Winner: 2014 Honor Award for Design from Tri-State (NC, SC, GA) Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects

Winner: 2009 Special Citation for Design from the American Institute of Architects

The Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (ICAR) is housed in seven distinctive buildings on a 30-acre campus located in the Piedmont region of South Carolina. SALT DESIGN STUDIO was commissioned to design and consult on establishment and management of a 7-acre native meadow, as well as building landscapes, for this new satellite campus. During design, SALT refined the overall approach for the ICAR landscape to create a more robust ecological framework for the University grounds.

Instead of installing acres of traditional turf grass on this new campus, ICAR chose to manage its land and stormwater through a more sustainable strategy. Native meadows feature large swaths of grass-dominant upland areas, colorful lowlands and species-rich diverse, wet meadows. Due to the naturally steep topography on the site, a trio of stormwater management basins were created to capture, treat and infiltrate stormwater. Creating this canvas of meadows, instead of lawn, has minimized daily maintenance for ICAR operations, re-introduced wildlife habitats with a palette of indigenous wildflowers and grasses, and serves as a model for making sustainable college campuses.

CU-ICAR achieved LEED-NC Gold Certification

Collaborators: Seamon, Whiteside & Associates, Inc.

Status: Construction Completed 2008

Photos courtesy of Seamon, Whiteside & Associates, Inc.