New Greenspace Opens on Drexel University’s Campus
By Alissa Falcone
More than 40,000 square feet of grass and 18,000 square feet of planting beds were recently added to Drexel University’s campus with the opening of a large park on the site of the former Myers Hall.
The greenspace, which does not yet have an official name, was conceived of as a “front lawn for students.” Its design and implementation incorporated several student suggestions, from recreational usage to more greenery on an urban campus to outdoor electrical outlets for charging devices.
Located on the site of a former residence hall, the space is within walking distance of Drexel’s on-campus housing options including Bentley Hall, Caneris Hall, Kelly Hall, Millennium Hall, Race Street Residences, Towers Hall and Van Rensselaer.
“This space will provide a green space and gathering area for students that is located directly outside many of their front doors,” said Tony Bracali, assistant vice president for planning, design and construction in Drexel’s Real Estate and Facilities.
The area opened on the University City Campus as planned during the fall of 2024, in mid-November. Demolition of the former residence hall began last summer, and then a small building housing the switchgear had to be constructed before the landscaping and design could begin.
Multiple student considerations were included in the design and scope, Bracali said. The site includes tables, chairs and benches — manufactured with recycled materials — to provide more outdoor seating options on campus. Bracali said there will be more moveable furniture, tables and chairs around the perimeter of the space as well. Long benches with wooden slats also contain special sections with planter boxes housing real plants. Electrical outlets were installed at some benches and light posts. The large grassy area can be used for casual recreational activities, and plans are in the works for Athletics to provide equipment for different sports.
About a third of the site is composed of planting beds with over 400 native shrubs and over 22,000 native plants like groundcovers and perennials. They were chosen for their adaptability to urban conditions and drought tolerance (which reduces irrigation demands). Additionally, the plants can better support local ecosystems and wildlife, from promoting biodiversity to creating habitats for birds and insects to providing shade while reducing the urban heat island effect. The planting beds themselves were made using engineered horticultural soils, which both resist compaction and increase water infiltration.
Over 100 new trees, including native trees, were added to the greenspace. Eight critical existing trees were preserved, and all removed trees were replaced with a tree of the same size.
Sustainability best practices were incorporated in the site even before its creation. With the demolition of Myers Hall, which housed generations of Drexel students from 1977 to 2017, to make way for the new greenspace, over 1,500 pieces of surplus residence furniture were donated to charities and nonprofit partners. All site paving — the paths and plaza areas — is composed of porous material for better stormwater management. Onsite bike racks encourage multi-modal and greener transportation methods, and the LED lighting from lamp posts on the site saves energy while reducing light pollution.
Internally, the project was managed by Executive Director of Design Kimberly Miller and Director of Construction Mike Thompson with support from their teams. Director of Grounds Scott Dunham and his team were also heavily involved in bringing the space to life. Bracali began in his current position about a year ago, when the project was already underway, but the Drexel alumnus (who actually lived in Myers Hall during his first year as a student 31 years ago) had been teaching as an adjunct professor at the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design since 2001.
Externally, Drexel hired multiple local companies that were all minority- and/or women-owned businesses, contributing to the University's pledge to increase socially responsible purchasing. The landscape architects were Andropogon, Moto Designshop were architects for the small building housing the switchgear, and David Mason + Associates managed the project and provided civil engineering expertise.