Landscape Contracting

Creating a Garden Oasis on Campus

Taking its cue from the adjoining University
House and Hintz Family Alumni Center, the newly
completed Alumni Gardens on the University
Park campus has seamlessly blended the old and
the new.

From the pond and white gazebo, longtime fixtures
outside of University House, to the stone sitting
wall and the bronze sculpture of children playing,
both new elements on the University House lawn,
Alumni Gardens is both a place to create college
memories and return to them.

Construction of the one-acre Alumni Gardens
took three years and was done in several phases.
Completed in June 2005, the beautification project
was entirely funded by private donations along
with a gift from the Penn State Alumni Association.
It was also a unique learning opportunity for
more than 140 students, majoring in landscape
contracting who assisted in the design of the
garden and did much of the planting.

The Alumni Gardens comprise five separate
and distinct areas—–Obelisk Garden, Rainbow
Garden, Secret Garden, University House Terrace
Garden, and Water Garden––that feature a colorful
array of plants, shrubs, trees, and flowers, as well
as an open grassy area. It all comes together to
become an oasis for students, visitors, faculty, and
alumni to enjoy for many years.

Major Donors

Richard Dugan ’63 and Sue Molina
Ron ’59 and Nancy Ewing
Parmi Nous Alumni Interest Group
Penn State Alumni Association
Catherine Rein ‘65
Anne Riley ‘64
Anonymous Donor

“The Alumni Gardens provided landscape
contracting students with a unique learning
environment. They were able to develop
their horticultural, construction, and project
management skills well beyond that which could
be accomplished in a traditional classroom setting.
An added benefit was the satisfaction derived from
participating in the development of a beautiful
and permanent garden space on our campus.”
-- Dan Stearns ‘73
Penn State Professor, Landscape Contracting