When Georgetown University built a new facility for the McCourt School of Public Policy on its Capitol Campus, they aimed to do more than just increase space or add more classrooms. They were creating an environment designed to inspire collaboration, reflection, and connection.

While the LEED-Platinum certified building is visually impressive, it also symbolizes the McCourt School of Public Policy’s mission: to inspire students as they conduct research and build bridges with the communities they serve.

Achieving that vision required more than traditional landscape features. It required a multitude of custom planters and rooftop edging solutions coordinated across multiple levels.

This project showcases PureModern’s ability to connect the dots between the client’s vision & the manufacturing of large-scale commercial planter systems that unify expansive and important environments.

Rooftop Trees and greenery line the top of Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy that are planted in PureModern Custom Metal Planters — 📷Francis Dzikowski

A Project Spanning 7 Levels

This project required meticulous planning, flexibility to accommodate multiple changes and design iterations, custom engineering, and precise fabrication. Across the McCourt School’s campus, PureModern supplied planters that were visible from classrooms, hallways, terraces, event spaces, and public gathering areas.

PureModern planters are present in the courtyard terrace at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy, a modern LEED-Platinum Capitol Campus building. — 📷Francis Dzikowski

Level 1 – Outdoor Patio

PureModern fabricated a combination of edging and modular planters to define gathering zones near the building’s entrance. A large oval planting area anchors the main patio. Additional modular units at the exit door create a welcoming, intentional transition.

Dusk view of Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy showing a softly lit stone and glass facade with an elevated enclosed bridge connecting to a neighboring building, stacked terraces with planters and small trees. — 📷Francis Dzikowski

Level 2 – Bridge Hallway Between Buildings

A covered passageway linking two buildings features rows of outdoor modular planters positioned as focal points as people move through the space. Additional watertight planters installed throughout interior-facing areas ensure that greenery is visible from inside as well.

Level 3 – Indoor/Outdoor Visual Connection

More planters and architectural edging frame views from inside the building. The placement of these planters was highly intentional, ensuring that planted areas appeared seamless when viewed through the expansive glass walls.

Level 6 – Interior Sightlines

Planters on this upper level are not simply decorative; they are strategically positioned so greenery impacts that experience of being inside this space.

Level 7 – Bridge and Roofscape Integration

Both sides of the pedestrian bridge feature long linear planters and full perimeter edging elements. Here, PureModern’s modular fabrication enabled perfectly uniform lines across unusually large spans.

Penthouse – Custom Kidney-Shaped Planters

At the highest level, PureModern manufactured a series of complex kidney-shaped planters with sculpted walls and sloped transitions. These pieces required advanced modeling, precision braking, rolling, and welding. They also required on-site coordination to ensure they fit around architectural features.

Rooftop terrace featuring curved custom planters filled with low greenery and three young trees, modern metal café tables and chairs, and a distant view of the U.S. Capitol dome rising above the Washington, D.C. skyline under a partly cloudy sky. — 📷 Elman Studio

A Rooftop Designed with Purpose

At PureModern, we’ve collaborated on rooftop garden design projects with incredible partners. With sweeping views of the Georgetown campus and the city beyond, this project is no exception.

The rooftop terrace serves as an event venue and a place for everyday gatherings. It captures the spirit of Washington, D.C., blending its historic charm with a modern outlook.

The rooftop space at the McCourt School functions as:

An outdoor extension of the academic environment. Students and faculty now have access to a space where they can take a break or collaborate while surrounded by greenery.

A visual enhancement for surrounding buildings. In Georgetown’s historic neighborhood, rooftop greenery helps soften the urban skyline.
A sustainability-forward feature. Rooftop plants can absorb rainwater, help moderate building temperatures, and support pollinators — all important considerations in the D.C. climate.

PureModern’s planter systems make these benefits more attainable with their durability, aesthetic consistency, and long-term performance.

Engineering for Scale: What Makes This Project Unique

Each planter contributes to the building’s aesthetic. The true achievement lies in PureModern’s ability to manufacturer what is spec’d by the client.

Hundreds of Custom Components, One Cohesive Design

PureModern manufactured a mix of:

Large architectural edging systems
Modular outdoor planters
Watertight planters
Complex curved forms
Multi-level planter groupings engineered to align perfectly

We fabricated each planter to match strict architectural standards for durability, structural integrity, and visual consistency.

