Living and Learning: Campus landscape design creates learning opportunities
Friday, December 19, 2025
Media Contact: Sophia Fahleson | Digital Communications Specialist | 405-744-7063 | sophia.fahleson@okstate.edu
Just across the street from Agricultural Hall, a new outdoor living space combines Oklahoma State University history with a modern living plaza.
The outdoor living plaza, north of the Animal Science building, features native plants, refurbished building materials and inviting benches and tables.
The design allowed the OSU horticulture and landscape architecture students to gain experience in the design of the project while contributing hands-on to its construction.
“It was the perfect opportunity to get students involved,” said Nick Ouellette, OSU landscape design manager.
Students from two horticulture and landscape architecture courses contributed to the project by laying the pavers, preparing the foundation and planting native plants.
The pavers are recycled from a building that stood where the new Agricultural Hall building now stands, Ouellette said. The plaza stemmed from a request from faculty members, who noted the area lacked outdoor gathering spaces.
Michael Holmes, landscape architecture professor and program director, said the program has often collaborated with the university in the construction and design of the green wall and the Greenhouse Learning Center.
“The students love being outside and doing things hands-on,” Holmes said. “It allows the students to have a real-world experience.”
Story by: McKenna Blair | Cowboy Journal