The Morton Arboretum
Meadow Lake Shoreline

We are proud and humbled that one of the first landscapes that visitors to the Morton Arboretum see upon arrival at this prestigious institution is our award-winning work surrounding Meadow Lake and the Visitor Center. Living Habitats worked together with Arboretum staff to design and execute a native shoreline planting that is both artfully integrated and functionally performative.

Construction was completed in 2004 along with the forward-thinking design for a permeable paving strategy for the visitor parking lot, and a bioretention basin that would intercept stormwater before it reaches Meadow Lake. To further support the integration of the new infrastructure with its surroundings, the planting solution cloaked the bioretention basin in native grasses and flowers that flow seamlessly into the native shoreline plantings.

Working with the project civil engineers, Living Habitats encouraged that the lake edges were reconsidered to have much shallower slopes and include drainage strategies that better supported the shoreline planting design. In combination, stable shorelines cloaked with artfully deployed native species result in highly valued landscapes that are both beautiful and functional.

To underscore the artistic value of the native shoreline plantings and Meadow Lake itself, many fine art installations have taken advantage of this remarkable setting to feature a variety of artists across many years of large scale, outdoor art programming.

 

Location:
Lisle, Illinois

Date:
2003 – 2004

Client:
The Morton Arboretum

Awards:
2014 Landscape Architecture Foundation, Landscape Performance Series Case Study (LAF-LPS-CS), The Morton Arboretum Meadow Lake Restoration & Permeable Parking Lot

2012 Sustainable SITES Initiative Certification, The Morton Arboretum Meadow Lake Restoration & Permeable Main Parking Lot

2005 USEPA & Chicago Wilderness Conservation and Native Landscaping Award, The Morton Arboretum Shoreline Enhancement Program