Collegiate Park
Collegiate Park is a unifying vision for North Campus—an interconnected network of landscapes, pathways, and gathering spaces centered around Lake LaSalle. While the lake and its surrounding landmarks, such as Baird Point, already hold a symbolic place in campus identity, their potential has long been limited by fragmented access and underutilized spaces. This initiative reimagines the lakeside as a cohesive, student-centric park that supports both reflection and community life.
From the Lake LaSalle Fountain to new pathways encircling the water’s edge, the projects within Collegiate Park work together to enhance visibility, access, and connection. Public gathering spaces, outdoor classrooms, and vibrant landscapes extend the academic environment into the natural setting, transforming the lakefront into a shared campus heart. Through these projects, Collegiate Park becomes more than a series of improvements—it is a holistic vision to weave nature, community, and architecture into the everyday student experience.
Location: Buffalo, NY
Year: 2024-2025
Year: 2024-2025
Baird Point
In Development
Baird Point is a unique landmark on UB’s North Campus—an outdoor, Greek-style amphitheater located on the southern shore of Lake LaSalle. It was built in 1978, using marble Ionic columns salvaged from the old Buffalo Federal Reserve building, donated by the Baird Foundation. Over the decades, Baird Point has served as a gathering place, stage for UB’s Springfest and Fallfest events, and a quiet spot for reflection and lake views.
However, despite its symbolic importance, Baird Point currently suffers from limited physical access and weak connective paths. The shoreline, vantage points, and walkways are fragmented—students must navigate around blocks, missing sidewalks, or indirect routes. The experience is often disjointed, particularly between Baird Point, the promenade, and nearby lakeside facilities.
This design proposal envisions reimagining Baird Point as the ceremonial epicenter of Lake LaSalle’s North Campus edge. It introduces a cohesive pathway system—continuous and legible—that moves through and around the lake, connecting it with surrounding buildings and public spaces. The plan also strengthens the promenade behind the lake, improves access via new staircases, seating terraces, and green buffers, and restores ecological features along the shore. The goal is to respect Baird Point’s history and architectural heritage while transforming it into a fully accessible, active landmark—a place of gathering, remembrance, and community life.
Lake LaSalle Fountain
In Development
Set at the heart of North Campus, the Lake LaSalle Fountain is a funded project that will transform the waterfront into a new focal point for students and visitors alike. Designed to activate the lake with movement and sound, the fountain introduces a dynamic element to the landscape while reinforcing Lake LaSalle as a gathering space. Visible from multiple approaches—including Baird Point and the surrounding promenades—the project enhances both the daily campus experience and the larger identity of UB. More than just an aesthetic feature, the fountain serves as a symbol of renewal, anchoring the campus with a sense of vitality and place.
