The Folger Shakespeare Library renovation project, in collaboration with KieranTimberlake, expands public space, improves accessibility, and enhances the experience for all visitors. OLIN worked closely with the museum on the design, which replaces a surface parking lot and monoculture lawn plantings with a series of at-grade and sunken outdoor spaces, including two welcoming east- and west-facing entry plazas, a flexible event lawn, and meandering paths bordered by a mix of evergreen groundcover and seasonally diverse shrub plantings. The entry plazas and open gardens flanking the building are envisioned as a modern interpretation of the Elizabethan Garden; an evergreen hedge and groundcover plantings surround the site, clearly defining an edge, while a series of paths and benches invite visitors to linger and enjoy the immersive environment. The landscape is designed to encourage exploration and social interaction, with museum staff expanding public programs aimed to highlight the numerous plant species referenced in Shakespearean literature, which are proposed to be featured in the new design.
