Scott & White selects student's garden design for new hospital

A contemplative space featuring a water fountain and aromatic flora designed by Yucheng Wang, a Texas A&M Master of Landscape Architecture student, was selected as the winning design proposal for a healing garden to be included in the new Scott & White Hospital currently under construction in College Station.

A panel of Scott and White representatives chose Wang’s proposal, designed to promote healing and relaxation and ensure safety and security while meeting a $450,000 construction budget, among the proposals from Wang’s fellow students in a graduate studio led by Chanam Lee, associate professor of landscape architecture.

“I am extremely pleased our students and faculty partnered with Scott & White Healthcare to create a place that will make a difference in the quality of people’s lives,” said Forster Ndubisi, head of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning. “This was an excellent learning, research and engagement opportunity for everyone involved, especially for our students.”

Wang’s winning design netted him a $2,000 scholarship from Scott & White Healthcare, Kitchell Contractors, Jacobs Engineering and ADAMS Management Services Corporation.

“Research shows that well-designed gardens can support healing and good health,” said Lee. “Students had a valuable real-world project experience by proposing creative and evidence-based designs that can contribute to creating a complete healing environment for this new hospital.”

Students were asked to craft a proposal by applying evidence-based design methods responding to the social and physical conditions of the site, an approximately 9,500 square-foot space between the hospital’s main drop off area, parking area, and the hospital and clinic buildings.

Scott & White’s design requirements included:

Create a multi-sensory (e.g. sight, smell, touch, sound, etc.) environment;

Offer a relaxing and attractive setting;

• Provide direct path(s) from the hospital and clinic buildings;
• Enhance a sense of arrival and welcoming;
• Provide both open/shared and enclosed/private spaces;
• Include water feature(s);
• Provide screen walls;
• Meet or exceed the city of College Station’s “public plaza” requirements;
• Incorporate three flag poles for the donors (30’ high and 14’ apart), and
• Fit within the project’s construction budget of $450,000.

“It is always exciting to partner with the students and faculty at Texas A&M,” said Jason Jennings, CEO Scott & White Healthcare – College Station region. “We believe these relationships are just one more way for Scott & White to invest in this community and its future.”