The Kaplan Commons, created in 2007 and dedicated in 2008 during the Fall Fest, is located on the west lawn of Elliott University Center. The project was a result of a generous gift by Randall Kaplan and Kathy Manning and it was named in their honor.
The scope of the project included extensive re-landscaping, new trees, flowering plants, and a new area irrigation system, as well as benches and walkways. The walkways were created to converge into a central point with two large sculptures: “Mohawk” by Andy Dunnill and “The Lion’s Roar” by John Isherwood.