Rice University faculty and staff gathered April 11 to learn more and provide feedback regarding the proposed Academic Quadrangle redesign.
President Reginald DesRoches and Thomas Woltz, owner and principal landscape architect of Nelson Byrd Woltz (NBW), which is partnering with Rice on the redesign, spoke about the plans, while representatives involved in the project were stationed at various points across the quad to discuss specifics and solicit feedback. Concept images and illustrations were posted throughout the area.
NBW’s reimagining of the iconic space includes not only relocating the Founder’s Memorial statue of William Marsh Rice and repurposing its current location to highlight the many voices that reflect the diversity of the university, but also dedicating areas within the quad to be centers for community life. In addition, a new main walking path from the quad’s southwest corner (Rayzor Hall) to its northeast corner (Herzstein Hall) has been proposed due to the walking patterns historically displayed in the quad.
