Located on the campus of High Point University in North Carolina, the Cottrell Japanese Garden offers a serene retreat designed to celebrate the beauty, balance, and tranquility found in traditional Japanese garden design. Situated behind Cottrell Hall, the garden was made possible through the generous gift of David and Christy Cottrell and was dedicated during the university's annual Arbor Day Celebration.
The garden features a Japanese-style tea house, stone terrace, winding pathways, and a custom water feature system that serves as the centerpiece of the landscape. Designed to create a peaceful and immersive experience, the water feature combines natural aesthetics with advanced engineering to deliver the sights and sounds of a flowing mountain stream.
The custom exterior creek and pond system incorporates multiple water inlets and cascading waterfalls to create continuous movement throughout the garden. Water enters the feature through an upper pool at an elevation of 75 feet before flowing over a series of waterfall ledges featuring one- and two-foot drops that span approximately five feet in width. Engineered at flow rates exceeding 50 gallons per minute per foot, the waterfalls generate a medium-to-heavy flow capable of producing natural whitewater effects and dynamic water movement.
A second inlet located at the 68-foot elevation introduces additional water midway through the creek system, maintaining consistent flow as the stream travels toward the lower basin at the 59-foot elevation. Two additional inlets positioned within the lower basin create a pair of waterfalls with two-foot drops and widths of approximately 2.5 feet each, adding visual interest and enhancing the natural soundscape throughout the garden.
Supporting the feature is a fully integrated underground equipment vault designed for efficient operation and maintenance access. The vault includes a landscape access hatch and ladder and houses a pre-assembled recirculation and filtration system consisting of a 15HP display pump, 1.5HP filter pump, bead filter with blower, UV sanitizer, valve assemblies, sump pump, ventilation fan, and a 15HP Variable Frequency Drive (VFD). The VFD can be networked with other campus fountain systems, allowing for coordinated operation and centralized control. The system is managed through a UL-listed electrical control panel, providing reliable and efficient performance.
To extend the garden's beauty into the evening hours, the water feature incorporates 12 submersible RGBW LED light fixtures distributed through four junction boxes and strategically positioned beneath key waterfall locations. The RGBW technology allows the lighting system to produce vibrant colors or crisp white illumination, highlighting the movement of the water and creating a captivating nighttime display.
The vision for the garden aligns with the university's commitment to creating inspiring outdoor spaces. As HPU First Lady Mariana Qubein explained, "Japanese gardens are very important in creating balance, in creating tranquility, and in creating peace in addition to beauty. That's what we want to enjoy." Fountain People was honored to contribute to another landmark project at High Point University. While we partnered on several water feature installations throughout the campus, the Cottrell Japanese Garden demonstrates how technical expertise, advanced equipment systems, architectural lighting, and thoughtfully designed water features can work together to create an environment that is both visually stunning and deeply tranquil.
