Saiki Design worked to blend the highly urban site with the inspirational architectural to create a new home for the University of Wisconsin Hillel Foundation. Landscape architects at Saiki Design crafted a site plan for the highly visible project that creates a semi-private terrace near the building’s cafe and actively engages Langdon Street, moderating the change in elevation by creating highly visible gathering places for the iconic building.
A gracefully arcing terrace with two opposing curves plays off of the exterior architecture which features a curving wall of stainless-steel hook strap metal. Cascading blocks near the public sidewalk transition the scale of the elevated terrace to street level and provide informal seating for the “see and be seen” vantage points. Covered bicycle parking, stainless steel railings and carefully selected site lighting integrate exterior spaces with the building.
The project was awarded LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council It has also received numerous awards including: The inaugural “Future Landmark Award for Innovative New Design” by the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation; “Project of the Year” and “Best Green-Built Project” for New Development by Madison’s InBusiness Magazine; “Project of the Decade” by Madison’s InBusiness Magazine Commercial Design Awards and was featured as the cover of the Design Awards issue.
