Two groves of Drake elms to be planted by pavilion

Two groves of Drake elms to be planted by pavilion

BY B.J. ALMOND
Rice News Staff   
 
Construction crews recently began clearing land for the new pavilion that will be built west of Fondren Library where, just eight months from now, Rice students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus will be able to gather for coffee and conversation. 

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A rendering of the new pavilion shows how 48 Drake elms will surround the sidewalk leading to Fondren’s west entry.

Nineteen trees are being removed in the area but will be replaced by 48 Drake elms planted in two groves on the north and south sides of the sidewalk leading to Fondren’s west entry. In addition, some of the 22 live oaks being planted around the Central Quad will border the pavilion area.

“Trees are one of the distinguishing features of our campus, and we’re preserving as many as we can during the construction of the pavilion and other buildings,” said Barbara White Bryson, associate vice president for facilities, engineering and planning. “We’re planting new trees and replanting others so that by the time we complete the current construction phase, Rice will have more trees than before we started.”

The pavilion will be a one-story, 6,042-square-foot glass building.  A 10,728-square-foot plaza will wrap around it to give people the option of meeting indoors or outdoors. Food and beverages will be served.  

The pavilion, which is scheduled to open in March, will anchor a whole new quadrant extending west of the library.

”It will be a haven where people can meet, study and recharge from early in the morning until late at night – in full view of the greenery that makes Rice such a special place,” Bryson said.

• View more construction news.
• Learn more about Fondren Library.