Located on the edge of Rockefeller Prairie north of Lawrence, the overlook invites visitors to enjoy views of the Kaw River valley while learning about the research conducted by KU and visiting scientists studying plant and animal populations on the prairie.The overlook was designed as a prefabricated structure, built from galvanized steel and wood in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning’s west campus warehouse before being carefully transported to the prairie for low-impact installation. It features a deck and a large bench inspired by the movement of prairie grasses, with forms that also evoke the shapes of animal vertebrae.The project was commissioned by the University of Kansas Field Station and Ecological Reserves, a division of the Kansas Biological Survey. Dick and Sue Himes provided funding through the KU Endowment Association, while Westar Energy’s Green Team donated lumber sawn from recycled power poles for the deck, bench, and handrail cap.