The Boathouse
It's been almost 100 years since the Hill actually needed a boathouse. But this beautiful little building — on the National Register of Historic Places, and an integral part of the National Historic Landmark — has not lost its charm. Or, for that matter, its strategic location at the bottom of the Hill — an easy place to visit. Except, you cannot go now! It has too many holes in its floor and its roof!
Now re-imagine it — as the architects do above and to the left — re-imagine it after it becomes a place which people CAN visit informally, a place where they can see displays of both Tumamoc's history and current research projects.
Help put a new slate roof on it. Help replace its floor. Help convert its plaza into a beautiful experimental surface where students can discover new, "underfoot ecosystems" that we can share with the community.
The Forest Service Lab
When the United States Forest Service owned Tumamoc Hill, it built a modest laboratory building to help support its research activities. They chose the style and stone of Tumamoc's historic structures. That was almost 70 years ago.
Being so "recent," the Forest Service Lab is not officially a part of the National Historic Landmark. Nevertheless, we'd like to show our respect for their efforts by expanding the building and modernizing its facilities (instead of replacing it). We want to combine its old stone walls with the latest energy-efficient building materials. UA architectural students, under the direction of Paul Weiner (Architect/ Builder), studied the challenge. They imagined the building illustrated on the left. Let's bring this innovative structure to life.
The Godfrey Sykes property
The 5-acre Godfrey Sykes property sits at the northern edge of Tumamoc Hill. In May 2011, through the generosity of Mrs. J. Cushman, Sykes' granddaughter, the University acquired the Sykes House itself, as well as a surrounding parcel of 2.2 acres. It is the perfect place for a demonstration garden and public space.
The Sykes home will be repurposed as a small tea room with educational resources. The garden will feature native Tumamoc plants attractively landscaped according to the ideas of reconciliation ecology (which aims to spread native plants throughout the city, and help preserve the Hill's magnificent array of species). A self-guiding trail will provide a refuge for the community and educate visitors in opportunities to participate themselves with appropriate landscaping of their own properties.