Charlestown School Project

This award-winning project combines an 11x16 foot pond and waterfall with more than 2000 square feet of interlocking pavers and retaining walls. The project was done for Charlestown Elementary School in the Great Valley area. Charlestown Elementary needed to renovate a courtyard inside the surrounding school building. Some of the highlights are below...

Retaining Walls, Seating, and Planters

A view of the overall seating area bordered with planter boxes (left), and a look from the handicapped seating area (center). The planter boxes in the third photo frame the seating area. Also notice the walkway along the top of the seats.

Steps and Interlocking Pavers

These are the steps to the upper exit. As you can see, the pavers create a walkway to the left of the door so the seats can be loaded from the top or the bottom. The patio was done with interlocking pavers and makes a great stage area.

Pond and Waterfall

These are views of the pond and waterfall we installed using the Aquascape Designs system.

But it wasn't easy!

First, the existing courtyard had to be cleared - this included removal of railroad ties, steps, and plants.

Next, since the courtyard was enclosed within the building, the materials for the new design had to be carefully lifted over the building with a crane. This included 120 tons of crushed stone for bases and backfill, along with enough retaining wall blocks for the 700 square feet of seating, steps, and planters; and 1500 square feet of interlocking pavers for the patio area.

A tall order, but worth the effort!