Connecting a Campus at Fairleigh Dickinson University

Viridian's work for FDU has given the school a new sense of place, sense of purpose, and sense of self. With a new sustainable masterplan anchored by the Spirit Footbridge, the river that once divided the campus now unites it.

From Passage to Place

The Spirit Bridge is a 200-foot long garden path that replaces a crumbling concrete-and-chainlink walkway to connect FDU's split campus across the Hackensack River. The bridge affirms the University's commitment to stewardship of the river and reflects the ongoing transformation of their campus into a sustainable eco-park. With generous spaces and restorative native plantings that are healing the ecosystem, the new bridge is more than a passage; it's a destination.

The bridge is part of a larger plan to restore to riverine ecosystem.

With its shaded seating and river views, the bridge has become a community asset.

Designed for Durability
and Sustainability

Viridian led a team of designers and engineers to create the new footbridge, which reuses existing piers to save on cost and resources. To maximize the plantable area within challenging height and width limitations, we designed a lightweight soil matrix and used hanging planters for added vegetation outside the railing. We chose materials for their lightness, durability, and sustainability, including recycled teak decking sourced from an elephant conservation program in Myanmar. Plants were selected for their year-round visual appeal, their suitability to our custom soils and the bridge microclimate, and their ability to restore the ecosystem by attracting native birds, insects, and turtles.

Inspiring a New Campus Culture at FDU

The tiered landscape feels like an extension of the river banks, with creek sedge and other ground covers, colorful bush honeysuckle shrubs, and small trees like Tiger Eyes sumac, whose sculptural branches complement the bridge's form. By showcasing beautiful native plants, the footbridge is changing perception on campus of what a "sustainable landscape" can be. It's also changing the campus culture. Historically, FDU has been a car-centric commuter school with few distinguishing architectural characteristics. The popular bridge quickly became a signature feature of the campus that has increased pedestrian activity and given the school a bold new space that enriches the student experience. It's inspiring of new sense of place and a new sense of pride.

Before and after. The new bridge has changed the way the university community thinks about its campus and what it could be.

As a central piece of Viridian's larger landscape master plan for FDU, the bridge helps restore the historic river landscape, promote public awareness, and raise application and retention rates. It will become increasingly vital—and visible—as FDU grows, with prominent new buildings planned for nearby sites in Hackensack. The Spirit Bridge doesn't just connect the campus; it connects FDU's past, present, and future.