Rock Creek School

Landscape Architecture’s Role in Creating Accessible Spaces

Large planter boxes in the outdoor courtyard at the Rock Creek School

How Norton Land Design combined their expertise with a love of learning to create a safe & educational space for students with disabilities

A collage of three overlapping circles showing various sections of the Rock Creek School courtyard. The first circle shows the learning-friendly stairs, the second circle shows the cobblestone walking bridge, and the third shows a swing set and bench

This project was all about problem-solving!

Working with ADTEK Engineers and Proffitt & Associates, Norton Land Design designed a beautiful, safe, and learning-friendly courtyard for Rock Creek School in Frederick, Maryland.

As a school for students aged 3-21 with varying degrees of abilities, it was important to design this courtyard to give the students an educational outdoor space that helps them grow while also keeping them safe and secure.

Going into this project, the team at Norton Land Design knew that they needed to apply aspects to appeal to the senses. They made the courtyard accessible to all by adding multiple areas for shade, multi-surfaces for textural and sensory experience, areas for practicing stairs and bus entry, multi-level planting boxes, and more.

From the different types of seating arrangements to the cobblestone walking bridge, every inch of this courtyard was intentionally designed.

After following this project from the initial Concept Design through to Construction Administration, Norton Land Design is incredibly proud of this landscape architecture project and loves that it will help so many students thrive at school!

Experience the difference a quality landscape architectural plan can make in your space.