A major landscape and infrastructure project designed to better connect the upper and middle areas of campus began in February. This project will dramatically transform the wooded hillside area between Dana Arts Center and Frank Dining Hall, improve campus pedestrian circulation from Case Library to Dana, and create a new plaza on the upper campus.

The project has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Peter L. Kellner ’65, P’87, GP’16,’19, who has previously supported several other critical elements of the Third-Century Plan, including the funding of two newly endowed faculty chairs and contributions to the Colgate Commitment financial aid initiative. The reimagined and rebuilt hillside will be named Peter’s Glen in his honor.

Acclaimed landscape architects at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA) are responsible for the Glen’s landscape design. MVVA is renowned for prominent design projects, including Brooklyn Bridge Park, Harvard Yard, and the grounds of the presidential libraries of presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Construction is slated for completion in 2025.

The existing hillside will be transformed into a native landscape where water will cascade over natural stone into stepped pools alongside new pathways. There will be new spaces for gathering and a completely redesigned upper-campus plaza next to Frank Dining Hall that will drastically improve the pedestrian experience. 

“Given that this project will profoundly transform our campus for the next century, I knew we needed to collaborate with the world’s best landscape architects, and MVVA was our first choice,” says President Brian W. Casey. “I learned of Michael Van Valkenburgh during my own time at Harvard, when he led a complete restoration of Harvard Yard. The professionals at MVVA are thoughtful, deeply creative, and environmentally conscious.”

MVVA has played a critical role in every major landscape project at Colgate since 2016, including the Burke-Pinchin quad and hillside, the Bicentennial Tree planting in the Academic Quad, the restoration of Oak Drive, and the design of the new pedestrian pathways at campus entrances.

This new project is an integral part of the Third-Century Plan commitment to responsibly steward the campus and its environs and is part of a series of recent improvements designed to connect the campus community through improved pedestrian circulation up and down the hill. Kellner’s gift will also allow for improvements to the campus entrance at Oak Drive, complementing his prior support of new and expanded sidewalks, tree plantings, and Oak Drive restoration. 

“I am pleased to be involved in several of the major initiatives of the Third-Century Plan,” Kellner says. “This initiative in particular will help to bolster Colgate’s commitment to environmental sustainability, while further enhancing the beauty of our campus. Colgate is fortunate to have Michael Van Valkenburgh and his great team involved in Colgate’s environmental master plan to enhance the walking experience on campus while also being ever mindful of our responsibility to be good stewards of a campus of remarkable beauty.” 

Initial site work in February necessitated the clearing of hundreds of non-native and declining trees, shrubs, and overgrowth on the hillside to prepare for major excavation and earth moving. Currently, this unused area provides drainage for water flowing both from pipes and natural runoff and feeding an undersized storm system. Much of the surrounding vegetation is either invasive or susceptible to disease and pests. A redesigned and expanded storm-water system will control runoff water volume and reduce sedimentation.  

The Glen will continue to evolve as planting of nearly 500 native trees and 500 native shrubs and plants takes place during several growing seasons. Heated stairs will create a path down the hill beside a cascading stream shaded by a natural tree canopy. Plazas at the top and bottom of the walkway will provide areas for relaxation, study, and gathering.

In addition to the work on the Glen, Colgate’s main entrance on Oak Drive will be updated with new trees and plantings to complement the overall campus landscape vision and will create a clear connection to the walkway leading toward Peter’s Glen.