A Building That Teaches Through Its Landscape

Burlington, Vt. — As I’ve stated on this blog a few times, I’m an avid vegetable gardener. So the new James M. Jeffords Hall, at the University of Vermont, is a building after my heart, mainly because of some design choices that are separate from the building itself.

But first, a little about the building: As the home for plant biology, soil sciences, and life sciences at the university, Jeffords Hall will house a lot of interesting and vital work in agriculture. The interior of the $55.7-million building, which was designed by Ellenzweig Associates, with the local architects Freeman French Freeman, is modestly and functionally elegant.

At 97,000 square feet, the building contains lots of lab and office space. It’s shooting for a gold rating in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program—which would be quite an achievement, given the need for lab ventilation and other potential energy hogs. The building is also able to accommodate changes in programs; its labs can expand and contract as needed. One good touch: The terrazzo floor shows patterns that lead people in useful directions. For example, if you get doused by dangerous chemicals in a lab, just follow the red terrazzo trail to a big circle, where you’ll find yourself standing under the lab shower.

But for me, a compelling design choice was the landscape: The building is surrounded by vegetable gardens, raised beds, and—coming soon—a trellis on one side for hardy kiwis or white grapes.

Sure, the landscape tells people what the building is all about. But it’s also integrated with the research mission.

“Here’s an example of a classic experiment, the kinds of things that you can get students to do,” said Thomas C. Vogelmann (top), dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, pointing to a plot where yellow dust was sprinkled around the plants. It was corn gluten, a natural weed killer, but the weeds were still coming up around the peppers and basil. Mr. Vogelmann wasn’t impressed with its performance.

Vermont students could test various treatments like that, along with studies of plant companions or beneficial insects. “What a wonderful experience to teach classes and have the students pop right outside and start doing some hands-on work,” said Mr. Vogelmann. “Most of these kinds of courses are taught in the fields or off campus somewhere. As this area matures with time, it will become more and more of a focal point.”

People who aren’t in the plant sciences might learn something, too. “It’s amazing, you know. Most people don’t know what any of this stuff is,” the dean said, pointing to the vegetables around him. “You have to teach people what carrots are these days.”