Hocking College Landscape Management Program students have dedicated their time and knowledge alongside hundreds of student and individual volunteers to develop the Universal Design Living Laboratory, a national demonstration of home and garden in Columbus, Ohio.

The Universal Design Living Laboratory is a facility that was formed from an idea after it's creator, Rosemarie Rossetti, suffered from a spinal cord injury. Rossetti, now paralyzed from the waist down, desired to continue her love of gardening and turned to the concept of universal design principles to create an accessible landscape accommodating people of all sizes, ages, and abilities. With the help of her husband, the Universal Design Living Laboratory project began calling on the assistance of 207 corporate partners and hundreds of volunteers.

Hocking College Landscape students were involved in the installation of several features included in the project. Students helped to install a 500-gallon RainXchange® rainwater harvesting system with a 20-foot stream and waterfall contributed, designed, and installed by Aquascape, Inc.

The Universal Design Living Laboratory hopes to teach individuals how to create a more comfortable living environment through demonstrating opportunities offered by universal design principles.

Read more about the laboratory here.