BSLA Fieldbook BSLA 2014 Fall Fieldbook | Page 100

/ Merit Award

BSLA
Pre -K t o 12 Ed u ca ti o n a l Fa c i l i t i e s
Holly D. Ben-Joseph, ASLA, Landscape Architect
project name.
location.

Dexter & Southfield: A Nature-Based Schoolyard
Brookline, Massachusetts

The introduction of a nature-based schoolyard for grades
K-3 on the campus of the Dexter and Southfield Schools
balances existing recreational facilities, (primarily athletic
fields and a paved courtyard), with a space for imaginative
play and outdoor programs that nurture young
students’ curiosity and creativity The new 1.5 acre space
encourages learning through discovery while fostering a
spirit of appreciation and awe of nature. Play nodes allow
for exploration of environmental and natural systems,
sand, and water and foster communication, music, and

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BSLA

construction with natural materials. The nodes are
set along an accessible switchback path that winds
down a wooded, previously under-utilized hillside
area of campus. The new nature-based play area, with
its interactive learning nodes and rustic Maine-camp
aesthetic, establishes the Dexter and Southfield Schools
as a leader in outdoor educational environments.