Client Name
Reiman Gardens
Client Type
Project Type
Services Provided
Project Manager
Landscape Design Services Help Create Horticulturalist’s Haven
Located on the historic Iowa State University campus, the beautiful Reiman Gardens complex has been a work-in-process for the more than 25 years it’s been at its current location. This 17-acre site has quickly become an Iowa “must-see” tourist attraction and an exceptional resource for all ISU students. Guided by their mission to “educate, enchant, and inspire an appreciation of plants, butterflies, and the beauty of the natural world,” Snyder & Associates has provided numerous landscaping design services since 2016.
Multiple Landscape Design Projects Propel Garden’s Expansion
Crews install the necessary infrastructure for the Sycamore Falls section of the garden.
Beginning with the Hillside Water-Wise Garden project, our team created a plan to develop a difficult-to-maintain slope on the property’s western border. This stunning space incorporates an ADA-accessible switchback pathway to the top of the hill and features amazing views and beautifully landscaped gardens with four different planting themes, each designed for minimal water needs. Tasteful limestone retaining walls and a wide-set staircase top off this quaint setting.
The Sycamore Falls project allowed our team to take advantage of the shade canopy created by numerous existing sycamore trees in the gardens’ southwest corner. This fully accessible oasis features complementary limestone walls with cascading water pools, grassy meadows, several perennial planting beds, and a unique tower structure in the middle. Our team developed this signature area’s grading to not only accommodate users of all abilities but also proper stormwater routing and a sewer lift station.
Stadium Connection Ties Campus to Garden Landscape
Star-shaped benches surround several trees in the North lawn area.
On the north side of the complex, our team showcased our broad service offering by connecting Jack Trice Stadium to Reiman Gardens with our design and site development work surrounding the North Lawn area. This expansive and high-visibility area greets visitors on campus with its mature trees and open green space. Landscaping improvements added stunning plantings, an elevated boardwalk and plaza space, star-shaped benches, and gorgeous fountains. In addition to the landscaping design, our team provided transportation engineering and multi-modal considerations to improve facility parking and accessibility.
Wetland and stream delineation and mitigation design, endangered species habitat survey, and a geomorphic assessment were also critical components provided by Snyder & Associates to complete this inspiring project. These breathtaking additions at Reiman Gardens create a new dimension in landscaping design to aid the organization in its ongoing mission to educate and inspire current and future generations of students, visitors, and aspiring gardeners.
