MEDIA ADVISORY March 1, 2001 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 DRAKE TO ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR HELMICK COMMONS Renowned landscape architect Tony Tyznik, who designed the Morton Arboretum near Chicago, will visit Drake University Tuesday, March 6, to present his preliminary plans for transforming Drake University's barren field between Meredith Hall and Hubbell Dining Hall into a beautiful gathering place for the Drake community known as Helmick Commons. The presentation will start at 3:30 p.m. in the Student Lounge of Olmsted Center, 29th Street and University Avenue. The Helmick Commons project is made possible, in part, by Drake alumnus Robert H. Helmick, a senior partner in the Dorsey and Whitney law firm and a longtime member of Drake's governing board. Helmick will speak at the presentation as will Drake President David Maxwell. Also attending the presentation will be architects from the Des Moines firm of Herbert Lewis Kruse Blunck, who are assisting with the project. Tyznik has been a consultant to the Chicago Botanic Gardens in Lisle, Ill.; the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Ill.; and Cantigny, the McCormick Estate in Winfield, Ill. He's received the Governor's Award at the Chicago World Flower and Garden Show (seven out of 10 years) as well as the Chicago Mayor's Award for gardens. His botanical art exhibitions can be seen at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., the Fermi Lab in Batavia, Ill., and the R.J. Arboretum at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich. Tyznik has his own firm, the Planter's Palette, in Winfield, Ill. Helmick Commons won't be his first project in Iowa, however. He designed the master plan for the Brenton Arboretum in Dallas Center. Drake's Board of Trustees recently voted to designate the field between Meredith Hall and Hubbell Dining Hall as Helmick Commons. Additional information about the project will be available at Tuesday's presentation.