Henderson High is a highschool that strives to connect its students to the beautiful natural resources that the site provides. Through design and restoration we created a site design which embraces the stream, vegetation, and topography of Site Z, while also emphasizing the importance of each high schoolers experience. To support the current stream, our design focused on restoration since the current condition is a deteriorated and eroded streambank. To address this we widened and slowed the stream with multiple weirs as well as creating a thick riparian edge all around the stream. Both of these efforts not only will prevent further erosion and build up the health of the ecosystem but will also allow for more student interaction with the stream and many possibilities for outdoor learning. We also focused on two other courtyards off the school that face the stream, one very open and used for outdoor eating and the other much more enclosed and meant for outdoor classrooms. Even within our parking lot we emphasize the topography of the site by creating terraced parking and large retaining walls containing trees and vegetation to break up the pavement. Our whole project creates views and experiences that can be relaxing as well as exciting to all students, staff, and visitors who attend Henderson High.
