Palm trees are seen outside of a building at Ringling School of Art and Design

Location

Sarasota, Florida

Size

49 acres

Services

Landscape Architecture, Planning

Completion

Ongoing

Since its founding in 1931 by circus impresario and avid art collector John Ringling, Ringling College of Art and Design has grown to be one of the nation’s preeminent art and design schools. Ayers Saint Gross has worked with the college for more than a decade on a series of planning and design projects to align its physical campus with its mission and creative spirit. The master plan establishes a vision for campus development that serves as a flexible framework to address the complexities of expanding programs, an increasing residential population, and sustainable development with the surrounding community.

The proposed campus plan for Ringling College of Art and Design

Ringling is located on a historic site bounded by Whitaker Bayou, a tributary to Sarasota Bay that winds along the eastern edge of campus. The plan draws inspiration from the landscape and articulates enhancements that celebrate the Bayou experience and expand its ecological habitat.

Identity at edges, Intuitive pedestrian axis, and Embrace the Bayou

Three primary objectives guide campus development: improve identity along the campus edge, establish a cohesive open space network and clearly defined campus core, and embrace the bayou as a defining campus asset.

A Ringling plan diagram looking at the campus landscape

Landscape Master Plan

Landscape Planning and Design

The campus landscape is a defining feature of the collegiate experience. Improvements enhance wayfinding and branding, create meaningful gathering places, and strengthen place through consistent materials and detailing. The plan’s landscape goals include celebrating the local experience through a palette of plants unique to the Florida landscape, investing in iconic outdoor spaces, and embracing streets as a key component of the open space network.

Seating elements, signage, and lighting were studied as part of the preferred kit-of-parts for furnishing and interpretive elements along the Arts Walk.

Arts Walk

A clearly defined Arts Walk connects existing interior galleries with a redistributed layout of exterior sculptures. The choreographed experience links the central campus spine and bayou edge with lateral cross-campus connections. A unifying palette of materials and kit-of-parts approach provides flexibility for varying site conditions.

Elements of the arts walk pedestrian pathway

Ringling’s location on low-lying lands next to Whitaker Bayou, defines much of the campus’ eastern edge, and Sarasota Bay makes it susceptible to the potential impacts of sea-level rise. The plan guides a holistic approach to stormwater management and establishes a robust green infrastructure network across campus.

Holistic approach to stormwater management and green infrastructure network

Since the original 2011 campus master plan, more than a dozen major projects have been implemented, transforming the campus into a vibrant art community. Ayers Saint Gross designed Bridge Hall, Greensboro Hall, and the Cunniffe Commons dining facility.