Cornell ILR Courtyard

Cornell University
Ithaca, NY

Almost entirely walled off from rest of the University, the School of Industrial and Labor Relations’ lower courtyard was a jumble of disparate building facades, a few overgrown trees, and lawn with picnic tables. The space had the potential, however, to become a jewel-like inner realm for ILR school gatherings, outdoor class sessions, quiet study and contemplation. The ILR school’s requests for the courtyard were multiple and complex, and included an area for a tent for 200 people, spaces for individual and small group seating, an area for catering, a ‘Dean’s Podium,’ and a strategy for wayfinding within the space. SCAPE met the challenge with a design that was both flexible and elegant. We provided a softly sloping lawn for informal gatherings and a large plaza for formal events. We introduced a new grove of trees, screening the space from the jarring building facades and creating visual continuity. Lastly, we introduced a hierarchy of surface materials to guide circulation within the courtyard.