Bryn Athyn College
Campus Master Plan
Bryn Athyn College hired Sasaki Associates to develop a master plan for the renovation and expansion of the campus. Upon its completion in 2006, Carter van Dyke Associates (CVDA) and Spillman Farmer Architects were then hired to collaborate with Sasaki Associates to implement the Master Plan.
In Phase One, CVDA concentrated on a complete renovation of campus roads, parking, walkways, ADA compliance, lighting, and landscaping. We also coordinated on the renovation of the campus utilities and screening of all service and trash areas. Whenever possible, existing specimen trees were relocated for the new landscape designs. In Phase Two, Spillman Farmer and CVDA developed a new Admissions building and a LEED-certified Science building, with a new central quad, dramatic college gateway entrance, and rain garden. Phase Three included a new quad for additional student housing, placed so the units did not appear to be prefabricated. The process involved on-going modifications and refinements to the Master Plan.
CVDA’s unique contribution was its ability to restore the campus in a manner true to the character of the remarkable historic architecture and landscapes developed by the Olmsted Brothers. We achieved a sustainable design that carefully balanced enhancing the historic character of the landscape and the needs of a modern operating facility. Our firm continues to develop a new student center, additional student housing, sports facilities, new parking and campus roads.
Project Relevance
• Refinement of college master plan for a strong image
• Permit and Construction documents
• Uniform design standards to enhance college brand
• Comprehensive vehicular and pedestrian circulation
• Experience with complex landscape implementation
• Developed new roads, walkways, and cross walks
• Complied with all ADA requirements
• Developed LEED site plan and rain garden
• Relocated and upgraded campus utilities
Client: Byrn Athyn College
Location: Bryn Athyn, PA
Product: Updated Master Plan and site plan, construction documents
Date: 2007-2019
Project Relevance
• Refinement of college master plan for a strong image
• Permit and Construction documents
• Uniform design standards to enhance college brand
• Comprehensive vehicular and pedestrian circulation
• Experience with complex landscape implementation
• Developed new roads, walkways, and cross walks
• Complied with all ADA requirements
• Developed LEED site plan and rain garden
• Relocated and upgraded campus utilities
Client: Byrn Athyn College
Location: Bryn Athyn, PA
Product: Updated Master Plan and site plan, construction documents
Date: 2007-2019
Walkways and Lighting
During master planning, design guidelines for walkways and lighting were developed. The idea was to create distinct design aesthetics though the use of site amenities: benches, lighting, and walkways. For instance, the Academy of the New Church has members that live nearby and attend school on the site from kindergarten through college. The task was to clearly identify the different academic campuses.
Lighting and benches were designed to be consistent throughout all of the campuses. Light poles along walkways transition to bollard lights at building entrances and residence halls.
Walkway materials now change from lower campuses to the college campus. For the Elementary, Middle and High School the walkways are red stone asphalt (matching the school colors) edged by cobble curbs. Brick and bluestone paving is used at building entrances.
For the College campus the walkways are constructed with exposed aggregate concrete; the primary sidewalks have outer bands of larger exposed aggregate stone, and secondary walks are all smaller aggregate stone. Brick pavers are used at major building entrances.
Location: Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania
Client: Academy of the New Church
The Brickman Center & Library Quadrangle
Location: Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania
Client: Bryn Athyn College
Completed: 2007
Grant R. Doering Center for Science and Research
Location: Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania
Client: Bryn Athyn College
Architect: Spillman Farmer Architects
Size: 49,000 sq ft
Completed: 2009
New Student Housing
Services included the design and construction review for the development of new student housing on the Bryn Aythn College Campus. A total of six units were constructed. One of the units houses the Resident Assistant and each of the other five units house eight students. The village green setting designed for the units is on axis with the rest of the campus and is visually linked to the towers of other buildings on campus.
Location: Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania
Client: Academy of the New Church
Completion: 2007-2016
Childs Hall
Renovation of the front of Childs Hall included replacement of a terrace, renovation of the walkways and landscaping. Included in the design were a basketball court, volleyball court, outdoor fire pit and a charcoal grill area adjacent to an existing gazebo. The parking areas were redesigned, and on-street parking added to connect new student housing to the campus and to introduce traffic calming to the campus drive.
Location: Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania
Client: Academy of the New Church
Completed: 2008
Other Projects
In addition to the previously mentioned projects at the Academy of the New Church, Carter van Dyke Associates has also completed several others at this location. These include projects at the New Athletic Fields, De Charms and Pitcairn Halls, plus a new entrance at the academy.
Pennsylvania Office
PO Box 165
Doylestown, PA 18901-0165
Doylestown, PA 18901-0165
UPS/FedEx Address:
299 Maple Ave., Barn 2nd Floor
Doylestown, PA 18901
299 Maple Ave., Barn 2nd Floor
Doylestown, PA 18901
New York Office
6850 S Gannett Hill Rd.
Naples, NY 14512