Growing Grounds Nursery - Outdoor Plaza and Education Space

This paper describes the planning, both design and financing, as well as the construction of an 800 square foot outdoor plaza area and education space. After six months of Planning and Fundraising, the scope of work included clearing and grubbing, relocation of irrigation lines, site grading and footing excavation, forming and pouring four architectural board form concrete benches and a planter, installing a perimeter French drain for site drainage, and installation of serpentine rock retaining walls, steel planters, a sail shade structure, outdoor string lights, a koi pond, and all significant landscaping. The author, over 100 volunteers, and various industry specialists completed 1,100 labor-hours over the course of five months to complete the construction. Design and Fundraising for the project occurred September 2017 to March 2018. Construction of the project commenced in April 2018 and continued until December 2018. This paper will focus on the process of obtaining funds, the evolution of the design, lessons learned, and how this knowledge will be applied to the construction industry