Who shapes the nation’s most beautiful public spaces?

Orange is the Answer.

At Oklahoma State University, we are committed to environmental sustainability. OSU alumnus Barrett Kays has used his green thumb and orange roots to restore public landscapes. With a horticulture degree from OSU, he achieved one of his most notable and complex projects, restoring the Great Lawn at Central Park in New York City. He’s won many awards, including one of the most prestigious in the industry — the LaGasse Medal.

Before it was converted into the Great Lawn, the area was known as the Croton Reservoir. The reservoir was never properly drained to create the lawn, leading to areas liquefying and creating sinkholes in the public space. Kays’ soil science expertise and the help of his team were instrumental in the success of the immense project, implementing multiple drainage systems that were constructed to withstand both a 100-year rainstorm and a 100-year drought. Our researchers are passionate about revitalizing natural resources and enhancing landscapes around the world through groundbreaking research and innovation.

Landscape architecture students at OSU play a critical role in the design of outdoor spaces for the health, safety and well-being of individuals and their communities. OSU equips the nation’s future workforce to interpret, imagine, draw, conceptualize, synthesize and construct project ideas that transform America’s landscape.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BARRETT KAYS' AWARD