A significant focus of my landscape architectural work on college and institutional campuses is the integration of mature trees into architectural and landscape projects. Special skills and expertise are required of a multi-discipline team of designers, arborists, geotechnical, civil, structural engineers and construction contractors working together to insure the preservation of full-grown, mature trees. Damage to the roots and other parts of mature trees does not become apparent in the trees’ appearance for up to five years after the work has been done. Therefore, the best measure of success is to revisit the trees at least five years after project completion and check for signs of decline. The work shown below at Stanford University is ten years old.
Stanford University: Images show the process of saving a heritage-quality Coast Live Oak (Quercus Agrifolia) threatened by the realignment of Campus Drive on the Stanford campus. Construction at the base of the oak tree is shown in Image #1. Construction included excavation, removal of soils around the oak by hand and air spade, placement and compaction of structural soils, careful grading, and engineering and construction of a retaining wall for the super-elevated edge of the roadway, with the specific focus of protecting the roots of the oak tree. Image #2 shows the condition of the Oak Tree 10 years after the work was accomplished.
No comments:
Post a Comment