Student Life Center patio offers outdoor respite for students

Landscape students will work through fall to create inviting, natural seating area

For students seeking a little respite outdoors, the Student Life Center now features an outdoor patio. A grand opening for the space was held Aug.31.

Over the 2016 spring semester, work crews added a door and then brick patio was laid over the summer. Landscaping work will be completed this fall.

A student enjoys a walking taco on the Student Life Center Patio during the Student Life Fair on Aug. 31.

While Dakota County Technical College has a lot of great features, Student Senate President Cheryl Brogger said outdoor spaces for students to retreat are few. Brogger said placing an outdoor patio outside of Student Life has been a goal for a number of years.

Brogger said the patio provides an area for students to sit and be outside during breaks. Three picnic tables provide space to eat or study. Already, students and employees have been using the space.

“We hope everyone utilizes it and it’s beneficial for years to come,” said Brogger.

To create a more inviting space, the DCTC Landscape Horticulture program will install landscaping. Former Landscape Design student Amy Roe designed the space to include native plantings, flagstone paths, out cropping stones and lawn for seating.

Instructor Matt Brooks said the landscaping will soften the area and create a nice green space that will compliment Student Life activities. Brooks said the space has been intentionally designed as a sustainable naturalistic space.

The project will provide students in the Landscape Construction class hands-on experience as they will do a majority of the work. Students conduct the prep work, planting and mulching. While a contractor will set the stone outcroppings.

“It will serve as a great outdoor lab for our students,” said Brooks.

The next steps in the project will be getting plans finalized. Brooks said they hope to have most of the work completed this fall including getting stones set and creating plant beds.

Overall, Brooks said the addition of the patio and landscaping will be good for the campus.

“Student access to green spaces is something this campus lacks. We want to give students a nice place to get out of the building.”

To learn more about the DCTC Landscape Horticulture program contact: