The Woodlands Connects with MBTA

The Woodlands is proud to share that Mark B. Thompson and Associates (MBTA) has been chosen to lead the Woodlands Connects master planning process. The decision follows an extensive search process that elicited responses from over ten different landscape architecture and planning firms from across the state. While there were many strong proposals filled with creative thinking, MBTA was ultimately chosen on the basis of the firm’s proven experience crafting innovative and thoughtful master plans for historically sensitive sites.

Master plan for Fairmount Water Works, prepared by MBTA.

MBTA will head up a diverse team of practitioners with a wide range of professional expertise. The team will include the architects and planners of MBTA, landscape architects from Viridian Landscape Studio, trail consultants from Urban Engineers, and environmental consultants from Meliora Design. The project will be managed by Claire Donato, a principal of MBTA with more than 24 years’ experience. This experience includes her role managing The Woodlands’ ongoing cryptoporticus restoration project; and her preexisting familiarity with The Woodlands is sure to be an asset in the creation of the master plan.

MBTA, a Philadelphia based architecture and planning firm, has previously worked on the master plan for the Fairmount Water Works, the Villanova University master plan, and the restoration of the historic New Milford Water Plant. Viridian Landscape Studio is also based in Philadelphia, and the firm has crafted creative landscapes for the Audubon Center, Bartram’s Garden, and the Philadelphia Zoo among other locations. Both firms are committed to a people-centered approach to design and are dedicated to undertaking a planning process that includes the contributions of the stakeholders and users of The Woodlands.

A successful master plan for a complex site like The Woodlands must take into consideration a multitude of factors, including historic preservation, ecology, and community engagement. This range of factors calls for the assortment of experiences and skills that is represented by the master planning team. As the first stage of the planning process commences, The Woodlands looks forward to realizing a comprehensive, yet realistic, vision of the future that combines the professional expertise of the master planning team with your hopes for the site. Stay tuned to the blog for further updates as this exciting project begins!

Connecting The Woodlands

Those of us who know and love The Woodlands are familiar with the multitude of activities to which the space plays host. The Woodlands is not only an active cemetery, it’s also a remarkable recreational resource, an exciting community events space, a rich historical landscape, and a bio-diverse urban ecosystem. Over the course of the day, The Woodlands is visited by dog walkers and runners, local history buffs and nature-lovers, community gardeners and many more.

This diversity of users is what makes The Woodlands so special, but it also makes planning for the future of the site particularly complicated. This year, thanks to the generous support of the William Penn Foundation, The Woodlands is embarking on a master planning process. This process will bring together the different constituencies who use the site in order to craft an inclusive and comprehensive plan for the future. The master plan is an exciting opportunity to envision how we want to see The Woodlands develop, and it will guarantee that The Woodlands continues to act as a vibrant cemetery, community green space, and cultural asset well into the coming years.

This year is a particularly crucial time for The Woodlands to initiate a master plan, as institutions all around the site are pursuing new projects. The master plan will capitalize on these exciting plans and allow The Woodlands to align our priorities with those of our neighbors. Particularly relevant are the Bartram’s Mile plan (shown in the rendering below), the new Lower Schuylkill Master Plan, and the city’s Schuylkill River recreation and trail planning initiatives. The Woodlands strategic location means that it sits at the nexus of all of these different plans, which makes the development of our own master plan especially important. Now is an exciting time for green spaces and cultural resources in Philadelphia, and a master planning process will solidify our position as one of the most important natural and historical resources in the city.

Bartram's Mile North, South, and the already-built section of trail in Bartram's Gardens. Image via PlanPhilly.

Currently, The Woodlands is soliciting proposals from a variety of planning, architecture, and landscape architecture firms who will help to create the master plan. Once a firm is hired, the team will analyze the site and consult with staff, board members, and community stakeholders to create a plan for the years ahead.  A particularly exciting opportunity will be a public meeting that will allow all those who use and love The Woodlands to share their ideas.  By including a diversity of voices, the firm will be able to craft a plan that balances the needs and desires of all the different types of people who enjoy The Woodlands. Stay tuned to the blog and website for continued updates and details as we begin this exciting project! 

by Joe Huennekens

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