Downing Street Repurposing, New Campus Green + Utility Relocations

Clark University / Worcester, MA

Within the heart of Clark University’s campus, Waterfield Design led a multi-disciplinary effort to discontinue and abandon Downing Street, allowing the University’s main student housing area to be knit together with its central academic core.

The repurposing of Downing Street had been a strategic goal for Clark for the last 25 years because of the substantial cultural and logistical benefits it provides.

Beneath the obvious beautification and student life enhancements lie a complex web of major underground utility connections that needed to be reconciled, adjusted, relocated, and abandoned. Prime among those was the relocation of the campus’ main steam and condensate lines. Coordination with the City of Worcester was crucial to minimize the impact of losing the use of this local east-west collector road. Stormwater drainage lines, sanitary sewer connections, power, and communication lines were also coordinated by this project.

Once the extensive utility work was reconciled, our attention was then focused on how best to aesthetically knit these important parts of campus together. Our above ground work enhanced pedestrian access between buildings, eliminated major visual barriers (impacting safety and security), greatly reducing stairs and steep grades, and eliminating erosion.

The northeastern residential quad, library and athletic center is now aesthetically and functionally linked to the heart of campus with the extension of accessible tree lined walkways and expanses of green space, both missing from this side of campus. A strong and dignified gateway entrance and pedestrian drop-off area now welcomes users and visitors from the south. Adjacent to the Athletic & Fitness Center, a new signature plaza anchor gathering, pedestrian movements, and visual sightlines. Our design maintained emergency access and afforded the critical move-in / move-out routes that are so critical to a dorm heavy part of campus.