Student Feature: Andrew Reilly
Andrew Reilly, a Littleton High School senior, had the opportunity to create a pergola design for the high school as the 2019 Class Gift. Andrew was one of the first proactive students that came forward and proposed an idea. He was then selected to represent the class and leave behind a memorial piece to commemorate all of the achievements of the Class of 2019. The shaded structure will be in the middle of the grass car loop area in the upper level of the high school. Andrew wants to pursue Landscape Architecture in the future, so this was a fitting project to explore the field further in the comfort of his hometown.
Andrew first became interested in becoming a Landscape Architect when he attended his sister’s graduation at Northeastern University. There, he heard of the term and quickly researched more about the field. After searching for many options, Andrew concluded that this was the field meant for him.
The Landscape Architecture career path consists of many different aspects. However, the architects essentially try to bring the natural world into everyday life. By creating spaces that include elements of nature, designers incorporate a level of comfort in the community. Architects also could be tasked with maintaining the nation's coasts, forests, and overall environment. Allowing people to live without disrupting nature is a conservation dream for many. Whether it’s redesigning an entire park, or creating a pergola for a small school, landscape architects expertly combine components of structures and the environment.
When Andrew first shared his concept of the pergola project, it seemed almost like an elusive dream. The distant plan seemed more and more viable when he completed his junior year. The attainable proposal was then accepted and Andrew began to prepare himself for any challenges that would come. The economic, structural, and time tests would help him learn the true difficulties of the profession along with how to problem solve and make decisions for the class.
The class gift consists of a shaded structure covering a stone platform backed by a half wall. Two paths run along a circular, wooden bench and then split off to face the handicap parking area across the road. In the pictures below, Andrew has created digital SketchUp versions of what the pergola will look like. Students will be able to enjoy the area starting the 2019-2020 school year.
