The butterfly garden at Cotswold Elementary School will help to tell the story of the life cycle of a butterfly. Colorful, butterfly-attracting plants will be featured. The garden will be a learning laboratory for the children and will be integrated into the second grade curriculum.

Smith Academy is a CMS K-8 language immersion magnet school. groundworks studio was commissioned to create an international children's garden reflecting the diverse cultures of the different languages taught at the school: Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Spanish and English. The courtyard garden was designed for activities such as creative writing, art, speakers, nature study and celebrating holidays and customs of the countries of language origin. The first phases of construction were in the summer and fall of 08.

Smith Academy is a CMS K-8 language immersion magnet school. groundworks studio was commissioned to create an international children's garden reflecting the diverse cultures of the different languages taught at the school: Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Spanish and English. The courtyard garden was designed for activities such as creative writing, art, speakers, nature study and celebrating holidays and customs of the countries of language origin. The first phases of construction were in the summer and fall of 08.

This front yard garden responds both to the symmetry of the ranch style house as well as the modern sensibilities of the architect homeowner. Kentucky coffee canopy trees are companions to the existing Japanese maples and help frame the house. A hedgerow of sassafras trees along the busy street side establish a street edge and provide a buffer. A new concrete "sedimentary wall" of a series of horizontal textured layers is revealed from the sloping ground along the Sayre street edge with a sculptural magnolia planted within the curve. A butterfly garden was designed for the family's young son and will welcome neighbors. Materials used in the wall's layers will be collected from places important to the family.

This Arts and Crafts residence is located in the leafy Myers Park neighborhood of Charlotte. The landscape character of the street is an interesting mix of tropical and Piedmont vegetation. Palm trees were transplanted to anchor the edges of the driveway, enriching the fabric of the street. The driveway of paver drive strips was planted with “steppable” garden thyme in between. A casual backyard garden with crushed stone paving nestled within plant beds helps to encourage water permeability. And the rain garden, containing native plants and river stone, was designed to capture stormwater on site and infiltrate it back into the earth. The Client's sustainable mindset and groundworks studio's philosophy made for a satisfying Client/Designer relationship and a highly successful project. This project was a collaboration between Architecture Matters and groundworks studio.

This Arts and Crafts residence is located in the leafy Myers Park neighborhood of Charlotte. The landscape character of the street is an interesting mix of tropical and Piedmont vegetation. Palm trees were transplanted to anchor the edges of the driveway, enriching the fabric of the street. The driveway of paver drive strips was planted with “steppable” garden thyme in between. A casual backyard garden with crushed stone paving nestled within plant beds helps to encourage water permeability. And the rain garden, containing native plants and river stone, was designed to capture stormwater on site and infiltrate it back into the earth. The Client's sustainable mindset and groundworks studio's philosophy made for a satisfying Client/Designer relationship and a highly successful project. This project was a collaboration between Architecture Matters and groundworks studio.

This Arts and Crafts residence is located in the leafy Myers Park neighborhood of Charlotte. The landscape character of the street is an interesting mix of tropical and Piedmont vegetation. Palm trees were transplanted to anchor the edges of the driveway, enriching the fabric of the street. The driveway of paver drive strips was planted with “steppable” garden thyme in between. A casual backyard garden with crushed stone paving nestled within plant beds helps to encourage water permeability. And the rain garden, containing native plants and river stone, was designed to capture stormwater on site and infiltrate it back into the earth. The Client's sustainable mindset and groundworks studio's philosophy made for a satisfying Client/Designer relationship and a highly successful project. This project was a collaboration between Architecture Matters and groundworks studio.

This elegant Myers Park residence was originally designed by Martin Boyer and renovated by Garrett Nelson. The front garden is a tapestry of colors and textures. Swaths of ornamental grasses, perennials, berrying shrubs and flowering trees define this space. Lushly planted rain gardens help filter stormwater as it seeps into the ground. The historic meandering brick driveway was removed during the construction process and carefully relaid. A new bluestone ellipse with fountain sculpture is sited at the high point of the backyard along the vista. A perimeter woodland path links secret gardens and hidden sculptures. The clients are avid gardeners and are a joy to work with. Collaborators: Garrett Nelson, Studio One Architects and Jeff Smith, Bulla Smith Design Engineering.

Exit 30 from I-77 into Davidson has recently been transformed from a quiet highway exit into a bustling commercial and residential center. The Town of Davidson hired groundworks studio to create a vision for what this important gateway and streetscape could be. The plan represents an ambitious, forward-thinking streetscape vision for Griffith Street while being respectful of the rich traditions and history of Davidson. The river was the metaphor and inspiration for the design; the theme being the river flowing from the highway into Town. The project will be featured in Randall Arendt's upcoming book Imagining Better Communities, Seeing More Options, Making Wiser Choices.

Exit 30 from I-77 into Davidson has recently been transformed from a quiet highway exit into a bustling commercial and residential center. The Town of Davidson hired groundworks studio to create a vision for what this important gateway and streetscape could be. The plan represents an ambitious, forward-thinking streetscape vision for Griffith Street while being respectful of the rich traditions and history of Davidson. The river was the metaphor and inspiration for the design; the theme being the river flowing from the highway into Town. The project will be featured in Randall Arendt's upcoming book Imagining Better Communities, Seeing More Options, Making Wiser Choices.

Exit 30 from I-77 into Davidson has recently been transformed from a quiet highway exit into a bustling commercial and residential center. The Town of Davidson hired groundworks studio to create a vision for what this important gateway and streetscape could be. The plan represents an ambitious, forward-thinking streetscape vision for Griffith Street while being respectful of the rich traditions and history of Davidson. The river was the metaphor and inspiration for the design; the theme being the river flowing from the highway into Town. The project will be featured in Randall Arendt's upcoming book Imagining Better Communities, Seeing More Options, Making Wiser Choices.

