Furman University Benefactors Green Greenville, South Carolina

Role

Public Planning

People Involved

Darren Meyer, Haoting Shi, John Woods

Typology

Campus Planning and Design, Commemorative Donor Space

Project Timeline

2022-2023

Collaborators

Burdette Engineering, Craig Gaulden Davis Architecture

Donor plaza pays tribute to the contributions of university benefactors, in the heart of campus

Furman University desired to honor lifetime donors to the institution. With changes in recent years in the approach from University development to student outreach, direction was sought to better engage with students while enrolled and active at the institution, not just as alumni. Towards that end, MKSK helped select a location for the new Benefactors Green donor plaza in the heart of campus that has high visibility and foot traffic adjacent to the main library. This allows the story of lifetime giving and relationship to Furman, to be in the midst of the daily campus experience.

The unique challenge was how to honor lifetime donors, given that their level of giving may change over time. A series of ornaments, patterned after the flower of the dogwood tree, were designed that can be added over time to the donor’s name plaque signifying their growth in giving to the University.

For the pillar design, MKSK explored with the client a wide range of approaches that have been used in peer institutions to honor individuals, families, and organizations.

Among other unique strengths, the Furman campus has a tremendous emphasis on quality of landscape, and the columns were designed to complement their setting of legacy oak, magnolia, and dogwood trees in the common space adjacent to the Duke Library. Organic forms, a careful composition of column locations and orientations, patinated bronze materials, and sensitive site grading contributed to the integration of these architectural features into the landscape.