Advanced Engineering & Fabrication

This multi-level scope involved several technical challenges, including:

Drainage

Outdoor planters required pre-engineered drainage solutions. The design of the stepped planter features an internal slope that directs water to a lower collection point.

Anchoring Systems

On the penthouse level, PureModern produced detailed shop drawings for custom anchoring locations. We ensured planter walls and anchor points integrated seamlessly with building infrastructure.

Consistency Across Multiple Levels

Maintaining consistent finishes, color tones, panel alignment, and sizes across many planter groups was important. Some of these groups covered entire levels. This needed careful production runs and quality checks.

One-of-a-Kind Shapes that Blend Seamlessly with Art Installations

Sculptor and architect Maya Lin, best known for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., created the project’s interior art installations titled Mapping Our Place in the World. This collection encourages connection with the natural environment.

As she does in many of her works, Lin set out to explore landscapes that move through, under, and around our lives. To align with these installations, PureModern manufactured several planters with one-of-a-kind shapes.

This project features planters that have organically contoured edges. They undulate both horizontally and vertically to suggest natural forms like earthen mounds or ocean swells.

The kidney-shaped planters on the penthouse floor embrace fountains. Oval and modular designs frame views of iconic landmarks. Each planter enhances visual interest, creates dynamic sightlines, and complements the surrounding architecture and Lin’s artwork.

These organic contours demanded careful material forming and layout engineering to achieve smooth transitions between flat walls, sloped walls, and curved profiles.

Custom Planters that Define and Enhance

Each planter was tailored to the terrace’s unique spatial and aesthetic requirements — serving both functional and aesthetic roles. The clean, modern lines of the planters echo the architecture of the McCourt School. Their carefully selected finishes complement the surrounding materials of glass, steel, and stone.

Whether filled with structured ornamental grasses or whimsical plants in seasonal colors, the planters add year-round vibrance to the terrace.

Throughout the project, planters did more than hold plants. They helped:

Define circulation pathways
Create soft boundaries between gathering zones
Bring greenery to interior sightlines
Add texture and softness to a modern architectural palette
Support sustainability efforts aligned with LEED-Platinum certification

Planters across several floors make the greenery feel like an integrated architectural feature rather than an afterthought.

Evening view of Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy showing a modern glass-and-metal facade glowing with interior light, with trees and greenery in planters lining the illuminated rooftop terrace against a clear blue sky. — 📷Francis Dzikowski

Demonstrating PureModern’s Capacity for Large-Scale Custom Projects

This installation reinforces PureModern’s core capabilities:

✔ Manufacturing at Scale

From a single planter to hundreds of coordinated units across multiple buildings, our team delivers with precision.

✔ Complex Technical Engineering

We have extensive experience with drainage, anchoring, waterproofing, weight requirements, and custom structural needs.

✔ Architectural Collaboration

Our planters integrate with surrounding materials — glass, steel, stone — and align with the building’s aesthetic vision.

✔ Bringing the Client’s Vision to Life

Clients love the customer experience when they work with PureModern. We bring your vision to life. We also know that projects can change. Your ideas and drawings may evolve in the early stages. That’s why we don’t go to fab until final approval of all drawings.

✔ Sustainable Materials

We supplied recycled-content documentation to support LEED certification, with aluminum components containing 30–50% recycled material at the time of fabrication.

Shaping an Emotional Experience

This project sits at the intersection of historical architecture and modern design. It demonstrates how architecture, together with landscape design can beautifully address the functional, social, and sustainability needs of an academic community.

PureModern’s commercial planters help address these objectives by offering:

A clean, modern aesthetic
Durability suited for long-term institutional use
Color and material choices that respect the palette of the surrounding campus

The result is a rooftop space that feels like a natural part of the building’s design. It is not just an add-on, but a careful continuation.

Thinking About a Large Planter Installation?

Whether designing for a university, corporate campus, hospitality project, or mixed-use development, PureModern brings together engineering, fabrication, and design expertise to deliver cohesive planter solutions at scale.

If your project involves multiple levels, multiple buildings, or hundreds of custom planters, our team has the experience to bring it to life with precision and longevity.

Contact PureModern to discuss your next large-scale custom planter project for university, corporate, hospitality, or mixed-use properties.