Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS)

Landscape Architecture > Parks, Trails and Greenways

Quechee, VT

Client:

Envisioned as a Nature Center and including a nationally recognized Raptor Center, the VINS campus is located on a 300-acre parcel of land along the Ottaquchee River and includes an old gravel quarry. Chris Dunn while a principal at SE Group was hired by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson to create a master plan for the campus and the phase one site and landscape design for the Raptor Center. The Nature Center campus treads lightly on the land by placing parking lots and buildings on the disturbed areas of the site.  Natural systems, including storm water, are celebrated on the site, and the main building will be built into the gravel quarry escarpment and includes a green roof. The site plan (resembling a bird) is organized to accommodate large groups of school children and tourists.