Bud and Susie Rogers Garden at the Akron Art Museum

• Increase the availability of public green spaces to attract and maintain steady visitation to downtown Akron by activating the site as a civic generator through programming.
• Provide flexible spaces that encourage public interaction with art. 
• Provide accessible artwork outside the museum with art displayed throughout the garden while facilitating an open view into the museum building. 
• Provide a place for introspection, exploration, expression, social interaction, and memorable experiences downtown.
• Source local materials and craftspeople within a 100-mile radius.
• Capture all stormwater runoff on-site using introduced porous surfaces.
• Promote the use of native plant species in downtown Akron and mirror the ecologies indigenous to Northeast Ohio.
• Achieve successful implementation of site design and construction within an 18-month timeline.

• Nearly all soils and plant materials were sourced across Northeast Ohio. Corten steel interlocking planter systems support the growth of native perennial pollinator species such as butterflyweed (Asclepias turberosa), pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida), and great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis).
• Once an asphalt parking lot that drained to the street, the garden now retains all stormwater on site. The naturally sandy substrate allows water to percolate and recharge the groundwater through the open lawn, native plant beds, and porous decomposed granite paving surfaces.
• The concrete used on-site was carefully mixed to produce a lighter finish color that harmonizes with the concrete and steel elements of the contemporary museum structure while also alleviating urban heat island effect during the summer.
• The Crisscross is an ADA-accessible switchback ramp that ensures all visitors can navigate the site’s 13-ft elevation change. It serves as the main backdrop to the garden and connects the Art Oasis to the Green. 
• The Art Oasis is a grove of canopy trees that represent native species of the Cuyahoga Valley. 
• The Green has a wide lawn for additional event seating.
• A Feature Wall to the south of the Green is used for rotating displays of artwork. Nearby is a 9-ft-wide walkway that serves as a mid-block connection between South High Street and Broadway. 
• The Canopy is a smaller, intimate raised terrace that flanks the south. It is planted with a grove of white birch trees that provide dappled shade and a sense of enclosure from the city streets. 
• An array of lighting types are displayed throughout the garden, from a run of thin bollard lights that highlight the Crisscross to dappled light in the Art Oasis. Lighting within and around the event spaces can be independently controlled, and lighting throughout the garden is dark-sky compliant with fixtures directed downward where needed. 
• As a public amenity, the garden remains open throughout the year except for special ticketed and private events, allowing anyone to view artwork and performances. The garden is also visible from the interior through the museum’s glass façade.
• Programming in the garden includes the Downtown@Dusk summer concert series, Wellness Wednesdays (featuring lunchtime activities such as tai chi, yoga, and Zumba), and Family Days (featuring free educational programs on the Green). 

The Bud and Susie Rogers Garden was completed through a $5 million capital campaign fund gifted by Rick and Alita Rogers. $3 million was dedicated to construction of the garden, and another $2 million was set aside for maintenance. The garden was named in honor of Rick Rogers’ parents, Bruce “Bud” Rogers and Suzanne “Susie” Rogers who served as long-time museum supporters and community volunteers. An effort was made to complete construction within an 18-month period so that Susie, whose health had started to decline, would be able to see the completed garden.  

• The project included a skilled local construction team that used locally sourced concrete. The contractors were familiar with standard practices and use of concrete in the region. This allowed for the creation of a material surface that was lighter in color to reduce urban heat island effect while also complementing the façade of the 2005 museum building addition.
• The stormwater management strategy was more conservative than desired due to unknown soil conditions prior to construction and the shortened timeframe from design to construction. The site has sandier soils than expected, which provide excellent drainage. This could have allowed the design team to integrate stormwater management strategies like rain gardens or bioswales had the design and construction timeline not been abbreviated.
• Plantings were chosen using knowledge sourced from local state parks and agencies. These indigenous plants were intended to bring some of the ecological heritage of northeastern Ohio to an intensely urbanized part of the city of Akron. The use of these native species unexpectedly resulted in a vibrant pollinator garden.

Project Team

Landscape Architects: OLIN
Lighting Consultant: Tillett Lighting Design Associates
Civil Engineer: Johnson, Mirmiran, Thompson
Structural Engineer: Johnson, Mirmiran, Thompson
Electrical Engineer: Johnson, Mirmiran, Thompson
Construction Manager: The Ruhlin Company

Role of the Landscape Architect

The landscape architect worked as the prime consultant on the project for the client, the Akron Art Museum, and administered landscape architecture services for planning, design, and construction administration. The landscape architect led all design, in concert with project subconsultants, and worked in close collaboration with Museum staff, the City of Akron, and construction management. All site design, grading, planting and soil design, furniture design, paving layout and paving pattern design, and material detailing and layout were completed by the landscape architect.