Community and Memory at the Heart of Campus
NBW’s work at Rice University is anchored by the transformation of the iconic four-acre Academic Quadrangle, one of the most historic and symbolically important spaces on campus. Completed in 2024, the reimagined Quad balances ecological performance, accessibility, and inclusive storytelling, creating a dynamic landscape for ceremony, everyday use, and reflection.
The redesigned Quad features a new path system that aligns with student desire lines, connecting the southwest and northeast corners of the Quad and enhancing navigation and accessibility. A new central gathering area facilitates performances and informal meetings, reinforcing the Quad's role as a cultural and social heart of campus.
In a thoughtful recontextualization, the founder's statue has been relocated from its original nine-foot-high pedestal to ground level, allowing it to be viewed and engaged with at a human scale. The broad plinth of the former pedestal has been rededicated as an open communal area for gathering and conversation.
The landscape now features expansive shade tree plantings, including Monterey oaks and bald cypress, to enhance comfort and improve the microclimate. Approximately one acre of native perennials and shrubs, such as pink autumn sage and sideoats grama, create a vibrant and ecologically resilient groundplane. These enhancements embody Rice University's dedication to creating an inviting, accessible, and environmentally conscious Academic Quadrangle that serves the diverse needs of its community.
In addition to the Quad, NBW is leading a campus-wide pathway accessibility and replacement strategy to enhance circulation and ease of movement across campus, terrace design and landscape improvements associated with the expansion of McNair Hall, and the landscape design for the Rice Jones School Expansion, currently in development.
