Owen courtyard gets spruced up

From the Summer 2017 edition of Vanderbilt Business

Photos by John Russell and Terry Wyatt

Owen’s H. Laird Smith Courtyard has provided light and beauty to the
school for more than three decades. This spring, thanks to a $100,000 gift
from the Henry Laird Smith Foundation, the courtyard received a makeover.
The project was a collaboration among the campus planning department,
the Owen Student Government Association and the university landscape
architect. Students wanted a space that was more suitable for gatherings,
from everyday student get-togethers to more formal lectures and receptions.
The space, which connects the historic Old Mechanical building with
the modern Management Hall, now sports a new patio, modern furniture
and upgraded lighting. The new design was unveiled in May just before
Commencement.