University of Minnesota Twin Cities Pleasant Street Historic Street Rehabilitation

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities East Bank Campus has been traditionally defined on its northern edge by University Avenue. Part of the National Register listed Old Campus Historic District, the street was experiencing decline and mature trees were succumbing to disease. Damon Farber Landscape Architects collaborated with a larger team with the scope of developing a physical gateway appropriate to the historic campus, working with the Department of the Interior Guidelines for the Treatment of Cultural Landscapes.

To announce the point of entry and emphasize the desired collegiate character the design employs the use of large vertical columns which are compatible with the historic columns at the Pillsbury Memorial Gateway. In addition, smaller columns, low walls, wrought iron fencing, permeable brick paving, lighting, street trees and landscape plantings were incorporated to provide pedestrian scaled features. The resulting design supports the University’s goal of “creating a high quality campus environment” while respecting the historic landscape of the Twin Cities Campus.