Inspired by the open book, The Davidson Book Garden is a metaphor for opening one’s mind to the experiences offered by the literary and natural world. Leaves are the connection between nature and the world of books. Envisioned as a place for discovery, reflection and gathering, the Garden offers an artful, textural and dynamic place for people. An elevated, curvilinear metal walkway connects four distinct outdoor rooms together arcing around the existing water oak. The rock outcrop recalls the town’s agrarian traditions, the boulder field is a gathering place encircled by a rain garden, the leaf bench attached to the brick wall is a relaxing spot to people watch and individual leaf seats offer a place for reflection. Bold bands of plants weave through and enliven the Garden. This conceptual design for a book garden competition for the Town of Davidson on Main Street was a collaboration between SALT DESIGN STUDIO, Shaun Dargan Cassidy and groundworks studio.

St. Martin's is a church located in the historical, urban neighborhood of Elizabeth. The project includes a new courtyard garden, a story garden and rain gardens along 7th Street. The courtyard garden will be an extension of the sanctuary; its design is envisioned as an outdoor room of Biblical meaning and symbolism. Twelve blue-green glass squares are proposed within the courtyard. Lasting materials of brick and bluestone will unify the architecture with the site. A renovated lawn will be wrapped in a lush garden buffering the courtyard from 7th Street. The story garden was inspired by the exquisite stained glass mosaics within the sanctuary, depicting the story of Jesus' life. Rainwater will be collected from the building's roof, stored for irrigation, and directed into a rill and geometric rain garden during rain events. A row of parking spaces along the street will be replaced with a series of small rain gardens, which will help filter stormwater runoff, beautify the streetscape and screen the parking lot.

St. Martin's is a church located in the historical, urban neighborhood of Elizabeth. The project includes a new courtyard garden, a story garden and rain gardens along 7th Street. The courtyard garden will be an extension of the sanctuary; its design is envisioned as an outdoor room of Biblical meaning and symbolism. Twelve blue-green glass squares are proposed within the courtyard. Lasting materials of brick and bluestone will unify the architecture with the site. A renovated lawn will be wrapped in a lush garden buffering the courtyard from 7th Street. The story garden was inspired by the exquisite stained glass mosaics within the sanctuary, depicting the story of Jesus' life. Rainwater will be collected from the building's roof, stored for irrigation, and directed into a rill and geometric rain garden during rain events. A row of parking spaces along the street will be replaced with a series of small rain gardens, which will help filter stormwater runoff, beautify the streetscape and screen the parking lot.

Created as a sustainable garden, “Tuckaseegee”, means flowing waters, derived from the language of Native Americans who lived in the area. “Twelve” refers to North Carolina as the twelfth state to enter into the Union, represented by twelve native trees and twelve circles. “Tuckaseegee” is inscribed in the garden’s central walkway, which leads to the Valerie Woodard Center. The garden was especially designed for individuals and families with children coming to the center’s Department of Social Services for assistance. Boulders offer seating areas and the plantings provide a quiet green place for rest and education. Large, colorful game circles were designed to engage children. The project is a partnership of the Arts & Science Council, the Public Art Commission and Mecklenburg County. groundworks studio created final design and provided construction administration services; concept design by Seam Studio. Phase 1 was completed in January 2010.

Created as a sustainable garden, “Tuckaseegee”, means flowing waters, derived from the language of Native Americans who lived in the area. “Twelve” refers to North Carolina as the twelfth state to enter into the Union, represented by twelve native trees and twelve circles. “Tuckaseegee” is inscribed in the garden’s central walkway, which leads to the Valerie Woodard Center. The garden was especially designed for individuals and families with children coming to the center’s Department of Social Services for assistance. Boulders offer seating areas and the plantings provide a quiet green place for rest and education. Large, colorful game circles were designed to engage children. The project is a partnership of the Arts & Science Council, the Public Art Commission and Mecklenburg County. groundworks studio created final design and provided construction administration services; concept design by Seam Studio. Phase 1 was completed in January 2010.

Created as a sustainable garden, “Tuckaseegee”, means flowing waters, derived from the language of Native Americans who lived in the area. “Twelve” refers to North Carolina as the twelfth state to enter into the Union, represented by twelve native trees and twelve circles. “Tuckaseegee” is inscribed in the garden’s central walkway, which leads to the Valerie Woodard Center. The garden was especially designed for individuals and families with children coming to the center’s Department of Social Services for assistance. Boulders offer seating areas and the plantings provide a quiet green place for rest and education. Large, colorful game circles were designed to engage children. The project is a partnership of the Arts & Science Council, the Public Art Commission and Mecklenburg County. groundworks studio created final design and provided construction administration services; concept design by Seam Studio. Phase 1 was completed in January 2010.

Created as a sustainable garden, “Tuckaseegee”, means flowing waters, derived from the language of Native Americans who lived in the area. “Twelve” refers to North Carolina as the twelfth state to enter into the Union, represented by twelve native trees and twelve circles. “Tuckaseegee” is inscribed in the garden’s central walkway, which leads to the Valerie Woodard Center. The garden was especially designed for individuals and families with children coming to the center’s Department of Social Services for assistance. Boulders offer seating areas and the plantings provide a quiet green place for rest and education. Large, colorful game circles were designed to engage children. The project is a partnership of the Arts & Science Council, the Public Art Commission and Mecklenburg County. groundworks studio created final design and provided construction administration services; concept design by Seam Studio. Phase 1 was completed in January 2010.