Tawes Plaza is one among a network of campus open spaces, situated
immediately adjacent to the Historic Core of the campus in the West
District. The space of Tawes Plaza was shaped mostly by campus
expansion and building development, west of McKeldin Mall and Anne
Arundel Hall, in the decade of the mid-1960s through the mid-1970's.
Tawes Plaza: 305'L x 275'W x 44' Ht. is the rectangular volume shaped
by its surrounding campus buildings.
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As a public space, Tawes Plaza was originally developed with an orthogonal
layout of concrete walkways, foundation planting areas, and rectangular grass
panels; some of which included modest hedge rows and ornamental specimen trees
and shrubs.
Typical to Tawes Plaza, as throughout most of the campus, is the underground web of the utilities distribution network evolved, including: steam, potable water, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, gas, high-voltage electrical, electrical (lighting) and communications. Heat from steam lines, utilities repairs and other maintenance operations resulted in challenges to maintain plant materials; there were public amenities.
In the mid-1980's, a landscape improvements project for Tawes Plaza was undertaken to improve public use and enhanced aesthetics of the place. Input was sought and obtained by Facilities Management staff to inform the Tawes Plaza space enhancement program. Adjacent campus stakeholders, especially those from adjacent building occupants (students, faculty and staff) conveyed the desire to make a variety of places within Tawes Plaza.
The resulting design and implementation provided for multiple locations and elements within the plaza to accommodate a variety of gathering and seating areas, with appropriate plantings and a sculptural fountain within the plaza. The physical pattern of paved and planting areas seen today reflects a functional response to the underground network of utilities.
Typical to Tawes Plaza, as throughout most of the campus, is the underground web of the utilities distribution network evolved, including: steam, potable water, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, gas, high-voltage electrical, electrical (lighting) and communications. Heat from steam lines, utilities repairs and other maintenance operations resulted in challenges to maintain plant materials; there were public amenities.
In the mid-1980's, a landscape improvements project for Tawes Plaza was undertaken to improve public use and enhanced aesthetics of the place. Input was sought and obtained by Facilities Management staff to inform the Tawes Plaza space enhancement program. Adjacent campus stakeholders, especially those from adjacent building occupants (students, faculty and staff) conveyed the desire to make a variety of places within Tawes Plaza.
The resulting design and implementation provided for multiple locations and elements within the plaza to accommodate a variety of gathering and seating areas, with appropriate plantings and a sculptural fountain within the plaza. The physical pattern of paved and planting areas seen today reflects a functional response to the underground network of utilities.