Machen Garden

Westminster Theological Seminary is situated on a 16-acre campus in Montgomery, PA. Sitting at the crest of a hill is Machen Hall, an old stone Gothic-revival mansion. Originally built as a country residence for one of Philadelphia’s trolley magnates, Machen Hall now houses the seminary’s Administration, Admissions, a café and a communal dining hall. JCLA was commissioned to revive a neglected, dark garden space behind Machen Hall, transforming it into a sunny, flexible outdoor gathering space that is used by the entire campus community. The new garden features a lush green lawn framed with bluestone walks with a reconstructed carved stone fountain at the opposite end from a balustraded terrace. Colorful and diverse perennial borders fringe the central lawn. A new hedge and cherry grove join the historic mansion and its original stone walls in framing this outdoor garden room. The space has been embraced by the campus community for everyday social gathering as well as for hosting receptions and special events.