News Release:

Design Workshop Foundation Donates Landscape Architecture Services for Excelsior Youth Center

Aurora, CO – The Design Workshop Foundation has been busy facilitating donations and donating landscape architecture and installation services for the campus garden design of the Excelsior Youth Center in Aurora, CO. Design Workshop Foundation volunteers, with the help of many generous donors, have organized over $45,000 in donations of trees, shrubs, perennials, irrigation, benches, design services and manpower. The first round of landscaping was installed June 27-28, with over 30 Design Workshop employees and Excelsior Youth Center volunteers donating their time. The second and final installation will take place on August 16, with a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony taking place on August 22.

The Foundation extends their greatest appreciation to the following material and service donors: Hydrosystems, GreenPrint Denver, City and County of Denver Parks and Recreation, Landscape Forms, Native Trees Service, Peak ‘n Prairie Landscape, Box Elder Creek, City of Aurora Parks and Open Space Department/Urban Forestry, O’Tooles Garden Center, Gulley Greenhouse and Mrs. Jenny McCoy. Project donations are still being accepted, details can be found at http://www.designworkshop.com/DWFoundation.aspx. Design Workshop president, Rebecca Zimmermann comments, "the benefit resulting from the new campus gardens and teen center will be priceless. Helping to provide a beautiful environment for the girls who work so hard to turn their lives around and the staff's dedication to that outcome is a real honor for us."

Excelsior Youth Center is a residential treatment center and facility serving girls ages 11-18 with emotional and behavior difficulties. Excelsior is home to about 180 girls who participate in a structured treatment and living program while receiving a certified education at Excelsior’s middle or high school.

If you'd like to help the Design Workshop Foundation continue their efforts to provide services to groups like Excelsior please visit our website: http://www.designworkshop.com/DWFoundation.aspx. and make a tax-deductible contribution online.

Founded in 1969, Design Workshop is an international landscape architecture, land planning, urban design and strategic services firm with seven offices in the U.S. and work spanning the globe. The firm has been recognized through the years with over 145 prestigious awards for their work in new communities, urban centers, resorts, public parks, golf courses and residences. The firm’s philosophy challenges staff and their clients to equally merge artistic vision, environmental sensitivity, community values and sound economics to create unique places that stand the test of time. They refer to this approach as DW Legacy Design®. For more information, please visit www.designworkshop.com.

Design Workshop Landscape Project Planting Days

Left picture: Five fabulous members of Design Workshop. Becky (President of the Firm), Scott, Tina, Amie and Robin

Right picture: ZhenZhou (design workshop), Ed (volunteer) and Brad (volunteer)

Left Picture: Scott (Design Workshop), Megann (student) Joan (Executive Director), Amie (Design Workshop)

Right Picture: Scott (Design Workshop),.. (Volunteer), .Marisa (EYC Volunteer Coordinator), Vicki (EYC Recreation Director)

Leave a Green Legacy

Leave a permanent legacy to Excelsior's new Teen Center and Swimming Pool by purchasing a GREEN SPACE in the accompanying gardens. Plaques engraved with your name and message will be installed to commemorate your lasting gift.

Specific sites for a naming opportunity (Engraved plaque with your name and message) with a tax deductible gift of $2,000 include:

Healing Spiritual Garden-
Xeric Planting Area-
Memorial Space-
Event Gathering Space-
Therapy Garden-
Seating Area adjacent to the Tree Lined Path

Click here to see Landscape Design

Trees: A very special Tree Lined Path is slated to allow for quiet, contemplative strolls for the girls and their therapists through a grove of 18 trees just behind the building. You may purchase an engraved plaque for one of these trees for a tax deductible gift of $500.

Engraved plaques for smaller trees throughout the landscaping plan can be purchased for $250 each.

The design plan for the contemplative vegetative area surrounding the Teen Center and Swimming Pool was donated by the landscape architects at Design Workshop. The plan took three months of dreaming, thinking, creating by a team of students, teachers and staff members working along side the Design Workshop staff. They said they intend to help us create more landscaping plans for the remainder of Excelsior's expansive campus! Heartfelt thanks to everyone at Design Workshop for pulling together a sensational plan!