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.