SHEPARD BUTLER LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATES   vermont landscape architects

Located in Windsor, Vermont and housed within the former Robbins & Lawrence Armory, the American Precision Museum is an institution dedicated to preserving the heritage of the mechanical arts. In 2008, the museum’s director approached SBLA with a desire to create a memorial and interpretive park for use by the museum’s patrons and the general public. The less than 1/4 acre, narrow wedge shaped, and sharply sloping site lies behind the museum perched above the Mill Pond Brook by means of an existing concrete retaining wall. With all funds for the project being donated, the budget was limited necessitating many of the existing elements, including the brook retaining wall, to be incorporated into the final design. Through research of the Armory’s history, studying of the museum’s artifacts, and after excavation procedures on site, SBLA developed a conceptual design for the park that incorporated an ADA accessible interpretive area and overlook, a passive terrace, an open lawn area for recreational activities and events, and a ramped lawn path acting as the park’s spine connecting all of the program elements including the museum. Materials for the project were integral with the design and concept. SBLA canvased an abandoned quarry in Barre, Vermont for select pieces of granite that would show evidence of the stone’s extraction/ quarrying process and history. The monolithic granite pieces chosen each have a unique story to tell and act as interactive benches, walls, and steps within the garden. Other materials chosen include local reclaimed brick pavement, local peastone, and newly quarried granite steps.