Okanagan College, Penticton

As a result of two newly constructed buildings, the northeast corner of Okanagan College's Penticton Campus has been heavily disturbed. The site was once home to the Sandhill Skipper, a red-listed butterfly, and the college intends to repair and replace the habitat for its continued presence. The design integrates cultural space and the 'undisturbed' grassland that the skipper needs. Large neglected piles of earth have been re-sculpted into two larger mounds and more than a dozen smaller mounds to re-introduce topography and micro-climates. Aside from being planted, the mounds also provide acoustic buffering between the campus and neighboring community. Additionally, the design provides for an indigenous botanical garden, and a large plaza to be used for community activities. Comprehensively, the project is intended to obtain Sustainable SITES Certification - the landscape sister program to LEED, and will be among the first in Canada. Further design work is in process.