The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD) selected DRAW Collective to update their campus master plan and to design multiple improvements that arose as part of the master planning process. The development of a student walk campus upgrade had been considered in previous master planning efforts and failed to materialize. DRAW took a fresh look at overall campus planning and circulation to find a way to re-envision the student walk into a significant re-alignment of the campus.

Originally conceived as a limited pedestrian mall-type space, DRAW led in-depth discussions with WPSD to better understand their daily procedures for arrival and pickup along with internal circulation on the campus.

After working through multiple options, the DRAW team developed a re-configured student walk concept that included a new drop-off area, new play spaces on the campus, and a re-configuration of other commonly used spaces. The new concept incorporates site improvements on about half of the campus as well as a re-configured access route that improves safety and efficiency.

A key element of the re-configured student walk concept is shifting one of the main entries to a campus building to the student walk side of the building. Shifting this entry presented the opportunity to create a new entry sequence to the building and to improve the experience of deaf users.

Because deaf users often communicate using sign language as they walk, the walking route to the building was widened and routed without sharp bends or turns. Since visual signaling and sign language is essential to allow deaf users to communicate across the entry space, landscaping and other potential visual impediments were kept low. The team for this project included LaQuatra Bonci Associates landscape architects, who worked closely with DRAW to ensure that this type of design thinking permeated the project.

By working with WPSD to rethink key aspects of their campus, the DRAW team has developed a student walk that solves practical arrival and pickup needs while also creating a space that enhances the daily experience for the deaf students using the space