Co-op Legacy Fellow Elisabeth Helmin

ECOLearn: The Husky Hangout

Spring 2023 UConn Co-op Legacy Fellowship - Change Grant Project

Project Mentor: Dr. Mariana Fragomeni, Plant Science and Landscape Architecture

Project Summary

The Husky Hangout functioned as a multi-use structure used for education, recreation and relaxation. This space benefited the UConn community and the greater public through social and educational engagement. This project worked in tandem with another Spring 2023 Change Grant project, Growing Green, as both projects incorporated native planting and environmental education. In close adjacency to the Husky Hangout was the UConn Dairy Bar, Horsebarn Hill, the iconic, red Jacobson Barn, and many other UConn College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources highlights. 

The design process for this project took place between May through August 2023. The majority of this design build process took place within the Plant Science and Landscape Architecture (PLSA) department, utilizing our resources through the Plant Sciences’ Research Farm. This temporary installation stood between August and October, and was de-installed by members of the graduating class in Landscape Architecture and members of the Research Farm. 

Picture of Elizabeth Helmin's Change Grant project installation.
Picture of Elizabeth Helmin's Change Grant project installation.
Picture of Elizabeth Helmin's Change Grant project installation.

Project Impact

The Husky Hangout was incredibly important  for the UConn PSLA Community. It provided a foundation for future students to envision themselves leading and partaking in similar projects for themselves and their peers. The project accomplished its goals by creating an immersive environment that allowed students, faculty, staff, passerby and ice cream goers a place outside to enjoy. This space’s original purpose was to function as an outdoor classroom and with the support of the Change Grant, PSLA and several other members of the UConn Community, this project fulfilled this goal

On an individual level, this project provided me with an opportunity unlike no other at this stage in my academic career. It is very rare that students have the opportunity to oversee their very own design-build project from start to finish. It was an incredibly rewarding experience that I hope every student in Landscape Architecture has the opportunity to partake in! 

Click here to learn more about the project.

About Elisabeth

Elisabeth is a senior majoring in Landscape Architecture in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources.