The Oasis Garden Outdoor Learning Center, designed by Io Principal Shalae Larsen and Architect Steve Simmons, simultaneously addresses issues of community, urbanism, agriculture, and water for a community garden in the heart of Ogden, Utah. The garden is a project of the Junior League of Ogden, as part of its mission to improve the lives of women and children in the community.
The garden and the learning center directly target issues of food equity through education and access, by creating a place where individuals can learn how to plant, grow, harvest, and prepare healthy food. Its design integrates landscape ecology, food production, and architecture. The roof of the pavilion is harvests rain, transforming the problem of urban stormwater runoff into a celebrated life source that supports green infrastructure while creating a gathering space for gardeners and neighbors.