A landscape of discovery, the Knight Center for Accelerating Scientific Impact (KCASI) transforms the Millrace corridor into a living laboratory where innovation, ecology, and human curiosity converge. Positioned along the south bank of the restored Millrace, the landscape acts as a catalyst, supporting science, education, and entrepreneurship through a sequence of gathering spaces that rise from the water’s edge. The terraces stitch circulation, ecology, and campus life, forging a vital connection to the Willamette River. As a north campus catalyst, KCASI embodies resilience. Contaminated soils were dredged, steep banks laid back, and native vegetation restored to amplify habitat and water quality. Planting extends the riparian corridor, embracing the building with a lush green frame sheltering migratory birds and reflecting a deep ethic of stewardship. With the landscape as a sanctuary, discovery takes root in the land - a living framework for the pursuit of knowledge.
