects honors projects completed by Iowa landscape architects that exhibit exemplary qualities as determined by an impartial jury of peers. This program recognizes excellence in landscape architectural design by selecting those projects relevant to design quality, functionality, environmental responsibility and public relevance and welfare.
Lane Plaza was developed to compliment Meredith Hall, designed by renowned architect Mies van der Rohe. The plaza features simple geometric design forms and traditional materials, including granite stones and solid modern benches. Through a blend of stone and garden space, the architects created a welcoming area for students as they enter Meredith Hall.
Lane Plaza was funded by a $200,000 gift to Drake University from Melvin and Joan Lane and Bill and Jean Lane in memory of their parents, Laurence W. and Ruth Bell Lane, a Drake trustee and daughter of former Drake President Hill M. Bell.