Packer Collegiate Institute Garden

Starr Whitehouse is designing a vibrant outdoor space for the students, parents, faculty and staff of Packer Collegiate Institute, a thriving Pre-K through 12 campus nestled in Downtown Brooklyn. During Covid-19 the need for social distancing called for a reconsideration of daily campus operations. Starr Whitehouse was engaged to redesign the campus garden to create a high-performing and ecologically-beneficial area for gatherings, events and play. Pick-up and drop-off are reorientated to Livingston Street, allowing families to take advantage of the garden’s flexible outdoor space. The redesigned garden serves as a barrier-free crossroads connecting multiple buildings at different floor elevations. As it provides intuitive and accessible connections, the garden also accommodates small group gatherings and recreational events. Throughout the design, the garden’s sylvan character is retained with the use of native plants and rain gardens to enhance biodiversity.