The site is situated regionally in the rolling grasslands of the Palouse and locally within the campus vernacular landscape, which is defined by expansive lawns and deciduous trees. The landscape design embraces and juxtaposes these two landscape typologies, strategically deploying them for maximum effect. The wilder edge of the site, at the edge of campus, abuts the Palouse and responds accordingly as a microcosm, bringing a rolling meadow with groups of pines lofted above talus slopes right up to the main entrance.

This landscape yields to the campus landscape via a mown/unmown meadow, which in turn transitions to lawn and trees where the site abuts the existing campus interior landscape. The  courtyard, nestled between the existing GAH Phase 1 building and the Phase 2 building, was carefully configured using solar studies and analyses of seasonal change to yield a protected, comfortable space buffered from the extreme seasonal climatic changes by the buildings to maximize use throughout the year.