The sustainable landscape plan utilizes a majority of Northeast region native plants that are adapted to the specific site conditions, create areas for multi-age exploration and learning, and beautify the building.

To support the new Pierson Library as an important community center for the town of Shelburne, the landscaped areas are designed to offer year-round visual interest while supporting biodiversity and filtering rainwater runoff. Specially constructed open gutters channel rainwater from the roof into drainage swales; there is a bioswale area to manage stormwater, and numerous trees and shrubs to help capture heavy rain. Some of the plants, for example, thrive in moist soils, like the multi-stemmed river birch located on the edge of the bioswale, and the summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) that appears along the north foundation of Town Hall.

Baking sun and dry conditions in other locations – like the parking lot – call for plants adapted to periods of drought and intense heat. With our green campus adapting to changing climate conditions, we can all learn how to better manage extreme weather.

Master Design: Charlotte Albers | Paintbox Garden Design