A vibrant garden showcases wildflowers and grasses, with yellow coneflowers and white blooms among flat stone pavers, creating a lush oasis.

UM Science Courtyard Design Internationally Acclaimed

October 15, 2024 —

The University of Manitoba’s Science Courtyard on the Fort Garry campus proves that students, faculty, and staff significantly benefit from an outdoor space that inspires imagination, generates resilience, fosters well-being, and performs as a living laboratory.

Professors Dietmar Straub and Anna Thurmayr from the Department of Landscape Architecture designed, planted and maintained the courtyard for several years. This pro bono work has allowed Dietmar and Anna to include applied research in the scope of this project. The non-standard amalgam of materiality, ecology, horticulture, soil science, entomology, and research drive the design’s success. The selection of materials embraces modest and locally available ingredients, which follow an intentional choreography to transform the place into a biodiversity hotspot and Living Lab.

A high-profile international jury of experts recognized the UM Science Courtyard with the prestigious LILA 2024 Jury Award. Furthermore, the Science Courtyard was distinguished with an editor’s choice. “LILA – Landezine International Landscape Award aims to recognize the most interesting and progressive practices from the field of landscape architecture. … The aim of the award is to recognize interesting landscape architects and their projects from all over the world.” (retrieved from LILA website). This year, LILA received 300 entries from all over the world, six of them have been awarded.

The formerly hidden courtyard transformed into the newest central gathering place of the Faculty of Science. Framed by lecture and laboratory buildings, the courtyard extends the existing student lounge and coffee shop and connects the hustle of the academic world with the lovely scenery of a picturesque group of mature trees and the mighty Red River.

The project is the outcome of a close collaboration between the Faculty of Science with Dietmar and Anna from the Faculty of Architecture, Department of Landscape Architecture for several years.

“Science Courtyard finds an outstanding way to introduce a small-scale layer to a previously unexceptional campus landscape. It introduces a masterfully articulated gradient in the material palette and plant species. It contributes to biodiversity and invites processes of growth and spontaneous change, all spiced with creatively designed elements, such as a seating area made of logs and play of mineral pavement, topography, planting, etc. The project reveals and brings into focus the processual nature of the landscape and favours a more relaxed and experimental approach to design. The garden is also a landscape laboratory for the designers as they intend to monitor and learn from it” – from the award statements.

The courtyard also makes waves in Winnipeg. Dietmar and Anna were interviewed by Colleen Zacharias, Gardening Columnist Winnipeg Free Press. Colleen transformed the interview into an article: U of M courtyard receives prestigious award. New garden project cultivates unexpected beauty, learning, and craftsmanship. Winnipeg Free Press, August 10^th, 2024. Inspired by Colleen’s article the new habitat does not only attracts pollinators but many curious gardeners and inquisitive visitors from outside of campus.

An aerial view shows a building complex with a courtyard, surrounded by greenery, contrasting structured and organic elements.

Two people planting in a landscaped area with pebbles, bordered by greenery, near café-style tables and chairs.

A grassy area bordered by trees, with vibrant greenery, modern buildings in the background, and ornamental plants.

A striking orange iris displays intricate, wavy petals in deepening hues, with a blurred background of yellow irises and lush foliage.

An outdoor garden seating area features tall grass, circular red tables with metal chairs, flowerbeds of orange and white flowers, and young pine trees.

A lush park features a grassy path leading to a stone building with large windows, framed by trees and vibrant greenery.

A natural meadow showcases clusters of yellow and white flowers among tall grasses, with purple blooms and dense green trees in the background.

Tall, dry grasses sway gently in the foreground, dotted with purple and yellow wildflowers. An orange butterfly rests nearby, with a light stone building and modern elements in the background.

A young deer stands on a lush lawn, partially shaded by slender trees, with a stone building and ornamental grasses in the background.

For more information:
https://landezine-award.com/science-courtyard/
https://homes.winnipegfreepress.com/winnipeg-real-estate-articles/renovation-design/U-of-M-courtyard-receives-prestigious-award/id-8625

Project Collaborators
PROJECT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, DESIGNERS
Straub Thurmayr Landscape Architects and Urban Designers

Prof. Dietmar Straub, Prof. Anna Thurmayr,
Faculty of Architecture, Department of Landscape Architecture
University of Manitoba

CONTRACTOR
Johannes Zinn, Konrad Zinn
J&K Zinn Landscape Contractors
Box 45, Starbuck, MB

CLIENT
Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba
Krystyna Koczanski
Associate Dean, Administration
Trevor Schultz, Business Manager
Seema Goel, Program Outreach and STEAM Coordinator

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Javier Uribe, Vanessa Jukes
Architectural & Engineering Services
Physical Plant, Fort Garry Campus, University of Manitoba

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT OF RECORD
David Wagner Associates Inc.
317 Laidlaw Boulevard, Winnipeg, MB

Dietmar Straub

department of landscape architecture