Students:
Melissa Allen
Ashley Banks
Stacy Behlmann
Tyler Cini
Katie Crowley
Anna Davies
Adam Freund
Adam Herberg
Chris Hinton
Grace Lennon
Laura Meinig
Dan Nixon
Kate Penning
Dan Schaeffler
Inga Schuchard
Ben Tillman
Beth Valdivia

Professor:
Nils Gore

External Support was provided by:
KSR
Westar Green Team
KU Endowment Assoc.

KSR Overlook • Lawrence, Kansas

This design/build project was commissioned by the University of Kansas Field Station and Ecological Reserves (KSR) a division of the Kansas Biological Survey. Situated on the edge of the Rockefeller Prairie north of Lawrence, the overlook serves a public outreach function, inviting the public to enjoy the view over the Kaw River valley, and appreciate the work of KU and visting scientists as they research plant and animal populations on the prairie.

The overlook was conceived as a pre-fabricated structure, and was built of galvanized steel and wood in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning's west campus warehouse, then carefully transported to the prairie for a low-impact installation. It consists of a deck and a large bench that derive inspiration from the waving prairie grasses and have aesthetic connections to biomorphic forms like animal vertebrae.

Dick and Sue Himes provided funding for the project through the KU Endowment Association.

Westar Energy's Green Team donated lumber sawn from recycled power poles for the deck, bench and handrail cap.

It was completed in January 2009.

Project Photos: click here.

For a related project, the Rockefeller Trailhead, click here. The overlook is connected to the Trailhead by a wheelchair-accessible 1/2 mile concrete path.

For a map to the project, click here.