Arboretum Master Plan and Fountain Garden

The Pennsylvania State University selected a design team to produce a comprehensive master plan for its 370‑acre Arboretum and to redesign the centerpiece Fountain Garden. After a qualifications‑based RFP (issued July 9 2025) and a short‑list interview process (September 22 2025), Didier Design Studio was awarded the contract (announcement December 8 2025). The scope includes: • Development of an updated master plan covering visitor circulation, connectivity, programming, operations infrastructure, storm‑water management, lighting, and wayfinding across roughly 200 acres of the arboretum. • Design of a new “Charles H. ‘Skip’ Smith Soaring Waters Fountain Garden” (≈ 1‑2 acres) with a $1.9 M construction budget, featuring an inconspicuous utility building, themed garden areas, audiovisual projection, and sustainable plantings. • Production of conceptual design ideas, cost‑schedule estimates, and a phased implementation strategy. The award is a single‑vendor, design‑services contract; the university expects a firm‑fixed‑price arrangement, though the exact fee structure is not disclosed. The project is situated on Penn State’s University Park campus (University Park, PA).