General Higher Education Experience

Context Design specializes in creating vibrant campus environments that embody the heart and mind of the collegiate experience. Our team blends academia, healthy living, and athletics to produce iconic community spaces. We strive to celebrate the unique identity, culture, and history of each institution to help shape development and growth.

Selected Higher Education Institutional Experience:

Ball State University / Muncie, IN
Butler University / Indianapolis, IN
Cleveland State University / Cleveland, OH
Earlham College / Richmond, IN
Indiana State University / Terre Haute, IN
Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Indianapolis, IN
Indiana University / Bloomington, IN
Indiana University Indianapolis / Indianapolis, IN
Indiana University East / Richmond, IN
Ivy Tech – Kokomo / Kokomo,IN
Ivy Tech – Columbus / Columbus, IN
Purdue University / West Lafayette, IN
University of Notre Dame / South, Bend
University of Southern Indiana / Evansville, IN
University of Toledo / Toledo, OH

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Spruce Hall

Bloomington, IN

Nestled between the dining hall and a wooded landscape, this residence provides students with a respite. This design, awarded LEED Gold, consists of an open lawn for activities, limestone terraces that create a dynamic walking and seating experience, berms, and lush plantings. Limestone seating areas create alcoves and meeting points for students. This project used plantings and amenities to navigate grade changes throughout the site and along the building, celebrating the dynamic landscape that frames the residence hall.

Context Design Role: Lead Site Designer, Pedestrian Hardscapes, Courtyard Design, and Construction Documents

Collaborators: MSKTD & Associates, Mackey Mitchell Architects, and L’Acquis

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North Hall

Indianapolis, IN

Context Design led site design on this 700 room, LEED Silver tower, the first new traditional residence hall on campus since IUPUI’s inception in 2014. The project was delivered in a fast-track methodology via a 6-month design schedule and 15-month build.

Placement of the building for this project was an exciting challenge. The parcel was limited in size and nestled into a compact urban context. 360-degree access for move-in, move-out, and emergency vehicle use constrained the limits of a sizeable architectural footprint.

The design solution includes an urban streetscape that opens onto a modern and lushly planted plaza, leading students and visitors to the facility’s main entry. Students enjoy a large, protected courtyard that facilitates student life events while maintaining an intimate garden-like atmosphere suitable for individual study, mingling, and small-group socializing.

Context Design Role: Lead Site Designer, Pedestrian Hardscapes, Courtyard Design, and Construction Documents

Collaborators: MSKTD & Associates, Mackey Mitchell Architects, and L’Acquis

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Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall

Bloomington, IN

Context was commissioned to collaborate with CSO Architects and SmithGroup to develop a cohesive site design

This new civic space links the Assembly Hall building renovations to the core of campus in response. Balancing amenities for emergency, security, maintenance, athlete, and spectator uses during peak and off-peak times were the primary design responsibilities for Context.

Pre-design site visits, overlays of campus master planning efforts, and detailed design collaboration with the University resulted in a progressive and universally accessible experience from academic campus to game day events, all at the doorstep of the iconic Assembly Hall.

On the ground plane, Context integrated key pedestrian hardscape, site furnishing, and plant materials that aid in achieving the project’s LEED goals. Responding to the natural landform’s bedrock depths, existing terrain, and adjacent campus spaces, the landscape evolved into a subtle, yet grand statement with minimal construction efforts and cost impacts.

Context Design Role: Lead Site Designer, Pedestrian Hardscapes, and Construction Documents

Collaborators: CSO and Smithgroup

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Honors College

West Lafayette, IN

The landscape architects at Context Design worked closely with the architect to ensure a large grove of trees present on the site was maintained and protected throughout the design and construction processes. Situating the Honors College and its residences in this mature landscape setting provides an immediate feel of longevity and history despite it’s completion in 2016.

The Honors College is the first residence hall on Purdue’s campus to integrate academic spaces within a residential setting. To support this dual use, the site features an outdoor plaza with a fire pit, an open lawn for recreation and programs, and outdoor dining spaces.

As one unique detail of this project, the Dean of the Honors College was particularly passionate about the planting palette. Significant research went into plant selections that were edible, including many varieties appropriate for use in teas and medicinal remedies.

Context Design Role: Lead Site Designer, Pedestrian Hardscapes, Courtyard Design, and Construction Documents

Collaborators: CSO, Schneider Geomatics, and Messer Construction

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Mackey Arena

West Lafayette, IN

Context was part of the interdisciplinary design team led by HNTB Architecture for this historic project at Purdue University. Commissioned to lead the site design, Context was charged with integrating complex relationships between events and day-to-day functions while creating a cohesive vocabulary that links the athletics district to the campus proper. The design solution balances refined pedestrian spaces with emergency, delivery and media vehicle access while incorporating rain gardens and bioswales to dramatically decrease the impact of stormwater runoff on already taxed drainage infrastructure.

Context Design Role: Lead Site Designer, Pedestrian Hardscapes, and Construction Documents

Collaborators: HNTB, Shrewsberry, DLZ, and Turner Construction

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Fairview House

Indianapolis, IN

Butler University partnered with American Campus Community to create a unique 633-bed living environment for students and faculty-in-residence apartments.
The site provides two courtyards, one an active space offering outdoor grilling, space for group gatherings, and a fire pit. The second courtyard provides a more passive environment for quiet reflection and small group discussions.

The overall feel of the pedestrian hardscapes is intentionally geometric, using pattern and enhanced plantings to naturally draw students from historic quads toward Fairview House. Limestone salvaged from the original Schwitzer Hall is incorporated into courtyards to find new purpose in serving the next generation of Butler students.

Context Design Role: Lead Site Designer, Pedestrian Hardscapes, Courtyard Design, and Construction Documents

Collaborators: SCB, American Campus Community, Cripe, IMEG, and Sheil Sexton

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